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I'm learning English now so I need some helps to build on my English.

My question is if I can use the word "see" in "see a movie", because I understand that the correct word to "see a movie or to see tv" is WATCH but I heard some people saying "see a movie" not "watch a movie".

I am so confused really. It's too basic I know but help me please, thanks.

J.R.
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  • Related question - "Do you watch or see a movie?" – CowperKettle Sep 14 '16 at 17:16
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    Also related - "watched vs saw any" – J.R. Sep 14 '16 at 17:34
  • @J.R.♦: I think it's a duplicate. The only significant usage difference (we tend to watch stuff on small home/handheld screens, and see movies at the cinema) is covered by an answer there. – FumbleFingers Sep 14 '16 at 17:42
  • @Fumble - That question only asks about movies, not TV. If anything, I'd be inclined to merge that one with this one. I think this is the better question. – J.R. Sep 14 '16 at 17:43
  • @J.R. - You are correct, but I think that the third sentence in the example cleared that point. –  Sep 14 '16 at 17:46
  • @xxxxxx - Perhaps it does, but I'm still inclined to keep the better question open. I think that's better for the site in the long run, and should be considered before voting to close something as a "duplicate question." Note the verbiage in the close reason: This question has been asked before. – J.R. Sep 14 '16 at 17:48
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    There's also “Watch movie X” vs “see movie X”, which I answered myself. But arguably they (and doubtless others) could all be closed as duplicates of What is the difference between “look”, “see”, and “watch”? – FumbleFingers Sep 14 '16 at 17:53
  • Google Books has just 8 instances of (we went) to the movie theater and watched* (some film)*, but it thinks there are 191 instances of the same with *saw. The figures for ...to the cinema and watched/saw...* are 628/1310 (a less marked preference - but still significant, I think). – FumbleFingers Sep 14 '16 at 18:02
  • @FumbleFingers - Thanks! That "“Watch movie X” vs “see movie X” is the question I was looking for when I left my initial comment. I couldn't find it for some reason. – J.R. Sep 14 '16 at 18:07
  • @J.R.♦: There are some subtleties that have probably never been explicitly flagged up in the specific context of movies. It occurs to me that if someone asked me whether I like movie X, the response I don't know, I haven't watched* it, could more strongly imply I have actually got* the movie (on DVD, available through my chosen "movies-R-us" provider, or whatever). But it's the same passive/active distinction as *heard / listened to,* all of which is covered very well here. – FumbleFingers Sep 14 '16 at 18:16
  • @FumbleFingers - actually the question could be: Did you see the movie X ? No, I haven't watched it yet. –  Sep 14 '16 at 18:20
  • @xxxxxx: Sure. Or it could be Did you watch X? No, I haven't seen it yet. Both perfectly valid, but there's at least a tendency to favour *watched* for the reply if you have actually been in a position to do so (but have chosen not to, an active rather than passive choice). By the same token you might be more inclined to use *watch* rather than *see* in the original question if you know the other guy has the DVD or some other easy way to play it. It's more Did you get around to watching it? rather than Did you get around to seeing it? – FumbleFingers Sep 14 '16 at 18:29

1 Answers1

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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.

  • Not: We watched… You’ll have to go and watch …

(Cambridge Dictionary)

Watch a Movie vs See a Movie:

  • We watched a movie yesterday. This would imply we watched a movie at home (TV/DVD...)

  • We saw a movie yesterday. This would imply that we did so by going to a movie theater.

  • We can also explicitly say that we went to the movie theater and watched Ice Age.

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    I think both watched and saw can be used for your last example: We went the theater yesterday and saw Wicked. – J.R. Sep 14 '16 at 17:36
  • @J.R. is correct with his example. Also note that you can use "see" when describing a particular show (even if watched at home). "I finally saw the last episode of Breaking Bad" – eques Sep 14 '16 at 17:40
  • @J.R. - I am referring to your comment here. The second and the third sentences say that see and watch can be used in that context. –  Sep 14 '16 at 17:53
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    @xxxxx - Okay, I see that now. I must have gotten confused for some reason. (By the way, I had already upvoted this answer; it's a good one.) – J.R. Sep 14 '16 at 18:04