look意思为“看”,“望”,表示有意识地看,后接宾语时要加介词at再加宾语。强调看的动作。
eg.
What are you looking at? 你在看什么呢?
He looked but saw nothing. 他看了,但什么也没看见。
see意为“看”,“看见”,常用作及物动词(一般不用进行时态),后面直接跟宾语。表示有意识或无意识地看到了某人(或某物)。强调看的结果。
eg.
I can see five books on the desk.
我能看到桌上有五本书。
watch“注视”“观察”常用作及物动词,后面直接跟宾语。有“注视动静”之意。
eg.
They were watching a football game.
他们在看一场足球比赛。
The students were watching what the teacher was doing.
学生们正在注视着老师在做什么?