See | English Usage
See means perceive with one’s eye. It can also mean understand. With these meanings it is not used in the progressive form.
- I can see a ship.
- I see (NOT am seeing) from his letters that he has worked here before.
- ‘We have got a problem.’ ‘I see. ’ (NOT I am seeing.)
Continuous forms of see
When see means ‘meet’, ‘interview’, ‘talk to’ or ‘go out with’, progressive forms are possible.
- He is seeing a German girl at the moment.
- I am seeing the doctor tomorrow.
See can also be used in the progressive when we mean that somebody is imagining things that are not there.
- ‘Look! There is a camel!’ ‘You are seeing things.’
Other uses
The expression I will see means I will consider the matter. Let me see means give me time to think or recall. Note that a preposition is necessary before the object in these cases.
- We will see about that soon.
