"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.

:-D

 

[colloquium]

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

:-D

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!:-D

 

[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!:-D

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

You're welcome.
:-D

 

[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.

[FONT=&quot]I am really confused.:-?
I would be grateful if someone could help me with this.[/FONT]

 

[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?

:?:

 

[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.


[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

 

[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!:up:

 

[Raymott]

[FONT=&quot]I am really confused.:-?
I would be grateful if someone could help me with this.[/FONT]

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]

LOOK VS SEE

Hi,

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

And

LOOKerceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards.

Thanks