[Grammar] have something done

[Silverobama]

Hi,

Here is a sentence I don't understand:


At the end of a month club leader had the unruly youths eating out of his hand.


My question is:

Should "eating" be "eaten" in the sentence?

Thanks a lot

If the sentence sounds unnatural and old-fashioned, please let me know.

 

[5jj]

At the end of a month club leader had the unruly youths eating out of his hand.

My question is: Should "eating" be "eaten" in the sentence? No

The sentence means that he brought about a situation which caused the boys to eat out of his hand.

 

[Silverobama]

Thanks a lot, five.

Can you tell me why here should be "eating" rather than "eaten"?

Thanks a lot

 

[5jj]

'eating' - active: the boys were eating

'eaten' - passive: the boys were eaten. (Unlikely!)