Should I say
- “I saw the kid. He is sleeping on the couch”
or
- “I see the kid. He is sleeping on the couch”
Answer
Everybody else seems not to like the first example. They want to change the second sentence to "He was sleeping on the couch."
But no, it all depends on what it is you want to say.
Scenario 1:
Somebody rings up while you are babysitting. You are in the lounge, where the child is fast asleep on the couch. "Can you see my son?" you are asked.
"I see the kid. He is sleeping on the couch," you reply.
Scenario 2:
Somebody rings up while you are babysitting. You are in the kitchen, and the child is fast asleep on the couch in the lounge. You have been asked to check up on him regularly. You have been doing that, but you are not now in direct view of the child (but you can still hear him snoring). "Have you checked up on my son recently? What’s he up to at the moment?"
"I saw the kid. He is sleeping on the couch," you reply.
Scenario 3:
Yesterday you happened to be in the lounge somewhere. Someone asks you a question about what you saw. "Did you see my son when you stopped by yesterday?"
"I saw the kid. He was sleeping on the couch," you reply.
Scenario 4:
Somebody rings up while you are babysitting. Some time ago, the child in question was asleep on the couch, but he has woken up now and is playing with his toy soldiers. "Where’s my son? Has he had his nap?" is the question.
"I see the kid. He was sleeping on the couch," you reply.
Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : Andrew Tran , Answer Author : Prime Mover