Grammar question by a newbie?

Q

QuanLe

New member
Hi guys ,

I am no sure which is the correct way to write the following sentence.

1. I like to watch him play baseball.
2. I like to watch he plays baseball.

Which way is correct and why is it correct. Please let me know. I really appreciate your help.
Take care
 
F

FrancisB

New member
"Him play baseball" is an infinitive clause acting as a noun in the role of object of the infinitive "to watch". "Play" is a bare infinitive, and "him" is its subject. The subject of an infinitive takes the objective case, oddly enough.

Don't worry about all that, though. The first one is idiomatic, and the second one is not. You will pick that up as you go.
 
Y

Yogav

New member
The correct sentence is I like to watch him play baseball.


Because you cannot say I watch he.

For example you would say I saw him not I saw he.
 
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