4

What's the difference? Are my ideas in the parentheses correct?

1 I saw the cat struck by a car. (I didn't see the moment when it was struck)

2 I saw the cat being struck by a car. (I saw the moment when it was struck)

3 I saw that the cat had been struck by a car. (I saw the consequences)

4 I saw that the cat was struck by a car. (????)

Improve this question
1
  • I probably wouldn't say "being struck" because striking something is instantaneous. If I wanted a progressive aspect, I would probably say "being run over"
    – Azor Ahai -him-
    Commented Jul 14, 2023 at 17:46

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
6

The distinction here is between vagueness and precision. 1 and 4 are vague, 2 and 3 precise.

Option 1, using the preterite / simple past / past indefinite tense is vague. It could mean "I saw the cat [which had been] struck by a car" or "I saw the cat [as it was being] struck by a car". The idea in parentheses only covers one of these, but we don't have sufficient information to tell from the sentence which was intended.

2 (present participle) and 3 (past perfect) are precise, and the ideas in parentheses are accurate.

4 is also vague. The imperfect past progressive / past continuous tense of "was struck" doesn't help us, and we would want some additional context, for example :

I was walking along the street and I saw that the cat was struck by a car (suggests seeing the event)

I was examining the pet and I saw that the cat was struck by a car (suggests seeing consequences)

Improve this answer
7
  • 1
    Good answer. There is one point which seems to me debatable, nonetheless. If I said "I saw a car fixed by Jack", I think, it would be hard to interpret it as "I saw a car as it was being fixed by Jack". Or is it a possible interpretation? It's just that it resembles "I saw the cat struck by a car." and I find it hard to make out "I saw the cat [as it was being] struck by a car"
    – user1425
    Commented Jul 14, 2023 at 11:20
  • 1
    "I saw a car fixed by Jack" could be a passive construction of "I saw Jack fix a car" - it's valid but less common and might seem odd (though similarly "I saw a car Jack had fixed" would be more precise for the other meaning). Thanks for accepting the answer - I usually leave that for a day or so in case something better comes along rather than deselecting one and picking the other, but I won't be offended if that happens.
    – ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
    Commented Jul 14, 2023 at 11:31
  • 1
    It's also a distinction between literal and metaphorical senses of "see": it can mean to perceive through your eyes, or to realise, discover, come to know, or deduce, as well as other perhaps less relevant meanings such as to make sure, accompany, or prefer.
    – Stuart F
    Commented Jul 14, 2023 at 11:54
  • 1
    To my mind, the most natural usage of "I saw that the cat was struck by a car" would be (e.g.) "I was reading the newspaper yesterday and there was a story about how a cat had been run over".
    – avid
    Commented Jul 14, 2023 at 16:30
  • 2
    Funny thing, "I was walking along the street and I saw that the cat was struck by a car (suggests seeing the event)" does not actually suggest that to me. Instead it suggests that the cat is laying on the side of the road either injured or dead. Once again, the vagaries of the English language rear their ugly head.
    – jmarkmurphy
    Commented Jul 14, 2023 at 19:10

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .