1
I saw the map carefully to find the hotel.
I looked at the map carefully to find the hotel.
Use look at when you deliberately direct your eyes towards something, usually because you want to examine it or get information from it: ‘She looked at the map carefully.’
Use see when something becomes visible to you or you notice it, often without trying: ‘I opened the curtains and saw a really cute dog outside.’ ‘I saw Tom walking in the park today.’
See LOOK (1)
2
We saw TV for three hours last night.
We watched TV for three hours last night.
We spent hours seeing the clouds change shape.
We spent hours watching the clouds change shape.
Use watch when you pay attention to something for a period of time, especially when it is moving or changing: ‘We watched the match.’ ‘She watched the children play.’
Check our grammar lesson on the difference between look, watch and see.
See WATCH