Understanding the Difference: Saw vs. Seen in English Grammar

Learn when to use 'saw' and 'seen' in English for clearer communication. Master your tenses today!

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Use 'saw' when you are referring to the simple past tense for actions completed in the past, e.g., 'The last time I saw her was yesterday.' Use 'seen' with a helping verb (like 'have' or 'was') for the present perfect or past perfect tense, e.g., 'I haven't seen her since yesterday.' This distinction helps provide clarity on when the action occurred relative to other events.

FAQs & Answers

  1. When should I use 'saw'? 'Saw' is used in the simple past tense to refer to actions that were completed in the past, such as in the sentence, 'The last time I saw her was yesterday.'
  2. When is it correct to use 'seen'? 'Seen' is used with helping verbs like 'have' or 'was' to indicate present perfect or past perfect tense, such as 'I haven't seen her since yesterday.'
  3. What is the difference between 'saw' and 'seen'? 'Saw' indicates a completed action in the past, while 'seen' is used with auxiliary verbs to relate actions to the present or to other past events.
  4. Can you give examples of sentences using 'saw' and 'seen'? Certainly! For 'saw': 'I saw the movie last week.' For 'seen': 'I have seen the movie three times.'

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