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IMG Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary

what's t he difference?

Could anybody tell me the difference between these two sentences, please?

"I saw you laugh."
"I saw you laughing." (it seems to refer to more precise period of time, doesn't it?)

For example in the song "Moment in a million years" you can see the line "I saw you laugh, I saw you cry". I understand that he saw a person/people in different states of mind since they got to know each other. But could it be replaced with "I saw you laughing and saw your crying"? Does it have different meanings?

And another example, "I want to see you try" (I guess it's equal "I want you to try"), yet why not "I want to see you trying?" Grammatical part of it is somewhat vague to me.
  

Top answer

" I saw at least that the event occurred. It could mean only a fraction of the total duration of the event. " I watched for a longer time than with the former.

— Mister Micawber

  • " I saw at least that the event occurred.
  • It could mean only a fraction of the total duration of the event.
  • " I watched for a longer time than with the former.
  • This form often means that the complete activity was seen.
  • IMG in the song "Moment in a million years" you can see the line "I saw you laugh, I saw you cry".
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2 Answers
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IMG"I saw you laugh."
I saw at least that the event occurred. It could mean only a fraction of the total duration of the event.
IMG"I saw you laughing."
I watched for a longer time than with the former. This form often means that the complete activity was seen.
IMG in the song "Moment in a million y
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