He spent a year in the jungle, observing deforestation <affect> <affecting> local tribes.

[loviii]

Greetings!

An example from dictionary.cambridge.org:
(1) He spent a year in the jungle, observing how deforestation is affecting local tribes.

I’m interested to know whether I can apply the construction “observe X do/doing Y” to (1):
(1a) He spent a year in the jungle, observing deforestation affect local tribes.
(1b) He spent a year in the jungle, observing deforestation affecting local tribes.

Are (1a) & (1b) correct?
If not, then why not?
If they are correct, then do (1), (1a) & (1b) mean the same?

Thanks!

 

[emsr2d2]

1a is incorrect because after "observing deforestation", you need verb+ing. On that basis, clearly 1b is correct.

1b doesn't mean the same as 1 though. There is a difference between watching something happening, and watching how it's affecting people.

 

[jutfrank]

Both 1a and 1b are wrong because they don't express what you say you mean. You just need the simple pattern observe X:

He spent a year in the jungle, observing how deforestation is affecting local tribes.

However, I suspect that what you really mean is this:

He spent a year in the jungle, observing the effects of deforestation on local tribes.

You can't use observe X do/doing Y in these sentences since, as emsr2d2 points out, that pattern gives a quite different meaning.

 

[loviii]

(1b) He spent a year in the jungle, observing deforestation affecting local tribes.

Which of the next meanings can (1b) have and why?:
(1x) He spent a year in the jungle, observing deforestation that is affecting local tribes.
(1y) He spent a year in the jungle, observing that deforestation is affecting local tribes.

Thanks!