Tuesday 24 September 2013

The Participle as the Part of a Complex Object or a Complex Subject

Similar to the Infinitive Participle I may form part of a Complex Object or Subject when combined with a noun (pronoun) to which it stands in predicate relation.

Compare:
  • I saw him run along the street. (Infinitive Complex Object)He was seen run along the street. (Infinitive Complex Subject)
  • I saw him running along the street. (Participle Complex Object)He was seen running along the street. (Participle Complex Subject)

Such complexes occur after verbs denoting physical perceptions – 'to see', 'to hear', 'to feel', 'to watch', 'to find', 'to catch'.