See vs Hear - English In A Minute

Saskia's going to set us up with everything we need to use the English verbs of perception see and hear! Give us 60 seconds and we'll give you the English!

Watch the video, then answer this:
Choose the best option to complete this sentence:
I saw him ___ to his ex-girlfriend.
a) talk
b) talking

[angelochecklightgurova]

Any English learner must be thankful for this simple, short, and clever explanation. It's cool, continue teaching, please 🎀

[GrantCareerCoaching]

Awesome lesson. I love how clear, simple, and to the point your lessons are. No rambling for 20 minutes, just the exact useful information students need to know 😎👍 Thanks!

[CarlosMorenoV]

I like this format of videos because these are so punctual and fast. Thanks BBC :)

[belenpisano]

Thanks!!! the verbs of perception in English and the difference when we use verb infinitive and verb -ing form, I did not know until now, how to use one of other is depending of context. For example: I saw my neighbour got in the window of his house and behind me, I hear the neighbour`s wife crying for their baby was in house. They left their keys at room on the table. It was crazy!!! Bye for now, cool explanations!

[nawarnawar]

Well thank you, these kind of short episodes are really enjoyable.
It gives a lot of information within a very short time.

[thebunnyvlog]

Thank you sooo much.
The way you guys are teaching us really super cool .

[deddywirata]

I just knew it from this video, thank you!

[camilonunesoul]

Hide transcript
Saskia
Hi! Saskia for BBC Learning English here, and today I'm going to tell you about how we use verbs of perception in English.

There are a number of these verbs but I'm just going to look at two with you now: see and hear.

When we use these verbs, this is the form:

First, the verb of perception.
Then, the object of the sentence.
Then we have either the infinitive without to or the -ing form.
Here's an example: I heard him go down the stairs.
Or: I heard him going down the stairs.

There's a slight difference between these two forms:

When we use the infinitive, it suggests that we hear or see the whole action or event.
Using the –ing form suggests that we hear or see something in progress.
'I saw her cross the street' means I saw her cross from one side to the other.
'I saw her crossing the street' means I saw her in the middle – on the way across.


Ocultar transcrição
Saskia
Oi! Saskia para BBC Aprendendo inglês aqui, e hoje eu vou falar sobre como usamos verbos de percepção em inglês.

Há vários desses verbos, mas vou apenas olhar para os dois com você agora: veja e ouça.

Quando usamos esses verbos, esta é a forma:

Primeiro, o verbo da percepção.
Então, o objeto da sentença.
Então, temos o infinitivo sem a forma ou a forma.
Aqui está um exemplo: ouvi-o descer as escadas.
Ou: ouvi-o descendo as escadas.

Há uma pequena diferença entre essas duas formas:

Quando usamos o infinitivo, isso sugere que ouvimos ou vemos toda a ação ou evento.
Usar o formulário –ing sugere que ouvimos ou vemos algo em andamento.
"Eu a vi atravessar a rua" significa que a vi cruzar de um lado para o outro.
"Eu a vi atravessando a rua" significa que a vi no meio - no caminho.

[nguyenhuynhbangtram]

Thank you for your useful videos, especially this one. This video is really great and suitable for an English learner like me. Anyway, thanks a lot !

[polzovatel.]

Hello, BBC Learning English, my name is Dmitry, I'm from Russia and I'm your new fan. Thanks a lot for your work, I consider it very useful and amazing. Could you please answer if I'm right with "b"? (I mean your quiz, as you understand).

[OSAMMA]

If anyone want to practice the english speak let me know ;)

[DAZU]

Hi, I did the quiz, aren't bare infinitive & infinitive without to the same? 🤔

[dayaramchoudhary]

Praiseworthy
Mam what about using the definite article before acronyms
For example RBI, WHO, UN

[royliza]

I saw her go down to shop
I saw her going down to the shop

The first one means I saw her going to the shop

N the next one is I saw her in d middle of her going to d stop ...

Actually I found the last part little confusing still I m trying to make sentences

[shuaibahmad]

Please tall me what mean in the bout words see and hear are bout same mean ?

[thanawatrattanathammethee]

I saw this VDO clip helping me in English. Is this sentence grammatically correct?

[phungtrinh]

Could anyone please help me to explain the difference between bare infinitive and infinitive without to?

[ahmedfarraj]

Hi
So we can say: I heard her shouting and I heard her shout

[humairakakar]

Please What's the difference between bare infinitive and infinitive without to?