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English grammar

Seeing, hearing, finding: verbs of perception and judgement

C1 · Advanced Verbs and time Questions 10

The rule

After see, hear, watch, notice, feel and smell, an object can be followed by a bare infinitive or an -ing form, and the meaning changes. The bare infinitive gives the whole action, start to finish (I saw her cross the road); the -ing form gives part of an action in progress (I saw her crossing the road). In the passive the bare infinitive becomes to + infinitive: He was seen to leave, They were made to wait. Verbs of judgement — find, consider, think, believe, regard … as — need a dummy it when the real object is a clause that follows: I find it hard to concentrate, We consider it essential that…, I would appreciate it if you could…. Without the it the sentence falls apart.

Pattern

see / hear / watch + object + bare infinitive (whole action) · + -ing (in progress) · be seen / heard / made + to + infinitive (passive) · find / consider / think + it + adjective + to / that … · appreciate it if …

Examples

  1. I heard someone knock at the door, so I went down.

  2. We watched the sun going down over the harbour.

  3. He was seen to leave the building shortly after midnight.

  4. I find it hard to say no to my manager.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: I find hard to concentrate in open offices.

    Right: I find it hard to concentrate in open offices.

    find + it + adjective + to: the it is obligatory.

  • Wrong: She was seen leave the house.

    Right: She was seen to leave the house.

    In the passive, the bare infinitive becomes to + infinitive.

  • Wrong: They made him to wait outside.

    Right: They made him wait outside.

    Active make takes the bare infinitive.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the speaker mean?

    I saw him cross the road.

    1. She crossed the road with him.
    2. She did not see him at all.
    3. She saw only part of the crossing.
    4. She saw the whole crossing.
    Show answer

    Answer: D She saw the whole crossing.

    object + bare infinitive = the complete action.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the speaker mean?

    I saw him crossing the road.

    1. She saw the action in progress.
    2. She helped him to cross.
    3. She saw him finish crossing.
    4. She heard about it later.
    Show answer

    Answer: A She saw the action in progress.

    object + -ing = the action in progress, perhaps not all of it.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I find it difficult to sleep when it is this hot.
    2. I find it difficult sleeping to when it is this hot.
    3. I find difficult to sleep when it is this hot.
    4. I find that difficult to sleep when it is this hot.
    Show answer

    Answer: A I find it difficult to sleep when it is this hot.

    find + it + adjective + to-infinitive.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    He was made _____ for two hours before anyone saw him.

    1. wait
    2. waited
    3. to wait
    4. waiting
    Show answer

    Answer: C He was made to wait for two hours before anyone saw him.

    Passive make: be made to + infinitive.

  5. 5This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    The suspect was seen enter the bank at noon.

    1. The suspect was seen to enter the bank at noon.
    2. The suspect seen to enter the bank at noon.
    3. The suspect was seen entered the bank at noon.
    4. The suspect was seen to entering the bank at noon.
    Show answer

    Answer: A The suspect was seen to enter the bank at noon.

    Passive perception verb: be seen to + infinitive.

  6. 6Change the sentence.

    Put it in the passive.

    Witnesses heard him shout at the referee.

    1. He was hearing to shout at the referee.
    2. He heard to shout at the referee.
    3. He was heard to shout at the referee.
    4. He was heard shout at the referee.
    Show answer

    Answer: C He was heard to shout at the referee.

    Active hear somebody do becomes passive be heard to do.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. We consider it essentially that everyone attends.
    2. We consider it essential that everyone attends.
    3. We consider that it essential everyone attends.
    4. We consider essential that everyone attends.
    Show answer

    Answer: B We consider it essential that everyone attends.

    consider + it + adjective + that-clause.

  8. 8Put the words in the right order.

    I felt something crawl up my arm

    Show answer

    Answer: I felt something crawl up my arm.

    object + bare infinitive: the whole movement was felt.

  9. 9Fill in the gap.

    You are describing what you noticed from a window.

    I noticed a man _____ the car door, so I called the police.

    1. trying
    2. tried
    3. try to
    4. to try
    Show answer

    Answer: A I noticed a man trying the car door, so I called the police.

    object + -ing: the action was in progress when you noticed it.

  10. 10Choose the correct sentence.

    Which sentence means the same?

    They consider him the best candidate.

    1. They are considering becoming candidates.
    2. They think he is the best candidate.
    3. They asked him to be the candidate.
    4. He considers them the best candidates.
    Show answer

    Answer: B They think he is the best candidate.

    consider + object + noun = think that somebody is …

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