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Unit 67 · -ing and to …

see somebody do and see somebody doing

Study

A

Tom got into his car and drove off. You saw this. You can say:

›

I saw Tom get into his car and drive off.

We say 'I saw him do something' (= he did it and I saw this). In the same way, you can say:

hear somebody **do** something
listen to something **happen**
watch
feel
›

I didn't hear you come in. (you came in – I didn't hear this)

›

Lisa suddenly felt somebody touch her on the shoulder.

B

Yesterday you saw Kate. She was waiting for a bus. You can say:

›

I saw Kate waiting for a bus.

We say 'I saw her doing something' (= she was doing it and I saw this). In the same way, you can say:

hear somebody **doing** something
listen to something **happening**
watch
feel
smell
find
›

I could hear it raining. (it was raining – I could hear it)

›

Listen to the birds singing!

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Can you smell something burning?

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We looked for Paul and finally we found him sitting under a tree eating an apple.

C

Study the difference in meaning:

I saw him do something = he did something and I saw this. I saw the complete action from start to finish:

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He jumped over the wall and ran away. I saw this. → I saw him jump over the wall and run away.

›

They went out. I heard this. → I heard them go out.

I saw him doing something = he was doing something and I saw this. I saw him in the middle of doing something (not from start to finish):

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I saw Tom as I drove past in my car. He was walking along the street. → I saw Tom walking along the street.

›

I heard them. They were talking. → I heard them talking.

Sometimes the difference is not important and you can use either form:

›

I've never seen her dance. or I've never seen her dancing.

Exercises (3)

0/3 exercises checked
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67.1

Complete the sentences with the verb in the correct form:

  1. 1
    Tom doesn't have the keys. He gave them to Lisa. (give) example
  2. 2
    Tom doesn't have the keys. I saw him them to Lisa. (give)
  3. 3
    A car outside our house, and then it drove off again. (stop)
  4. 4
    We heard a car outside our house, and then it drove off again. (stop)
  5. 5
    Ben gave me the envelope and watched me it. (open)
  6. 6
    Ben gave me the envelope and I it. (open)
  7. 7
    Sarah is Canadian. I heard her she's from Toronto. (say)
  8. 8
    Sarah is Canadian. She she's from Toronto. (say)
  9. 9
    A man over in the street, so we went to help him. (fall)
  10. 10
    We saw a man over in the street, so we went to help him. (fall)
67.2

You and a friend saw, heard or smelt something. Complete the sentences.

  1. 1
    We saw Kate for a bus.example
  2. 2
    We saw Clare in a restaurant.
  3. 3
    We saw David and Helen .
  4. 4
    We could smell something .
  5. 5
    We could hear .
  6. 6
    We saw Linda .
67.3

Complete the sentences. Use these verbs (in the correct form):

crawlcryexplodegethappenlieputridesayslamstandtell
  1. 1
    The bus stopped at the bus stop but I didn't see anybody off.example
  2. 2
    I saw two people outside your house. I don't know who they were.example
  3. 3
    I thought I heard somebody 'Hi', so I turned round.
  4. 4
    There was an accident outside my house, but I didn't see it .
  5. 5
    Listen. Can you hear a baby ?
  6. 6
    I know you took the key. I saw you it in your pocket.
  7. 7
    We listened to the old man his story from beginning to end.
  8. 8
    Everybody heard the bomb . It was a tremendous noise.
  9. 9
    Oh! I can feel something up my leg. It must be an insect.
  10. 10
    I looked out of the window and saw Dan his bike along the road.
  11. 11
    I heard somebody a door in the middle of the night. It woke me up.
  12. 12
    When I got home, I found a cat on the kitchen table.