see
part of speech
verb (see, sees, saw, seen, seeing); in casual speech «see» also as «seen» for «saw» (nonstandard: «I seen it»)
meaning for a pupil
1) To see is to notice something with your eyes: I see a bird. tree →
2) To see is to understand: I see what you mean. tree →
3) To see someone is to meet or visit them: see the doctor. tree →
4) To see is to find out: Let's see what happens. tree →
5) «See you» means goodbye, I'll meet you again. tree →
6) To see someone (casual) is to go out with them as a boyfriend or girlfriend: «Is she seeing anyone?». tree →
7) To see to something is to take care of it: «I'll see to the dishes». tree →
8) «See ya», «see ya later», «laters» (slang) are short ways to say goodbye. tree →
9) «See?» or «See!» (casual, often rude) means «I told you so». tree →
10) (formal) «See» in a book or exam means «look at that part»: «see page 4», «see below»; formal writing prefers «observe» and «it can be seen that». tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: "God saw the children of Israel" means God paid attention to their suffering and was about to save them. Habakkuk's "burden which the prophet did see" means a message God showed him in a vision. Interpretation: The rabbis read God's seeing as His care and concern, not just looking. Seeing the wonders in Egypt is a reason to be loyal to God. The prophets are called seers because they "see" God's word. In the primary lessons: what is on the table now («What do you see on the table?» = list what is there after all the changes); in science observing («What did you see when you mixed them?»); in everyday life «See you later», «Let me see», «see a film»; in casual talk «see ya», «seen it», «see what I mean?», «you'll see», «wait and see»; in rough talk «See? Told ya» and «I'll see you outside» (a threat to fight, take it seriously and tell an adult); in the exam voice «as can be seen from the table», «observe that», «see Figure 2»; in safety «see and be seen» (wear bright clothes at night)
examples
- and Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; (Torah GEN.28.8, JPS 1917) tree →
- And God saw the children of Israel, and God took cognizance of them. (Torah EXO.2.25, JPS 1917) tree →
- the great trials which thine eyes saw, the signs and those great wonders; (Torah DEU.29.3, JPS 1917) tree →
- What will ye see in the Shulammite? (Writings SNG.7.1, JPS 1917) tree →
- And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. (Prophets JER.3.7, JPS 1917) tree →
- THE BURDEN which Habakkuk the prophet did see. (Prophets HAB.1.1, JPS 1917) tree →
- What do you see on the table? tree →
- Max sees 6 birds on a tree and 3 birds on the ground. tree →
- Anna saw 12 cars in the morning and 5 in the afternoon. tree →
- Can you see the moon tonight? tree →
- I see! Now I understand. tree →
- I'm going to see my grandma on Sunday. tree →
- See ya tomorrow, mate! tree →
- See? Told ya it was 12, not 10. tree →
- I seen him take 3 biscuits (nonstandard: «I saw»). tree →
- Mum says she'll see to the washing-up. tree →
- As can be seen from the table, the aggregate number of birds observed was 9. tree →
- Wear something bright so drivers can see you. tree →
- "I have never seen you before." tree →
note
Carries no operation clue; to answer «what do you see», list what is there now, after all the changes. Trap: «sees 6 here and 3 there» gives two parts, often to add. Past «saw», past participle «seen»; «I seen it» is common in casual talk but wrong in school writing. «See you outside» from an angry kid is a threat, not a goodbye. «Observe» in an exam means the same as «see» or «notice». Do not mix «see» with «sea» (the ocean): they sound the same.
In the corpora
- And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.
- And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.
- that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives, whomsoever they chose.
- And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.
- And he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «see» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.