"Look" and "See"

[the concierge]

never fear, the concierge is here

1.

you look at something when you are paying attention to it

don't look at me like that!

2.

you watch something that is happening, or is going to happen

I can't talk now - I'm watching the game!

3.

you see something when it comes to your eyes, regardless of your attention

did you see that flash of lightning last night?

4.

but also - for a complete experience we can use see

Come around tonight - I want to show you my holiday snaps.
I've already seen them.
For a breathtaking beautiful view of the Taj Mahal, one has to see it by moonlight.

[RonBee]

1.

you look at something when you are paying attention to it

don't look at me like that!

2.

you watch something that is happening, or is going to happen

I can't talk now - I'm watching the game!

3.

you see something when it comes to your eyes, regardless of your attention

did you see that flash of lightning last night?

4.

but also - for a complete experience we can use see

Come around tonight - I want to show you my holiday snaps.
I've already seen them.
For a breathtaking beautiful view of the Taj Mahal, one has to see it by moonlight.

Also:

We say:

Are you going to watch the game tonight? (On TV)

but

I've already seen that movie.

[banderas]

Also:

We say:

Are you going to watch the game tonight? (On TV)

but

I've already seen that movie.

Would "I have already watched it" not work?

[RonBee]

"Did you see that!" (Me watching the syncronized diving at the Olympics.)

Would "I have already watched it" not work?

Probably not. Possibly:

A: Do you want to see that movie on television tonight?
B: No, I've already seen it.

On the other hand:

I'm watching the Olympics on TV (synchronized diving).

Also:

We watch children.

The word watch is a more active verb than either look or see.



I hope that helps.

[banderas]

"Did you see that!" (Me watching the syncronized diving at the Olympics.)


Probably not. Possibly:

A: Do you want to see that movie on television tonight?
B: No, I've already seen it.

On the other hand:

I'm watching the Olympics on TV (synchronized diving).

Also:

We watch children.

The word watch is a more active verb than either look or see.



I hope that helps.

It does!

[Raymott]

I am really confused.
I would be grateful if someone could help me with this.

Maybe you could attack the problem by treating them as completely separate verbs, and learning about how to use each one. Forget about making comparisons.

[macanudo]

These words are incredibly confusing. All I can add to the great information here is that 'see' is usually used for a completed action. For example,

I saw the game last night.
I'm going to watch the game tonight.

I just wrote an article about this with some examples - read about how to use see, look, and watch

[nitikasnv]

Hi,

SEE: Perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight.

And

LOOK:Perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards.

Thanks