Verbs of perception
When you have two verbs together, what form should the second verb be? The first answer to this question is on my page on gerunds and infinitives. There is more to this grammar, though. There are also two verbs together with verbs of perception.
Verbs of perception are about your senses of sight, hearing, smell and touch. After these verbs there is an object and then a verb. The verb is in the simple form when the second verb is complete and it’s in the present participle form (-ing) when the second verb is not complete.
Examples:
I saw them go into the mall. (I saw the complete action including the door closing behind them.)
I saw them going into the mall. (I only saw part of that action, not the complete action.)
I watched the children play soccer. (I saw the complete game from start to finish.)
I watched the children playing soccer for awhile, and then I left. (I only saw part of the game.)
She looked at her mother drive away. (She saw the complete action.)
She looked at her mother washing the dishes. (She didn’t see the whole action.)
The students observed the teacher leave the classroom. (They observed the complete action.)
The students observed the teacher marking papers. (They only observed part of the action.)
She noticed the boy get off his bicycle. (She noticed the complete action.)
She noticed the boy riding his bike. (She noticed only part of the action.)
I heard a plane fly overhead. (I heard the complete action.)
I heard a plane flying overhead. (I didn’t hear the complete action, only part of it.)
We listened to the professor talk for an hour and a half. (We listened to the whole talk.)
We listened to the neighbors having a big argument. (We listened only to part of the argument.)
I smell something burning. (It’s not possible to smell all of it, so it’s not complete.)
The sleeping child felt his mother kiss his cheek. (He felt the complete action.)
He felt his wife tossing and turning in bed. (He fell asleep and didn’t feel all of it.)
I sensed him enter the room. (I sensed the complete action.)
I sensed him standing behind me. (I didn’t sense him when he started standing behind me, only later.)
Quiz: Verbs of perception - exercise
- Question 1 of 15
1.
She could hear someone ____________ next door.
That’s right!
No. The action is still happening, so it’s not complete.
- Question 2 of 15
2.
Can you smell something ____________?
Nicely done!
Sorry, no. It’s continuing to burn.
- Question 3 of 15
3.
I just saw a man ____________ off that bridge.
You got it!
Incorrect. Fall off the bridge is a complete one-time action.
- Question 4 of 15
4.
I noticed a homeless person ____________ on a bench as I passed by.
Excellent!
Not right. I didn’t see the beginning of the action.
- Question 5 of 15
5.
Do you see that boy ____________ his bike with no hands!
Way to go!
Afraid not. The action started before you looked.
- Question 6 of 15
6.
I’ve never heard that person ____________ a kind word to anyone.
Yes. You’re right!
No. Not it. It doesn’t take long to say a kind word, so you’ll hear it completely.
- Question 7 of 15
7.
On our camping trip we saw the forest ____________, so we left in a hurry.
Well done!
Sorry, not right. You didn’t see the forest start to burn.
- Question 8 of 15
8.
I want to hear you ____________ that piece on the piano before you go play.
You got it!
No good. You want to hear the complete practice.
- Question 9 of 15
9.
We noticed several people ____________ tai chi in the park.
Sweet!
Incorrect. They were already doing tai chi before you noticed them.
- Question 10 of 15
10.
They observed a meteorite ____________ the sky.
Great!
Not so good. They saw the whole thing because it’s quick.
- Question 11 of 15
11.
Watch me ____________ to the top of that tree!
That’s it!
Not it. It’s only one hit.
- Question 12 of 15
12.
She sensed someone ____________ at her, so she turned around.
Right you are!
Wrong. Staring is a continuous action.
- Question 13 of 15
13.
Look at all the birds ____________ south for the winter.
Good job!
Wrong answer. You can only see part of their flight.
- Question 14 of 15
14.
She didn’t notice me ____________ on a banana peel.
Correct!
No, not it. She would have noticed the complete action because it’s fast.
- Question 15 of 15
15.
Listen! Can you hear someone ____________ music?
Nice!
Afraid not. Because you’re listening now, the playing isn’t finished.
Your Score:
Your Ranking:
Quiz: Verbs of perception - exercise 2
- Question 1 of 15
1.
I can hear someone ____________ up the stairs.
Correct!
Incorrect
- Question 2 of 15
2.
He noticed a letter ____________ on the floor when he opened the front door.
That’s good!
Not right
- Question 3 of 15
3.
Watch me ____________ over that fence!
Way to go!
Sorry. No
- Question 4 of 15
4.
He listened to her ____________ her story and then decided to leave.
Great job!
Not good
- Question 5 of 15
5.
Just look at that cat ____________ those birds.
You got it!
You didn’t get it
- Question 6 of 15
6.
When she heard a bird ____________, she knew it was almost morning time.
Awesome!
Afraid not
- Question 7 of 15
7.
We noticed several people ____________ in line as we came in.
Perfect!
No good
- Question 8 of 15
8.
They observed a herd of elephants ____________ the road in front of them.
Nicely done!
Sorry. Wrong
- Question 9 of 15
9.
Watch me ____________ this piece of pie!
Right you are!
Not this time
- Question 10 of 15
10.
He sensed someone ____________ him, so he started to walk faster.
Good job!
Not so good
- Question 11 of 15
11.
Look at the bears ____________ for salmon in the river.
Wonderful!
Wrong answer
- Question 12 of 15
12.
I saw him ____________ from the fall and continue running.
You’re right!
You missed it
- Question 13 of 15
13.
Did you just hear a car ____________?
Superb!
Too bad
- Question 14 of 15
14.
I think I can smell something ____________ in the kitchen.
Well done!
No. Incorrect
- Question 15 of 15
15.
I noticed you ____________ those batteries in the trash.
Good for you!
That’s not it
Your Score:
Your Ranking:
© 2013 Ambien Malecot