"Wir sehen den Apfel."
Translation:We see the apple.
38 CommentsThis discussion is locked.
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.
"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
773
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
not quite.... they are instances when you could use "..are seeing" to mean with the eyes... "are you seeing the image yet?"...
In this context its not the best translation of the German, but please don't fall into the trap that "seeing" is mostly used for "dating"...this isn't true. They are more metaphorical uses for "seeing" than dating..