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Ssxia Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

"see somebody doing something" vs "see somebody do something"

0Hi,02br
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00I have some questions regarding the above two construction. For example,02br
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001. I saw him entering the house.02br
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002. I saw him enter the house.02br
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00If I understand correctly, the first construction means "He was entering the hosue and I saw him". The second one means "He entered the hosue and I saw him". 02br
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00By the same resoning, the following sentences have these meanings:02br
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003.Did Sam see him entering the hosue? (He was entering the house. Sam saw him doing that, and I am questioning someone if that was true.)02br
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004.Did Sam see him enter the house? (He entered the house before. Sam saw him did that, and I am questioning someone if that was true.)02br
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005.I didn’t hear you come in. (You came in and I did not hear you)02br
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006.I didn’t hear you coming in.01b00 02b00(You were coming in and I did not hear you)02br
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00Can I say the following?02br
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001.I saw the accident happening / I saw the accident happen.02br
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002. I found him stealing my pens/ I found him steal my pens. 02br
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003.I felt something touching my hand/ I felt something touch my hand.0-
  

Top answer

0 Hi Ssxia02br 02br 00Generally speaking, you are right in that active verbs pertaining to the senses can take a plain infinitive or a present participle. There is some disagreement regarding the use of these two grammatical forms. Some say that if the reference is to the entire action, a plain infinitive is to be preferred.

— Cool Breeze

  • 0 Hi Ssxia02br 02br 00Generally speaking, you are right in that active verbs pertaining to the senses can take a plain infinitive or a present participle.
  • There is some disagreement regarding the use of these two grammatical forms.
  • Some say that if the reference is to the entire action, a plain infinitive is to be preferred.
  • 02br 02br 00Idiomatic usage may deviate from the above 'rule'.
  • 02i 02br 02br 01i 00Find02i 00 doesn't pertain to the senses, so it can't take a plain infinitive at all.
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1 Answers
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0 Hi Ssxia02br
02br
00Generally speaking, you are right in that active verbs pertaining to the senses can take a plain infinitive or a present participle. There is some disagreement regarding the use of these two grammatical forms. Some say that if the reference is to the entire action, a plain infinitive is to be preferred. Actual usage does not always conform to this.02b
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