See Someone Do or Doing? Verbs of Perception
By the end: I can distinguish presenting an observed event as a whole from describing an activity in progress.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Before you start
What is the difference between noticing someone midway through a task and watching the task from start to finish?
Useful background: Object pronouns, base verbs, -ing forms and simple past.
A whole event
See, hear and watch can take an object followed by a base verb without to when presenting a perceived event as a whole. A short completed action or an explicitly complete observation makes this focus clear.
I saw her unlock the door and enter.
We watched the team carry the table outside.
An activity in progress
The -ing form foregrounds what was happening at a point of observation. It does not by itself state that the observer saw the beginning or the end. The same real event may permit different viewpoints.
I saw her painting the door.
We heard someone playing the piano upstairs.
Keep the observer and evidence clear
Use an object pronoun before the second verb. Do not add a to-infinitive in these active perception patterns. An observation is not automatically proof of every stage of an event; say exactly what your account supports.
I watched him cross the courtyard.
I noticed him standing by the gate.
Active and passive reports use different complements
Saw + object + base verb, without to in this active pattern.
The passive pattern uses to enter; the observer need not be named.
Guided practice
Say or write your answer first. Compare the meaning and form; the model is one possible answer.
1. Complete a whole-event observation: I saw her ___ the door and leave. Use close.
Compare a model and explanation
close
The base verb presents the bounded observed sequence.
2. Complete an in-progress observation: We heard someone ___ upstairs. Use practise.
Compare a model and explanation
practising / practicing
The -ing form foregrounds activity already in progress; both spellings are accepted.
3. Correct the active perception pattern: I watched him to cross the road.
Compare a model and explanation
I watched him cross the road.
Active watch + object takes a base verb here, not to.
4. Replace the person with a pronoun: I saw Ben carrying a box.
Compare a model and explanation
I saw him carrying a box.
Use the object pronoun him.
5. Explain the contrast: I saw her paint the sign. / I saw her painting the sign.
Compare a model and explanation
The first presents the observed event as a whole; the second foregrounds an activity in progress without stating full observation.
Viewpoint, not necessarily a different real event, distinguishes the forms.
6. A witness saw only the middle of a repair. Write a careful report without claiming completion.
Compare a model and explanation
I saw him repairing the bicycle, but I didn’t see whether he finished.
Add the evidence limit explicitly.
7. Is was seen to enter a reason to change the active pattern to saw him to enter? Explain.
Compare a model and explanation
No. Passive and active perception patterns differ; the passive can use to, while the active target does not.
Do not transfer the passive complement mechanically.
8. Give two descriptions of a person crossing a courtyard: one complete observation and one brief glimpse.
Compare a model and explanation
I watched her cross the courtyard. I saw her crossing the courtyard when I looked out.
Match the form to the stated observational viewpoint.
A short conversation
Listen first if you can, then open the transcript when useful.
Open the conversation transcript
A: Did you see who moved the display stand?
B: I saw Noor carrying it towards the door, but I didn’t watch the whole move.
A: I watched Ben lift it into the van a few minutes later.
B: Then we observed different parts of the same job. I can’t say who first picked it up.
Listening checks
Listen to each extract or open its transcript. These three questions have their own score.
Mastery quiz
Choose the best answer in each situation. Your score is out of eight.
Use it in your own words
Speaking task 1
Describe a fictional room move from two witnesses’ viewpoints: one saw the complete lift, another glimpsed carrying.
Reveal a possible response
I watched Ben lift the table into the van. Noor only saw him carrying it through the hallway, so she cannot describe the final placement from her own observation.
Success check: Keep the viewpoint and limits of each observation explicit.
Speaking task 2
Give three perception examples: a brief sound, an ongoing sound and a visible sequence.
Reveal a possible response
I heard a door close. Later, I heard someone playing music upstairs. I watched the caretaker open the room, switch on the lights and check the chairs.
Success check: Match base or -ing forms to the chosen aspect of the event.
Speaking task 3
Reformulate an exaggerated witness claim so it says only what was observed.
Reveal a possible response
Seeing someone writing a report does not establish that they completed it. I would say that I saw them working on the report but did not see the finished version.
Success check: Do not turn a grammatical viewpoint into unsupported certainty about the whole event.
Take it with you
I can distinguish presenting an observed event as a whole from describing an activity in progress.