Verb Pairs : Look vs See

Level: B1–B2 (Intermediate)

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Explanation

“Look” and “see” are both connected to using your eyes, but they are not the same. The key difference is intention.

🔹 Look (at) = Direct your eyes on purpose

• Active – you decide to focus on something.
• Usually followed by “at”.
• Used when you want to pay attention to something visually.

🔹 See = Notice something without trying

• Passive – your eyes work automatically.
• You don’t choose to see, it just happens.
• Used when something is visible to you.

🔹 Let’s compare:

Example	Why?
Can you see the mountain from here?	Asking if it’s visible – no effort needed.
Look at the mountain!	Telling someone to focus on it.
I saw a bird in the garden.	You noticed it – you weren’t trying to find it.
She looked at her phone.	She checked it on purpose to see her messages.

More Examples

Key Differences

Let’s review the key differences :

• Look: Requires intention, often followed by “at”, used when focusing on something
• See: Can be passive / unintentional, often used without a preposition, used when something enters your vision naturally

Exceptions & Tricky Uses

• “See” can also mean understand or meet someone:
  • I see what you mean. (understand)
  • I’m seeing a dentist tomorrow. (appointment)
  • She’s been seeing someone for a few months. (dating)
• “Look” can mean seem or appear:
  • You look tired today.
  • That looks like a great idea!
  • It looks as if it’s going to rain.
• “Look” in phrasal verbs and idioms:
  • Look after – Can you look after my cat while I’m away?
  • Look up – I’ll look it up online.
  • Look forward to – I look forward to seeing you soon.
• “See” in idioms:
  • Let me see… – Let me see if I can help you.
  • See to it – Please see to it that everything is ready.
  • See the light – He finally saw the light and changed his mind.

Exercises

Fill in the blanks with “look” or “see” (correct form)

1. Did you ________ that car go through the red light?
2. I usually ________ out the window when I need to think.
3. Please ________ at this form and tell me if it’s correct.
4. I ________ a strange man outside your house yesterday.
5. ________ at me when I’m talking to you!
6. Can you ________ the difference between these two photos?
7. We went to ________ the fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
8. Don’t ________ directly into the sun.
9. I can’t ________ anything without my glasses.
10. She didn’t even ________ back as she walked away.

(Answers at the bottom of the page.)

Discussion Questions

1. What’s the first thing you usually look at when you wake up?
2. Have you ever seen something amazing in nature?
3. Do you like looking at art or photography? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever seen something that made you change your opinion?
5. When is it polite to avoid looking at someone?

Make Your Own Sentences

Write three sentences using “look” and three using “see” in context. Try to use different tenses and situations, and remember to use the correct form.

Answer Key

1. see 2. look 3. look 4. saw 5. look 6. see 7. see 8. look 9. see 10. look

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