Sensory and Other Verbs Followed by Gerund-Participles
Stating perceptions and observation
Expressing Attitude vs. Observation
| EXPRESSING ATTITUDE – GERUND CLAUSE | EXPRESSING OBSERVATION – PARTICIPIAL CLAUSE |
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After particular verbs expressing attitude, we commonly use a gerund clause. The clause serves as the object of the sentence. See Gerund Objects. |
After certain verbs expressing observation, we use a noun + participial clause. A participial clause is a relative clause that has been reduced. It can modify a subject or object noun. See Clause Reduction 2. |
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Related page: Gerunds |Participial Clauses 1 | Participial Clauses 2
What is the Difference?
| GERUND CLAUSE | PARTICIPIAL CLAUSE | ||||
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One could argue that the reduced gerund clause and the participial clause are the same with the only difference being that the gerund holds the place of a noun (subj or object) while a participial clause modifies a noun. In modern Linguistics, they are both called "gerund-participles". Below, "walking down the road" is the complement of the verb. It completes the idea We enjoy... . |
A participial clause modifies a noun or noun phrase. Below, "walking on the road" (a reduced adjective clause) modifies the object noun "sheep". In both gerund- and participial- clause, a reduced clause is serving as a part of the sentence. The gerund serves as the object, and the participial phrase serves as an adjective (modifier). |
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SUBJECT We |
VERB enjoy |
OBJECT sheep. / walking. |
SUBJECT We |
VERB saw |
OBJECT / VERB COMPLEMENT sheep. (obj. noun) |
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(X = We walk on the road.) |
The sheep |
were walking |
on the road. (comp.– prep. phrase) |
SUBJECT We |
VERB enjoy |
OBJECT CLAUSE walking on the road. |
SUBJECT We |
VERB saw |
MODIFYING CLAUSE sheep walking on the road. (modifying clause) |
Also see Clause Reduction 1, Nonfinite clause
The current linguistic term combines the two: Gerund-Participle "A distinction between gerund and present participle can't be sustained." (CaGEL n 82, 1187-92)
Clause Placement & Meaning
| REDUCED ADJECTIVE CLAUSE | REDUCED ADVERBIAL CLAUSE | |
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A modifying clause should be placed directly after the word it modifies. See Clause Reduction 2 |
When a modifying (participial) clause is placed at the beginning of a sentence, it modifies the entire clause. (Place a comma after the clause.) See Shortening Clauses – While |
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Resources
Azar, Betty Schrampfer, and Stacy A. Hagen. Understanding and Using English Grammar. White Plains, NY: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print. (15-7)
Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (CaGEL). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Print. (1204-5)
Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 4th ed. 2009: Oxford University Press. Print. (242)
Special Verbs
Observation & Perception
-ing v. base verb form
| EXPRESSING OBSERVATION – ING VERB FORM | EXPRESSING OBSERVATION – BASE VERB FORM |
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A verb expressing observation or perception can be followed by a noun and a participial phrase (-ing). "That + BE" is deleted from the original clause. |
OR a verb expressing observation/ perception can be followed by a noun and a base verb form. The suffix -ing is deleted from the verb. There is no difference in meaning. |
We smelled a skunk [that was] passing by. |
We smelled it pass[ing] by. |
We saw an athlete [that was] running a marathon race. |
We saw him run [ing] a marathon race. |
We heard cows [that were] mooing. (making cow sounds) |
We heard them moo [ing] . (make cow sounds) |
We saw some birds [that were] flying away. |
We saw them fly [ing] away. |
We heard the neighbors [that were] leaving at 7:00 am. |
We heard them leave [ing] at 7:00 am. |
We watched our mother [that were] cooking dinner. |
We watched her cook [ing] dinner. |
We felt the temperature [that were] rising. |
We felt it rise [ing] . |
We observed the doctor [that was] doing open-heart surgery. |
(no base-form equivalent) |
We noticed [that he was ] him putting something in his pocket. |
(no base-form equivalent) |
The police found [that they were] them hiding. (found = observed) |
(no base-form equivalent) |
She caught her husband [that was] cheating. |
(no base-form equivalent) |
Special Verb
Having a particular experience
Compare — Possession vs. Have an Experience
| EXPRESSING POSSESSION | HAVING A PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE |
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A verb expressing possession is commonly followed by a noun. (No gerund form is possible.) |
Have expressions indicate a particular experience when doing an activity. The expression is is followed by a gerund phrase. The speaker expresses a good or bad experience. |
We had a mobile phone. |
We had difficulty finding a pay phone. (English-US: trouble) |
We had a holiday |
We had a hard time finding a pay phone. (difficulty) |
We had a frisbee. |
They had no trouble driving to your house. (ease) |
We had a karaoke machine. |
They had an easy time driving to your house. (ease) |
She had a baby. |
She had an awful time getting a visa. (unpleasant) |
We had breakfast / lunch / dinner. |
We had fun skiing. (pleasant) |
They are having a party. (hosting an event) |
We had a ball skiing. (a ball = fun) |
He is having a cigarette / a break. (take) |
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Have a bite / a drink / a seat. (take) |
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She is having a bath. (take) |
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Have a good day / holiday / Merry Christmas (enjoy) |
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Special Verbs
Spending time verb-ing
Compare — Two activities vs. Spending Time (doing something)
| TWO SEPARATE ACTIVITIES | SPENDING TIME VERB-ING | |
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These verbs indicate two activities are occurring or have occurred. |
These verbs indicate "spending time" doing one activity. It's not so important whether the person is sitting, lying or standing, but that they remain stationary (in the same place). |
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He sat and ate his dinner. |
He sat eating his dinner. |
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He stood and argued with me. |
He stood arguing with me. |
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He lies around and reads the newspaper. (or lies down) |
He lies around reading the newspaper. |
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He wasted time and texted on his telephone. |
He wastes time texting on his telephone. |
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She spends hours and does her homework. |
She spends hours doing her homework. |
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Special Verbs
List
Verb list for this pattern
| OBSERVATION | PERCEPTION | "HAVE" A (GOOD/BAD) EXPERIENCE | SPENDING TIME |
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see I saw her leaving / leave. |
feel I felt her sneezing / sneeze. |
have trouble I have trouble hearing. |
sit I sat watching the sheep |
watch I watched them falling / fall. |
hear I heard her coughing / cough. |
have difficulty I have difficulty spelling. |
stand I stood waiting for them. |
observe I saw her leaving. |
smell I smelled her passing / pass by. |
have fun I have fun dancing. |
lie around I lay around relaxing. |
notice I noticed her arriving. |
have a great time I had a great time traveling. |
lie He lay complaining. |
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catch I caught them relaxing. |
have an easy time I had an easy time driving. |
waste time He wastes time shopping. |
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find I found her sleeping. |
have a ball I have a ball playing video games. |
spend time I spend time browsing. |
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overheard We overheard them fighting. |
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Resources
Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Print. ( 1238-9)
Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 4th ed. 2009: Oxford University Press. Print. (411)
Practice
Detective Report: Making Observations
Decide whether to use an infinitive (to+verb), a gerund-participle (verb-ing), or the base verb form (verb)
- Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.