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Infinity Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

See and watch

0 For instance, the situation is on a plane, say from NY to Paris, 02br
00You see a moive on the plane, 02br
00or 02br
00You watch a movie on the plane. 02br
02br
00Which one is more relevant? 02br
02br
00Thanks in advance. 0-
  

Top answer

0 You watch a movie on the plane, And hopefully one you haven't seen yet. 0-

— Pieanne

  • 0 You watch a movie on the plane, And hopefully one you haven't seen yet.
  • 0-
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14 Answers
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0 You watch a movie on the plane, And hopefully one you haven't seen yet. 0-
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0 Hello Infinity 02br
02br
00I'm a learner from Japan and I too am annoyed with the choice between "see" and "watch". This is because in my mother tongue (Japanese), the verb for "see" and the verb for "watch" are the same. 02br
02br
00When you say "I saw X", you mean that X came to your sight. That is, "see X" is an unintentional event. When you say "I w
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0 Hi paco and infinity - I can well believe that the choice of "watch" or "see" is a tough one for English learners, because I have had a lot of trouble explaining when I would choose one or the other. Here are a few thoughts, and they might contradict each other a bit: 02br
02br
00Paco is right, "see a movie" is more common when you are talking about going to a theater - "
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0 Paco, 02br
02br
00I think the short story is that "see" indicates perfective aspect; "watch" is imperfective. 02br
02br
00Having seen a movie means a task has been accomplished. 02br
00Having watched a movie means an activity has been engaged in. 02br
02br
00One can want to see a particular movie, rarely "see movies". The
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0 Thanks to all. 02br
00Taking your suggestions and ideas, now that I understand why I'd usually use 'to see a movie' when I talk about a movie, and 'to watch' when I put more emphasis on the action. But I also learned this time, it could depend on when, what, and where. 0-
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0 Hello 02br
02br
00I also would like to say "Thank you all". Khoff and CJ, your answers have cleared my long-run troubles in the use of "watch/see a movie". I'll understand now on as "watch a movie" is an activity-oriented phrase and "see a/the movie" is an object-oriented phrase. Infinity, thank you for having raised this nice question. 02br
02br
00pac
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0Tina: What do you usually do in your free time?02br
02br
00Kim: I 01b00watch02b00 movies. I'm crazy about movies. I just 01b00saw02b00 "Losing Mino" last weekend.0-
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0 01a05000 02a00 0260hrefhttp://www.EnglishForward.com/English/WatchCaseMovies/zqpk/Post.htm
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1i01b001. I watch movies often.02br
002. I like to watch movies.02b02i02br
02br
001 and 2 are quoted from CalifJim. For him, the two sentences are natural.02br
02br
02br
01i01b003. ?I see movies often.02br
004. ?I like to see movies.02b02i02br
02br
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1a05000 02a00=02br
02br
00When you say "I want to see a movie" it usually means at the movie theater. While if you say "I want to watch a movie" it usually means at home, or to rent a movie.0240hrefhttp://www.eslcafe.com/forums/student/viewtopic.php?t=11583&highlight
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