Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[tisogai]

Please help me. Please tell me which of the two in each bracket is more suitable and also its reason.

1. I heard the clock (strike/striking) six and knew that it was time for me to get up.

2. I saw the traffic accident (happen/happening).

3. How did you know he came in late? - I heard him (come/coming)
in late.

Thanks so much.

[buddhaheart]

1. I heard the clock (strike/*striking) six and knew that it was time for me to get up.

The verb �strike� is the correct choice. It�s an infinitive without the marker �to�. It is used as an object complement.

2. I saw the traffic accident (happen/*happening).

The verb �happen� is the correct choice. It�s an infinitive without the marker �to�. It is also used as an object complement.

3. How did you know he come *came in late? - I heard him (come/*coming) in late.

The verb after �did� must be in its root form �come�.

[tisogai]

Thanks for the reply.

I think I've seen "I saw him crossing the street" and "I saw her entering the building".

I've always thought that's an optional(either root form or present participle) although the meaning is slightly different.

What would you say??

Thanks again.

[CP]

[tisogai]

Hi CP, thank you.

I have no problem with "How did you know he came in late?" I would never question that part.

My question is that I heard him (come/coming) in late.
I just reiterate, but I've seen "-ing form" in this kind of structure as well as root form.

Isn't "-ing form" here grammatically correct??
If it is correct, what differece can be made from root form structure??

I really want to know about it.
Thanks.

[rice07]

Hi Tisogai
Check and see your E'MAIL.

[tisogai]

Hi rice07,

I did, but found nothing from you.
Please send it again.

Thanks so much.

[rice07]

Hi Tisogai
Either my computer got some problems,or I wasn't familiar with computer operating.
At first,I'd like to send you e'mail to prevent me from offending the intellectural property rights,but now,I think that it'll be ok if I show the information where it's from.So I don't mean to recommend this book to everyone by showing its' details in here but to avoid damaging the rights.The paragraph below on the next reply is not to negative those teachers effort in answering our problems we're having,on the other hand,it helps those generous teachers make clear some concept,and that why I post it.No offence,indeed!

[rice07]

Book Name:Pratical English Usage
Publisher :Oxford University Press
Author :Michael Swan
Page222
Hear,see,watch,notice and similar verbs of perception can be followed by object + infinitive (without to) or object +-ing form.
I heard him go down the stairs. I heard him going down the stairs(Not I heard him went down the stairs.)
There's often a difference of meaning.After these verbs,an infinitive suggests that we hear or see the whole of an action or event;an -ing form suggests that we hear or see something in progress,going on.Compare:
-I saw her cross the road.(= I saw her cross it from one side to the other.)
I saw her crossing the road.(=I saw her in the middle,on her way across.)
-I once heard him give a talk on Japanese politics.
As I walked past his room I heard him talking on the phone.
-Watch me jump over the stream.
I like to watch people walking in the street.
-I heard the bomb explode.(Not I heard the bomb exploding.)
I saw the book lying on the table.(Not I saw the book lie...)
A progressive form can suggest repetition.
I saw her throwing stones at the other children.
After can see/hear (which refer to actions and events that are in progress,only the -ing structure is used.
I could see John getting on the bus.(Not I could see John get...)
These structures can be used after passive forms of hear and see.In this case,the infinitive has to.
He was never heard to say 'thank you' in his life.(Not He was never heard say...)
Justice must not only be done;it must be seen to be done
She was seen walking away from the accident.
Passive forms of watch and notice are not used in this way.

[tisogai]

Hi rice07,

I really appreciate your post.
It perfectly, completely solved my problem.
I'm really happy about that.

Thanks so much!

[rice07]

Hi
As teacher Bud is fond of saying--my pleasure.
But I think you should thank Michael Swan,not me.It is his theory.

[bud]

Thanks for that post, Rice07! It also teaches me, a native speaker, a thing or two!

BTW, there's no problem posting a passage from a copyrighted work as long as you cite the source, and you did that.

[rice07]

Hi Bud
Yes,I got it.Thanks!