Policeman: There's been a robbery here. I want to speak to anybody who saw anything at seven o'clock this evening.
Mr Jackson: I was here. I saw a car arrive at about six o'clock. The driver waited for an hour. Then I noticed him signal to somebody in the building. Then there was a loud bang inside the building.
Policeman: Did you hear anybody scream or shout? Did you see anyone come out of the building?
Mr Jackson: I heard someone shout "murderer". Then three men ran out, jumped into the car and drove off.
a) Study this example situation:
Tom got into his car and drove away. You saw this. You can say:
— I saw Tom get into his car and drive away. In this structure we use the infinitive (get, drive etc.):
| Someone did something I saw this | > | |
| I saw someone do something |
Remember that we use the infinitive without to:
— I saw her go out. (not "to go out")
But after apassive ("he was seen" etc.) we use to + infinitive:
— She was seen to go out.
b) Now study this example situation:
Yesterday you saw Ann. She was waiting for a bus. You can say:
— I saw Ann waiting for a bus.
In this structure we use — ing (waiting):
Someone was doing
something
I saw this
I saw someone doing something I
с) Now study the difference in meaning between the two structures:
" I saw him do something" = he did something (past simple} and I saw this. I saw the complete action from beginning to end:
— He fell to the ground. I saw this.
Ф I saw him fall to the ground.
— The accident happened. We saw this,-
Ь We saw the accident happen.
"I saw him doing something" = he was doing something (past continuous) and I saw this. I saw him when he was in the middle of doing something. This does not mean that I saw the complete action:
— He was walking along the street.
I saw this when I drove past in my car.
4J-I saw him walking along the street.
When we use a present participle we emphasize experience of part of an action:
— I watched the boats sailing by. = Я наблюдал, как отплывают корабли.
When we want to emphasize experience of the complete action we use an infinitive without to after the verb of perception:
—-1 watched the boats sail by. = Я видел, как отчалили корабли.
There is usually little difference in meaning between the two forms except that the -ing form usually gives the idea of "while":
— I've never seen Tom dance.
— I saw my friend run down the street.
— I heard the rain fall on the roof.
I've never seen Tom
dancing.
I saw my friend
running down the street.
I heard the rain falling
on the roof.
d) We use these structures especially with see and hear, and also with watch, listen to, feel and notice:
— I didn't hear you come in. — I could hear it raining.
— She suddenly felt someone — The missing boys were touch her on the shoulder. last seen playing near
the river.
— Did you notice anyone — Listen to the birds go out? singing!
After smell and find you can use the -ing structure only:
— Can you smell something burning?
— She found him reading her letters.
Would rather
Would rather (do) = would prefer to do. After would rather we use the infinitive without to.
Compare:
Shall we go by train?
Well, I'd prefer to go by
car.
Well, I'd rather go by car.
(not "to go")
—"Would you rather have tea or coffee?" "Coffee, please."
— I'm tired. I'd rather not go out this evening, if you don't mind.
— "Do you want to go out this evening?" "I'd rather not."
Note the structure: / 'd rather do something than (do) something else.
\
— I'd rather stay at home than go to the cinema.
Had better do something
The meaning of had better (I'd better) is similar to should. "I'd better do something" = I should do something or it is advisable for me to do something; if I don't do this, something bad might happen:
— I have to meet Tom in ten minutes. I'd better go now or I'll be late.
— We've almost run out of petrol. We'd better stop at the next petrol station to fill up.
The negative form is had better not ('d better not):
— You don't look very well. You'd better not go to work today.
The form is always "had better" (usually 'd better in spoken English). We say had but the meaning is present or future, not past:
— I'd better go to the bank this afternoon.
Remember that had better is followed by the infinitive without to:
— It might rain. We'd better take an umbrella,
