saddening/seeing

Question

Hi,I think the following 2 sentences are incorrect - 1) It is saddening to see that people die of hunger even after 60 years of independence.2) It is high time the common man is disabused of his illusive hope of seeing India as a developed nation."Sad" is a state and therefore a stative verb. "See" is a verb of perception. Therefore both should not be used in the progressive tense.Please tell me if the above 2 sentences are correct.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,
I think the following 2 sentences are incorrect - No, they are fine. Not all -ing words involve a progressive verb tense.

1) It is saddening to see that people die of hunger even after 60 years of independence. 'Saddening' here is used as an adjective. eg it is a saddening sight . . .

2) It is high time the common man is disabused of his illusive hope of seeing India as a developed nation. 'Seeing' here is used as a gerund.

"Sad" is a state and therefore a stative verb. "See" is a verb of perception. Therefore both should not be used in the progressive tense.
'Mary is saddening because of all her problems' certainly sounds odd, as does 'Her problems are saddening Mary'.

However, 'Mary is seeing the doctor tomorrow' sounds fine. You could argue that this does not mean 'Mary is perceiving the doctor tomorrow'. But it also sounds OK to say
'Mary is intoxicated. She says that she is seeing double'.

Best wishes. Clive

MaverickK · Answer

Thanks Clive for your reply.But I am not convinced with your answer.I read this link posted on this site itself - http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/stat.htm . Here its mentioned we can not use "see" and "sad" (which are stative verbs) in the progressive tense.
So you are contradicting what I have learnt earlier from this forum itself,making me confused. One more question - You have mentioned an example "Marry is seeing the doctor tomorow". Is not "Marry will visit the doctor tomorow" a more correct way of expressing? Please explain

Clive · Answer

HI again,

Thanks Clive for your reply.But I am not convinced with your answer.I read this link posted on this site itself - http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/stat.htm . I can't open your link, although I can imagine what it says.
Here its mentioned we can not use "see" and "sadden" (which are stative verbs) in the progressive tense.
I wouldn't say that stative verbs can never take the progressive. However, I would say that they rarely do. In addition, verbs that are usually stative often also have non-stative meanings, in which case the progressive is OK.

The verb 'see' is an example of this.
If a lion walks into the room, you might say 'Oh, I see a lion', but you wouldn't say 'Oh, I am seeing a lion'.

However, there are other meanings of see that do not relate to perception. Look in your dictionary. eg
A: Is Mary seeing anyone special?
B: Yes, she's seeing Tom.
Here, the verb 'see' mean 'date', 'go out with'. The two people (A and B) are talking about whether Mary has a boyfriend.

eg 'I am seeing the doctor tomorrow' means I am visiting the doctor tomorrow, I have an appointment arranged with the doctor tomorrow.

So you are contradicting what I have learnt earlier from this forum itself,making me confused. One more question - You have mentioned an example "Marry is seeing the doctor tomorow". Is not "Marry will visit the doctor tomorow" a more correct way of expressing? Please explain See my comment above. Both my way (using 'see', and your way using 'visit') are fine. My way is probably much more commonly said. You can say things in English in a variety of ways.

'I am going to see/visit the doctor tomorrow' indicates a plan. (I suggest you have a look at the differences between future with 'will' and future with 'going to'.)
'I am seeing the doctor tomorrow' indicates that the arrangements are settled, eg I probably have already made an appointment.

Best wishes, Clive

saddening/seeing

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