Indirect Statement And Verb In The Third Person...

[Cervantes]

Hi,
I have a dilema with the following sentences:

"John sees Sarah enter(s) the house"
"John turns around the corner and notices Melissa shake(s) hands with Lloyd"

My confusion is if Sarah(she) and Melissa(she) takes the "s" or not in this indirect statement.

Any light or explanation will be highly appreciated...

Thanks

[finta]

Originally Posted by Cervantes

Hi,
I have a dilema with the following sentences:

"John sees Sarah enter(s) the house"
"John turns around the corner and notices Melissa shake(s) hands with Lloyd"

My confusion is if Sarah(she) and Melissa(she) takes the "s" or not in this indirect statement.

Any light or explanation will be highly appreciated...

Thanks

Hi Cervantes!

Verbs of perception (see, watch, hear, feel, notice) are followed by the infinitive without 'to' when the action being perceived is finished.

In your examples you used proper nouns....Sarah & Melissa.

Does it make more sense to you if you replace them with pronouns?

John sees her enter the house.
John sees her shake hands with Lloyd.

If the action is not finished, or the whole of the action is not perceived, verbs of perception are followed by the -ing form.

I heard Sarah singing in the bath (but I didn't stop to listen long!)

Hope this helps.

finta

[Cervantes]

Thanks,

This explanation helps me clarify my doubt...