see
sees
seeing
saw
See means to perceive with eyes, to understand, or to meet. Unlike "look" or "watch", it doesn't require effort. Irregular: see-saw-seen.
Meanings
- To perceive with eyes
- To understand
- To meet or visit
- To experience or witness
- To ensure (see that...)
Common Collocations
see you later
see the point
see eye to eye
see through
wait and see
see to it
Tip for Learners
See vs Look vs Watch: see = perceive (passive); look at = direct eyes (active); watch = observe over time. See eye to eye = agree. See through = recognize deception.
Present Simple
| I | see |
| you | see |
| he/she/it | sees |
| we | see |
| they | see |
Examples - Present Simple
- I see what you mean now.
- You see things differently than I do.
- She sees her therapist every week.
- We see each other at work daily.
- They see no reason to change the plan.
Present Continuous
| I | am seeing |
| you | are seeing |
| he/she/it | is seeing |
| we | are seeing |
| they | are seeing |
Examples - Present Continuous
- I am seeing a specialist about my back.
- You are seeing things that aren't there.
- He is seeing someone new these days.
- We are seeing improvements in the data.
- They are seeing the movie tonight.
Present Perfect
| I | have seen |
| you | have seen |
| he/she/it | has seen |
| we | have seen |
| they | have seen |
Examples - Present Perfect
- I have seen this movie three times.
- You have seen better days, haven't you?
- She has seen the error of her ways.
- We have seen a lot of changes recently.
- They have seen the evidence firsthand.
Present Perfect Continuous
| I | have been seeing |
| you | have been seeing |
| he/she/it | has been seeing |
| we | have been seeing |
| they | have been seeing |
Examples - Present Perfect Continuous
- I have been seeing a counselor for months.
- You have been seeing improvements, right?
- He has been seeing her since January.
- We have been seeing more customers lately.
- They have been seeing strange lights in the sky.
Past Simple
| I | saw |
| you | saw |
| he/she/it | saw |
| we | saw |
| they | saw |
Examples - Past Simple
- I saw him at the supermarket yesterday.
- You saw the whole thing happen.
- She saw an opportunity and took it.
- We saw the Northern Lights in Iceland.
- They saw through his lies immediately.
Past Continuous
| I | was seeing |
| you | were seeing |
| he/she/it | was seeing |
| we | were seeing |
| they | were seeing |
Examples - Past Continuous
- I was seeing double after the accident.
- You were seeing someone else at the time.
- He was seeing a doctor regularly.
- We were seeing progress before the setback.
- They were seeing the sights when it rained.
Past Perfect
| I | had seen |
| you | had seen |
| he/she/it | had seen |
| we | had seen |
| they | had seen |
Examples - Past Perfect
- I had seen enough to know what happened.
- You had seen this coming for months.
- She had seen him before the incident.
- We had seen the movie before it was popular.
- They had seen better performances.
Past Perfect Continuous
| I | had been seeing |
| you | had been seeing |
| he/she/it | had been seeing |
| we | had been seeing |
| they | had been seeing |
Examples - Past Perfect Continuous
- I had been seeing a therapist for years.
- You had been seeing warning signs all along.
- He had been seeing her secretly.
- We had been seeing steady growth.
- They had been seeing each other for months.
Future Simple
| I | will see |
| you | will see |
| he/she/it | will see |
| we | will see |
| they | will see |
Examples - Future Simple
- I will see you tomorrow at noon.
- You will see the results soon.
- She will see the doctor next week.
- We will see what happens.
- They will see the truth eventually.
Future Continuous
| I | will be seeing |
| you | will be seeing |
| he/she/it | will be seeing |
| we | will be seeing |
| they | will be seeing |
Examples - Future Continuous
- I will be seeing the specialist on Monday.
- You will be seeing more of me around here.
- He will be seeing his family this weekend.
- We will be seeing changes very soon.
- They will be seeing the new exhibit.
Future Perfect
| I | will have seen |
| you | will have seen |
| he/she/it | will have seen |
| we | will have seen |
| they | will have seen |
Examples - Future Perfect
- I will have seen all his films by then.
- You will have seen the finished product.
- She will have seen the doctor by Friday.
- We will have seen everything by closing time.
- They will have seen the proposal by Monday.
Future Perfect Continuous
| I | will have been seeing |
| you | will have been seeing |
| he/she/it | will have been seeing |
| we | will have been seeing |
| they | will have been seeing |
Examples - Future Perfect Continuous
- I will have been seeing this doctor for five years.
- You will have been seeing improvements for months.
- He will have been seeing her for a year.
- We will have been seeing growth for two quarters.
- They will have been seeing each other for ages.