Saturday, August 25, 2007

listen sb do sth

ANNIE'S MALXBOX by Kathy Mitchell & Marcy Sugar:

Should I just continue to listen to him moan about
how bad he feels and watch him nod off because of his
medicine, or should I tell him I can't deal with this any more and try to make a
life of my own?
listen to him moan
----- V------- O-----inf.--

I wasn't familiar with the usage. The semantical subject of the verb "moan" must be "him." So, the verb phrase "listen to" must be included in "causative verbs" like "have," "help," and "make."

By the way, there is another causative construction in this sentence. But, this is not that difficult. It is often tested in college entrance examinations, so even good high school students in Japan must know it.

watch him nod off
----V------O----inf------

By the way, "nod off" may be kind of difficult. It means to "begin to sleep, when you don't intend to."

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