Look at, see or watch?
Look at
When we look at something, we direct our eyes in its direction and pay attention to it: [the speaker is sitting at her computer] Come and look at this photo Carina sent me.
Look at the rabbit!
Warning:
When look has an object, it is followed by at: Look at the rain. It’s so heavy.
Not: Look the rain.
See
See means noticing something using our eyes. The past simple form is saw and the -ed form is seen: I saw Trevor at the shopping centre yesterday.
Has anyone seen my glasses?
See also:
See
Watch as a verb
Watch is similar to look at, but it usually means that we look at something for a period of time, especially something that is changing or moving: We watch television every evening.
I like to sit at the window to watch what’s happening in the garden.
Warning:
We use see, not watch, when we talk about being at sports matches or public performances, such as films, theatre and dramas. However, we watch the television: We saw a wonderful new film last night. You’ll have to go and see it while it’s in the cinema.
Not: We watched… You’ll have to go and watch …
Compare
I watched ‘Phantom of the Opera’ last night on DVD.
| I was at home. | I saw ‘Phantom of the Opera’ last night.
| I was at a theatre or cinema. |
When we look at something for a long time, we use watch, not see.
Compare
We watched whales jumping out of the water.
| Watch focuses on the process of seeing: we spent time looking at the whales. | We saw whales jumping out of the water.
| See focuses more on the finished event. It doesn’t suggest that we spent much time looking at the whales. |
Look at, see or watch: typical errors
When there is an object, we use at after look:
If you go for a walk by the river, you can look at the beautiful scenery.
Not: … you can look the beautiful scenery.
We don’t use watch to talk about things that we see without trying:
If you go to the forest, you might see some deer.
Not: … you might watch some deer.
We don’t use watch when referring to a film in the cinema:
A:
We’re going to the cinema tonight.
B:
What are you going tosee? (Not: What are you going to watch?)
A:
I’m not sure. I really want toseethe new Rocky movie but Nancy said she’s not interested in that.
Not: I really want to watch the new Rocky movie …
We use watch, not see, when we refer to something on the television:
At night, I like to watch the television.
Not: …I like to see the television.
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