Conjugation of "See" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage
To meet with someone in person.
Look up another verb
All 12 Tenses of "See"
Quick reference table — every tense form of "see" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.
| Tense | Example (I) | Quick rule |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | I see |
Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule → |
| Simple Past | I saw |
Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule → |
| Simple Future | I will see |
Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule → |
| Present Continuous | I am seeing |
Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule → |
| Past Continuous | I was seeing |
Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule → |
| Future Continuous | I will be seeing |
Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect | I have seen |
Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect | I had seen |
Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect | I will have seen |
Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule → |
| Present Perfect Continuous | I have been seeing |
Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule → |
| Past Perfect Continuous | I had been seeing |
Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule → |
| Future Perfect Continuous | I will have been seeing |
Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule → |
Past Tense of "See" — Saw
The past simple of "see" is "saw". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "see" is irregular, "saw" is not formed by adding -ed — you have to memorize this form. See our simple past tense guide for a deeper explanation of the simple past.
Past Participle of "See" — Seen
The past participle of "see" is "seen". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have seen"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was seen"). Because "see" is irregular, "seen" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.
Is "See" Regular or Irregular?
"See" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "see", past simple "saw", and past participle "seen". The 3rd-person singular present is "sees" and the present participle/gerund is "seeing". Conjugation pattern: irregular: see-saw-seen (vowel/ending change).
Conjugation pattern: irregular: see-saw-seen (vowel/ending change)
How to Pronounce "See" and Its Forms
See: /siː/ — Stress pattern: O
One-syllable word pronounced with long 'ee' sound.
How to Use "See" — Common Grammar Patterns
In sense 'meet with': 'Will you see me?' or 'Let's see each other soon.'
see + noun/personsee + time expressionwill see someone
Example Sentences with "See" in Different Tenses
- Simple Present: Can you see me on Friday afternoon? A2
- Simple Future: I will see you tomorrow at the office. A1
Common Collocations with "See"
- see a doctor — I need to see a doctor soon.
- see a movie — Let's see a movie tonight.
- see a friend — I'm going to see a friend later.
- see the point — I don't see the point of doing this.
- see someone again — I hope to see you again soon.
When to Use "See" vs Similar Verbs
Smart synonyms — when to use each one
- meet — arranged encounter with specific purpose
- encounter — unexpected or chance meeting in person
- visit — intentional trip to meet someone at their place
Common Mistakes with "See"
-
Wrong: She see the problem.
Correct: She sees the problem.
Add "s" with third-person singular. -
Wrong: I have saw it.
Correct: I have seen it.
Use past participle "seen", not "saw", with "have". -
Wrong: They seeing the doctor.
Correct: They are seeing the doctor.
Use "are" before present participle.
Conjugation Tables for "See"
Negative Forms
- Simple present: I do not see · He does not see
- Simple past: I did not see · She did not see
- Present perfect: I have not seen · He has not seen
Question Forms
- Simple present: Do you see? · Does he see?
- Simple past: Did you see?
- Present perfect: Have you seen?
Passive Voice (where applicable)
- Simple present passive: It is seen
- Simple past passive: It was seen
- Present perfect passive: It has been seen
Frequently Asked Questions About "See"
- Is "see" regular or irregular?
- "see" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "saw" and past participle is "seen". You must memorize these forms.
- What is the past tense of "see"?
- The simple past of "see" is "saw".
- What's the difference between the past simple and past participle of "see"?
- The past simple is "saw" and the past participle is "seen". Use past simple for completed past actions ("I saw yesterday"). Use past participle with have/has ("I have seen").
- What's a common mistake with "see"?
- Add "s" with third-person singular. Wrong: "She see the problem." Correct: "She sees the problem."