seen them beaten up

Status
Not open for further replies.

navi tasan

Key Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
United States
A-I have seen them beaten up.
This sentence can mean:
1-I have seen them get beaten up. ie. the process of their getting beaten up
but can it also mean
2-I have seen them after they had been beaten up. ie. I have seen them in a "beaten up state".
 

RonBee

Moderator
Joined
Feb 9, 2003
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I would read "I have seen them beaten up" as meaning "I watched as they were getting beaten up". Other meanings might become apparent with additional context.

8)
 

Tdol

Editor, UsingEnglish.com
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
The first is the natural assumption, but the second is a possible meaning.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top