English term
I am seeing lots of
(The speaker is in a train and there are lots of Mormons among the passengers).
Is "seeing" used correctly here (in the continuous).
Thank you!
Apr 22, 2012 19:36: Edith Kelly changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"
Non-PRO (3): Bernhard Sulzer, Ildiko Santana, Edith Kelly
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Responses
United Kingdom
poetically precise prose with... panache
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English
OK
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Note added at 11 mins (2012-04-22 14:12:07 GMT)
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It's like the difference between saying "they were turning up (in dribs and drabs)" and "they turned up", where the implication is that perhaps they all turned up at the same time. But the difference is pretty subtle...
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Note added at 14 mins (2012-04-22 14:15:12 GMT)
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It is a correct use of the present continuous
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dandamesh
: doesn't it mean "I keep on seeing"? can it has a slight worried/bothered meaning?
10 mins
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many thanks dandamesh! Yes, very well explained! "I keep (on) seeing..." fits perfectly!//I hadn't thought of that, but it could imply that or an element of surprise/puzzlement, etc
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| agree |
Tina Vonhof (X)
: I assume the speaker is moving around on the train, perhaps visiting the dining car, etc. Once you are in your seat, you can't see 'lots of Mormons', only some that are in the immediate vicinity.
29 mins
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many thanks Tina! You're quite right. On the other hand, the Mormons couls equally be wandering past on their way to the dining car :)
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| agree |
Jack Doughty
58 mins
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many thanks Jack!
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| agree |
Simon Mac
1 hr
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many thanks yx!
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| agree |
Thayenga
: With Tina. Or every time the speaker turns his/her head s/he sees Mormons everywhere, so that it's a continuous process. :)
1 hr
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yes, they keep popping up! Many thanks Thayenga :)
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Charles Davis
: This sums up the way I see it too // (Nonsense! It was me, I was being a right pain. I get severely told off at home for that sort of thing!)
2 hrs
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many thanks Charles! (and apologies for being so grumpy the other day!)
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Edith Kelly
5 hrs
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many thanks Edith!
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not incorrect in the absolute sense but "I see" sounds better to me in this context.
| agree |
Tony M
: I agree with Jenni: although this construction is not wrong, it would have a quite specific meaning which may or may not be wanted; generally, the 'normal' expression would be "I (can) see...", unless some special meaning is intended.
3 mins
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United States
rethink technology
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, Spanish
I am seeing lots of - I am seeing a lot of
I think the verb “seeing” in present continuous is used correctly in the sentence. Personally, I prefer to say: “I am seeing a lot of Mormons”. Both “lots of” and “a lot of” are right.
Thank you,
Domingo Trassens
I can see
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Tony M
: Yes, I rather think that fills the gap that may have been in Asker's mind. / LOL! Mine often suffers from 'Grand Canyon' syndrome.
10 mins
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I wish it was as easy to fill in the gaps that sometimes appear in my mind, whoever you are!
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| neutral |
Carol Gullidge
: yep, but I already posted this in my explanation at 7 mins!
27 mins
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Discussion
But conversely, excessive or inappropriate use of it is also a dead giveaway of a non-native speaker; and this very fact is often used to caricature certain ethnic groups whose 'native' use of EN is to say the least 'highly coloured'!
This is why there is so much debate here; only by seeing how the phrase fits in with the surrounding text can we know for sure whether this tense feels out of place here or not, and whether or not it conveys the writer's intended meaning.
I agree with Jenni and Tony that "seeing" usually expresses a special meaning/circumstance and is not the standard way. "See" would be more natural if you just want to convey the fact that because you can see many Mormons, they have to be going to Salt Lake City too. Bernhard
"As the journey continues, I am seeing more and more houses, which must men we are getting near the city"
"These days, I am seeing more and more people with new cars on the roads"
"As I look out of the window, I see peasants working in the fields."
"I see holly and I think Christmas"
"I am seeing lots of Mormons on the train, and this is making me worry I may have got on the train to Salt Lake City by mistake"