Look at
When welook atsomething, we direct our eyes in its direction and pay attention to it:
[the speaker is sitting at her computer]
Come andlook atthis photo Carina sent me.
Look atthe rabbit!
Whenlookhas an object, it is followed byat:
Look atthe rain. It’s so heavy.
Not:Look the rain.
See
Seemeans noticing something using our eyes. The past simple form issawand the-edform isseen:
IsawTrevor at the shopping centre yesterday.
Has anyoneseenmy glasses?
See also:
See
Watchas a verb
Watchis similar tolook at, but it usually means that we look at something for aperiod of time, especially something that is changing or moving:
Wewatchtelevision every evening.
I like to sit at the window towatchwhat’s happening in the garden.
We usesee, notwatch, when we talk about being at sports matches or public performances, such as films, theatre and dramas. However, wewatchthe television:
Wesawa wonderful new film last night. You’ll have to go andseeit while it’s in the cinema.
Not:We watched…You’ll have to go and watch…
| I was at home. |
| I was at a theatre or cinema. |
When we look at something for a long time, we usewatch, notsee.
| Watchfocuses on the process of seeing: we spent time looking at the whales. |
| Seefocuses more on the finished event. It doesn’t suggest that we spent much time looking at the whales. |
Look at, seeorwatch: typical errors
When there is an object, we useatafterlook:
If you go for a walk by the river, you canlook atthe beautiful scenery.
Not: …you can look the beautiful scenery.
We don’t usewatchto talk about things that we see without trying:
If you go to the forest, you mightseesome deer.
Not: …you might watch some deer.
We don’t usewatchwhen 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 usewatch, notsee, when we refer to something on the television:
At night, I like towatchthe television.
Not: …I like to see the television.