Verbs of Perception

Set 1 (action) listen to look at touch smell taste

Set 2 (non-action) hear see* feel* smell taste

Set 3 (non-action) sound look feel smell taste

Set 1 verbs indicate that the perceiver is "focusing" on a specific object. They can be used in the progressive.

Amir is listening to the radio.
Dhea and Amir are looking at the picture.
Dhea is smelling the flowers.

Set 2 verbs indicate general perception and are non-progressive.

Amir hears a noise. Amir and Dhea see flames. Dhea smells smoke.

(Not: He is hearing…) (Not: They are seeing...)

Set 3 verbs indicate appearance. (It "seems"…) They are non-progressive.

That sounds like thunder. This looks terrible. It smells fishy.

(describes the object, not the perceiver)

*When feel is used to describe emotions, the progressive is sometimes used.

Amir feel great today. Dhea feel cold today. .

Amir am feeling great today. (physical feeling is usually non-progressive)

*See can sometimes be used in expressions in the progressive.

Dhea is seeing the doctor.
Amir is seeing another woman.

Special Usage of Certain Verbs of Perception

Some verbs of perception see, look at, hear, listen to, and feel, along with watch and sense can be used with objects followed by other verbs (base form or gerunds, but not infinitives).

Note the examples below:

Amir and Dhea heard you leave. (Okay. Emphasis on our hearing.)
Amir and Dhea heard you leaving. (Okay. Emphasis on your leaving.)
Amir and Dhea heard you to leave. (Incorrect!)

Other examples:

I saw her go.
Look at that man run!
Sylvesterlistened to the canary sing.
Amir and Dhea watched them play basketball.
Mr.Amir and Mss.Dhea watched them playing basketball.
Mr.Amir can feel the wind blowing against her skin.
Mr. Amir sensed the lion approaching.

Sensory Verbs + Gerund Clauses Stating perceptions and observations

Expressing Attitude vs. Observation

EXPRESSING ATTITUDE – GERUND CLAUSE	EXPRESSING OBSERVATION – PARTICIPIAL CLAUSE
After particular verbs expressing attitude, we commonly use a gerund clause.  The clause serves as the object of the sentence.   See gerund of object.	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 reduction2.
We enjoy walking on the road. (Our attitude about about our activity)	We saw sheep [that were] walking on the road. (Our observation about about their activity)
We don't mind waking up to "baaa" sounds. (Our attitude about about our activity)	We heard sheep [that were] making "baaa" sounds. (Our observation about about their activity)

What is the Difference?

GERUND CLAUSE			PARTICIPIAL CLAUSE
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).
SUBJECT We	VERB enjoy	OBJECT sheep. / walking.	SUBJECT We	VERB saw	OBJECT / VERB COMPLEMENT sheep.  (obj. noun)
		(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)

Clause Placement & Meaning

REDUCED ADJECTIVE CLAUSE	REDUCED ADVERBIAL CLAUSE
A modifying clause should be placed directly after the word it modifies. See clouse reduction2	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 shourtehning clouse while
We saw sheep walking on the road.  (The sheep were walking.)	Walking on the road, we saw sheep. (While we were walking on the road, we saw sheep.)

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
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.   catch (v.) – to observe or surprise someone doing something (often negative).  It doesn't mean to physically take hold of someone, rather to discover someone's hidden activity.	(no base-form  equivalent)

 

Special Verb 

Having a particular experience

Compare — Possession vs. Have an Experience

EXPRESSING POSSESSION	HAVING A PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE
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)
Have a bite / a drink  / a seat. (take)
She is having a bath. (take)
Have a good day / holiday / Merry Christmas (enjoy)

 

Special Verbs

Spending time verb-ing

Compare — Two activities vs. Spending Time (doing something)

TWO SEPARATE ACTIVITIES	SPENDING TIME VERB-ING
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).
He sat and ate his dinner.	He sat eating his dinner.
He stood and argued with me.	He stood arguing with me.
He lies around  and reads the newspaper.  (or lies down)	He lies around reading the newspaper.
He wasted time and texted on his telephone.	He wastes time texting on his telephone.
She spends hours and does her homework.	She spends hours doing her homework.

  Pop-Q -10/11/2009

 

Special Verbs

List

Verb list for this pattern

OBSERVATION	PERCEPTION	"HAVE" A (GOOD/BAD) EXPERIENCE	SPENDING TIME
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.
catch    I caught them relaxing.		have an easy time  I had an easy time driving.	waste time  He wastes time shopping.
find    I found her sleeping.		have a ball   I have a ball playing video games.	spend time    I spend time browsing.
overheard    We overheard them fighting.

Parallel Phrasing (Wording) Joining Like Items with And and But

Parallel Modifiers

UNPARALLEL	PARALLEL
A coordinator (and, but, or, nor) joins like elements, such as, noun phrases, verb phrases, adverb phrases, adjective phrases, prepositional phrases; gerunds, infinitives and independent clauses. If the elements are not grammatically the same, then the sentence is "unparallel".	If a word does not have an equivalent word form , then consider a way to reword the sentence so that both words can take the same grammatical structure (e.g., you can change an adjective to an adverb expression with "in a ___ manner".)
MIXED *My English is improving slow but surely.  (adj.–adv.)	ADVERBS My English is improving slowly but surely.
*We are leaving quickly and quiet.  (adv.–adj.)	We are leaving quickly and quietly.
*We'll can speak specific or generally, whichever you prefer. (adj.–adv.)	We'll can speak specific or generally, whichever you prefer.
*He works neither efficiently nor effective.  (adv.–adj.)	He works neither efficiently nor effective.
MIXED *The football player ran skillfully yet defensive. (adv.–adj.)	IN A…ADJ and ADJ…MANNER The football player ran skillfully nor defensively. The football player ran in a skillful and defensive manner.
* He welcomes us ¹friendly and joyfully.   (adj.–adv.)         friendly (adj)	¹He welcomes us in a friendly and joyful manner.  (prep phrase: adj–adj)
MIXED *She walks and texting  at the same time.	VERBS  / INFINITIVES / GERUNDS She walks and texts at the same time. (present)
*You I need to write and communicating with others.	You need to write and (to) communicate with others. (infinitive)
*I really like relaxing and enjoy my quiet time.	I really like relaxing and enjoying my quiet time.  (gerund)
*I spend time listen and laughing at his talk show.	I spend time listening to and laughing at his talk show.  (gerund + prep.)
MIXED The gymnast went around the bar and swinging over the top.  (prep phrase.–ger. phrase)	PHRASES The gymnast went around the bar and over the top.  (prep. phrase)
*In the morning and noon the mail comes. (prep. phrase–noun)	In the morning and at noon the mail comes.   (prep. phrase)
*How to do that and the time I am doing that is a problem.  (adv. phrase–noun phrase)	²How to do that and/or when to do that is a problem.   (adv. phrase)
*I don't care who it is or the product he is selling, just hang up!  (adv. phrase–noun phrase)	I don't care who it is or what he's selling, just hang up! (adv. phrase)
MIXED The dog was barking and we running.	CLAUSES The dog was barking, and we were running.
We were walking but not tiring.	We were walking, but we were not feeling tired.
We put new batteries in the toy yet broken.	We put new batteries in the toy, yet it wasn't working.

Adjectives ending in' ing 'and 'ed'

 A/ Somebody is bored if something (or somebody else) is boring. Or, if something is boring, it makes you bored. So:

Dhea is bored because her job is boring.

Dhea's job is boring, so Tracy is bored, (not 'Tracy is boring')   

If a person is boring, this means that they make other people bored:

Amir always talks about the same things. He's really boring.

 e to ask people for money.

B/ Compare adjectives ending in -ing and ed

You can say:

My job is boring, interesting/ tiring/ satisfying/ depressing, (etc.)

The -ing adjective tells you about the job.

Compare these examples:

Interesting:

Dhea thinks politics is very interesting.

Did you meet anyone interesting at the party?

Surprising:

It was quite surprising that he passed the examination.

Disappointing :

The film was disappointing. I expected it to be much better

Shocking:

The news was shocking.  

You can say:

I'm bored with my job.

I'm not interested in my job any more

I'm always tired when I finish work.

I'm not satisfied with my job.

My job makes me depressed, (etc.)

The -ed adjective tells you how somebody feels (about the job).

Interested:

Dhea is very interested in politics, (not interesting in politics')

Are you interested in buying a car? I'm trying to sell mine.

Surprised:

Everybody was surprised that he passed the examination.

Disappointed:

I was disappointed with the film. I expected it to be much better.

Shocked:

We were very shocked when we heard the news.