Look (at) vs. See vs. Watch – English Grammar Exercises for A2
Choose the best option (A, B, or C) to complete each sentence. All questions take place in an office where you are having computer trouble and asking a colleague to check your screen.
1 Hey, from where you are sitting, can you ______ this weird red line on my monitor?
(A) watch
(B) look at
(C) see
2 I can’t figure out what is wrong. Please come over here and ______ the error message.
(A) look at
(B) watch
(C) see to
3 The sunlight is hitting my monitor. Can you ______ the text clearly, or is it too blurry?
(A) look
(B) see
(C) watch
4 Just stand behind me and ______ what happens to the screen when I click this folder.
(A) look at
(B) see
(C) watch
5 I am pointing right at the top corner. Do you ______ the missing icon now?
(A) see
(B) look
(C) watch
6 Don’t ______ the keyboard right now; the problem is on the actual display.
(A) see
(B) watch
(C) look at
7 I literally just sat here and ______ the loading bar freeze for five whole minutes.
(A) saw to
(B) watched
(C) looked
8 If you ______ closely at the edge of the monitor, you will notice a tiny crack.
(A) watch
(B) look
(C) see
9 I thought my eyes were tired, but then I ______ the screen flash bright green.
(A) saw
(B) looked at
(C) watched
10 Please ______ the monitor carefully while I restart the system to catch any error codes.
(A) watch
(B) see
(C) look at
11 Oh, I finally ______ it! The letters on the second line are completely upside down.
(A) look at
(B) watch
(C) see
12 We should call IT support. Did you just ______ that spark come out of the laptop?
(A) see
(B) look at
(C) watch
13 Turn your chair around for a second and ______ this strange pop-up window.
(A) watch
(B) look at
(C) see
14 From this angle, I only ______ a reflection of the office window, not your spreadsheet.
(A) look
(B) see
(C) watch
15 The technician is going to share my screen so he can ______ me try to fix the bug.
(A) watch
(B) look at
(C) see
16 I can barely ______ the mouse pointer because the screen brightness is so low.
(A) look at
(B) see
(C) watch
17 Can you ______ the difference between the original document and this corrupted version?
(A) watch
(B) look
(C) see
18 I took a screenshot of the glitch so the IT guy can ______ it later.
(A) watch
(B) look at
(C) see to
19 Every time I ______ the screen, my eyes hurt because the colors are flickering so badly.
(A) watch
(B) see
(C) look at
20 I am so glad you also ______ that weird visual glitch; I thought my computer was fine and I was just going crazy!
(A) saw
(B) looked at
(C) watched
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 C
Explanation: * [see]. You are asking about your colleague’s physical ability to perceive the light/image from their current distance.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) “watch” is for observing moving things over time. (B) “look at” is a command to direct attention, but here you are asking if their eyes are capable of perceiving the line from where they sit (“can you…”).
2 A
Explanation: * [look at]. You are giving a direct instruction for the colleague to intentionally point their eyes at a static object (the error message).
- Distractor Analysis: (B) “watch” is incorrect for a static text message. (C) “see to” is a grammar error.
3 B
Explanation: * [see]. The context is about physical clarity. Sunlight causes glare, which affects the physical ability to perceive the text.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) “look” is a common mistake; you can “look” (direct your eyes), but the glare stops you from “seeing” (perceiving). (C) “watch” is incorrect.
4 C
Explanation: * [watch]. You are asking the colleague to observe a process or a sequence of moving events (“what happens… when I click”).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) “look at” is too static; it doesn’t capture observing a changing process. (B) “see” lacks the intentional, continuous observation required here.
5 A
Explanation: * [see]. You are asking if the object has successfully entered their field of vision after you pointed it out.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) “look” is a grammar error (needs “at”) and focuses on the effort, not the successful perception. (C) “watch” is incorrect for a static missing icon.
6 C
Explanation: * [look at]. Telling someone not to direct their intentional focus on a specific static object (the keyboard).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) “see” is incorrect because you cannot easily command someone not to “see” something if their eyes are open. (B) “watch” is incorrect for a static keyboard.
7 B
Explanation: * [watched]. You intentionally observed an ongoing state or action over a period of time (“five whole minutes”).
- Distractor Analysis: (C) “looked” is a structural error (needs “at”). (A) “saw to” is a grammar error.
8 B
Explanation: * [look]. The preposition “at” is already in the sentence (“…closely at the edge”). You just need the verb for directing intentional focus.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) “watch” is incorrect. (C) “see” cannot be followed by “at” in this context.
9 A
Explanation: * [saw]. The flash of green was sudden. It entered your vision without you planning to observe it for a long time.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) “looked at” implies you stared at the flash intentionally. (C) “watched” implies you observed the flash continuously, but a flash is instantaneous.
10 A
Explanation: * [watch]. You are asking them to continuously observe the screen during a process (restarting) to wait for something to happen.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) “see” lacks the continuous, intentional effort. (C) “look at” is better for a static image, while “watch” is perfect for waiting for changing screens during a reboot.
11 C
Explanation: * [see]. You finally perceived or noticed the detail. Your eyes recognized the upside-down letters.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) “look at” is the effort of pointing your eyes, but “see” is the successful realization. (B) “watch” is incorrect for static letters.
12 A
Explanation: * [see]. A spark is a sudden, momentary event that enters your vision. You catch sight of it.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) “look at” implies intentional staring at a static object. (C) “watch” is for continuous observation, not a split-second spark.
13 B
Explanation: * [look at]. You are telling the colleague to intentionally direct their eyes to a static object (a pop-up window).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) “watch” is a common mistake for static computer windows. (C) “see” is a passive ability, not a command to direct attention.
14 B
Explanation: * [see]. Due to the angle, your physical ability to perceive the spreadsheet is blocked by a reflection.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) “look” is a common mistake; you are looking, but you only see the reflection. (C) “watch” is incorrect.
15 A
Explanation: * [watch]. The technician will observe a live, continuous action over time (you trying to fix the bug).
- Distractor Analysis: (B) “look at” is for static objects. (C) “see” lacks the continuous, deliberate observation.
16 B
Explanation: * [see]. Because the brightness is low, you lack the physical ability to visually perceive the mouse pointer.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) “look at” is incorrect; you can try to look at it, but the darkness prevents you from seeing it. (C) “watch” is incorrect here.
17 C
Explanation: * [see]. “See the difference” is a standard English collocation meaning to notice or comprehend a visual or conceptual change.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) “look” is a grammar error. (A) “watch” is incorrect.
18 B
Explanation: * [look at]. A screenshot is a static picture. The IT guy will direct his eyes to it intentionally.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) “watch” is the classic mistake made with still photos/screenshots. (C) “see to” is a grammar error.
19 C
Explanation: * [look at]. Every time you intentionally point your eyes at the screen, it hurts.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) “watch” is incorrect. (B) “see” implies natural ability, but here the pain comes from the intentional act of directing your gaze at the bright/flickering object.
20 A
Explanation: * [saw]. The colleague also noticed or caught sight of the sudden glitch.
- Distractor Analysis: (B) “looked at” implies they stared at it on purpose. (C) “watched” implies a long, continuous observation, whereas a glitch is usually a sudden, brief error you just happen to “see.”
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
When dealing with computer screens, errors, and visibility, you must choose the verb based on physical ability, intention, or movement.
1 See = The Physical Ability & Noticing
- This is the most important verb when checking a screen error with a colleague! We use see to ask if the light from the screen reaches their eyes, or if they have noticed a detail.
- Example: “Can you see this red line?” (Is it visible to you from there?)
- Example: “I can’t see the text because of the sun.” (Physical inability).
- Example: “I saw a spark.” (I noticed a sudden event).
2 Look (at) = The Intentional Focus
- Use look at when you give a command to your colleague to purposely point their eyes at a static (non-moving) part of the screen.
- Example: “Please look at this error message.” (Focus your eyes here).
- Rule: If there is an object you are pointing to, you MUST use the preposition “at”.
3 Watch = Continuous Observation of Movement
- Use watch when you want your colleague to look at the screen for a period of time because something is going to move, process, or change.
- Example: “Watch what happens when I click ‘Restart’.” (Observe the live process).