When learning Spanish, it's important to distinguish between buscar, mirar, and ver, as they each express different ways of perceiving the world around us:
- Buscar means "to search" or "to look for," and implies an active effort to find something.
- Mirar means "to look at" or "to watch," and focuses on directing one's gaze or attention.
- Ver means "to see," and describes the passive act of perceiving something visually.
Buscar: to search, to look for
Buscar is a regular -ar verb that expresses the action of searching or looking for something intentionally.
- You use buscar when you are trying to find something, not just noticing it.
- The direct object of buscar is what you are looking for, but in Spanish you do not use a personal “a” before it, even if it’s a person.
Use "buscar" when you actively look for or search for something.
No, even if the object is a person, Spanish does not use a personal 'a' after 'buscar.'
Conjugation example (present tense):
- Yo busco
- Tú buscas
- Él/Ella/Usted busca
- Nosotros buscamos
- Vosotros buscáis
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes buscan
Sample sentences:
- Busco mis llaves. (I’m looking for my keys.)
- Ella busca trabajo. (She’s looking for a job.)
- ¿Buscan a los niños? (Are they looking for the children?)
Buscar is used when you search or look for something deliberately.
Mirar: to look at, to watch
Mirar means to direct your gaze or attention toward something. It’s about *looking at* something intentionally.
- Use mirar when you focus your eyes on something or watch something deliberately.
- Mirar often requires the preposition a when referring to people (to direct your gaze at someone).
"Mirar" expresses directing your gaze or intentionally looking at something.
When mirar is directed at a person, you use the preposition "a".
Conjugation example (present tense):
- Yo miro
- Tú miras
- Él/Ella/Usted mira
- Nosotros miramos
- Vosotros miráis
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes miran
Sample sentences:
- Miramos la película. (We watch the movie.)
- ¿Miraste a Juan? (Did you look at Juan?)
- Ellos miran la televisión. (They watch TV.)
Yes, you use the preposition "a" after "mirar" when referring to people.
Use "mirar" when you focus your gaze or attention on something or someone.
Ver: to see
Ver is for the passive or spontaneous act of seeing—when things enter your field of vision without you necessarily focusing on them.
- Use ver for "to see" (not "to look"). It’s about what you notice visually.
- Ver can be used for both people and things you see.
"Ver" is used for noticing or seeing things/passively viewing them.
Conjugation example (present tense):
- Yo veo
- Tú ves
- Él/Ella/Usted ve
- Nosotros vemos
- Vosotros veis
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes ven
Sample sentences:
- Veo coches en la calle. (I see cars on the street.)
- ¿Ves aquella chica? (Do you see that girl?)
- Vemos la puesta de sol. (We see the sunset.)
"Ver" can be used for both people and things you see.
Use "ver" when you notice or see something passively.
Summary
| Verb | Meaning | When to Use | Note on Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buscar | To search/to look for | When actively searching for something | No personal 'a' after buscar |
| Mirar | To look at/to watch | When directing your gaze or attention | Use 'a' when mirar a alguien |
| Ver | To see | When perceiving something passively | Used for seeing people/things |
Conclusion
Buscar, mirar, and ver express distinct ways of engaging with the world visually in Spanish:
- Buscar is for active searching.
- Mirar is for directing your gaze or attention.
- Ver is for passive or spontaneous seeing.
"Buscar" means to search or look for, and is used when you actively seek something.
No, Spanish does not use a personal 'a' after 'buscar,' even if the object is a person.
Use 'mirar' when you direct your gaze or watch intentionally; use 'ver' for passive seeing.
'Mirar' involves active attention to sight, while 'ver' is about passive visual perception.