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see

Progressive forms not used​

When see means ‘perceive with one’s eyes’, progressive (‘continuous’) forms are not normally used.

  • Do you see the woman in blue over there? (not Are you seeing …?)

To talk about seeing something at the moment of speaking, can see is often used, especially in British English (see here).

  • I can see an aeroplane. (AmE also I see an airplane.) (not I am seeing an aeroplane.)

But we can say that somebody is seeing things if we mean that he/she is imagining things that are not there.

  • ‘Look! A camel!’ ‘You’re seeing things.’

When see means ‘understand’ or ‘have heard’ (see here), progressive forms are not normally used.

  • ‘We’ve got a problem.’ ‘I see.’
  • I see they’re talking about putting up taxes again.

Changes​

Progressive forms can be used for changes in people’s ability to see.

  • I’m seeing much better since I got those new glasses.
  • I’m seeing a lot of things in this book that I missed when I read it before.

‘meet’, ‘arrange’, etc​

When see means ‘meet’, ‘interview’, ‘talk to’, ‘go out with’ or ‘arrange’, ‘supervise’, progressive forms are possible.

  • I’m seeing the dentist tomorrow.
  • Are you still seeing that Henderson woman?
  • Jack’s down at the docks. He’s seeing that our stuff gets loaded correctly.

Other meanings: ‘consider’, etc​

See can mean ‘consider’, ‘think’, ‘find out’, ‘discuss’ or ‘decide’.

  • ‘Can I use the car tonight?’ ‘I’ll see.’
  • ‘What time do you want to go to the gym?’ ‘Let me see. How about five o’clock?’
  • I’ll call the restaurant and see if they’ve got a table free.

A preposition is necessary before an object in these cases.

  • We’ll see about that tomorrow. (not We’ll see that tomorrow.)
  • You’d better see about that with Jim. (not You’d better see that with Jim.)

See if … can often means ‘try to’.

  • See if you can get him to stop talking.
note

For see + object + infinitive /-ing form, (see here).