see or watch a match

Question

1. Tom saw a match in London last month.
2. Tom watched him play at the US Open.

I'd like to learn if there are any differences between the words saw and watched in these sentences. Can you say that one of the sentences means Tom went to the match in London or the US in person? Or is that impossible?

Thank you.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

MakiasanCan you say that one of the sentences means Tom went to the match in London or the US in person?

In person? No. "see" and "watch" have nothing to do with whether it's "in person" or not.

The main difference is in how the speaker wishes to portray the action.
In "saw a match" the action is portrayed as a single event.
In "watched a match" the action is portrayed as an activity.

CJ

Makiasan · Answer

I read this answer from one of the teachers here, when he talked about "see or watch a movie" ;

Generally speaking we use "see" to suggest entertainment performed at bigger venue, and "watch" for viewing at home. i.e. I watched a great gulf tournament on TV yesterday.

So I thought in the sentence #1, Tom was in the venue in London, eg, Wimbledon, and in #2, he's watching it at home. Am I right?

1. Tom saw a match in London last month.
2. Tom watched him play at the US Open.

Thank you.

CalifJim · Answer

MakiasanSo I thought in the sentence #1, Tom was in the venue in London, eg, Wimbledon, and in #2, he's watching it at home. Am I right?

I understand the question. You have already asked it above. My answer is the same.

No, you are not right. "see" and "watch" have nothing to do with whether it's "in person" or not.

The main difference is in how the speaker wishes to portray the action.
In "saw a match" the action is portrayed as a single event.
In "watched a match" the action is portrayed as an activity.
______________________

Generally speaking we use "see" to suggest entertainment performed at bigger venue, and "watch" for viewing at home. i.e. I watched a great gulf tournament on TV yesterday.

The statement here that you read may be generally true, but only because entertainment performed at a big venue is considered an event by most people. Watching TV at home, on the other hand, is considered an activity. The salient point is the difference between an event and an activity, not the difference between going out and staying home.

You can have these:

Tom saw a match in London last month. He watched it attentively for four hours. (He attended an event. He participated in the activity of watching while he was there.) Note that Tom was not watching the match in London on TV. Just "watch" is not enough for us to conclude that television is involved.

Therefore, when we hear someone say Tom watched him play at the US Open, we cannot automatically conclude that this was a televised game that he watched on TV.

CJ

Makiasan · Answer

Thank you very much for the detailed answer, CJ!

Maki

see or watch a match

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