Look at, see or watch?

Look at​

When something, we direct our eyes in its direction and pay attention to it.

Taken form​: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/look-at-see-or-watch

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 participle form is seen.

Has anyone seen my glasses?

​

I saw Trevor at the shopping centre yesterday.​

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 …

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.

• I was at home.

​

​

​

• ​I was at a theatre or cinema.

• I watched ‘Phantom of the Opera’ last night on DVD.

• ​I saw ‘Phantom of the Opera’ last night.

​

Compare

https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/eb/qa/see-look-watch-hear-and-listen#:~:text=see%20means%20to%20notice%20or,attention%20to%20what%20is%20happeningSome

When we look at something for a long time, we use watch, not see.

Some text here about the topic of discussion

See focuses more on the finished event. It doesn’t suggest that we spent much time looking at the whales.

Watch focuses on the process of seeing: we spent time looking at the whales.

We saw whales jumping out of the water.

We watched whales jumping out of the water.​

Look at, see or watch: typical errors

• When there is an object, we use

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 to see? (Not: What are you going to watch?)

A: I’m not sure. I really want to see the new Rocky movie but Nancy said she’s not interested in that.

Not: I really want to watch the new Rocky movie …

​

​Now is your time to practice!

​

Follow the link below:

https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/cw-see-look-watch-quiz.htm​

​

Share with your partners and teacher your score and answers.​

​