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I want to express that I am upstairs in a building and observing events down the street. Which sentence does it describe in accordance with standard English:

1. I am looking down from the window.

2. I am looking down the window.

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2 Answers 2

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In this case the window is more of a place then an object, so number 1 would be correct 2 would be incorrect. In number 1 are you expressing that you are watching from the window.

I am looking down from the window.

I am looking down the window.

That sentence in the first part (*I am looking *) doesn't change through both 1 and 2. But the second part (down from the window / down the window) would change. 1 Means that you are looking down to the street from the window. (Which is exactly what I think you mean), 2 More likely means that you are looking down at the window not from it. (Which I'm pretty sure you are not trying to express that).

So answer would be 1.

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  • Specifically, "I am looking down the <object>" means "I am looking down along the <object>, looking for things in, on, or near the <object>, or at the end of the <object>". Compare to "I am looking down the shaft" or "I am looking down the street".
    – Jasper
    Commented Oct 5, 2015 at 17:08
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It's definitely option one - "from the window":

"I'm looking down from the third floor window where I can see the whole market"

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