take/took

[idiotmike]

Dear teachers,

Would you please explain why use take to the streets, not took to the streets, since the author uses "saw around" in the beginning?

"Moscow’s biggest demonstration yet against a rigged parliamentary election saw around 80,000 people take to the streets on December 24th."

Thank you.

[5jj]

Its not 'saw around'. It's 'saw aound 80,000 people take...'

"Moscow’s biggest demonstration yet against a rigged parliamentary election saw around (= approximately) 80,000 people take to the streets on December 24th."

[emsr2d2]

After "saw" we use the bare infinitive, not another past tense.

I saw them go.
She saw him leave.
The day saw twenty people win the lottery.
The demonstration saw around 8000 people take to the streets.

[aachu]

After "saw" we use the bare infinitive, not another past tense.

I saw them go.
She saw him leave.
The day saw twenty people win the lottery.
The demonstration saw around 8000 people take to the streets.

Ma'am emsr2d2, could you please expand upon this rule. What are the other words that precede the bare infinitive?

[emsr2d2]

Ma'am emsr2d2, could you please expand upon this rule. What are the other words that precede the bare infinitive?

Please don't call me "Ma'am"! It makes me feel about 150 years old or like the Queen of England! "Emsr2d2" will suffice.

Here are the first few verbs I could think of which would fit the pattern:

I saw them go.
I watched them leave.
I listened to them talk.
I heard them shout.
I noticed him arrive (although this sounds a little unnatural and would probably use "arriving").

[aachu]

Please don't call me "Ma'am"! It makes me feel about 150 years old or like the Queen of England! "Emsr2d2" will suffice.

Right. Actually I come from that part of the planet where people are more than courteous. So I tend to exhibit some courtesy. I didn't know it irritates you. I'll be careful from now on.

[Ilki]

Please don't call me "Ma'am"! It makes me feel about 150 years old or like the Queen of England! "Emsr2d2" will suffice.

[emsr2d2]

Right. Actually I come from that part of the planet where people are more than courteous. So I tend to exhibit some courtesy. I didn't know it irritates you. I'll be careful from now on.

It doesn't irritate me as such. It's just not appropriate on this forum. Everyone is equal here - learners and teachers. The point of having a username is so that we can all refer to each other by that name.

I don't think courtesy has much to do with parts of the planet. There are situations where it is acceptable to be entirely informal, those where being generally polite is fine and a few where being "more than courteous" is expected.

General politeness is all that's expected here. Saying "please" in a post asking for assistance and either saying "Thank you" once that assistance has been given, or pressing the "Like" button suffices.

Please don't think I am offended and I hope you are not upset by my comments. I am simply pointing out the general expected and accepted norms on this forum.

[Ilki]

I saw them go.
I watched them leave.
I listened to them talk.
I heard them shout.
I noticed him arrive (although this sounds a little unnatural and would probably use "arriving").

I made them leave.
I let them go.
I helped them (to) put their eggs in their baskets .