'SEE, 'LOOK(at)' and 'Watch' are verbs that we use to talk about our sense of sight - using our eyes. They are three closely related verbs that are easily confused. But they have important differences in meaning. |
1. SEE - we use 'see' to mean simply that an image comes into our range of vision. It may not be intentional; not deliberate. It just happened to be there in our sight. |
EXAMPLE: 1) I saw a snake on the road as I was biking this morning. 2) Did you see the butterfly? It almost bumped on my cheek. 3) I can see a rainbow in the sky. |
2. LOOK - this verb refers to seeing something specific; with intention. When we use 'look', it means we make an effort to try to see something or someone and we can only look at it deliberately. |
EXAMPLE: 1) Look at this photo! Isn't it beautiful? 2) Look! There's smoke on the mountain! That could be a forest fire. 3) What are you looking at? Is it a bug or a caterpillar? |
'Look' is usually used with the preposition 'at' when there is an object. When there's no object, there is no preposition. |
EXAMPLE: 1.a) Look at that girl. Isn't she cute? b) Look at the clock and tell me what time it is. |
2.a) Look over there! We're almost home! b) Look! It's changing colors! NOTE: ~~'at' is often dropped before wh-clauses: |
EXAMPLE: a) Look(at) what you've done! You spilled the paint! b) Look where you're going. You'll step on my foot. c) Look who's here! It's Mommy! |
3. WATCH - to 'watch' something means to look at it moving or changing. This is a verb like 'look' but requires more effort from us. There's also more attention and concentration and for a longer time than just looking. So when we 'watch' something or someone, we keep it under careful observation. |
EXAMPLE: 1)I watched the speeding car go through the traffic lights. 2)I watched the apples falling one by one this afternoon. 3) Daddy watches the tennis match on TV on week-ends. |
4. COMPLETE EXPERIENCES: see |
Ln general, we use 'see' to talk about public performances, play, cinema, film, etc. |
EXAMPLE: 1) We're going to see George Clooney's latest movie at the cinema tonight. 2) Did you ever see Lea Salonga live on stage in N.Y.? |
5. WATCH TV --'Watch' is normally used with TV; 'watch' and 'see' are both used to talk about TV programmes and films: EXAMPLE:1) Don't spend too much time watching TV. 2) The kids watched/saw that on Discovery Channel last week. |
6. see if/whether |
'See' can be followed by 'if'/'whether' in the sense of 'find out'. 'Look' and 'watch' are not normally used in this way. |
EXAMPLE; 1) See if that costume still fits you. 2) Let's see whether the protesters would disperse after the order is announced tonight. |