Can you see the cat? vs Am I able to see the cat? vs Is it seen there or not?

[Sureshvemuri]

Assumption:

A small cat stands before me, trying to hide behind a tree.

A freind asked - "Can you see the cat?"

Does this mean - "Am I able to see the cat?"
OR
"Is it seen there or not?"

I have heard that when we use "SEE", it would be understood that whether the object/person is SEEN to us or not.

Is this correct?

Thanks,
Suresh

[Daemon99]

[Cerberus™]

I do not fully understand the question. The following sentences all express the same situation:

I can see the cat.
I am able to see the can (uncommon way to say it, special context).
The cat can be seen by me (uncommon " ").

If you are talking about the difference between "I see the cat" and "I can see the cat": in this situation, there seems to be little difference in meaning. But you would probably say "I can see the cat" only in a situation where someone else doubted whether you could see the cat, because the cat was behind a tree or something like that. In situations where you have to make an effort to see something.
In the situation where the cat was hiding behind a tree, you could also say "I see the cat", because if you see it, it is necessary that you can see it, too - so that the "can" is implicit in your statement.

[Sureshvemuri]

Thank you for the elaborate reply and your time, Cerberus™.

This is my thought:

Did you look at the cat = I need to look at the cat, specifically.
Did you see the cat = Was the cat seen to you (focus is on the cat).

Thanks,
Suresh

[Cerberus™]

Ah, I see. I think you are right.

To look at something: looking is presented as an act. You usually make a conscious effort to look at something, or at least you look at something in particular.

To see something: seeing is not an act, it just happens. It may be conscious or not, it could even happen against your will, as in: "I tried not to look at her, but when I thought she was finished I turned around and saw her bare ankles."

To watch something: watching is similar to looking, but usually for a longer time, or more intsensely.

Note that these differences are not set in stone: there are exceptions and idiomatic usage.

You could compare "hear" to "see", and "listen to" to "look at".

[Sureshvemuri]

Thanks Cerberus™, that is what I thought.

Thanks for your time.

Suresh

[Cerberus™]

Excellent!

[Snoowoo]

sometimes," see a movie" or "watch a movie" are both correct.I can't tell the difference between them.