Learn English – Verbs of perception: see, hear, watch + object +[bare infinitive/ gerund/ adjective/ past participle/]

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Some of the verbs called "verbs of perception or perceptual. However many English language learners would face many problems with using them, me one of them.

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Some of them are being used in such as the following basis (active form):
– {see/look/watch/notice/observe/hear} + object + {gerunds/bare infinitive}.

But sometimes, issues are made with passive form.
Is the following rule is right or wrong? Correct it if is wrong.
– {see/watch, etc.} + object + {adjective/ past participle}

Or:

  • {see/watch, etc.} + object (being: optional or required?) + {adjective/ past participle}.

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  • I saw a person repairing my car. (Active form)
  • I saw a person repair my car. (Active form)
  • I saw a car being repaired. (Passive form)
  • I saw a car repaired. (Passive form)
  • I saw a car be repaired. (Passive form)

  • I watched a man solve the problem. (Active form)

  • I watched a man solving the problem. (Active form)
  • I watched a problem be solved . (Passive form)
  • I watched a problem being solved. (Passive form)
  • I watched a problem solved. (Passive form)

I am confused about which sentences are wrong and which ones are right?

Could just explain deeply, and elaborate on demonstrations of each one of these examples?

Best Answer

The active voice is speech that places the subject first, followed by a verb, and a place/object. Therefore the correct form is subject -- verb -- object.

The passive voice is speech that places the object first, followed by a verb (tense and a gerund), and the subject. Therefore the correct form is object -- verb -- subject.

None of these sentences are in the passive voice, since I (the subject), always comes first in each of them.

Most of these can be converted from active voice to passive voice:

I saw a person repairing my car. The car was being repaired by someone.

I saw a person repair my car. The car was repaired by someone.

I saw a car being repaired. / I saw a car be repaired. A car was being repaired.

I watched a man solve the problem. The problem was solved by a man.

I watched a man solving the problem. The problem was being solved by a man.

I watched a problem being solved. / I watched a problem be solved. The problem was being solved.

Notice that none of these use I, mainly because I couldn't find a logical incorporation. I suppose you could say (and use as a guideline):

The car was being repaired by someone I was watching.

The problem was solved as I watched.

The sentences I saw a car repaired and I saw a problem solved don't make sense to me because the past participle is just by itself. I would include words to tie it together with everything else:

I saw a car that was repaired.

I saw a car that had been repaired.

I saw a problem that was solved.

I saw a problem that had been solved.

I also think that adding a comma, though strange, is acceptable:

I saw a car, repaired.

I saw a problem, solved.

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