Representing thinking, perceiving, liking and desiring

Using verb patterns to represent perceptions

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Verb followed by a noun group

The verbs in this category can be followed by a noun group which represents the thing which is perceived, tasted, felt, seen, etc:

Starry-eyed young girls were seen gazing up at the lit hotel windows well past their bedtime in the vain hope of seeing their idols. (SCMP 14/9/92)

Here is a list of verbs which can be followed by a noun or a noun group:

catch  hear  overhear  spot  come across listen to perceive spy discover look at see taste feel notice sense watch find observe smell

Introduction
Participants associated with perception verbs
Grammatical patterns associated with the phenomenon
Verb followed by a noun group
Verb followed by a that clause
Verb followed by an object and the bare infinitive
Verb followed by an object and the -ing form
Verb followed by a wh-clause
Verb followed by an if/whether clause
Verb followed by an object and an adjective/-ed participle clause
Ellipsis with perception verbs
Present simple v present continuous tense
A note on the order of participants