SC: Verb usage

[shankar_bhavani]

I was wondering which one of the following is correct?

1. I saw him kick the ball
2. I saw him kicking the ball.

Please provide explanation too.

[jlucero]

I was wondering which one of the following is correct?

1. I saw him kick the ball
2. I saw him kicking the ball.

Please provide explanation too.

Both are correct. The first sentence states that you saw (past tense) him kick (one time) the ball. The second states that you saw (past tense) him kicking (more than once/possibly continuing through the present). I think it's a bit easier to see this with a different verb:

I saw him do something (he's finished doing X).
I saw him doing something (he was in the process/was doing it more than once).