0
Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
The grammar of "see"
Hello.
I would like to know the behavior of see.
I use the sentence in 1 as an example.
1. I looked back and saw the approaching tsunami.
In a normal context, is it possible to use see as follows?
2. See the approaching tsunami!(imperative)
3. I deliberately saw the approaching tsunami.(occurance with deliberately)
4. I was seeing the approaching tsunami.(continuous)
Thank you.
I would like to know the behavior of see.
I use the sentence in 1 as an example.
1. I looked back and saw the approaching tsunami.
In a normal context, is it possible to use see as follows?
2. See the approaching tsunami!(imperative)
3. I deliberately saw the approaching tsunami.(occurance with deliberately)
4. I was seeing the approaching tsunami.(continuous)
Thank you.
Top answer
2. (imperative) yes. 3.
- 2.
- (imperative) yes.
- 3.
- (occurance with deliberately) not really plausible.
- You can use see in this way: When we were in Paris we deliberately made a point to see the Diana memorial.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
8 Answers
0
2. See the approaching tsunami!(imperative) yes.
3. I deliberately saw the approaching tsunami.(occurance with deliberately) not really plausible. You can use see in this way: When we were in Paris we deliberately made a point to see the Diana memorial. (see = visit)
4
3. I deliberately saw the approaching tsunami.(occurance with deliberately) not really plausible. You can use see in this way: When we were in Paris we deliberately made a point to see the Diana memorial. (see = visit)
4
00
Hi,
I would like to know the behavior of see.
I use the sentence in 1 as an example.
1. I looked back and saw the approaching tsunami.
In a normal context, is it possible to use see as follows?
2. See the approaching tsunami!(imperative)
3. I deliberately saw the approaching tsunami.(occurance with delibera
I would like to know the behavior of see.
I use the sentence in 1 as an example.
1. I looked back and saw the approaching tsunami.
In a normal context, is it possible to use see as follows?
2. See the approaching tsunami!(imperative)
3. I deliberately saw the approaching tsunami.(occurance with delibera
00
Thank you for your reply.
My usage book says that "See Jane cross the road." is unacceptbale.
What is the difference between the sentence in 2 and this example?
My usage book says that "See Jane cross the road." is unacceptbale.
What is the difference between the sentence in 2 and this example?
00
My usage book says that "See Jane cross the road." is unacceptbale.
What is the difference between the sentence in 2 and this example?
The patterns are the same. That pattern is not truly unacceptable from the viewpoint of grammar. I think your usage book is simply trying to steer you away from sounding lik
What is the difference between the sentence in 2 and this example?
The patterns are the same. That pattern is not truly unacceptable from the viewpoint of grammar. I think your usage book is simply trying to steer you away from sounding lik
00
I appriciate your help.
I would like to confirm my understanding, using a different sentence given in 1.
1. When he reached the top, he looked back toward the coast and saw a gigantic wall of water rising and heading straight toward the plant.
2.See a gigantic wall of water rising and heading straight toward the plant.!
3.I delibaretely saw
I would like to confirm my understanding, using a different sentence given in 1.
1. When he reached the top, he looked back toward the coast and saw a gigantic wall of water rising and heading straight toward the plant.
2.See a gigantic wall of water rising and heading straight toward the plant.!
3.I delibaretely saw
00
0
The differences you are seeing in our replies have to do with a "grammatical" interpretation versus usage in practice.
"See" can be a stative verb (verb of perception), and many presciptive grammar books will claim that it is not proper to use it in the continuous tenses. Most native "standard English" speakers, under normal circumstances, do not use these kinds of verbs in the continuou
"See" can be a stative verb (verb of perception), and many presciptive grammar books will claim that it is not proper to use it in the continuous tenses. Most native "standard English" speakers, under normal circumstances, do not use these kinds of verbs in the continuou
00
semantically acceptable under normal circumstances
It depends what you mean by 'normal', of course.
For me, only 1 does not require any special contextual set-up.
2 works under the circumstances I described above, where you are doing some excited advertising.
3 is so anomalous that my mind rejects it.
4 works within a
It depends what you mean by 'normal', of course.
For me, only 1 does not require any special contextual set-up.
2 works under the circumstances I described above, where you are doing some excited advertising.
3 is so anomalous that my mind rejects it.
4 works within a
0
Related Questions