# Relationship between "see" and "look" Tags: terminology, semantics, lexical-semantics - Score: 3 - Views: 318 - Answers: 2 - Answered: yes - Asked by: Christian (828 rep) - Asked: 2014-08-14 - Edited: 2014-08-14 - Site: linguistics ## Question I'm interested in how "see" and "look" relate to each other. I think "hear" and "listen" is similar. Is there specific linguistic terminology that describes how the words relate to each other? To me it seems like English has no word that similar to "look" for "smell" or "feel". Is that true for most/all languages? Are there languages who do something more clever to handle this area? ## Answers ### Answer by jlawler (score: 9 [ACCEPTED]) See and look are Sense Verbs. They are, in fact, the two distinct English sense verbs for vision. There are three varieties of English sense verbs, following the pattern of hear, listen, sound (only sense verbs of hearing have three distinct forms; sight has two, and the others one apiece) (Non-Volitional verb) I heard the song I saw the painting I tasted the soup (same for volitional) I smelled the soup (same for volitional) I felt the fabric (same for volitional) (Volitional verb) I listened to t

Look at, see or watch ? - Grammar - Cambridge Dictionary # Look at, see or watch? Share on Facebook Share on X from English Grammar Today ## Look at When we look at something, we direct our eyes in its direction and pay attention to it: [the speaker is sitting at her computer] 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 -ed form is seen: I saw Trevor at the shopping centre yesterday. Has anyone seen my glasses? See also: ## 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. Warning: 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.