seem

Linking verb: used with adjectives

Seem is a linking verb (see here); it is followed by adjectives, not adverbs.

• You seem angry about something. (not You seem angrily …)

seem and seem to be

Seem is often followed by to be. We prefer seem to be when we are talking about objective facts – things that seem definitely to be true. Seem is used without to be when we are talking about subjective impressions. (The difference is not always clear-cut, and both are often possible.) Compare:

• The bus seems to be full.
  She seems excited.
• The doctors have done the tests, and he definitely seems to be mentally ill.
  It seems crazy, but I think I’m in love with my bank manager. (not It seems to be crazy …)
• According to the experts, the north side of the castle seems to be about 100 years older than the rest.
  He seems older than he is. (not He seems to be older than he is – this would suggest that he might actually be older than he is.)
• She doesn’t seem to be ready yet.
  She seems (to be) very sleepy today.

With nouns

Seem to be is normal before noun phrases.

• I looked through the binoculars: it seemed to be some sort of large rat. (not … it seemed some sort of large rat.)
• I spoke to a man who seemed to be the boss. (not … who seemed the boss.)

However, to be can be dropped before noun phrases which express more subjective feelings, especially in British English.

• She seems (to be) a nice girl.
• The cup seemed almost doll’s size in his hands.
• It seems a pity, but I can’t see you this weekend. (not It seems to be a pity …)

Other infinitives

Seem can be followed by the infinitives of other verbs besides be.

• Anna seems to need a lot of attention.

Perfect infinitives (see here) are possible.

• The tax people seem to have made a mistake.

To express a negative idea, we most often use a negative form of seem; but in a more formal style not can go with the following infinitive. Compare:

• He doesn’t seem to be at home.
• He seems not to be at home. (formal)

Note the structure can’t seem to …

• I can’t seem to get anything right. (More formal: I seem not to be able to get anything right.)

seem like

We can use like, but not as, after seem.

• North Wales seems (like) a good place to go climbing. (not … seems as a …)

it seems

It can be a preparatory subject (see here) for that- and *as if-*clauses after seem.

• It seems that James and Alice have had a quarrel.
• It seemed as if the night was never going to end.

there seems

There (see here) can be a preparatory subject for seem to be.

• There seems to be some mistake.

note

For like and as, (see here).

Appear is used in similar ways (see here).