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Moon7296 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Are you seeing that over there

1. Are you seeing the Korean restaurant over there?

I thought we can say like #1 even though it sounds a little weird because of the verb see. But my book says it is ungrammatical.

Then Are you looking at the Korean restaurant over there? or other verbs instead of 'seeing' make the sentence OK?
  

Top answer

'Seeing' does not work there, while 'looking at' does. Verbs of sensation do not usually take continuous form, though they can in other circumstances. ' is not.

— Mister Micawber

  • 'Seeing' does not work there, while 'looking at' does.
  • Verbs of sensation do not usually take continuous form, though they can in other circumstances.
  • ' is not.
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8 Answers
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'Seeing' does not work there, while 'looking at' does. Verbs of sensation do not usually take continuous form, though they can in other circumstances.

On the other hand, 'Do you see that Korean restaurant?' is fine, while 'Do you look at that Korean restaurant?' is not.
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1. He sees a map on the table.(0)

2. He is seeing a map on the table.(x)

3. He is seeing the sights of Paris. (0)

4. I heard the bell. (0)

5. I was hearing the bell. (x)

6. I am hearing his class.(0)

My book marks o and x in #1~6.

For me, #2 and #3 look the same; why #3 is OK while #2 not?

What does #6 mean?
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#2 -- We do not normally use the verbs of sense (see, feel, hear, etc) in continuous form.

#5 -- As above

#6 is wrong, too. It is mismarked.
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moon7296,

Here's more information on your current topic of interest.

CJ
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You've gotten good technical answers from other posters. However, you will sometimes hear in informal speech someone use such a formulation as a way to emphasize or call attention to an area or item of interest.

So, in your example, there might be something unusual about the restaurant in question that the speaker wishes to call attention to that causes him to use this unusual (and yes, u
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wow.. what a systematical answer!. I just felt like I was reading a thick grammar book for this stative verb.

Then.. my question #3, He is seeing the sights of Paris. (0), is OK based on your post:

Special cases: Imaginary or hallucinatory sensations. -ing. see, hear.

He is seeing things.

He is hearing voices.

So,, he
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I'll jump in, I guess.

He is seeing the sights of Paris.-- No hallucinations. 'Seeing the sights' = sightseeing. It is another situation in which stative can be continuous.
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moon7296Then.. my question #3, He is seeing the sights of Paris. (0), is OK based on your post:
Special cases: Imaginary or hallucinatory sensations. -ing. see, hear.

He is seeing things.
He is hearing voices.
Don't get the IF statement in the wrong order!
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