What is the Difference Between Saw and Seen?

The difference between "saw" and "seen" lies in their grammatical functions and the context in which they are used. Both words are forms of the irregular verb "see," but they have distinct meanings and uses:

1. Saw: This is the past tense form of "see" and is used to describe a specific occasion or event that happened in the past. It is followed by a direct object or an adverbial phrase of time. For example:

• I saw him yesterday. (direct object)
• I saw a movie last week. (adverbial phrase of time)

1. Seen: This is the past participle form of "see" and is used to form the perfect verb tenses (present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect). It is typically used with a helping verb. Some examples of "seen" in sentences include:

• She has seen every movie in the series. (present perfect tense)
• She had seen every movie in the series until this one. (past perfect tense)
• The package can only be seen by me. (passive construction)

In summary, "saw" is the past tense form of "see" and describes a specific event or sight, while "seen" is the past participle form and is used to form the perfect verb tenses, often with a helping verb or in passive constructions.

Comparative Table: Saw vs Seen

The words "saw" and "seen" are forms of the irregular verb "see". Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two:

• "Saw" is the past tense form of "see".
• "Seen" is the past participle form of "see" and is used to form perfect verb tenses.
• "Seen" is also used in passive constructions.

Saw is used in sentences like "I saw him yesterday", while "seen" is used in sentences like "She has seen every movie in the series". Remember that "I seen" is considered non-standard English and is not grammatically correct.