I need help with my english homework

[CeliciaSassy]

Hi everybody,

I need some help with one sentence.

Do you say: And if he denies everything, then tell him that Tanya saw him kissing Catherine.

or do you say: saw him kiss Catherine???


Thank you very much!

Celicia

[chi_chi1548286]

I was never good eith English...but, I think it sounds better if you use "saw him kiss"

[CeliciaSassy]

I think kissing sounds better

[pipsqueeek]

Shouldn't this go in the homework help sticky?

But anyway, um, I think there might be a tiny difference that doesn't really matter and I can't explain anyway. Either would work I'm pretty sure.

Edit// is this english homework like learing the language or english homework like language arts/literature class homework?

[CeliciaSassy]

Thank you.

I'm sorry if I posted wrong but I thought that the homework thread is for maths and stuff like that.

[Asthaloth]

Kissing.
It's past tense far as I can tell, so Kissing is the correct usage.

[pipsqueeek]

kissing doesn't have to past tense though. ie, he is kissing

[chi_chi1548286]

Now that I have read your postes, I know now that I really did not do to good at english...but since all y'all said that its past tense...i think it would be good to put...

"tell him that Tanya saw him and catherine kissing the other day"

[CeliciaSassy]

It's homework like learing english!

I'm at university and have to write 2 assignments.

For me as a german "kissing" sounds good... but I don't know!

[pipsqueeek]

Ok, so my english class sucked(my english teacher didn't even know what a past participle is), so this is pretty much what I can figure out from the wikipedia articles, but-

I pretty sure the kissing in this is a present participle. I don't know what having a past tense verb (saw) before it does though. I'm not sure if it's wrong or not.

But really, either would be fine. I'm sure that, even if one is slightly less grammatically correct than the other, if you told either to a native english speaker they wouldn't see anything wrong.

They're slightly different- I think. This might be wrong but if I had to say the difference I'd probably say that I think the first one is passive. Maybe. So I'd say go with kiss because english teachers(at least mine) usually go "don't use the passive voice!" and all. Even though there's nothing wrong with it.

[CeliciaSassy]

My english teacher is a native speaker. He grows up in Canada and studied in USA.

I google for it: Google say both is possible. Now I have to decide which one I will take.

Here's the context: I think you’ll have to talk to Alex and tell him about your suspicions. And if he denies everything, then tell him that Tanya saw him kissing Catherine. If he admits it, then you have to think about the consequences.

[Amethyst]

Kissing would be correct. It sounds better, at any rate.

[CeliciaSassy]

Thank you very much. I think I will take kissing.

[LajewelCat]

I am no English guru, but i think kissing would be better.

[CWisgood]

According to my friend, 'kissing' if it lasts, like a French. 'Kiss' if it's just a peck.