# \[you\] See Spot run **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 4, 2001, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-see-spot-run/64375 "2001-05-04T18:15:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cheeses\_Priced\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Cheeses\_Priced\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheeses_Priced_1)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2001, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-see-spot-run/64375/1 "2001-05-04T18:15:58Z")
Isn’t that how it should be… with an understood “you”? Sure as hell makes a lot more sense like that. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2001, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-see-spot-run/64375/2 "2001-05-04T23:55:50Z")
(a) Wrong forum, this is a Cecil column, not a Staff Report. (b) Imperatives in English often–even typically–have no expressed subject. This helps differentiate them from declarative sentences. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-see-spot-run/64375/3 "2001-05-05T01:14:09Z")
The link to Cecil’s column: [How do you diagram the sentence, “See Spot run”?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980814a.html) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-see-spot-run/64375/4 "2001-05-05T19:49:52Z")
Moving to Comments on Cecil’s Columns. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-see-spot-run/64375/5 "2001-05-07T01:17:01Z")
Thank you for the assist, Chronos and bibliophage. Welcome to the SDMB, and thank you for posting your comment. Please include a link to Cecil’s column if it’s on the straight dope web site. To include a link, it can be as simple as including the web page location in your post (make sure there is a space **before** and **after** the text of the URL). Cecil’s column can be found on-line at the link provided by bibliophage. Please also read the description of each forum at the Straight Dope Message Board home page. * * * moderator, «[**Comments on Cecil’s Columns**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1)» ---
**Author:** ![davanden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@davanden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davanden)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-see-spot-run/64375/6 "2001-05-08T12:32:53Z")
It makes more sense to treat “run” as a gerund, with the “ing” omitted. “See Spot running” appears to mean exactly the same thing as “See Spot run.” –Dav ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-see-spot-run/64375/7 "2001-05-08T19:52:44Z")
No, I think the objective infinitive is correct. Example: Help Arnold post the link. Subject - implied “You” verb - imperative acting verb “Help” Direct object - noun clause subject - “Arnold” verb - “(to) post” object - “the link” The verb in the noun clause is infinitive.