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- Topic: German >
- "Wir sehen den Apfel."
36 Comments
Standard German doesn't distinguish between the simple and the progressive aspects like English does. There is only one form for both. That's why "Wir sehen den Apfel" can either mean "We see the apple" or "We are seeing the apple".
But they are not accepting the translation "we are seeing the apple" why is that?
Sorry, I have to amend what I said above. Since Standard German doesn't distinguish between the simple and the progressive aspects (e.g. I do vs. I'm doing), you can normally use either translation in English - in real life, context would determine which form you have to use.
However, there are a number of verbs in English whose meaning changes when they're used in the progressive aspect. English is not my native language, but AFAIK there is a difference between "we see XY" (with our eyes) and "we're seeing XY" (we have a date with XY). The German verb "sehen" normally means "to see something with your eyes", so translating it in the simple aspect makes more sense. At least I think that's what the problem here is about.
Ich sehe kann is falsch(wrong) ... the right form for I can see is : Ich kann sehen .... keep in mind that whenever you want to use Können , you must use it at the 2nd place in your sentence & put your main verb at the last place ... sorry for broken English :) I hope it helped you :)
That was very noble. To admit being wrong so others could learn. I admire that. :-D
exactly Katherle. "see" is a stative verb in English, which means that it refers to a "static" activity and doesn't take the progressive. If you do use it with the progressive, you force it into a different metaphorical meaning
Well i wrote "we see the apple" because i'm lazy so it has less words.. turned out "are seeing" is wrong as i read your comments haha :P
In English, you cannot say "We are seeing". It is wrong to use the verb "See" with Continuous tense. So the correct form of the sentence would be: "We see the apple".
it is wrong to say "are seeing", "are smelling" etc. Some verbs in English don't have continuous tense!!!
Hey, can someone please tell me what's the difference between "Der Apfel" and "Den Apfel"?
"Der Apfel" is using the masculine nominative article, "der", whereas "Den Apfel" is using the masculine accusative article, "den".
The Wikipedia page on German Articles may help you. http://wikipedia.org/wiki/German_articles
Is there a place in Duolingo where all forms of a verb, possibly a glossary, can be seen (like at the end of a chapter or lesson)? If not, who thinks that this is a good idea? :)
Why can't it be "We are looking at the apple"? IMHO, this is the most native translation.
Looking at something requires you to pay attention to it. Seeing something does not.
Same here, "We are seeing the apple" is not accepted. And also, as a solution, its offered "We bin see the apple." :)
Auf Wiedersehen = goodbye. Does the "sehen" in that word mean something like see you soon?
Auf Wiedersehen literally translates to "at seeing again", like "until I see you again".
I'm confused as to why the verb "sehen" can be conjugated as either "sehen" or "sehn" for Sie/sie and wir. Can anybody explain?
I don't understand why if I did the answer in present continious you take it as a mistake. We are seeing the apple.
I don't understand why if I did the answer in present continious you take it as a mistake. We are seeing the apple.
Because it is a mistake.
We don't generally use "see" in the -ing form in English when we talk about observing something with our eyes.
Only in metaphorical uses, e.g. "I am seeing his daughter" which means "I go out on dates with his daughter".
http://ebooks.edu.gr/modules/ebook/show.php/DSDIM-B100/497/5206,23935/ (search for "stative verbs")
https://moodle.acs.gr/pluginfile.php/358428/mod_page/content/10/Non-Action-Verbs-and-Exceptions.pdf
to see something = etwas sehen; he sees the dog = er sieht den Hund
to look at something = etwas ansehen; he looks at the dog = er sieht den Hund an
i wrote: we are watching the apple, and it is wrong
sehen basically means "see", not "watch".
(We are watching the apple = wir sehen dem Apfel zu)
