[Grammar] see

[atabitaraf]

I ............ (see/seeing) Julia in the hallway. Want me to get that file from her? [Summit 2, pp. 11, Joan Saslow and Allen Ascher]

I don't know why the answer is only 'see' and 'seeing is wrong. Is 'see' a stative verb?

 

[5jj]

Is 'see' a stative verb?

That's not relevant. We can't have 'I seeing'.

 

[atabitaraf]

What about 'I am seeing Julia in the hallway....' in this example?

 

[emsr2d2]

What about 'I am seeing Julia in the hallway....' in this example?

That doesn't work in BrE. I believe it might be acceptable in Indian English. In BrE, we would say simply "I [can] see Julia in the hallway". We might use the present progressive to denote the future if we include a future time marker in the sentence, ie "I am seeing Julia later today". There "I am seeing" means "I will meet up with".

 

[atabitaraf]

That doesn't work in BrE. I believe it might be acceptable in Indian English. In BrE, we would say simply "I [can] see Julia in the hallway". We might use the present progressive to denote the future if we include a future time marker in the sentence, ie "I am seeing Julia later today". There "I am seeing" means "I will meet up with".

Do you have any rule about 'not using ing with see'? Is it a kind of stative verb or something?

 

[engee30]

Do you have any rule about 'not using ing with see'? Is it a kind of stative verb or something?

No, don't think that way. The unmarked meaning in your sentence is being aware of somebody using your eyes, if you like.

You can say:
I'm seeing Julia in the hallway.
to convey the idea of a rather utter surprise, almost disbelief, that you see her there.

 

[MikeNewYork]

No, don't think that way. The unmarked meaning in your sentence is being aware of somebody using your eyes, if you like.

You can say:
I'm seeing Julia in the hallway.
to convey the idea of a rather utter surprise, almost disbelief, that you see her there.

I don't disagree, but it should be mentioned that there are still many teachers who teach and believe that sense verbs cannot be used in the progressive form. Students should know that.

 

[Barb_D]

VERY generally, we do tend to say "I see a ship on the horizon" not "I am seeing a ship on the horizon."
VERY generally, we do tend to say "I hear music coming from that room" not "I am hearing music coming from that room."
VERY generally, we do tend to say, "I smell something amazing! What's for dinner?" not "I am smelling something amazing..."

If we use the progressive tense, it suggests a temporary situation (Okay, now I'm seeing the ship... no, it's out of focus again... okay, now I'm seeing it clearly) or something otherwise unusual (I'm smelling something foul... let's find out where it's coming from.)

You will be taught first that these verbs are not used in the progressive (for the present) and then you will learn the exceptions.

 

[atabitaraf]

VERY generally, we do tend to say "I see a ship on the horizon" not "I am seeing a ship on the horizon."
VERY generally, we do tend to say "I hear music coming from that room" not "I am hearing music coming from that room."
VERY generally, we do tend to say, "I smell something amazing! What's for dinner?" not "I am smelling something amazing..."

If we use the progressive tense, it suggests a temporary situation (Okay, now I'm seeing the ship... no, it's out of focus again... okay, now I'm seeing it clearly) or something otherwise unusual (I'm smelling something foul... let's find out where it's coming from.)

You will be taught first that these verbs are not used in the progressive (for the present) and then you will learn the exceptions.

I wish I could give you more than a like, thanks.
So, the general rule says the simple present tense talks about an action that happens always. The present progressive tense talks about an action that is happening now (future plan is not our issue here.)
Sense verbs are not usually used in progressive sense, when you are talking about ongoing actions: I see a ship on the horizon; I listen to music; I smell a nice smell.
An exception: If you use the progressive tense, it suggests a temporary situation that is coming and going, OR something strange.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I wish I could give you more than a like, thanks.
So, the general rule says the simple present tense talks about an action that happens always. The present progressive tense talks about an action that is happening now (future plan is not our issue here.)
Sense verbs are not usually used in progressive sense, when you are talking about ongoing actions: I see a ship on the horizon; I listen to music; I smell a nice smell.
An exception: If you use the progressive tense, it suggests a temporary situation that is coming and going, OR something strange.

McDonald's came out with an advertising campaign that used the tag phrase "I'm loving/lovin' it". English teachers cringed everywhere. But, as Barb pointed out, the customers were shown eating the product at that very time. The objections remain for some, but the majority have learned to accept that usage. It is tricky on exams however.

 

[Tdol]

Sense verbs are not usually used in progressive sense, when you are talking about ongoing actions: I see a ship on the horizon; I listen to music; I smell a nice smell.
An exception: If you use the progressive tense, it suggests a temporary situation that is coming and going, OR something strange.

It can also depend on the meaning:

I am seeing her tomorrow (see = meet)