Word
seen
Phoneticsseen
US/ˈsin/
UK/sˈiːn/
Definitions
01past participle of see
v. the form of 'see' used after 'have', 'has', or 'had'.
v. the past participle of the irregular verb 'see', used in perfect tenses and passive constructions.
“I have seen this film three times already.”
“By the time the investigators arrived, several witnesses had already seen the suspect fleeing toward the station.”
Usage
Requires an auxiliary verb such as 'have', 'has', or 'had' in standard English.
Pitfall
I seen that movie yesterday.
I have seen that movie before.
In standard English, 'seen' requires a helping verb like 'have' or 'has'. Use 'saw' for the simple past without a helping verb.
02saw
v. a way of saying 'saw' in some local types of English.
v. the simple past form of 'see' in nonstandard or dialectal usage.
“I seen him at the park yesterday morning.”
“He told the officer he seen the car turn the corner, though his statement was later questioned due to the poor lighting.”
Dialect · Informal
Usage
Used without an auxiliary verb in specific regional dialects.
Teaching tip
Learners should recognize this in speech but avoid using it in exams or professional writing as it is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English.
Synonyms
03understood
interj. a word used to show you understand or agree with someone.
interj. an affirmative interjection used to signal comprehension or agreement, particularly common in Jamaican English.
“It's a long walk, so we should leave early, seen?”
“The speaker paused after explaining the plan, looking at his friend and asking, 'Seen?' to ensure they were in agreement.”
Dialect · Slang
Teaching tip
This is a specific feature of Caribbean English and its diaspora; it functions similarly to 'you see?' or 'understand?'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Idioms
have seen one's day — Of a person, thing, idea, etc., to be at the point in a life cycle or career of no longer being useful or effective; to be worn-out.
have seen one's last gum tree — Of a person, on the edge of death.
have seen this movie — To have experienced a situation which is the same as or similar to the current situation, especially with a sense of the unpleasantness or tiresomeness of the recurring situation.
remain to be seen — To have not yet happened; to be as yet unknown.
wouldn't be seen dead — To find incredibly horrifying; embarrassing or otherwise entirely unsuitable for oneself.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/seen