"He saw it coming" vs "He did see it coming"

Question

"He saw it coming" vs "He did see it coming"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'He did see it coming' emphasizes the action of seeing it coming, while 'He saw it coming' is a more straightforward way to express the same idea. The choice between them depends on the emphasis the speaker wants to give to the action.

Last Updated: March 31, 2024

This phrase is a simple and direct way to express that someone foresaw or anticipated something. It is commonly used in everyday conversation.

Examples:

He saw it coming and took action to prevent it.
She saw it coming a mile away.
I saw it coming, but I couldn't stop it.
They saw it coming, but they were powerless to change the outcome.
We saw it coming, so we were prepared.

Alternatives:

He anticipated it.
He foresaw the situation.
He knew what was coming.
He predicted the outcome.
He was aware of the impending event.

This phrase is used to emphasize the action of seeing something coming. It is often used to contrast with a previous statement or to add emphasis to the fact that the person did indeed see it coming.

Examples:

He did see it coming, but he chose to ignore the warning signs.
I know he did see it coming, even though he never mentioned it to me.

Alternatives:

He saw it coming, but he didn't react in time.
He did anticipate the problem.
He was aware of the situation beforehand.
He foresaw the outcome.
He was prepared for what was coming.

Answer 1

He saw it coming

This phrase is correct and is a straightforward way to express the idea of seeing something coming.

Answer 2

He did see it coming

This phrase is correct and emphasizes the action of seeing it coming.

"He saw it coming" vs "He did see it coming"

He saw it coming

He did see it coming

Related Comparisons