Verbs and Tenses in Sentences

Question

Hi everyone. I hope someone can help to explain the following uncertainties that I have in the simplest way possible. Your help is much appreciated! Can someone explain why we should use 'perform' and not 'performs' in the above examples?1a. I had the chance to see a famous singer perform on stage. 1b. I had the chance to see a famous singer performs on stage. It seems to me like both 2a and 2b are correct. Am I right, and if so, is there a difference in meaning? If I'm wrong, could you help to explain why? 2a. I had the chance to see how a famous singer performed on stage.2b. I had the chance to see how a famous singer perform on stage.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Deviliscious1a. I had the chance to see a famous singer perform on stage.

That one is grammatical.
"See" is a verb of perception. It is followed by the base form or the present participle.

https://www.englishgrammar.org/verbs-perception/

Deviliscious2a. I had the chance to see how a famous singer performed on stage.

That one is correct.

The complement of "see" is a clause introduced by "how. " It is a content clause, also called a noun clause. The verb is inflected.

We were all curious about [ how a famous singer performs on stage.] (object / complement of a preposition)

We were all curious about [ how a famous singer performed on stage.]

We were all curious about [ how a famous singer will perform on stage.]

Here are more examples:

I can see him do it. (verb of perception + base form of action verb)
I can see him doing it. (verb of perception + present participle form of action verb)

I can see how he does it. (Verb with a complement, or object, that is a content clause)
I can see how he is doing it.

I can see what he does. (Verb with a complement, or object, that is a content clause)
I can see what he is doing.

Parakon · Answer

yea I think 2a And 2b are correct

I had the chance to see how a famous singer performed on stage.

I had the chance to see how a famous singer perform(performs) on stage.

but in 2b I think it should be performs instead of perform.

but there is no issue you can also check it with https://app.grammarly.com/ sentences.

CalifJim · Answer

Devilisciousexplain ... in the simplest way possible

Grammar points for "to see".

Category 1.
(No connector word. Not even implied 'that'.)

Only two choices. Bare infinitive or -ing form.

to see (someone / something) DO (something)
to see (someone / something) DOING (something)

Category 2.
(with how, when, where, why, that)

Any tense.

to see how (someone / something) (DOES/DID/WILL DO/ etc.) (something)

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

2a is correct, coz we use past tense with had. I improved my english by playing word games, and currently I am learning German so I play https://www.4bilder-1wort.de/, you can try its english version 4 Pics 1 Word to improve vocabulary.

Verbs and Tenses in Sentences

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