See, Saw, Seen
English divides see into forms that show when something happens: see (base), saw (past), and seen (past participle). This short guide explains each form with simple examples.
See
Use see in the present or with helpers for the future or ability. Think of see as noticing or observing now or in general.
Examples
Saw
Use saw for a single completed event in the past. Saw is the simple past of see and tells what you observed at a specific time.
Examples
Seen
Seen is the past participle used with helpers like have, has, or had. Use seen for experiences or actions that connect to another time.
Examples
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌅 I see the sunrise over the ocean. | I can view the sunrise above the sea. |
| 🐬 I see dolphins jumping near the shore. | I notice dolphins leaping close to the beach. |
| 🏄♀️ I see surfers riding the waves. | I observe surfers gliding on the waves. |
| 🏖️ I see colorful umbrellas on the sand. | I see bright umbrellas scattered on the beach. |
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Summary
Remember: use see for present or general time, saw for specific past events, and seen with helpers for past experiences. Short sentences practicing each form make these differences clear.
Saw
Examples
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌧️ Yesterday, I saw dark clouds over the bay. | I noticed heavy clouds above the bay yesterday. |
| 🐢 I saw a turtle crawling across the sand. | I observed a turtle moving over the beach. |
| 🔥 I saw a bonfire lighting up the night. | I saw a fire glowing on the beach at night. |
| 🌴 I saw palm trees swaying in the wind. | I noticed palm trees moving with the breeze. |
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Seen
Examples
| English Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌟 Have you seen the stars reflected on the water? | Did you notice the stars shining on the sea? |
| 🐧 I have seen penguins waddling on the ice. | I have observed penguins walking on the ice. |
| 🚢 She has seen many ships sailing in the distance. | She has noticed many boats far away on the water. |
| 🌈 We have seen a rainbow over the ocean. | We have seen colorful arches above the sea. |
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Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025