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E EnglishDart
A2

Look vs See vs Watch

See = passive, your eyes receive it (I see a bird). Look = active, direct your eyes (look at the board). Watch = active + movement/duration (watch TV).

The one-line answer

See = passive, your eyes receive it (I see a bird). Look = active, direct your eyes (look at the board). Watch = active + movement/duration (watch TV).

look

verb

to direct your eyes at something — always with 'at'

  • Look at this photo — isn't it great?
  • She looked at her watch nervously.
  • Look at me when I'm talking!

see

verb

to receive images with your eyes — passive, no effort

  • I can see the mountains from my window.
  • Did you see that accident?
  • I can't see without my glasses.

watch

verb

to look at something for a period — movement, entertainment

  • We watched a film last night.
  • Watch how I do it, then try.
  • He watched the children playing.

Memory trick

See happens TO you; you look AT something; you watch something DO something (movement/time). You look at a photo, you see it on the wall, you watch a film.

Look vs See vs Watch: Test yourself

Question 1 of 3

We ___ a documentary about sharks.