In this sentence:
We saw Paul coming
I don't understand if the verb coming is a present participle.
Thank you!
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Edoardo
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1See is a sense verb. They allow gerund object complements like Paul coming. Gerunds are active participles that are the untensed verbs in a subordinate noun clause (in this case, the clause is the object of see). – John Lawler Apr 20 '20 at 17:27
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@JohnLawler Thanks, but why is not "Paul that was coming"? – Edoardo Apr 20 '20 at 20:05
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1You're sensing the action of Paul coming. – Barmar Apr 20 '20 at 20:54
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@Barmar is “coming” considered a verb or a noun? – Edoardo Apr 20 '20 at 23:40
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1It's a gerund, which means a verb functioning as a noun to represent the action. – Barmar Apr 20 '20 at 23:55