C1 Infinitive Constructions 15 min read Medium

German Verbs of Perception: Seeing and Hearing (Wahrnehmungsverben)

Use perception verbs with an accusative object and a bare infinitive to describe direct, real-time sensory experiences.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use perception verbs like 'sehen' or 'hören' followed by an infinitive to describe an action you directly witness.

  • Use the bare infinitive: Ich sehe ihn kommen (I see him coming).
  • The perceived person/object is the direct object (Accusative): Ich höre {die|f} Frau singen.
  • The infinitive stays at the end of the clause: Ich habe ihn über {die|f} Straße laufen sehen.
Subject + Perception Verb + Accusative Object + [Optional Adverb/Detail] + Infinitive

Overview

As an advanced German learner, you're now moving beyond simple reporting to expressing direct sensory experiences with precision and fluidity. This C1-level grammar delves into Wahrnehmungsverben, or verbs of perception, primarily sehen (to see), hören (to hear), fühlen (to feel), and spüren (to sense). These verbs enable you to convey what you perceive directly, often with a striking sense of immediacy.

The key to mastering Wahrnehmungsverben at this level is understanding the Accusativus cum Infinitivo (AcI) construction. This sophisticated and concise structure involves the perception verb followed by an accusative object and a bare infinitive (an infinitive without zu). It transforms detached reports into active, sensory narratives, making your German sound significantly more native and nuanced.

Consider the sentence: Ich sehe den(m) Zug abfahren. (I see the train depart.) Here, you are a direct witness, actively perceiving the event as it unfolds. This contrasts with more indirect reporting mechanisms and is a hallmark of advanced German expression, reflecting a deeper understanding of the language's inherent logic for conveying sensory data.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, the German AcI construction with Wahrnehmungsverben reflects a direct, unfiltered sensory input. Unlike dass-clauses, which report a fact or statement (e.g., Ich sehe, dass er kommt., 'I see that he is coming' – implying a cognitive understanding or report), the AcI structure conveys the direct perception of an action as it occurs. You aren't just observing a fact; you're observing someone or something doing an action.
This grammatical pattern establishes a direct link between the observer (the grammatical subject) and the perceived action performed by the object. The Wahrnehmungsverben act as a bridge, connecting the observer's senses to the event. Linguistically, this is a form of clausal reduction, condensing a potential subordinate clause into a more compact and immediate phrase.
This efficiency is a characteristic feature of advanced German syntax, allowing for greater conciseness and impact.
The Role of the Accusative Object: In this construction, the accusative object functions as the subject of the infinitive's action. This means Ich höre den(m) Mann singen. literally translates to 'I hear the man [do] singing', with den(m) Mann being the one performing the action singen.
Simultaneity and Directness: The AcI emphasizes the simultaneity and directness of the perception. It implies the perceived action is ongoing or completed at the precise moment of perception. Compare:
  • Ich höre den(m) Mann singen. (I hear the man sing/singing.) – You directly perceive the act of singing. Your ears register the sound from the man.
  • Ich höre, dass der Mann singt. (I hear that the man is singing.) – This reports a fact. You might have heard about him singing, or you might perceive the fact of his singing, perhaps indirectly or over a longer period. The direct sensory experience is less emphasized.
The primary verbs following this pattern are:
  • sehen (to see): Ich sehe das Auto ankommen. (I see the car arrive.)
  • hören (to hear): Hörst du die Vögel zwitschern? (Do you hear the birds chirp?)
  • fühlen (to feel, physically): Sie fühlt die Sonne auf ihrer Haut brennen. (She feels the sun burn on her skin.)
  • spüren (to sense, often internally or more subtly): Man spürt den(m) Wind um die Ecken pfeifen. (You sense the wind whistling around the corners.)
It is important to note that riechen (to smell) generally does not follow this pattern in standard usage. While grammatically conceivable, it sounds highly unusual and is best avoided. Instead, use a dass-clause: Ich rieche, dass der Kaffee kocht. (I smell that the coffee is brewing.) The direct perception of an action being done is less natural with smells than with sights, sounds, or physical sensations.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming sentences with Wahrnehmungsverben and the bare infinitive follows consistent rules, with particular nuances in past tenses and subordinate clauses that are crucial for C1 fluency.
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1. Present Tense (Präsens)
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The most straightforward pattern involves the subject, the conjugated perception verb, an accusative object, and the bare infinitive at the end of the clause. No zu is used with the infinitive.
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Formula: Subject + conjugated Wahrnehmungsverb + Accusative Object + Bare Infinitive
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| Subject | Perception Verb (sehen, hören, fühlen, spüren) | Accusative Object (who/what is doing the action) | Bare Infinitive (the action being perceived) | Example Sentence | Meaning |
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| :------ | :------------------------------------------------------ | :----------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------ | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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| Ich | sehe | ihn | kommen | Ich sehe ihn kommen. | I see him coming. |
8
| Du | hörst | das Kind | lachen | Du hörst das Kind lachen. | You hear the child laugh/laughing. |
9
| Sie | fühlt | ihr Herz | schlagen | Sie fühlt ihr Herz schlagen. | She feels her heart beat/beating. |
10
| Wir | spüren | die Erde | beben | Wir spüren die Erde beben. | We feel the earth tremble/trembling. |
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2. Past Tense (Perfekt) - The Ersatzinfinitiv (Double Infinitive)
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In the Perfekt tense, Wahrnehmungsverben utilize a special construction known as the Ersatzinfinitiv (substitute infinitive) or double infinitive. This means that instead of forming the Partizip II (e.g., gesehen, gehört), the perception verb itself reverts to its infinitive form when accompanied by another infinitive. This is a crucial C1 distinction.
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Formula: Subject + conjugated haben + Accusative Object + Bare Infinitive 1 (the perceived action) + Bare Infinitive 2 (the perception verb in its infinitive form)
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| Subject | Auxiliary haben (conjugated) | Accusative Object | Bare Infinitive 1 (action) | Bare Infinitive 2 (perception verb) | Example Sentence | Meaning |
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| :------ | :----------------------------- | :---------------- | :------------------------- | :---------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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| Ich | habe | ihn | sprechen | hören | Ich habe ihn sprechen hören. | I heard him speak/speaking. |
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| Wir | haben | sie | tanzen | sehen | Wir haben sie tanzen sehen. | We saw her dance/dancing. |
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| Du | hast | die Erde | beben | fühlen | Du hast die Erde beben fühlen. | You felt the earth tremble/trembling. |
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This double infinitive is not unique to Wahrnehmungsverben; it also occurs with modal verbs (e.g., Ich habe es nicht machen können.) and lassen (e.g., Er hat das Auto reparieren lassen.) when they are followed by another infinitive in the Perfekt. The reason for this often lies in historical linguistic developments that sought to avoid an awkward or clunky concatenation of participles (Ich habe ihn sprechend gehört. or Ich habe ihn gesprochen gesehen.).
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3. Subordinate Clauses with the Ersatzinfinitiv
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When the Ersatzinfinitiv construction appears in a subordinate clause (e.g., introduced by weil, dass, obwohl), the word order undergoes a specific and advanced transformation. The conjugated auxiliary haben moves before the two infinitives at the end of the clause.
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Formula: Subordinating Conjunction + Subject + Accusative Object + Bare Infinitive 1 + Bare Infinitive 2 + conjugated haben
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Er sagte, dass er die Kinder spielen sehen hat. (He said that he had seen the children playing.)
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Obwohl ich das Auto kommen fühlen habe, bin ich weitergefahren. (Although I felt the car coming, I kept driving.)
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Sie war überrascht, weil sie das Gerücht verbreiten hören hat. (She was surprised because she had heard the rumor spread.)
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Notice how the conjugated haben ends the clause, preceded by the two infinitives. This is a common point of error for advanced learners.
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4. Future Tense (Futur I & II)
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The Futur I is formed with werden and the present tense AcI construction. The conjugated werden takes the second position, and the perception verb and infinitive move to the end.
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Formula (Futur I): Subject + conjugated werden + Accusative Object + Bare Infinitive + Perception Verb (infinitive)
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Ich werde ihn(m) morgen kommen sehen. (I will see him coming tomorrow.)
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Wir werden die Musik spielen hören. (We will hear the music playing.)
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The Futur II is rare and generally avoided in spoken German for such constructions, but it theoretically combines the Ersatzinfinitiv with werden + haben:
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Formula (Futur II): Subject + conjugated werden + Accusative Object + Bare Infinitive 1 + Bare Infinitive 2 + haben
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Sie wird ihn(m) haben kommen sehen. (She will have seen him coming.) – Very formal and uncommon.
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5. Passive Voice with Wahrnehmungsverben
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While less common, Wahrnehmungsverben can appear in the passive voice, shifting the focus from the observer to the observed action. This can be complex, and often a more straightforward active construction or a dass-clause is preferred.
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a) Personal Passive: If the perceived object becomes the subject.
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Active: Ich sehe den(m) Dieb fliehen. (I see the thief flee.)
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Passive: Der Dieb wird fliehen gesehen. (The thief is seen fleeing.) – This construction is grammatically correct but stylistically heavy and rare. It's often better to rephrase, e.g., Man sieht den(m) Dieb fliehen.
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b) Impersonal Passive: More common when the focus is on the action being perceived, without a specific subject.
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Es wird ein Geräusch gehört. (A noise is heard.) – The exact action perceived (machen) is often omitted or implied.
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Better: Man hört ein Geräusch. or Ein Geräusch ist zu hören.
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Due to their focus on direct observation, active voice constructions are overwhelmingly preferred for Wahrnehmungsverben.

When To Use It

Mastering the Wahrnehmungsverben with the AcI structure isn't just about correctness; it's about making deliberate stylistic choices that enhance clarity and expressiveness in your German.
  • Direct Eyewitness Accounts: Use this construction when you are the immediate observer or hearer of an action. It signals that you personally experienced the event as it happened.
  • Ich habe die Blätter fallen sehen. (I saw the leaves fall.) – You were there, watching.
  • Emphasis on Immediacy and Simultaneity: This structure highlights that the perceived action occurred concurrently with your perception. There's no delay or inference; it's a real-time experience.
  • Hörst du den(m) Regen prasseln? (Do you hear the rain pattering?) – A direct, current perception.
  • Conciseness and Elegance: The AcI construction is a prime example of German's capacity for clausal reduction. It’s more economical and often sounds more natural than a verbose dass-clause or a construction with a participle.
  • Instead of Ich sah, dass die Kinder spielten., you'd typically say Ich sah die Kinder spielen. for direct perception.
  • Distinguishing from dass-clauses: This is a key C1-level distinction. Remember the difference in meaning:
  • Ich sehe die Vögel fliegen. (I see the birds flying.) – Direct visual perception of the act of flying.
  • Ich sehe, dass die Vögel fliegen. (I see that the birds are flying.) – I perceive the fact that the birds are flying (e.g., from my window, I notice they are aloft). The emphasis is on the factual content, not necessarily the direct, ongoing action.
  • Stylistic Nuance: While dass-clauses are always grammatically correct, using the AcI construction demonstrates a deeper understanding of German idiomatic expression. It adds a layer of sophistication to your language, moving beyond mere factual reporting.
  • Manchmal fühle ich die Zeit stehen bleiben. (Sometimes I feel time stand still.) – A more poetic and direct expression of sensation than a dass-clause.

Common Mistakes

Even advanced learners frequently make specific errors with Wahrnehmungsverben. Recognizing and correcting these will refine your C1 German.
  • Using zu with the Infinitive: The most common mistake is instinctively adding zu before the infinitive, influenced by other infinitive constructions (e.g., um... zu, ohne... zu). Remember, it's a bare infinitive.
  • Incorrect: Ich sehe den(m) Mann zu kommen.
  • Correct: Ich sehe den(m) Mann kommen.
  • Confusing AcI with dass-clauses: While both are grammatically valid, they convey different meanings. Using a dass-clause when direct perception is intended can make your German sound less natural or more formal than necessary.
  • Suboptimal (for direct perception): Ich habe gehört, dass er ein Lied singt.
  • Better (for direct perception): Ich habe ihn ein Lied singen hören.
  • Incorrect Partizip II in Perfekt (Ignoring Ersatzinfinitiv): Failing to use the double infinitive construction in the Perfekt tense is a clear sign of a non-native speaker.
  • Incorrect: Wir haben die Kinder gespielt gesehen. (This sounds like 'We saw the children played.')
  • Correct: Wir haben die Kinder spielen sehen.
  • Incorrect Word Order in Subordinate Clauses with Ersatzinfinitiv: Forgetting that haben shifts to the very end of the clause, after both infinitives, is another frequent error.
  • Incorrect: Er sagte, dass er die Kinder hat spielen sehen.
  • Correct: Er sagte, dass er die Kinder spielen sehen hat.
  • Using riechen in this Construction: As mentioned, riechen does not typically take the AcI construction. Stick to dass-clauses for smells.
  • Incorrect: Ich rieche das Essen brennen.
  • Correct: Ich rieche, dass das Essen brennt.
  • Case Errors with the Accusative Object: Ensure the object performing the perceived action is always in the accusative case.
  • Incorrect: Ich sehe der Mann kommen. (der Mann is dative)
  • Correct: Ich sehe den(m) Mann kommen. (den(m) Mann is accusative)
  • Overuse or Misuse of Partizip I: While German can use Partizip I (present participle) to describe simultaneous actions (Ich sah die Kinder spielend., I saw the children playing), this often implies a state rather than a direct, completed action, and can sometimes sound stiff. The AcI is generally preferred for direct perception of an action.

Real Conversations

Understanding Wahrnehmungsverben in theory is one thing; observing their natural use in contemporary German is another. Here’s how you'll encounter them in everyday contexts, from casual chats to social media.

1. Everyday Spoken German:

- Friend A: Hast du ihn(m) gerade mit Sarah reden sehen? (Did you just see him talking to Sarah?)

- Friend B: Ja, ich habe sie(f) auch lachen hören. (Yes, I heard her laughing too.)

- Observation: Notice the natural use of the Ersatzinfinitiv in the Perfekt.

- Ich habe die ganze Nacht die Nachbarn streiten hören. (I heard the neighbours arguing all night.)

- Observation: Conveys annoyance and direct experience.

2. Social Media/Texting:

- Tweet: Gerade einen Fuchs durch den(m) Garten schleichen sehen – magisch! (Just saw a fox creeping through the garden – magical!)

- Observation: The concise AcI is perfect for quick, impactful observations online.

- WhatsApp: Spüre mein(n) Herz wild schlagen, vor der Prüfung. (Feel my heart beating wildly, before the exam.)

- Observation: Expressing immediate physical sensation.

3. News Reporting/Journalism (Eyewitness Accounts):

- Zeugen haben den(m) Verdächtigen fliehen sehen. (Witnesses saw the suspect flee.)

- Observation: Adds authenticity and directness to reports based on observation.

- Man konnte die Sirenen aus der Ferne heulen hören. (You could hear the sirens howling from a distance.)

- Observation: Impersonal man with AcI, common in formal descriptions.

4. Cultural Insight: The German language often favors directness and conciseness where possible. The AcI construction for Wahrnehmungsverben reflects this preference, allowing speakers to convey vivid, immediate sensory data without unnecessary grammatical baggage. This linguistic efficiency contributes to a style of communication that values precision and impact, particularly in narratives or descriptions.

Quick FAQ

  • Can I always use AcI instead of a dass-clause with sehen or hören?
No. While often interchangeable for direct perception, they carry different nuances. AcI emphasizes direct, simultaneous perception of an action, while a dass-clause reports a perceived fact or a statement you heard/saw.
Use AcI for 'I saw/heard X doing Y' and dass-clauses for 'I saw/heard that X did Y'.
  • Why is it called Ersatzinfinitiv?
Ersatzinfinitiv literally means 'substitute infinitive'. In the Perfekt tense, the perception verb (e.g., sehen, hören) substitutes its usual Partizip II form (gesehen, gehört) with its infinitive form (sehen, hören) when it's combined with another infinitive. This avoids complex or awkward participle stacks.
  • Are there other verbs that use this construction?
Yes, primarily modal verbs and the verb lassen when they are followed by another infinitive. For instance, Ich habe es nicht machen können. (I wasn't able to do it.) and Er hat das Auto reparieren lassen. (He had the car repaired.) These also employ the Ersatzinfinitiv in the Perfekt.
  • Why isn't riechen included?
The direct perception of an action performed by an object is less conventional with the sense of smell in German. While you smell a thing, you don't typically smell a thing do an action in the same grammatical structure as seeing or hearing. Hence, dass-clauses are preferred: Ich rieche, dass der Kuchen backt.
  • Is this construction common in German?
Yes, it is very common in both spoken and written German, especially in narrative and descriptive contexts where immediacy and direct observation are key. Mastering it will significantly improve your fluency and native-like expression at the C1 level and beyond.
  • What's the difference between fühlen and spüren in this context?
Both mean 'to feel' or 'to sense'. Fühlen often implies a more direct, physical sensation (e.g., touching, feeling pain). Spüren can be more subtle, encompassing internal sensations, vibrations, or a general sense of awareness (e.g., eine Veränderung spüren, to sense a change).
Both correctly use the AcI construction for perceived actions.

Perception Verb Structure

Subject Perception Verb Accusative Object Infinitive
Ich
sehe
{den|m} Mann
laufen
Du
hörst
{die|f} Frau
singen
Er
spürt
{das|n} Kind
weinen
Wir
haben
{den|m} Hund
bellen sehen
Sie
hat
{die|f} Musik
spielen hören
Ihr
werdet
{den|m} Zug
ankommen sehen

Meanings

This construction describes a direct sensory experience where the subject perceives an object performing an action.

1

Direct sensory perception

Witnessing an action in real-time.

“Ich höre {den|m} Nachbarn Klavier spielen.”

“Sie sah {den|m} Hund bellen.”

Reference Table

Reference table for German Verbs of Perception: Seeing and Hearing (Wahrnehmungsverben)
Form Structure Example
Present
Subj + V + Obj + Inf
Ich sehe ihn kommen.
Perfect
Subj + haben + Obj + Inf + V
Ich habe ihn kommen sehen.
Negative
Subj + V + Obj + nicht + Inf
Ich sehe ihn nicht kommen.
Question
V + Subj + Obj + Inf?
Siehst du ihn kommen?
Future
Subj + werden + Obj + Inf + V
Ich werde ihn kommen sehen.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Ich sehe ihn laufen.

Ich sehe ihn laufen. (Describing a person's movement.)

Neutral
Ich sehe ihn laufen.

Ich sehe ihn laufen. (Describing a person's movement.)

Informal
Ich seh ihn rennen.

Ich seh ihn rennen. (Describing a person's movement.)

Slang
Ich seh ihn flitzen.

Ich seh ihn flitzen. (Describing a person's movement.)

Perception Verb Map

Perception Verb

Verbs

  • sehen to see
  • hören to hear
  • spüren to feel
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Examples by Level

1

Ich sehe {den|m} Mann laufen.

I see the man running.

2

Ich höre {die|f} Frau singen.

I hear the woman singing.

3

Ich sehe {das|n} Kind spielen.

I see the child playing.

4

Ich höre {den|m} Hund bellen.

I hear the dog barking.

1

Hast du ihn kommen sehen?

Did you see him come?

2

Ich habe {den|m} Vogel fliegen sehen.

I saw the bird flying.

3

Wir haben {die|f} Band spielen hören.

We heard the band playing.

4

Sie hat {den|m} Jungen weinen hören.

She heard the boy crying.

1

Ich konnte {den|m} Fahrer nicht kommen sehen.

I couldn't see the driver coming.

2

Haben Sie {die|f} Polizei kommen hören?

Did you hear the police coming?

3

Ich habe {das|n} Telefon klingeln hören.

I heard the phone ringing.

4

Sie hat {den|m} Nachbarn laut schreien hören.

She heard the neighbor shouting loudly.

1

Es war dunkel, daher habe ich niemanden kommen sehen.

It was dark, so I didn't see anyone coming.

2

Ich habe {die|f} Vögel im Wald singen hören.

I heard the birds singing in the forest.

3

Man konnte {den|m} Sturm draußen toben hören.

One could hear the storm raging outside.

4

Hast du {die|f} Nachricht ankommen sehen?

Did you see the message arrive?

1

Ich habe {den|m} Verdächtigen das Gebäude verlassen sehen.

I saw the suspect leave the building.

2

Man hat {die|f} Entwicklung der Firma wachsen sehen.

One has seen the company's development grow.

3

Ich habe {den|m} Zug in den Bahnhof einfahren hören.

I heard the train pull into the station.

4

Sie hat {den|m} Künstler sein Werk vollenden sehen.

She saw the artist complete his work.

1

Die Zeitzeugen haben {den|m} Vorfall sich genau so abspielen sehen.

The witnesses saw the incident play out exactly like that.

2

Man konnte {die|f} Stimmung im Raum kippen spüren.

One could feel the mood in the room shift.

3

Ich habe {den|m} Prozess sich über Jahre hinziehen sehen.

I have seen the process drag on for years.

4

Sie hat {die|f} Sonne hinter {den|m} Bergen versinken sehen.

She saw the sun sink behind the mountains.

Easily Confused

German Verbs of Perception: Seeing and Hearing (Wahrnehmungsverben) vs Dass-clause vs. AcI

Learners use 'dass' for everything.

Common Mistakes

✗

Ich sehe ihn zu kommen.

✓

Ich sehe ihn kommen.

No 'zu' with perception verbs.
✗

Ich habe ihn kommen gesehen.

✓

Ich habe ihn kommen sehen.

Double infinitive rule.
✗

Ich sehe, dass er kommt.

✓

Ich sehe ihn kommen.

Infinitive is more natural for direct perception.
✗

Ich habe ihn gesehen kommen.

✓

Ich habe ihn kommen sehen.

Wrong word order in perfect tense.

Sentence Patterns

Ich habe ___ ___ sehen.

Real World Usage

Police report very common

Ich habe {den|m} Täter flüchten sehen.

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🎯

Double Infinitive

Always use the infinitive of the perception verb in perfect tense.

Smart Tips

Use double infinitive.

Ich habe ihn gesehen kommen. → Ich habe ihn kommen sehen.

Pronunciation

laufen

Infinitive stress

The infinitive at the end carries the main action stress.

Declarative

Ich sehe ihn ↘laufen.

Statement of fact.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

See and Hear, the Infinitive is near (at the end).

Visual Association

Imagine a movie screen where the person is the actor (Accusative) and the action is the closing credits (Infinitive) at the very end.

Rhyme

If you see or hear a thing, put the verb at the end of the string.

Story

I saw a cat. The cat was running. I said: 'Ich sehe {die|f} Katze rennen.' Later, I heard it meowing: 'Ich habe {die|f} Katze miauen hören.'

Word Web

sehenhörenspürenfühlenbeobachtenwahrnehmen

Challenge

Spend 5 minutes today describing 3 things you see or hear around you using this structure.

Cultural Notes

Germans value precision; this structure is preferred in formal reports.

Derived from Latin Accusativus cum Infinitivo.

Conversation Starters

“

Was hast du heute auf {der|f} Straße sehen können?

Journal Prompts

Describe a scene from your morning commute.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Ich habe ihn kommen ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sehen
Double infinitive rule.

Score: /1

Practice Exercises

1 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Ich habe ihn kommen ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sehen
Double infinitive rule.

Score: /1

Practice Bank

6 exercises
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

ihn / kommen / sehe / ich

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich sehe ihn kommen.
Translate to German using an infinitive construction. Translation

I heard him laughing.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich hörte ihn lachen.
Match the perception to the action. Match Pairs

Match the verb to the context:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Match successfully
Which one uses the double infinitive correctly in a subclause? Multiple Choice

Identify the correct order:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ...weil ich sie habe tanzen sehen.
Complete the sensation. Fill in the Blank

Wir spürten {das|n} Haus __________. (beben)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: beben
Correct the past tense. Error Correction

Hast du {den|m} Blitz einschlagen gesehen?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Hast du {den|m} Blitz einschlagen sehen?

Score: /6

FAQ (1)

No, never with perception verbs.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Veo a él correr.

German uses accusative without preposition.

French high

Je le vois courir.

French uses clitic pronouns.

Japanese low

彼が走るのを見た。

Japanese uses particles.

Arabic moderate

رأيته يركض

Arabic uses a conjugated verb.

Chinese low

我看见他在跑

No conjugation.

German high

Ich sehe ihn laufen

N/A

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Doing something else: German infinitive clauses (anstatt... zu)
Next
Lassen for Causation: Having things done for you

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