This short guide covers how to use see, saw, and seen with clear examples and simple rules.
See
Use see for general actions and when talking about the ability to notice something or for plans with verbs like going to see. It appears in the present tense and in expressions of ability or habitual action.
I usually see the birds outside my window in the morning.
Saw
Use saw as the simple past tense to describe an action that happened at a specific time in the past. It fits short, completed events and stories about what someone noticed or experienced.
Seen
Use seen as the past participle that normally appears after auxiliary verbs like have, has, or had in perfect tenses. It cannot stand alone as the main verb in a simple sentence.
Summary
Remember: use see for present and general actions, saw for simple past events, and seen after helpers in perfect tenses. Practice with short sentences about things you notice or experiences you've had.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025