Verb after the direct object

In this case, "[to] play" is the bare infinitive.

In many such cases, the gerund "playing" may be substituted.

Then we can argue about whether the phrase "to play the piano" / "playing the piano" is adjectival or adverbial. That is, does it modify the object "girl" or the verb "watched"?

I like to take hot showers. I like taking hot showers. In some cas

Thanks for the welcome Avangi!

I watch the girl play the piano.

I watch while the girl plays the piano.

Presumably, I can't use 'plays' in the first sentence because that would be two clauses, whereas if I use 'while' as in the second sentence, that separates the two clauses?

Is there a rule which says that the verb after the object must always be

I'm afraid I still don't have a grammar book!

We say these "verbals" (infinitive, gerund, etc.) are non-finite, and not inflected. That is, they don't have a tense, and their endings don't change with person and number. You might see if your index has any of these terms.

When you're using subordinate clauses to modify parts of the main clauses, the situation changes, because

everardUnder what section of my English grammar books would I find a clear explanation and some exercises for this query?

Catenative verbs.

Some verbs of perception (see, hear, watch) can be followed by a non-finite clause with the bare infinitive or the -ing form. (Non-finite implies that the -s ending of the present tense is no

CalifJim I caught the boys stealing the skis.

Thanks, Jim.
Is there anything different about catenative verbs (compared to others) in learning which ones use only the infinitive and which only the gerund? - A.

Avangilearning which ones use only the infinitive and which only the gerund?

No. Unfortunately, the learner has to memorize the usage.

I have read a few claims that there are ways to tell, given a verb, whether it will take the infinitive, the gerund, or both in such constructions, but every time I've investigated such a claim I've found that the gui

Many thanks for your reply, Jim.

I think the answer to my original question is, as you said, verbs expressing observation or perception which use either the bare infinitive, or more commonly, the ing.

I watched the girl [who was] playing the piano

or

I watched the girl play[ing] the piano

I don't believe these are catenative verbs

everardI don't believe these are catenative verbs

You are free to believe whatever you like. Consider googling "catenative verbs" or "catenative constructions" if you want to know more about them.

CJ

Thanks for your reply, Jim.

After googling, I'm still a little confused.

from wiki:

Catenative verbs are English language verbs which can be followed directly by another verb

My original query:

I watched the girl play the piano.

I think that the structure of my example is subject, verb, direct object, verb, indirect object.

I hope all is now clear.

Kind regards

Everard