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Victorycountry Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
people watch dogs race vs people watch dogs racing
Hi,
In the following sentences, which one is the correct sentence? or are they all correct sentences?
(a) people watch dogs race
(b) people watch dogs racing
Well, I actually found the sentence (a) in the newspaper yesterday. So I believe it must be a correct sentence. However, I first thought "dogs race" is a noun.
But then, I found out that it wasn't "dogs' race". It was missing " ' " (the single quotation) after the word "dog". Which may mean the verb "watch" might have the same grammatical function(?) as "help" or "make" (e.g. I can help you improve your english). That's what I thought. As far as I know, you don't really say, " I can help you 'improving' your english" or "his mum made him 'cleaning up' his room", for example. (However, even informally can you say like that?)
But with the verb "watch"( which I am thinking now, it may belong to the verb group of "see, look and so on"(verbs that describe sensitivity), would it be possible to have sentences like the sentence (b)? or are they ( the sentence (a) and (b) ) both correct sentences but have different meanings?
For example,
(a) people watched dogs race from its start to the end.
(b) people watched only some parts of the dog race and they may have left before it finished.
Thanks in advance.
In the following sentences, which one is the correct sentence? or are they all correct sentences?
(a) people watch dogs race
(b) people watch dogs racing
Well, I actually found the sentence (a) in the newspaper yesterday. So I believe it must be a correct sentence. However, I first thought "dogs race" is a noun.
But then, I found out that it wasn't "dogs' race". It was missing " ' " (the single quotation) after the word "dog". Which may mean the verb "watch" might have the same grammatical function(?) as "help" or "make" (e.g. I can help you improve your english). That's what I thought. As far as I know, you don't really say, " I can help you 'improving' your english" or "his mum made him 'cleaning up' his room", for example. (However, even informally can you say like that?)
But with the verb "watch"( which I am thinking now, it may belong to the verb group of "see, look and so on"(verbs that describe sensitivity), would it be possible to have sentences like the sentence (b)? or are they ( the sentence (a) and (b) ) both correct sentences but have different meanings?
For example,
(a) people watched dogs race from its start to the end.
(b) people watched only some parts of the dog race and they may have left before it finished.
Thanks in advance.
Top answer
Hi, (a) people watched dogs race from its start to the end. ) (b) people watched only some parts of the dog race and they may have left before it finished. Yes, you're right in your understanding.
- Hi, (a) people watched dogs race from its start to the end.
- ) (b) people watched only some parts of the dog race and they may have left before it finished.
- Yes, you're right in your understanding.
- I saw him do his homework means I saw the whole process and I know the homework is complete.
- I saw him doing his homework may mean that I didn't see the whole process, so perhaps the homework is not complete.
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6 Answers
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Hi,
(a) people watched dogs race from its start to the end. (from the start to the finish.)
(b) people watched only some parts of the dog race and they may have left before it finished.
Yes, you're right in your understanding.
I saw him do his homework means I saw the whole process and I kn
(a) people watched dogs race from its start to the end. (from the start to the finish.)
(b) people watched only some parts of the dog race and they may have left before it finished.
Yes, you're right in your understanding.
I saw him do his homework means I saw the whole process and I kn
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CliveHi,In "he watched the wolves race across the tundra", did he see the whole race?
(a) people watched dogs race from its start to the end. (from the start to the finish.)
Best wishes, Clive
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CliveHi,I think we have no idea if he did, out of context. Same with "he watched dogs race".
What do you think?
Best wishes, Clive
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Hi again,
I'd like to change the example to something bit more commonplace, if you don't mind.
I agree that much depends on context. However, do you get the feeling that both of these have the same meaning?
I saw him do his homework
I saw him doing his homework
Best wishes again, Clive
I'd like to change the example to something bit more commonplace, if you don't mind.
I agree that much depends on context. However, do you get the feeling that both of these have the same meaning?
I saw him do his homework
I saw him doing his homework
Best wishes again, Clive
00
CliveHi again,
I'd like to change the example to something bit more commonplace, if you don't mind.
I agree that much depends on context. However, do you get the feeling that both of these have the same meaning?
I saw him do his homework
I saw him doing his homework
Best wishes again, Clive
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