I've only seen

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "I've only seen" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that you have only encountered or observed something before. For example: "I've only seen a picture of the Colosseum, but I've always wanted to visit it in person."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I've only seen two Madonna videos.

The New York Times

I've only seen one hard copy.

The New York Times

"I've only seen it once.

The Guardian - Music

I've only seen kitesurfing once.

The Guardian - Travel

I've only seen her wave".

The Guardian

"I've only seen it through the gates".

The New York Times

I've only seen the first two episodes.

The New York Times

"I've only seen people, not things.

The New York Times

"I've only seen him on TV.

The New York Times

I've only seen Disneyland on TV.

The Guardian

"And I've only seen the beginning of it.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I've only seen" to accurately reflect the scope of your experience or observation. It is useful when setting expectations or explaining the limits of your knowledge.

Common error

Avoid using "I've only seen" when you have extensive experience with something. Ensure it truly reflects limited exposure, not a casual dismissal of something you know well.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I've only seen" functions as a declarative statement expressing a speaker's limited experience or observation. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I've only seen" is a common and grammatically sound way to express limited experience or observation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, presenting numerous examples primarily from news and media sources. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects your level of familiarity and consider alternative phrases like "I've just seen" for variations in meaning. Steer clear of common grammatical errors such as using "saw" instead of "seen". Overall, mastering this phrase can improve clarity and precision in your writing and communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I have just seen

Focuses on the recency of the observation.

I've witnessed only

Emphasizes the act of observing something happening.

I've merely observed

Highlights the limited nature of the observation, suggesting a passive role.

My experience is limited to

Shifts the focus to the speaker's experience being restricted.

I am only familiar with

Indicates a lack of extensive knowledge or experience.

I've not seen much of

Expresses limited exposure or observation.

I have scarcely seen

Indicates rarity or infrequency of seeing something.

My exposure is solely to

Stresses that one's interaction is exclusively with a specific thing.

I'm only acquainted with

Implies a superficial or introductory level of familiarity.

I've had limited glimpses of

Conveys brief, fleeting observations.

FAQs

How can I use "I've only seen" in a sentence?

Use "I've only seen" to indicate a limited experience or observation, such as "I've only seen that movie once" or "I've only seen her perform live /s/a+few+times".

What's the difference between "I've only seen" and "I've just seen"?

"I've only seen" implies a limited number of experiences, while "I've just seen" (/s/I've+just+seen) indicates a recent observation.

What can I say instead of "I've only seen" to express limited experience?

You could use phrases like "I'm only familiar with" or "My experience is limited to". Another option could be "I have just seen" (/s/I+have+just+seen) depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I've only saw" instead of "I've only seen"?

No, "I've only saw" is grammatically incorrect. The correct past participle of "see" to use with "have" is "seen", so the correct phrase is "I've only seen".