After see, hear, watch, feel and similar verbs, use somebody do for a complete action seen from start to finish, and somebody doing for an action you caught in the middle.
A I saw him do something
Nadia locked the shop, crossed the road and got on the bus. You watched the whole thing from the café opposite.
You can say: I saw Nadia lock the shop and get on the bus.
I saw her do something means she did it and I saw it. The verb after the object is the infinitive without to.
The same pattern follows hear, listen to, watch and feel: hear / listen to / watch / feel somebody do something.
- I saw Nadia lock the shop and get on the bus.
- We didn't hear the postman knock.
- Halfway up the ladder, Sam felt it move.
B I saw her doing something
Yesterday you walked past the launderette and saw Alex. He was folding his washing.
You can say: I saw Alex folding his washing.
I saw him doing something means he was in the middle of doing it when I saw him.
The same pattern follows hear, listen to, watch, feel, smell and find.
- I saw Alex folding his washing.
- I could hear the wind howling all night.
- Listen to those geese honking!
- Can you smell gas leaking?
- We searched the house for Grandad and found him asleep in the shed, holding a mug of tea.
C The difference in meaning
I saw him do something means I saw the complete action, from start to finish.
I saw him doing something means I saw part of the action. He was in the middle of it, and I did not see it begin or end.
| Complete action | In the middle of it |
|---|---|
| The fox climbed the fence and disappeared. I saw this. I saw the fox climb the fence and disappear. | I drove past Jade. She was jogging along the canal. I saw Jade jogging along the canal. |
| They drove off. I heard this. I heard them drive off. | I heard them. They were arguing. I heard them arguing. |
Sometimes the difference does not matter, and either form is fine.
- I saw the fox climb the fence and disappear.
- I saw Jade jogging along the canal.
- I heard them drive off.
- I heard them arguing.
- I've never heard him sing.
- I've never heard him singing.
Exercises
67.1 Complete each sentence with the verb in brackets in the correct form.
1a The window is broken. Josh kicked his football through it. (kick)
The window is broken. Josh kicked his football through it.
1b The window is broken. I saw Josh his football through it. (kick)
The window is broken. I saw Josh kick his football through it.
2a A van outside the house next door, and then it drove away. (park)
A van parked outside the house next door, and then it drove away.
2b We watched a van outside the house next door, and then it drove away. (park)
We watched a van park outside the house next door, and then it drove away.
3a Mum handed me the parcel and watched me it. (unwrap)
Mum handed me the parcel and watched me unwrap it.
3b Mum handed me the parcel and I it. (unwrap)
Mum handed me the parcel and I unwrapped it.
4a Owen supports Cardiff. I heard him he's never missed a home match. (say)
Owen supports Cardiff. I heard him say he's never missed a home match.
4b Owen supports Cardiff. He he's never missed a home match. (say)
Owen supports Cardiff. He said he's never missed a home match.
5a An old lady on the ice, so we went to help her up. (slip)
An old lady slipped on the ice, so we went to help her up.
5b We saw an old lady on the ice, so we went to help her up. (slip)
We saw an old lady slip on the ice, so we went to help her up.
67.2 You and a friend saw, heard or smelt something. Read each scene and complete the sentence.
Your friend points across the road: "Look! There's Kate." Kate is standing at the bus stop, waiting for a bus.
We saw Kate ...
We saw Kate waiting for a bus.
We saw Kate waiting for a bus.
"Look! There's Rhys." Through the window of a restaurant you can see Rhys eating a plate of pasta.
We saw Rhys ... in a restaurant.
We saw Rhys eating in a restaurant.
"Look! There's Ian and Joy." Ian and Joy are dancing together at a wedding.
We saw Ian and Joy ...
We saw Ian and Joy dancing.
"What's that smell?" Smoke is coming out of the toaster in the kitchen.
We could smell something ...
We could smell something burning.
"Listen. That's Bill." Through the wall you can hear Bill playing the trumpet.
We could hear ...
We could hear Bill playing the trumpet.
"Look! There's Megan." Megan is in the park, flying a kite.
Write the whole sentence.
We saw Megan flying a kite in the park.
67.3 Complete each sentence with one of these verbs, in the correct form.
barkcallclimbcomecrashdropgo offhappenhidepullrunwait
The lift doors opened, but I didn't see anybody come out.
The lift doors opened, but I didn't see anybody come out.
I saw a man waiting by your car this morning. I've no idea who he was.
I saw a man waiting by your car this morning. I've no idea who he was.
I was sure I heard somebody my name, so I looked round.
I was sure I heard somebody call my name, so I looked round.
Apparently there was a fight outside the chippy, but I didn't see it .
Apparently there was a fight outside the chippy, but I didn't see it happen.
Can you hear that dog ? It's been going on for an hour.
Can you hear that dog barking? It's been going on for an hour.
Don't say you haven't got my pen. I saw you it in your bag.
Don't say you haven't got my pen. I saw you drop it in your bag.
The whole crowd watched the winner across the finish line.
The whole crowd watched the winner run across the finish line.
Half the street heard the fire alarm at four in the morning.
Half the street heard the fire alarm go off at four in the morning.
I felt something on my sleeve. It was my little nephew.
I felt something pull on my sleeve. It was my little nephew.
I glanced out of the kitchen window and saw the cat the apple tree.
I glanced out of the kitchen window and saw the cat climbing the apple tree.
We heard two cars at the junction. Luckily nobody was hurt.
We heard two cars crash at the junction. Luckily nobody was hurt.
When we finally looked under the bed, we found the dog there from the thunder.
When we finally looked under the bed, we found the dog hiding there from the thunder.