Martha, Phil,
   An alternative would be to see "Spot run" or "Spot running" as 
subject bearing clauses.  I know this has been an object of discussion 
in the past (as to whether a participle or infinitive heads a 'phrase' 
or 'clause' in these instances.) But it certainly helps to see run and 
running as intransitive verbs (non-finite) that  head predicate like 
constructions that can be easily expanded.  "See Spot running in circles 
down by the river."  "See Spot run through the fancy rose bushes."  
   Having these brief participles or infinitives is no more unusual than 
intransitive clauses that have only the verb. "Spot runs.  Mary sleeps. 
 The children yawn." I see Mary sleep.  I see the children yawning." And 
so on.
   To me, an object complement is better understand as produced by a 
causative verb (acting upon the object in such as way as to bring about 
change.  Make Spot run would be an example.)  In See Spot run, we 
observe something independent of the observation. The seeing doesn't 
bring the running about. We also observe a single process, not an 
altering one.  (If we make Spot run, he starts out not running, by 
definition. If we see him run, there's no reference to a non-running 
state.)
      My take in quick form: perception verbs often take subject-bearing 
participle and infinitive clauses as objects.  This is easily 
understood, since what we perceive are not just things, but processes. 
 "I saw the young lady steal the watch." "The young lady stole the 
watch, and I saw her do it." " I watched my father come home tired every 
day from work.  My father came home tired from work every day, and I 
watched him do it."
   Traditional school grammar has a problem with this because it is 
committed to these non-finite structures as phrases.  When they gather 
subjects (I would include absolutes), we need a new frame of reference.

Craig

Martha Kolln wrote:

> Phil,
>
> I would agree that "running" is a participle; "run" the bare 
> infinitive.  Both can function as object complements.  And that's 
> what's happening here, in my opinion. Quirk et al. (A Comprehensive 
> Grammar) include "see" as a verb in the SVOC pattern, along with feel, 
> hear, notice, watch, and many others.  Here's one of their sentences, 
> much like Spot's:
>
>         Tim watched Bill mend/mending the lamp.   (Watch Bill mend the 
> lamp.)
>
> The direct object is the subject of that complement verb.  You'll find 
> a thorough discussion of verb complementation in their Chapter 16.
>
> Martha
>
>
>
>> Anyone have a good resource that would provide both a name and a 
>> description of the extent of distribution of what I am loosely 
>> calling a 'reduced participial phrase' as seen in (1) below as 
>> contrasted with a more customary participial phrase in (2).
>>
>>              1)   See spot run.               2)  See spot running.
>> Phil Bralich
>>
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>
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