Download EN 7.02G - Confusing verbs: look - watch - see

EN 7.02G - Confusing verbs: look - watch - see - hear and listen
Section 1
Objective
You will understand the differences between commonly confused verbs
When you want to talk about visual sense, you can use the verbs 'look' - 'see' and 'watch'. Similarly, when you talk about the sense of
hearing, you can use the verbs 'hear' and 'listen'. However, each of these verbs have a separate and distinct meaning from the other and
often they can't be interchanged.
Many students confuse these. So how do you know when to use which? Basically it comes down to intention. Let's start by looking at the
verbs for vision.
Vision
'Look' - 'see' and 'watch' seem very similar. They all talk about different ways of using your eyes.
However, there are two very important differences. It depends on your intention and on how intense the 'looking' is. It's important when
you find these verbs of the senses to try to find the differences between them. Remember it is important to identify the differences
between them because normally you can't really use them interchangeably.
See
When we say see we are normally talking about things we can't avoid, we don't generally use this in the continuous tense.
"I opened the blinds and saw the boss kissing his secretary." (I didn't intend to see them; it just happened.)
Look
However, when we use the verb look, we're talking about seeing something with an intention. Note that 'look' is an intransitive verb so
we always need to use a preposition with it. We therefore 'look at' -'look for' - 'look under' (etc.) things.
So,
"This morning I looked at the newspaper to read the latest celebrity gossip" (I intended to see the newspaper.)
Watch
When we watch something, we intend to look at it but we're also looking at it quite intensely, usually because it's moving.
"I watched him running for the bus."
"I watched the movie on the TV." (We want to see it; we're looking at it intensely and it's normally moving. )
see
look
watch
meaning visual
impression
comes to the
eyes;
understand
to pay attention look for a time
- to try to see
(involving
what is there;
movement );
example Did you see
how short her
skirt was?
Look at the
mess they have
made in the
look up (e.g.
dictionary)
like to look
He watches
films on his pc
when he is
skirt was?
made in the
canteen.
I see what you
mean.
You can look
up the words in
the dictionary.
when he is
supposed to be
working.
Watch out, the
boss is coming
Exceptions: Watch or see for movies, concerts - TV etc?
In general, we use see for public performances and watch for television at home because the emphasis is on the visual content rather
than on the action.
We're going to see Brad Pitt's latest movie at the cinema tonight.
Did you ever see Michael Jackson live on stage?
Have you seen that Gaddafi video on YouTube?
Last night we stayed home and watched some films on TV.
Question 1 Fill-In-The-Gap
Fill-in-the-gap(s) with the most appropriate word:
I A see
that he has another new car .
Can you B see
C Look
what they are doing from your seat ?
at the map to find where we are .
Don't D look
at him for the answer - I asked you !
I love to E watch
Grey's Anatomy on Monday night .
My husband F watches
the replays of the football at the weekend .
Question 2 True or False
Is the following phrase correct (true) or incorrect (false):
True False
A) Did you watch the news report on TV this morning?
Question 3 True or False
Is the following phrase correct (true) or incorrect (false):
True False
A) The police are looking that house because they suspect there's a criminal using it.
Question 4 True or False
Is the following phrase correct (true) or incorrect (false):
True False
A) I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
Question 5 True or False
Is the following phrase correct (true) or incorrect (false):
A) Why was he looking at me in that funny way?
True False
Question 6 True or False
Is the following phrase correct (true) or incorrect (false):
True False
A) What film did you watch at the cinema last night?
Question 7 True or False
Is the following phrase correct (true) or incorrect (false):
True False
A) Have you seen the new girl yet?
Section 2
Hear or Listen?
Hear and listen are verbs that we use to talk about our sense of hearing - using our ears. But they have important differences in
meaning. Again there's usually a difference between intention and non-intention. Many students use listen and hear interchangeably, but
they are not interchangeable in most situations.
"I heard the radio playing in her room." (I didn't intend to; it just happened.)
"I listened to the celebrity gossip programme on the radio." (I switched it on to find my favorite programme.)
Hear
Hear is another of our senses and it is automatic. The action does not require a conscious decision. It may not be deliberate. As soon as
we wake up and walk around, we hear things; a noise - a voice - an explosion.
You could hear them arguing from the next office.
Did you hear the thunder in the night?
Listen
Listen is an action verb and you need to make a decision to do it. You can choose if you listen to something or not. When we listen, we
try to hear. We pay attention and try to understand every sound. For example you can hear somebody talking but you need to listen to
them to understand what they are saying.
Just listen to the names they are calling each other.
I am trying to listen to what they are saying.
When we use listen with an object, the form is:
listen + to + object,
John is listening to the radio.
I can't listen to anything else you want to say. I'm so tired.
Don't you ever listen to anything I tell you?
Hear
meaning To perceive (sound) by
the ear.
Listen
To make an effort to hear
something.
To learn by hearing; be
told by others
example Can you hear that
noise?
I heard about your
promotion.
To pay attention to.
I want to listen to what
he has to say.
I told you so but you
wouldn't listen.
Hear vs listen
The sentences below contain both listen and hear and show the contrast:
I listened outside the door, but I couldn't hear what they were saying inside. (Note that even if you listen, you don't always hear what
you are trying to hear.)
His story was so long and boring that I stopped listening, until suddenly I heard my name. (Note that even if you are not listening, you
might hear something.)
♦ Exception
Listen - music - a speech - concerts - talks - lectures - etc
In general, we use hear for public performances and listen for non-public performances.
We went to hear the President's big speech last night.
I heard Madonna singing "Like A Virgin" at the concert.
Do you ever listen to the radio in your car?
Have you listened to that recording I sent you?
Why is hear used instead of listen to in these cases? The emphasis is on the contents of what is heard rather than on the activity of
listening.
NOTE! It is also important to remember that the verb LISTEN is always followed by TO.
Touch and Feel
Similarly, touch and feel are verbs that we use to talk about the sense of touch. Once again the verb we use relates to intention or no
intention. However, with these verbs there is much more inter-changeability than with see and hear verbs.
I felt the wind on my face. (I didn't intend to feel this; it just happened.)
I touched the fabric. (I intended to feel the fabric. )
NOTE: see, hear, smell, seem are all state verbs and can NOT be used in continuous tenses.
Question 1 Fill-In-The-Gap
Select the correct verb to complete the sentence:
I can't A hear
Did you B hear
you . Could you speak louder please ?
the thunder last night ?
You should always C listen to
Shall we go and D listen to
your mother's advice .
the orchestra in the park ?
What kind of music do you E listen to
?
She does all the talking - I just sit and F listen
I'm cold . There is a draft in here , can you G feel
This office is filthy , whenever you H touch
.
it ?
anything , you get covered in grime .
Question 2 True or False
Decide whether 'hear' is replaced by listen / listen to (true) or not (false):
True False
A) She heard a noise outside.
Question 3 True or False
Decide if 'hear' should be replaced by listen / listen to (true) or not (false):
True False
A) She opened the window and heard the thunder.
Question 4 True or False
Decide if 'hear' should be replaced by listen / listen to (true) or not (false):
True False
A) My grandfather is getting old and can't hear very well.
Question 5 True or False
Decide if 'hear' should be replaced by listen / listen to (true) or not (false):
True False
A) You haven't heard a word I said.
Question 6 True or False
Decide if 'hear' should be replaced by listen / listen to (true) or not (false):
True False
A) I want to hear the music.
Question 7 True or False
Decide if 'hear' should be replaced by listen / listen to (true) or not (false):
A) You'll have to speak up, I can't hear you.
True False