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Grammar, compared

Look vs see vs watch

See is for what reaches your eyes without trying. Look is for choosing to direct your eyes somewhere. Watch is for following something that moves or changes over time.

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The short answer

See / Look / watch
SeeLook / watch
I saw a bird in the garden. (it just happened to be there)I looked at the bird for a while. (I chose to direct my eyes)
I saw the final score this morning. (one glance, no movement)We watched the match last night. (it moved, changed over time)
Can you see the rainbow from here? (is it visible)Look! There's a rainbow. (directing attention)

How each one works

See, look and watch compared
PointSeeLookWatch
EffortNone, it happens to youYou choose to direct your eyesYou follow something over time
MovementNot requiredNot requiredUsually something that moves or changes
ExampleI saw you at the station.She looked at the photo closely.They watched the sunset.
Typical objectsA person, a place, a resultA picture, a map, a person's faceA film, a match, TV, someone working

Watch out if you speak Spanish

  • Ver covers see and watch in Spanish, so check whether the thing moves or changes: ver una pelicula is watch a movie, though see a movie is also common for going to the cinema.
  • Mirar is usually look at: mira eso becomes look at that, with at after look when there is an object.
  • Look is followed by at before an object: look at the sky, not look the sky.
  • See is about ability or a single moment, not effort: I can't see without my glasses, not I can't look without my glasses.

Practice

Grammar practice

Choose or type the answer for each sentence, then check.

  1. 1. Can you the board from your seat?
  2. 2. She her phone every five minutes.
  3. 3. We a great documentary last night.
  4. 4. I him at the supermarket yesterday, just by chance.
  5. 5. out! There's a car coming.

  6. 6. I can't

    anything without my glasses.

  7. 7. They

    the kids while the parents were out.

  8. 8.

    at this photo, it's beautiful.

0 of 8 checked

Questions

Why is ver sometimes watch and sometimes see?
It depends on whether the thing moves or changes over time. A film or a match is watch. A person or a result in one moment is see.
Do I say look the picture or look at the picture?
Look at the picture. Look always needs at before its object.

Keep going

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Book a trial class. She writes back with times in Buenos Aires time.

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