Zompist Bboard Again

I've seen him play before.
I'd love to watch them fail..

I almost thought of calling this a pivot construction but it's really not.

My syntax classes were too many years ago and frankly I don't want to reopen a textbook. What is this construction?

So Haleza Grise wrote: ↑Sun Jun 28, 2026 8:40 pm I've seen him play before.
I'd love to watch them fail..

I almost thought of calling this a pivot construction but it's really not.

My syntax classes were too many years ago and frankly I don't want to reopen a textbook. What is this construction?

I don't know what it's called. I mentioned this construction in the SCK. It seems to require verb of perception or causation:

I made him fail.
*I expect(ed) him fail.
*I've taught him play the violin.
*I'd love to predict him fail.

In Latin grammar it's called an AcI (accusativus cum infinitivo). In Germanic languages it's usual after verbs of perception (German Ich habe ihn schon früher spielen sehen. Ich würde ihn gern scheitern sehen.), but in Latin it's more regularly used after verbs of locution (Marcus Gaium amicum suum esse dixit "Marcus said Gaius is his friend", rex inimicos interfici imperavit "the king ordered the enemies to be killed").