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Old 05-Mar-2004, 13:51
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Default the verb go

If the sun "goes" down, why is it that I watch the sun "go" down and not watch the sun "goes" down?
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Old 05-Mar-2004, 16:10
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Default Re: the verb go

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray9451
If the sun "goes" down, why is it that I watch the sun "go" down and not watch the sun "goes" down?
Good question. When "go" is the main verb in a sentence or clause, it takes an -es in the third person singular. In this case, "go" is a bare infinitive (no "to" marker), which is never inflected. The construction

watch/see + object/person + infinitive/gerund

is very common.
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Old 05-Mar-2004, 16:21
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Default Re: the verb go

So are "I watch the sun go down" and "I watch the sun going down" the same?

BMO
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Old 05-Mar-2004, 16:32
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Default Re: the verb go

Quote:
Originally Posted by bmo
So are "I watch the sun go down" and "I watch the sun going down" the same?

BMO
Pretty much the same. In many cases there is a difference in meaning between an infinitive and a gerund, but this difference varies from very subtle to profound. In this case, there really is not an appreciable difference.
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Old 05-Mar-2004, 17:55
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Default Re: the verb go

Thanks. BMO
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Old 05-Mar-2004, 17:59
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Default Re: the verb go

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Originally Posted by bmo
Thanks. BMO
You're welcome, BMO. :)
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Old 05-Mar-2004, 19:16
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Default

'Going' might imply duration.
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