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say or says?
Main Post: say or says?
Top Comment: I think this is part of the behavior of hear. The reason it’s not as obvious here is because someone doesn’t change for case, but if we swap it out for he: I heard him say that he lived in the city. I saw him give the dog a bone. I made him buy a banjo. Hear, see, and make all use this structure. I’m not sure if there are others, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I think the second verb is in the infinitive for all of these forms. It’s often hard to distinguish between infinitive, indicative, and subjunctive in English, unless the verb is be: I heard him be a real nuisance to everyone for hours. I saw him be the best robot impersonator I’ve ever seen. I made him be a clown for my daughter’s birthday party. This structure overlaps with a similar one, using the -ing form instead. It's fine for hear and see: I heard him saying that he lived in the city. I saw him being the best robot impersonator I've ever seen. but it's not fine for make: I made him buying a banjo.