Question

What part of speech is this:

They saw it as an opportunity.

the use of the word "saw" or "to see"
to see something as

Answer 1

saw

Answer 2

Verb..

Answer 3

Not the verb, I guess I am not asking the right question. Is there another way to say this phrase without using the words "saw" or "viewed." I am translating this to another language and am trying to figure out what this type of sentence is called.

Answer 4

realized..

Answer 5

became aware