"Look" and "See"

[hsb]

Dear Teachers,

No matter how hard I try, I have confusion with the uses of "look” and "See".

I kindly request you to Please explain by giving some examples.

[colloquium]

I think "look" is often used when the act is intentional.

"I'm looking for a new car" (intentional).

And "see" when it is unintentional.

"I saw a car crash this morning!" (unintentional).

However there must be many exceptions.

I'm interested to hear what others think.

[engee30]

Dear Teachers,

No matter how hard I try, I have confusion with the uses of "look” and "See".

I kindly request you to Please explain by giving some examples.

It's as simple as this: you look to see something.
Seeing is the outcome of looking.

[colloquium]

It's as simple as this: you look to see something.
Seeing is the outcome of looking.

Very true. But it doesn't give a learner much information on which one to use.

And where does "watching" fit into that equation?!

[RonBee]

look

verb: perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards (Example: "She looked over the expanse of land")
look - OneLook Dictionary Search

see

verb: perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight (Example: "You have to be a good observer to see all the details")
see - OneLook Dictionary Search

Too look at something is to consciously pay attention to it. You can look in a certain direction without seeing everything that is there. You can see something without consciously looking at it.

Look at me!
Can you see me?

[tzfujimino]

look

verb: perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards (Example: "She looked over the expanse of land")
look - OneLook Dictionary Search

see

verb: perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight (Example: "You have to be a good observer to see all the details")
see - OneLook Dictionary Search

Too(To?) look at something is to consciously pay attention to it. You can look in a certain direction without seeing everything that is there. You can see something without consciously looking at it.

Look at me!
Can you see me?

Thank you!

[Soup]

Very true. But it doesn't give a learner much information on which one to use.

And where does "watching" fit into that equation?!

I tell my students, you can look at a painting (observe it), you can see its colors and its meaning (perceive them), but you can't watch a painting. To do that the picture would have to be moving--your eyes would have to be moving, like when you're watching a tennis match, a TV show or keeping a watchful eye on children at play.

[RonBee]

Thank you!

Typo. (I looked at it, but I didn't see it.
)

You're welcome.

[hsb]

I think "look" is often used when the act is intentional.

"I'm looking for a new car" (intentional).

And "see" when it is unintentional.

"I saw a car crash this morning!" (unintentional).

However there must be many exceptions.

I'm interested to hear what others think.

1) For a breathtaking beautiful view of the Taj Mahal, one has to see it by moonlight.

2) One has to see it with one's own eyes to believe it.

Are these sentences correct?

Because here acts are intentional?

I dont know if I got it right.

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

[RonBee]

1) For a breathtaking beautiful view of the Taj Mahal, one has to see it by moonlight.

2) One has to see it with one's own eyes to believe it.

Those sentences are perfectly fine.


Seeing is automatic. Looking is intentional. What is confusing about that?