[Grammar] I saw many people play in the park.

[jour]

I have read this sentence from a children's story book.

"I saw many people play in the park."

Is the verb tense correct in the above sentence? The verb 'play' is in Simple present but 'saw' is in the Simple Past.

Would greatly appreciate your feedback. Thanks.

 

[5jj]

Re: Tenses

'Play' is not the simple present. It's the bare infinitive. Whatever tense you use for see, the form of play does not change.

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome back, jour, after your seven-year eight-month absence.

Please tell us the title and author of the book you have quoted from.

***

Please note that I have changed your thread title.

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'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.'

 

[emsr2d2]

I [STRIKE]have[/STRIKE] read this sentence [STRIKE]from[/STRIKE] in a children's storybook.

"I saw many people play in the park."

Is the verb tense correct in the above sentence? The verb 'play' is [STRIKE]in[/STRIKE] the simple present but 'saw' is [STRIKE]in[/STRIKE] the simple past.

I would greatly appreciate your feedback. Thanks.

emsr2d2

 

[Tdol]

You could also use playing.

 

[5jj]

It would be more natural to use relaxing, chilling, taking a break, enjoying the fresh air or something like that rather than play(ing). Young children play; people above a certain age (I'd guess about ten or eleven) don't.

 

[probus]

Young children play; people above a certain age I'd guess about ten or eleven) don't.

Then I don't know why I answer questions here. All this time I thought I was just having fun.

 

[Phaedrus]

Re: Tenses

'Play' is not the simple present. It's the bare infinitive. Whatever tense you use for see, the form of play does not change.

Albeit unlikely, it is possible that play is in the simple present: many people play in the park could be a that-clause complement of saw with a deleted that.

I read the report and saw what it said. I saw [that] many people play in the park.

 

[jour]

Re: Tenses

'Play' is not the simple present. It's the bare infinitive. Whatever tense you use for see, the form of play does not change.

Thanks

 

[jour]

Thanks

 

[jour]

Sorry, I can't remember the title and author of the book. I have returned it to the owner. Thanks.