Infinitive question

[Cooklava]

She watched him eat.

"Him" is the direct object and the subject of the infinitive "(to) eat." But what is the infinitive itself doing in this sentence? Does it have a connection to any other word?

Thank you very much.:roll:

 

[susiedqq]

Well, I don't think it's an infinitive.

The implied is: She watched him (while he was eating)

I look forward to others offering an answer :lol:

 

[Grablevskij]

Eat is a bare infinitive (without the participle to).
Him is not object but only a part of complex object. The object is "him eat".

This construction is used with verbs reflecting senses: see, hear, feel
Another examples: A saw him come. I heard him enter the room.

Michael