Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 67 · B1

see somebody do and see somebody doing

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.

Start the lesson

14Steps · about 24 minutes

In this lesson

I saw him do somethingA1 screen of questions
I saw her doing somethingB2 screens of questions
The difference in meaningC6 screens of questions

Point A of 3

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.

Point A · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with the verb in brackets, without to.

  1. I saw Nadia the shop and walk to the bus stop. (lock)

  2. We didn't hear the postman . (knock)

  3. Halfway up the ladder, I felt it . (move)

Point B of 3

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.

Point B · Exercise 67.2 · part 1 of 2

You and a friend saw, heard or smelt something. Read each scene and complete the sentence.

  1. Example

    Your friend points across the park: "Look! There's Kate." Kate is walking her dog.

    We saw Kate ...

    We saw Kate walking her dog.

    AnswerWe saw Kate walking her dog.

  2. "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.

  3. "Look! There's Ian and Joy." Ian and Joy are dancing together at a wedding.

    We saw Ian and Joy ...

  4. "What's that smell?" Smoke is coming out of the toaster in the kitchen.

    We could smell something ...

  5. "Listen. That's Bill." Through the wall you can hear Bill playing the trumpet.

    We could hear ...

Point B · Exercise 67.2 · part 2 of 2

You and a friend saw, heard or smelt something. Read each scene and complete the sentence.

  1. "Look! There's Megan." Megan is in the park, flying a kite.

    Write the whole sentence.

Point C of 3

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.

Point C · Exercise 67.1 · part 1 of 3

Complete each sentence with the verb in brackets in the correct form.

  1. Example

    1a The window is broken. Josh kicked his football through it. (kick)

    AnswerThe window is broken. Josh kicked his football through it.

  2. 1b The window is broken. I saw Josh his football through it. (kick)

  3. 2a A van outside the house next door, and then it drove away. (park)

  4. 2b We watched a van outside the house next door, and then it drove away. (park)

  5. 3a Mum handed me the parcel and watched me it. (unwrap)

Point C · Exercise 67.1 · part 2 of 3

Complete each sentence with the verb in brackets in the correct form.

  1. 3b Mum handed me the parcel and I it. (unwrap)

  2. 4a Owen supports Cardiff. I heard him he's never missed a home match. (say)

  3. 4b Owen supports Cardiff. He he's never missed a home match. (say)

  4. 5a An old lady on the ice, so we went to help her up. (slip)

Point C · Exercise 67.1 · part 3 of 3

Complete each sentence with the verb in brackets in the correct form.

  1. 5b We saw an old lady on the ice, so we went to help her up. (slip)

Point C · Exercise 67.3 · part 1 of 3

Complete each sentence with one of these verbs, in the correct form.

Use these

barkcallclimbcomecrashdropgo offhappenhidepullrunwait

  1. Example

    The lift doors opened, but I didn't see anybody come out.

    AnswerThe lift doors opened, but I didn't see anybody come out.

  2. Example

    I saw a man waiting by your car this morning. I've no idea who he was.

    AnswerI saw a man waiting by your car this morning. I've no idea who he was.

  3. I was sure I heard somebody my name, so I looked round.

  4. Apparently there was a fight outside the chippy, but I didn't see it .

  5. Can you hear that dog ? It's been going on for an hour.

  6. Don't say you haven't got my pen. I saw you it in your bag.

Point C · Exercise 67.3 · part 2 of 3

Complete each sentence with one of these verbs, in the correct form.

Use these

barkcallclimbcomecrashdropgo offhappenhidepullrunwait

  1. The whole crowd watched the winner across the finish line.

  2. Half the street heard the fire alarm at four in the morning.

  3. I felt something on my sleeve. It was my little nephew.

  4. I glanced out of the kitchen window and saw the cat the apple tree.

Point C · Exercise 67.3 · part 3 of 3

Complete each sentence with one of these verbs, in the correct form.

Use these

barkcallclimbcomecrashdropgo offhappenhidepullrunwait

  1. We heard two cars at the junction. Luckily nobody was hurt.

  2. When we finally looked under the bed, we found the dog there from the thunder.

Lesson 67 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: -ing clauses (He hurt his knee playing football.)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. I saw him do something–Not checkedB. I saw her doing something–Not checkedC. The difference in meaning–Not checked