These verbs express perceptions – see, hear, feel, watch, notice, smell, and so on.
In English there is a difference between using them with an infinitive or with the -ing form of the action that follows.
An example exercise from 'Kabinata' on this topic:
When we use an infinitive after the perception verb and the object of the action, the activity is usually one-time and brief, and we have managed to see / hear it from beginning to end.
When we use the -ing form after the perception verb and the object of the action, the activity is likely in the process of being carried out and we have only heard / seen part of it.
- I heard her sing a song.
- I heard her singing a song.
- I saw him come.
- I saw him coming.
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