Verbs & Other Verbs: Verbs + Other Verbs (#6)

In the Verb + Object + gerund pattern, the gerund
generally shows the same meaning that is shown by
while + a clause with an -ing verb:

I felt the room moving. = I felt the room while it
was moving.

He smelled his dinner burning. = He smelled
his dinner while it was burning.

Although there is often no difference in meaning
between Verb + Object + Gerund and Verb +
Object + Verb, this is not always true. When there
is a difference in meaning, the gerund suggests
that its action was in progress from beginning to
end, while this is not suggested by the base form:

She noticed him leaving. (She noticed him from
the time that he began to leave until he had gone.)

She noticed him leave. (She noticed him at the
time that he left.)

We watched the L.A. Lakers playing the
championship game. (We watched all of the
championship game that the L.A. Lakers played.)

We watched the L.A. Lakers play the
championship game. (We watched some of the
championship game that the L.A. Lakers played.)