Whittle or whittled

[northpath]

Here’s a classic sentence:
I saw a school of children cross the street.
The following sentence I found in MacMillan Dictionary:
The team saw their lead whittled away during the second half.
Why not “whittle”?
The team saw their lead whittle away during the second half.

 

[Barque]

I suppose you could use "whittle" too. But "whittled" works, implying "whittled away by the opposing team".

 

[probus]

To whittle is to carve or shape a piece of wood with a knife. Here it is used as a metaphor. The team did not whittle away its own lead. Instead, the lead was whittled away by itheir opponents.

Pleaase note that I have changed your thread title. Titles shoild contain some or all of the words asked about.

 

[emsr2d2]

Here’s a classic sentence:
I saw a school of children cross the street.

In what way is that sentence "classic"? Where did you find it? We don't talk about a "school of children". You can see a "school of fish" (they're not likely to be crossing the road!) or a "group of children".