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Maruko54 Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
See and Wacth
Hi everyone. I'm a newbie here. One of my friends told me this is a great site.
Please help me. I'm confused how to use "see" and "watch." I don't want to memorize "movie=see", "TV=watch." I think it depends on not what you see, but how you see. I've read tons of explanations about the deffirence between "see" and "watch", but, still, I don't get it. No, the more I read explanations, the more I get confused;(
I know "see" means "recognize something by your eyes" and "watch" means "keep observing something moving". Right?
Then...are the following explanations of my understanding correct?
1. Tom watched the soccer game on TV last night.
--"Watch" is suitable for this sentence because Tom kept observing the moving players and the moving ball.
2. Tom saw the soccer game on TV last night.
--This sentence is also good. However, Tom's eagerness for the game is much less than #1. Tom saw the game vaguely.
3. Mary is going to see the movie.
--"See" is better for this sentence because Mary are not thinking about the vivid movie's scenes (not in details). She is just thinking about "going".
4. Mary is watching the movie at the theater.
--This is also good because Mary is now watching people or things are moving on the screen.
5. Mary is going to watch the movie.
--This is grammatically correct but awkward in general.
However, if Mary has been waited for the movie for a long time and she has a strong desire for seeing it, is it OK?
6. John viewed a water flea under a microscope.
--Generally, "view" is suitable for this sentence, right?
7. John has seen a water flea under a microscope.
--If you want to say "John has that experience", "see" is good, right?
8. John watched a water flea swam under a microscope.
--Is this good?
9. Beth saw Saturn through a telescope.
--"Watch" is not suitable for this sentence because Saturn doesn't move in a sight.
10. Beth saw the shooting stars.
--Can I use "watch" instead of "see", or not? I guess "watch" is not suitable because shooting stars' move are arepredictable.
They don't change their course on the way.Beth doesn't need to chase the shooting star to see.
So, "see" is appropriate here. Is my guess right?
11. Emily watched the fireworks in the sky.
--I think "fireworks in the sky" is similar to "shooting stars", but...is "watch" better for this sentence? I'm confused.
Please help me. I'm confused how to use "see" and "watch." I don't want to memorize "movie=see", "TV=watch." I think it depends on not what you see, but how you see. I've read tons of explanations about the deffirence between "see" and "watch", but, still, I don't get it. No, the more I read explanations, the more I get confused;(
I know "see" means "recognize something by your eyes" and "watch" means "keep observing something moving". Right?
Then...are the following explanations of my understanding correct?
1. Tom watched the soccer game on TV last night.
--"Watch" is suitable for this sentence because Tom kept observing the moving players and the moving ball.
2. Tom saw the soccer game on TV last night.
--This sentence is also good. However, Tom's eagerness for the game is much less than #1. Tom saw the game vaguely.
3. Mary is going to see the movie.
--"See" is better for this sentence because Mary are not thinking about the vivid movie's scenes (not in details). She is just thinking about "going".
4. Mary is watching the movie at the theater.
--This is also good because Mary is now watching people or things are moving on the screen.
5. Mary is going to watch the movie.
--This is grammatically correct but awkward in general.
However, if Mary has been waited for the movie for a long time and she has a strong desire for seeing it, is it OK?
6. John viewed a water flea under a microscope.
--Generally, "view" is suitable for this sentence, right?
7. John has seen a water flea under a microscope.
--If you want to say "John has that experience", "see" is good, right?
8. John watched a water flea swam under a microscope.
--Is this good?
9. Beth saw Saturn through a telescope.
--"Watch" is not suitable for this sentence because Saturn doesn't move in a sight.
10. Beth saw the shooting stars.
--Can I use "watch" instead of "see", or not? I guess "watch" is not suitable because shooting stars' move are arepredictable.
They don't change their course on the way.Beth doesn't need to chase the shooting star to see.
So, "see" is appropriate here. Is my guess right?
11. Emily watched the fireworks in the sky.
--I think "fireworks in the sky" is similar to "shooting stars", but...is "watch" better for this sentence? I'm confused.
Top answer
I know "see" means "recognize something by your eyes" and "watch" means "keep observing something moving". Right? -- Right.
- I know "see" means "recognize something by your eyes" and "watch" means "keep observing something moving".
- Right?
- -- Right.
- 'See' is generally by chance, whereas 'look at' requires a conscious decision.
- 1.
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5 Answers
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I know "see" means "recognize something by your eyes" and "watch" means "keep observing something moving". Right?-- Right. 'See' is generally by chance, whereas 'look at' requires a conscious decision.
1. Yes.
2. No. It is stating the fact that the game was observed. 'See' contains no hint of time duration that is a nuance of 'watch'.
3. Yes. This is the same as fo
1. Yes.
2. No. It is stating the fact that the game was observed. 'See' contains no hint of time duration that is a nuance of 'watch'.
3. Yes. This is the same as fo
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Ohhh, thank you so much!
So...to "watch" something, we need a duration? Because it contains a nuance of "keep doing"?
So...to "watch" something, we need a duration? Because it contains a nuance of "keep doing"?
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Yes, the two main aspects of 'watch' are duration and movement.
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I see. Thank you! Your explanations are wonderful! Thank you so much!
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