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Hans51 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The meaning of the word catch
The gang was caught unloading the cigarettes.
I caught him stealing the money.
see somebody doing something
[transitive] to see someone doing something that they did not want you to know they were doing
This is a definition of catch and I was wondering if I cannot understand the word catch here as a meaning of find/ stop somebody? Or in the sentences, the meaning of catch just implies "see" and then there is no physical act?
a) to stop someone after you have been chasing them and not let them get away:
What do you native English speakers think? Thank you so much as usual.
I caught him stealing the money.
see somebody doing something
[transitive] to see someone doing something that they did not want you to know they were doing
This is a definition of catch and I was wondering if I cannot understand the word catch here as a meaning of find/ stop somebody? Or in the sentences, the meaning of catch just implies "see" and then there is no physical act?
find/stop somebody
[transitive]a) to stop someone after you have been chasing them and not let them get away:
What do you native English speakers think? Thank you so much as usual.
Top answer
Hi Hans51, Your question is an excellent one. There does seem to be a nuanced distinction between being caught and being seen. Based on my own intuition, I would say caught implies witnessing somebody doing something when they were not intending to be seen.
- Hi Hans51, Your question is an excellent one.
- There does seem to be a nuanced distinction between being caught and being seen.
- Based on my own intuition, I would say caught implies witnessing somebody doing something when they were not intending to be seen.
- If somebody were to walk into Starbucks right now, look me in the eyes, and walk away with my iphone, I would NOT say that I had caught them.
- But if I walked away and returned to see somebody grab my iphone and run away, then I would say that I caught them because they did not intend to be seen.
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2 Answers
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Hi Hans51,
Your question is an excellent one. There does seem to be a nuanced distinction between being caught and being seen.
Based on my own intuition, I would say caught implies witnessing somebody doing something when they were not intending to be seen.
If somebody were to walk into Starbucks right now, look me in the eyes, and walk away with my iphon
Your question is an excellent one. There does seem to be a nuanced distinction between being caught and being seen.
Based on my own intuition, I would say caught implies witnessing somebody doing something when they were not intending to be seen.
If somebody were to walk into Starbucks right now, look me in the eyes, and walk away with my iphon
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Hans51The gang was caught unloading the cigarettes.This means while the gang was unloading something illegal, the police captured them in the act.
Hans51I caught him stealing the money.He was in the process of stealing money from your dresser and you happened to walk in on the act.
Here, it doesn't mean that you capt
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