0
Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Word form

What is the difference between the present tense and -ing word form in this sentence?

I have seen her go/going to the house.
I have seen her study/studying for the exam.
I have seen her go/going out the room.
I have seen her sing/singing.

Are both forms possible here or only the -ing?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

The difference: go to the house = a completed action; going to the house = an in-progress action. Each has the same difference. "have seen" is one of a collection of verbs involving the senses.

— Wilpeter

  • The difference: go to the house = a completed action; going to the house = an in-progress action.
  • Each has the same difference.
  • "have seen" is one of a collection of verbs involving the senses.
  • Some call them 'perception' verbs, others, 'sensation' or 'sense' verbs.
  • Others in this group are: hear/heard/hearing; feel, smell, taste, listen to, notice, watch, etc.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
The difference: go to the house = a completed action; going to the house = an in-progress action.
Each has the same difference.
"have seen" is one of a collection of verbs involving the senses. Some call them 'perception' verbs, others, 'sensation' or 'sense' verbs. Others in this group are: hear/heard/hearing; feel, smell, taste, listen to, notice, watch, etc.

One has an erro
0
0
wilpeterThe difference: go to the house = a completed action; going to the house = an in-progress action.Each has the same difference."have seen" is one of a collection of verbs involving the senses. Some call them 'perception' verbs, others, 'sensation' or 'sense' verbs. Others in this group are: hear/heard/hearing; feel, smell, taste, listen to, notice, watch, etc.One h
0
0
Yes, tense applies to the observation time-frame and to the nature of the observation.
0
0
wilpeterYes, tense applies to the observation time-frame and to the nature of the observation.
Great. Thanks a lot for your help!
0
0
wilpeterbservation time-frame and to the nature of the observation.
Hi again, wilpeter. Sorry to bother you with another question. I would like to confirm one thing I have in mind.

The use of the present and present progressive tenses here are about observation time-frame, and not about present action or regular action such as in the bel
0
0
“I have seen her read/reading a book.”
That is the original topic of this post: where ‘have seen’ involves a verb of perception.
“I read books vs I am reading a book.”
“I sing vs I am singing.”
These are straightforward sentences with regular action and present continuous tenses.
And, yes, it sounds as though you are correctly understanding.
0
0
wilpeterAnd, yes, it sounds as though you are correctly understanding.
Great. I just wanted to confirm that they were two different things/topics. I am glad I that what I had in mind was correct.

Thanks a lot again!
0

Related Questions