# "I Seen", inplace of "I Saw". How widespread is it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 19, 2006, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248 "2006-09-19T01:24:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/1 "2006-09-19T01:24:09Z")
_Disclaimer:_ I am not a grammar Natzi. But… When I hear people say they “seen” something, it irritates me. First of all, I grew up in a small rural southern town, but I do not recall hearing anyone say it, until I met my future husband and his family and friends. So, I thought it was just another example of “Nashville lingo” that I had to get used to when I moved there. But it was still uncommon enough to make me cringe everytime I heard it. I’m not talking about a bunch of uneducated hillbillies, but average highschool and college educated, middle-classed folks. A few months ago, when tornados were wrecking havoc in many different states throughout the country, and victims were being interviewed, several witnesses seen the tornadoes. :smack: Is “seen” the new “saw”, and I missed the memo? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/2 "2006-09-19T01:34:05Z")
Not just “I seen”, but “had went” - as in “I seen that she had went shopping, so I invited friends over to watch my porn tapes.” I don’t mind “I seen”, but “had went” makes me cringe a little. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/3 "2006-09-19T01:42:31Z")
My dad says this fairly often. He’s from Iowa, if that makes a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/4 "2006-09-19T01:43:32Z")
I am pretty sure we did just this question a while back. It pops up in localized dialects ranging from the Great Lakes region to the South and Midwest however it isn’t exclusive to any of them or typical usage even within any of them. I hate it too and I don’t recall it being widespread in my rural Louisiana upbringing although I am sure I heard it before. The person I know know that used it the most is from Upstate New York. ---
**Author:** ![BrightSmite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@BrightSmite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightSmite)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/5 "2006-09-19T01:57:49Z")
[QUOTE=Batsinma Belfry] _Disclaimer:_ I grew up in a small rural southern town [/QUOTE] Me too, and I have a seriously country twang. Though it hurts me to hear my southern brethren to use this phrase. It’s TOO much. When I hear someone say it,it’s almost like their _trying_ to abuse english. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/6 "2006-09-19T02:10:25Z")
Eek! I have been known to say “I seen,” especially if I’m talking casually with family. I’m from Western NY, for survey purposes. I think my subconscious is pretty adept at not letting me say it in a professional setting – it never feels like I’m saying it/not saying it on purpose. You know, when I think back on it, it almost seems like a slurry way of saying “I have seen” so maybe its root is partly about enunciation as well as grammar. I personally would never say “I seen Sue at the mall” (although I know some people would say this) but I _am_ more likely to say “Oh yeah, I seen Halloween candy for sale already” meaning “I’ve been seeing it around, not only at one specific location or time.” And if you heard me say that, and then asked me to write down what I said, I would write “I’ve seen.” ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/7 "2006-09-19T03:11:04Z")
[QUOTE=delphica] Eek! I have been known to say “I seen,” especially if I’m talking casually with family. I’m from Western NY, for survey purposes. I think my subconscious is pretty adept at not letting me say it in a professional setting – it never feels like I’m saying it/not saying it on purpose. You know, when I think back on it, it almost seems like a slurry way of saying “I have seen” so maybe its root is partly about enunciation as well as grammar. I personally would never say “I seen Sue at the mall” (although I know some people would say this) but I _am_ more likely to say “Oh yeah, I seen Halloween candy for sale already” meaning “I’ve been seeing it around, not only at one specific location or time.” And if you heard me say that, and then asked me to write down what I said, I would write “I’ve seen.” [/QUOTE] That’s my theory, as well. From “I’ve” to “I” is an easy enough slide. Too many people interchange “I’ve seen” with “I saw” for my tastes, but that’s another topic. And while you’re listening, you’ll now hear “I got” for “I’ve got” when it should be “I have.” ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/8 "2006-09-19T15:39:22Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] Not just “I seen”, but “had went” - as in “I seen that she had went shopping, so I invited friends over to watch my porn tapes.” [/QUOTE] Yes, I hear “I seen” and “had went” a lot around here. Even worse (on the cringe-scale) is “left out.” As in, “We left out the house to go shopping” or “We was getting ready to leave out the house and go to my sister’s house.” ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/9 "2006-09-19T16:08:41Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] That’s my theory, as well. From “I’ve” to “I” is an easy enough slide. Too many people interchange “I’ve seen” with “I saw” for my tastes, but that’s another topic. And while you’re listening, you’ll now hear “I got” for “I’ve got” when it should be “I have.” [/QUOTE] Educate me about “I’ve seen” and “I saw”, because I’m pretty sure I’ve used those interchangeably. They’re both past tense, aren’t they? What’s the difference? My English teacher railed about “I got” and “I’ve got” 50 years ago. Saying “I got” was as bad as “ain’t”, in her eyes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/10 "2006-09-19T16:21:28Z")
I’m no grammarian, but the way I understand it is that “I’ve seen XYZ” means that you’ve seen XYZ in the indefinite past, while “I saw XYZ” means that you saw XYZ at some definite point. Here is an illustration: I’ve seen many UT football games. I saw UT play Texas Tech last year. See the difference? The OP is talking about the rather hillbilly-ish construction “I seen the UT vs. Texas Tech game last year.”. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/11 "2006-09-19T16:25:16Z")
Aargh. I tried to post earlier, but the Boards weren’t working. A friend’s Mom says “I seen”. She’s univeristy educated, and from the Kitchener-Waterloo Mennonite area. In one of the _Anne of Green Gables_ books, Diana says something like, "You’re educated, but I’m just a country girl, who says “I seen” and “Them things”, although I do know better if I stop to think about it. It delineates the difference between Anne, who has a B. A., and Diana, who only attended a one-room school until she turned fifteen or sixteen. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/12 "2006-09-19T17:06:15Z")
I just recently managed to break my husband of this. He’s from rural Wisconsin, and it’s common usage around there; he didn’t know it was wrong until I explained it to him. His university educated sister uses it (and ain’t, ugh) constantly. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/13 "2006-09-19T21:53:44Z")
On those rare occassions that I’ve watched _Judge Judy_, I’ve noticed that 90% of the people on that show say “I seen”. They’ll throw in “altercation” or “commense” to sound smart in front of the camera, but then they’ll slip up and say “I seen”. > [@Renee](#): > > His university educated sister uses it (and ain’t, ugh) constantly Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that! 😃 I’m so accostumed to “ain’t” that it doesn’t bother me. But it DOES bug me when people–usually children–use “ain’t” as a statement of defiance. As in: “Johnny, go make up your bed.” “AIN’T!!” Those kids are typically in need of a good ass-whuppin’. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/14 "2006-09-19T22:03:50Z")
[QUOTE=Batsinma Belfry] _Disclaimer:_ I am not a grammar **Natzi**. But… [/QUOTE] > [@BrightSmite](#): > > When I hear someone say it,it’s almost like **their** trying to abuse english. :smack: Bolding mine. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/15 "2006-09-19T22:27:41Z")
[QUOTE=BrightSmite] Me too, and I have a seriously country twang. Though it hurts me to hear my southern brethren to use this phrase. It’s TOO much. When I hear someone say it,it’s almost like their _trying_ to abuse english. [/QUOTE] It’s worsed than you think. 😉 Years ago I worked with a guy whose language skills were definitely lacking. It turns out his mother was an English Teacher. Yes, he was a jock. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/16 "2006-09-19T23:35:53Z")
I have an acquaintance who’s fond of long, rambling stories, usually configured around what he said, and what someone else said…except he inevitably uses: “…so I says…then I says…so I says…” and every one makes me wince, and I feel a brain cell dying. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/17 "2006-09-20T00:04:26Z")
I seen fire and I seen rain. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/18 "2006-09-20T00:07:08Z")
Well obviously, I’m not a spelling Nazi either. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/19 "2006-09-20T00:07:35Z")
[QUOTE=Snooooopy] I seen fire and I seen rain. [/QUOTE] I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain? Don’t have a copy of it handy to listen to. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248/20 "2006-09-20T00:25:29Z")
I am from Michigan and no one I know says it. Maybe because anyone who speaks like this needs to be blasted with a fire extinguisher or something. [rant] Along with " **Ten Cent** is your change.\*\* Do you know how hard it is for me not to reach through the drive thru window and grab this offending person by the neck and scream, " It.is.ten.cent **s**. Ten being many. Cents being plural!\*\* And I am hardly a grammar nazi. more like a brown shirt. I blame gay marriages. [/rant] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-seen-inplace-of-i-saw-how-widespread-is-it/373248.md?page=2)