B2 · Upper intermediate

Verbs of the senses + object + -ing or base verb

After verbs such as see, hear and watch, you can name what you noticed, and then say what it was doing. You can use an -ing form or a base verb, and the meaning is a little different.

The pattern

Verbs of the senses can be followed by an object (the person or thing you notice) and then a verb. The object is a noun or a pronoun such as him, her or them.

Pattern A

Verb of the sensesobjectverb-ing

Pattern B

Verb of the sensesobjectbasic verb

I heard someone singing in the garden.
I can smell fresh bread baking.
We watched the children playing in the park.

The basic verb is the verb without to or any ending. In pattern B there is no to: I saw him cross the road, not I saw him to cross.

Verbs of this kind include see, hear, watch, notice, smell, feel and listen to.

Pattern A: object + -ing

The -ing form usually shows an action that was in progress, or not yet finished, when you noticed it.

I saw two men carrying a large sofa down the street.
She noticed a light flashing in the window.
Can you hear someone crying?

The -ing form can also show that an action was repeated.

We watched the nurses coming and going all afternoon.

After can or could with these verbs, always use the -ing form, not the basic verb.

I could hear rain falling on the roof all night.

Pattern B: object + base verb

The base verb often shows that you saw or heard the whole action or event, from beginning to end.

I saw her leave the building with a tall man.
We heard the door close and then there was silence.
He watched the plane land and then went home.

Compare the two

Pattern	What it shows
I saw her cross the road.	Often: I saw the whole action. She started, crossed and finished.
I saw her crossing the road.	Usually: She was in the middle of crossing when I saw her.

Both patterns are often possible after the same verb. The difference is one of emphasis: the whole event, or an action in progress. In some sentences either one fits. In the practice below, only one option is structurally correct each time, and the context shows the usual whole-event, in-progress or repeated meaning.

Watch out

✗I saw him to cross the road.

✓I saw him cross the road.

After see + object, the basic verb has no to.

✗She watched the boys played football.

✓She watched the boys playing football.

After watch + object, use the -ing form or the basic verb, not a past-tense verb.

✗We listened the band play.

✓We listened to the band play.

Listen needs to before its object.

What comes next

For verbs followed by -ing, see Verb + -ing: enjoy, stop, avoid. For verbs followed by to or an object + to, see Verb + to-infinitive: want, decide, forget and Verb + object + to-infinitive: tell, want, allow.

Practice

Eight questions. Choose one answer for each.