Verbos de percepción + infinitivo / gerundio
Verbos de percepción + infinitivo / gerundio means “Perception verbs (see, hear) take a bare infinitive or a gerund”. Verbs of perception — ver, oír, mirar, escuchar, sentir, notar — are followed directly by an infinitive (the whole action, seen as complete) or a gerund (the action in progress): La vi llorar (I saw her cry) vs La vi llorando (I saw her crying). Formation: ver / oír / sentir / mirar / escuchar + (a alguien) + infinitivo o gerundio
Perception verbs (see, hear) take a bare infinitive or a gerund
C1Formation
ver / oír / sentir / mirar / escuchar + (a alguien) + infinitivo o gerundio
Explanation
Verbs of perception — ver, oír, mirar, escuchar, sentir, notar — are followed directly by an infinitive (the whole action, seen as complete) or a gerund (the action in progress): La vi llorar (I saw her cry) vs La vi llorando (I saw her crying). Personal a is used with people: Oí cantar a los pájaros / Vi a Juan salir. Object pronouns attach to the perception verb, not the infinitive: Lo vi salir.
Examples
Note
Infinitive = the whole, completed act (La vi salir); gerund = mid-action (La vi saliendo).
FAQ
Verbos de percepción + infinitivo / gerundio — what does it mean and how is it used?
Perception verbs (see, hear) take a bare infinitive or a gerund. Verbs of perception — ver, oír, mirar, escuchar, sentir, notar — are followed directly by an infinitive (the whole action, seen as complete) or a gerund (the action in progress): La vi llorar (I saw her cry) vs La vi llorando (I saw her crying). Personal a is used with people: Oí cantar a los pájaros / Vi a Juan salir. Object pronouns attach to the perception verb, not the infinitive: Lo vi salir.
Verbos de percepción + infinitivo / gerundio — how do you form it?
ver / oír / sentir / mirar / escuchar + (a alguien) + infinitivo o gerundio
Verbos de percepción + infinitivo / gerundio — any usage notes?
Infinitive = the whole, completed act (La vi salir); gerund = mid-action (La vi saliendo).