I see / I can see / I saw / I could saw

[jesus]

Hello.

What is the difference between I see / I can see / I saw / I could saw ?

Thanks.

[Rusty]

Hello.

What is the difference between I see / I can see / I saw / I could saw ?

Thanks.
I see. This is the present tense. Use this form for something that you do habitually. Example: I see my friends on Saturday. I see more and more motorscooters on the streets now. We see lots of flowers in our parks.

I can see. This expresses an ability to see. Example: He can see the Eiffel Tower from his office window. She can see much better with her new glasses. You can see the works of many new artists in that gallery.

I saw. This is the simple past tense. Example: I saw an article on that subject in the paper this morning. We saw ambulances racing out the north highway as we came to work this morning.

I could saw. This is incorrect. To express ability in the past, say, "I could see." Example: On Monday afternoon, we could see the accident from our office window. After I read his book, I could see the author's concerns.
We could see the city skyline from the ferry.

[jesus]

Hello.

And when do we have to use the form " I am seeing " ?

Thanks.

[Rusty]

Hello.

And when do we have to use the form " I am seeing " ?

Thanks.
You will find "see" in many lists of stative (static) verbs: verbs that show a condition or state, as opposed to dynamic verbs which show action. Stative verbs are not normally used as progressive verbs (-ing verb). However, some verbs can be both stative and non-stative with different meanings. Example: He is a funny guy. (This shows his characteristic).
He is being funny. (This tells us how he is acting).
I think today's English is flexible on this point. It is not unusual to hear these examples:
We are hearing a lot about gas prices now.
He is seeing a lot of that girl.
I am loving my new schedule.
We are having our friends over for dinner tonight.
She is feeling pretty awful right now.

When in doubt, stick with the rules.

[jesus]

Hello.

But is it possible to use the "seeing" form indicating future?

- I am seeing the doctor next week.

Thanks.

[Rusty]

Hello.

But is it possible to use the "seeing" form indicating future?

- I am seeing the doctor next week.

Thanks.
The present tense or the present progressive/continuous can be used for the near future.
Example: I see the doctor next Friday.
I am seeing the doctor next Friday.
In this context "see" means "meeting with."

[Lucretia]

Rusty,

There's a point in Jesus' question that I'd like to clarify. Being a native speaker of English, you might have missed it.
In English can is often used with verbs of perception seemingly superfluously. It's praxis. It doesn't tell us of any ability, it's just a turn of speech.
I often tell my pupils not to translate can in sentences like these:

In the middle of the square we can see a monument.
I could hear a faint buzzing sound somewhere around.

We should just translate we see, I heard, unless such collocations are common in the other language.

[jesus]

Hello Lucretia.

But when the simple present tense See means Frequently , what dou you say?

- John always see his dentist.

- John always can see his dentist.

I think "John always see his dentist" is the correct sentence in this case (Frequently).

[jesus]

Sorry, in the example I wanted to say "John always sees his dentist", no "see".

[Pete]

Hello Lucretia.

But when the simple present tense See means Frequently , what dou you say?

- John always see his dentist.

- John always can see his dentist.

I think "John always see his dentist" is the correct sentence in this case (Frequently).
Sorry, in the example I wanted to say "John always sees his dentist", no "see".
Lucretia specifically noted that the extraneous "can" in English is used with verbs of perception, for example "Look, I [can] see John in the distance." Here, "I see" means that I perceive something through the sense of sight. As she points out, in English we will say either "see" or "can see" to express this act of the senses. There is no real emphasis on "ability" versus "no ability"; you say "I can see something", and of course the only way that you know that is that you do see it, and that is the point you are making.

In your sentence about the dentist, the verb "see" has an entirely different meaning. To "see" the dentist is to make a visit to the dentist's office in order to receive professional services. This is not a "verb of perception", so Lucretia's point does not apply; the word "can" specifically shows ability or possibility. You say "John always sees his dentist when his teeth bother him" to show that this is habitual action. You say, "John can always see his dentist" to show that John's schedule and his financial situation make it possible for him to go to his dentist whenever he wants to.

[galka]

Which is the right sentence:
I can not swim very far these days,but ten years ago I was able to swim from one side of the lake to the other.
or
I can not swim very far these days,but ten years ago I could swim from one side of the lake to the other.