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Seem

Seem means ‘appear in a particular way’. We can use it as a linking verb (like be) or with a to-infinitive. We do not normally use seem in the continuous form:

  • She seems very young to be a teacher.
  • Not: She is seeming …
  • I seem to be the only person who hasn’t heard the news. (+ to-infinitive)

Seem as a linking verb​

Seem as a linking verb is followed by an adjective or, less commonly, a noun:

  • It seems strange that no one noticed that the window was broken. (+ adjective)
  • Glenda seems happier these days.
  • Buying a new car seems a complete waste of money to me. A used one would be just as good. (+ noun)

We can use the impersonal construction it seems or it seemed with a that-clause, or with as if or as though and a clause:

  • It seems that the village shop will have to close down. They can’t find a buyer for it.
  • It seems as if he wants everyone to feel sorry for him, but I don’t.
  • It seemed as though time was standing still. She wanted that moment to last forever.

When seem is followed by a clause, we can refer to the person who experiences the situation using a prepositional phrase with to:

  • It seemed to everyone that the police were over-reacting, but no one dared to criticise them.
  • It seems to me as though she needs help.

It seems like and a clause is less formal than it seems that …:

  • It seems like he’s going to sell his house and move to Canada. (more formal: It seems that he’s going to …)

Seem + to-infinitive​

We can use seem with a to-infinitive:

  • Tony always seems to offend people.
  • Everybody seemed to be ready, so we set off.
  • The old man seems to have mistaken us for some people he knew years ago.

We can also use the impersonal construction there seems to be or there seemed to be, followed by a noun:

  • There seems to be a mistake in these calculations. Can we check them?
  • There seemed to be no reason why she should not come with us, so we all travelled together.
See also
  • Appear