[Mastering Perception Verbs: How to Describe Observing Actions in English]-[Secrets and surprise]

Learning English Grammar · A2 · 2026-06-23

📋 Summary

Mastering Perception Verbs: Describing Observations in English

In this episode of Learning English Grammar, hosts Beth and Neil explore the linguistic structures used to describe moments of perception—specifically when we notice, see, or hear others performing unusual or unexpected actions. By analyzing personal anecdotes from guests Phil and Pippa, the episode breaks down the grammatical rules governing "verbs of the senses."

The Grammar of Perception

The core of the discussion focuses on how to construct sentences when observing others. The grammar guru, Georgie, explains that verbs like notice, see, and hear function as "verbs of the senses." When we want to describe an action in progress, we follow a specific pattern: Sense Verb + Object + -ing Verb.

Key Structural Patterns

The -ing Form for Ongoing Actions: When an action is happening at the time of observation, we use the present participle (-ing form). For example, Pippa noted, "I heard him talking to my dad on the phone." Similarly, Phil observed his wife, stating, "I saw she was writing them down." These structures emphasize that the observer witnessed the event while it was in progress.
Handling Personal Pronouns: A critical distinction is made regarding the use of the verb "to be." When the object is a personal pronoun (him, her, them), one can say, "I saw her writing them down" (omitting the verb 'be') or "I saw she was writing them down." However, it is grammatically incorrect to say "I saw her was writing."
The Role of 'That': The word "that" serves as an optional connector between the sense verb and the following clause. As seen in the example, "I noticed that my wife was going through my phone," the inclusion of "that" does not alter the meaning of the sentence. It provides a bridge when the object is not a personal pronoun.

Distinguishing Whole Events from Ongoing Progress

Beyond the -ing form, the episode touches upon the use of the infinitive form. We use the infinitive when the speaker witnesses the entire event from start to finish. Beth recounts seeing her friend "order chicken," highlighting that the action of ordering food is a complete, short-duration event. This contrasts with the -ing form, which focuses on an action that is ongoing and not yet completed.

Practical Application

To solidify these concepts, the hosts engaged in a practice drill. By completing prompts like "I noticed a huge snake slithering along the ground" or "They heard a crowd of people chanting," the episode demonstrates how these perception verbs allow speakers to narrate their surroundings vividly. Whether it is a surprise birthday party or an unexpected encounter in a foreign city, mastering these structures is essential for expressing curiosity and recounting observations accurately in English.

🎯Key Sentences

So I didn't know what was going on.

What a nice surprise.

I noticed that he was acting a bit strangely.

I saw she was writing them down.

What I hadn't properly noticed is of course this was about two weeks before my birthday.

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📝Key Phrases

going through my phone

acting a bit strangely

what was going on

it turned out

writing them down

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📖 Transcript

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One day I noticed that my wife was going through my phone trying to get some phone numbers from it.

And then I heard him talking to my dad on the phone and that was strange, because normally I would know if they were talking to each other.

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