Thread: Разные вопросы по глаголам (by tiudavidharris

Originally Posted by tiudavidharris

I am unsure about the translation of this sentence.
I am trying to say 'i am watching television.' so i literally have to say 'i am looking into television in Russian.
'я смотрю в телевизор.'
i cannot just say 'i am watching television.'
'я смотрю телевизор.'

No-no! It is the other way around!

"Я смотрю в телевизор" is "I am looking inside the TV set"! You can use it only when:
1) You are repairing your TV set: you have opened the back cover and you are looking trying to figure out what is wrong inside;
2) You are trying to watch a movie, looking into the TV screen, but do not understand what the movie is about and what is going on on the screen (this usage is common in colloquial speech), but I would not recommend to you using it since there are more nuances. It has some negative connotation BTW.

The only way to say "I am watching TV" in Russian is "Я смотрю телевизор" (with no preposition).

Originally Posted by tiudavidharris

ive learned that if i want to say 'i am looking at you', I must say
я смотрю на тебя

It is correct!

Originally Posted by tiudavidharris

there is no russian translation for 'I am watching you' because 'смотреть' is used differently from the english verb 'look' or watch' which are both different verbs in english.
so it is incorrect to say
'я смотрю тебя'
even if the words seem to translate as 'i'm watching you'
please correct me.

I think you're right. But could you clarify:
How are those sentences different in English? (I am looking at you and I am watching you). I am afraid I do not understand the difference well.

Originally Posted by Боб Уайтман

...I think you're right. But could you clarify:
How are those sentences different in English? (I am looking at you and I am watching you). I am afraid I do not understand the difference well.

Я смотрю на тебя и
Я слежу/наблюдаю за тобой (например, по той причине, что я тебе не доверяю). - I am watching you - don't do it anymore!