I saw him walk or I saw him walking

Someone asked me whether there was a difference between 'I saw him walk along the road' and 'I saw him walking along the road'. Both are grammatically correct, but there is a slight difference in meaning. When saw (or another verb of perception eg hear, notice) is followed by the base form of the verb, or the infinitive without 'to' (as 'walk' in the sentence above) the emphasis is on the result of the action. When the -ing form is used the emphasis is on the process, or the continuation of the action.

 

The difference is perhaps clearer in the sentences 'I saw him do it' and 'I saw him doing it', and it is clearer still in 'I saw him drowning but he was rescued just in time'. You definitely need the -ing form here; 'I saw him drown but he was rescued just in time' is not a possible sentence, as the form 'drown' shows he couldn't possibly have been rescued.

Comments

[FDB]

You don't even need the "...but he was rescued just in time".

"I saw him drowning" could lead anywhere, while "I saw him drown" is a bummer.

But the finality of drowning (death) is way more stark than the finality of walking (getting someplace), so there's an unescapable qualitative difference going on here.

[FDB]

'Inescapable' might play better in these parts I supppose.

[Biuro tlumaczen]

Gerunds and infinitives are great fun! A favourite of mine is "he stopped to smoke" and "he stopped smoking" they have opposite meanings of course!

[Virtual Linguist]

Thanks to you both for your comments. Good points!

[איפור ערב]

Thanks for nice post!! I am happy to know here slight difference in grammar related such types of verb and sentences.

[גני אירועים בשרון]

Great grammar post!! I love to read this types of post shared by you here. I like it very much.

[Jarek]

Very informative. Thanks for posting.

[Virtual Linguist]

Thanks, Jarek. Glad you found it useful.