[Grammar] The secretly filmed video shows the prince and princess kissing.

[kadioguy]

show
verb

[ + obj + -ing verb ] The secretly filmed video shows the prince and princess kissing.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/show
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a. The secretly filmed video shows the prince and princess kissing.

b. The secretly filmed video shows the prince and princess's kissing.

c. The secretly filmed video shows the prince and princess who are kissing.

d. The secretly filmed video shows that the prince and princess are kissing.
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Questions:

1.
I think that (b) focuses on the kissing, (c) focuses on the two people, and (d) focuses on both. Am I right?

2. Which of them can (a) be rewritten? I assume that (a) focuses on both, so (d) is the best choice. What do yo think?

 

[tedmc]

Only (a) is natural to me

 

[jutfrank]

Only a. is right for the intended meaning.

The pattern is: show somebody doing something

Forget about the others and focus on the one that is actually used.

 

[kadioguy]

Only (a) is natural to me

Isn't (d) natural enough?

Only a. is right for the intended meaning.

The pattern is: show somebody doing something

Forget about the others and focus on the one that is actually used.

That's true. But the pattern "show (that)..." is also used.

show (that)… Evidence shows that children learn best in their own language.
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/academic/show1?q=show

So is (d) possible?

 

[tedmc]

Isn't (d) natural enough?


That's true. But the pattern "show (that)..." is also used.

It is not wrong but is unnecessarily wordy.

 

[kadioguy]

It is not wrong but is unnecessarily wordy.

And there is a tense problem with (d):

The secretly filmed video shows that the prince and princess are kissing.

Should it be "are" or "were"? :-?

Without further context, I would keep it as "are", because the action in the video is always there. What do you think?

 

[tedmc]

Yes, using the participial phrase in the sentence circumvents that, but I don't think the present continuous is wrong either.

 

[jutfrank]

But the pattern "show (that)..." is also used.

No, it isn't. Not for this use.

show (that)… Evidence shows that children learn best in their own language.

That's a very different, unrelated use.

Focus on this specific use and how it goes with the form.

I'll repeat:

Form: show somebody doing something
Use: To describe the content of pictures/videos

 

[kadioguy]

Focus on this specific use and how it goes with the form.

I'll repeat:

Form: show somebody doing something
Use: To describe the content of pictures/videos

Can I say it this way?

The secretly filmed video shows that. What's that? The prince and princess are kissing.
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show
of picture/photograph
​[transitive](not usually used in the progressive tenses)
to be of somebody/something; to represent somebody/something

show somebody/something
The photographs clearly show a broken window.

show somebody/something + adv./prep.
She had objected to a photo showing her in a bikini.
This picture shows my mother as a young woman.

show somebody/something doing something
The painting shows St George slaying the dragon.

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/show_1?q=show

 

[jutfrank]

Can I say it this way?

The secretly filmed video shows that. What's that? The prince and princess are kissing.

No.

 

[Tdol]

C) could be possible if there were a number of princes and princesses there, with only one couple kissing.

 

[kadioguy]

Can I say it this way?

The secretly filmed video shows that. What's that? The prince and princess are kissing.

No.

If you don't mind, could you tell me more about that?

(I think the writing sounds reasonable.)

 

[jutfrank]

The secretly filmed video shows that. What's that? The prince and princess are kissing.

I don't understand what you mean. What is 'that'?

 

[kadioguy]

I don't understand what you mean. What is 'that'?

Thank you for the reply.

Original: The secretly filmed video shows the prince and princess kissing.

And I mean something like this:

The secretly filmed video shows that event - the prince and princess are kissing.

 

[Tarheel]

If there was some doubt about what they were doing then I think (d) might work.

Abe: What were they doing?
Bob: The video shows they were kissing.

 

[jutfrank]

And I mean something like this:

The secretly filmed video shows that event - the prince and princess are kissing.

I see. If that helps you to understand, then fine.

 

[kadioguy]

The secretly filmed video shows that event - the prince and princess are kissing.

I see. If that helps you to understand, then fine.

Without further context, is it OK to use "are" rather than "were", for the reason that the action in the video is always there?

 

[jutfrank]

No, you shouldn't use it at all.

I thought you said that when you mess around with the grammar of sentences, it's purely to help you understand.

 

[kadioguy]

No, you shouldn't use it at all.

I thought you said that when you mess around with the grammar of sentences, it's purely to help you understand.

Do you mean if the following can help me to understand, then it is fine, but I shouldn't practically use it, not to mention the discussion about its tense? :shock:

(In post #17 I meant to discuss the verb tense in red.)
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The secretly filmed video shows that event - the prince and princess are kissing.

 

[jutfrank]

Do you mean if the following can help me to understand, then it is fine, but I shouldn't practically use it, not to mention the discussion about its tense? :shock:

Yes.