see him play or see him playing

[ostap77]

"I see them play soccer."

OR

"I see them playing soccer."

Is there a difference between these two?

 

[Mehrgan]

"I see them play soccer."

OR

"I see them playing soccer."

Is there a difference between these two?

*not a teacher*
In English the two forms are both used, while a verb-ing form emphasises the duration of the activity.

"I saw them playing football."
"I saw her leave the room."

 

[ostap77]

*not a teacher*
In English the two forms are both used, while a verb-ing form emphasises the duration of the activity.

"I saw them playing football."
"I saw her leave the room."

What would be the difference?

 

[5jj]

What would be the difference?

Mehrgan said it: a verb-ing form emphasises the duration of the activity.

 

[TheParser]

"I see them play soccer."

OR

"I see them playing soccer."

Is there a difference between these two?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) Here are two sentences that may shed some light on the

matter. Many teachers use these two sentences.

I saw Tom cross the street. = I saw him walk completely

across the street.

I saw Tom crossing the street. = I saw him in the street,

but I do not know whether he actually finished the action.

(Maybe I had stopped paying attention to him because something

else attracted my attention and I turned my head away.)

*****

In your two sentences, probably the past would be more

common:

I saw Tom play soccer yesterday. = You went to the soccer

field and watched the game.

I saw Tom playing soccer yesterday. = You walked by the football

field yesterday and just happened to see Tom in action. But you

may have quickly continued on your way.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

 

[ostap77]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) Here are two sentences that may shed some light on the

matter. Many teachers use these two sentences.

I saw Tom cross the street. = I saw him walk completely

across the street.

I saw Tom crossing the street. = I saw him in the street,

but I do not know whether he actually finished the action.

(Maybe I had stopped paying attention to him because something

else attracted my attention and I turned my head away.)

*****

In your two sentences, probably the past would be more

common:

I saw Tom play soccer yesterday. = You went to the soccer

field and watched the game.

I saw Tom playing soccer yesterday. = You walked by the football

field yesterday and just happened to see Tom in action. But you

may have quickly continued on your way.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

How about the present simple?

 

[ostap77]

How about the present simple?[/QUOTE

What do you think about the first post given above?

 

[TheParser]

How about the present simple?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

(1) Possibly present tense sentences might be:

Every day before I return home, I drop by the soccer field and watch

them play soccer for 30 minutes. Then I have to leave in order to get

home in time to help my wife cook dinner.

*****

I take the No. 4 bus home every day. When the bus passes the

high school, I always see them out on the field playing soccer.


***** NOT A TEACHER *****