Languages and Linguistics

Lionel Mandrake

(4,076 posts)

11. I agree

Fri Aug 22, 2014, 11:55 AM

Aug 2014

that the main verb is "saw" and that "I" is the subject of the sentence.

I tend to agree that "it happen" is an object clause, but other interpretations are possible.

I doubt that the verb "happen" is a past subjunctive, but you may be right about that as well. As Igel pointed out in post #5, your explanation depends on your theory. Traditional grammar and Chomskyan transformational grammar, for example, may yield different interpretations of "I saw it happen".

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Can anyone explain the syntax of "I saw it happen"? [View all] Lionel Mandrake Aug 2014 OP

Looks like "it happen" is the object of the verb "saw". Scuba Aug 2014 #1

It does look that way. Lionel Mandrake Aug 2014 #2

The mood could be sad, happy, disappointed - depends on what "it" was. Scuba Aug 2014 #3

Now that's funny. Lionel Mandrake Aug 2014 #4

Your explanation depends on your theory. Igel Aug 2014 #5

Thank you for the scholarly reply, but Lionel Mandrake Aug 2014 #6

I saw it happen Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #7

It's true that the subject or object of a sentence can be a clause, Lionel Mandrake Aug 2014 #8

This message was self-deleted by its author Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #9

The main verb is "saw" Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #10

I agree Lionel Mandrake Aug 2014 #11

Well, I come from the school of traditional grammar Starboard Tack Aug 2014 #12