Linking verb SEEM – English lesson

“seem” is a verb.

Pronunciation:    /siːm/

Meaning:
Give the impression of being something.
Give the impression of having a particular quality.
To appear in a particular way.

Example: Jane seems tired.

Meaning:
Jane gives the impression of being tired.
Jane appears to be tired.
Jane looks tired.

(We think that Jane is tired because of her appearance. Maybe she is tired. Maybe she is fine. But she seems tired.)

seem – form

“seem” is a regular verb.

I seem
you seem
he / she / it     seems
we seem
you seem
they seem

Past simple: seemed
Past participle: seemed

Important: “seem” does not usually have a continuous form. This is because “seem” is considered to be a verb of the senses (similar to see, sound, smell, taste, hear).

Example:
Jane seems tired.
Jane is seeming tired.
Jane is seeming to be tired.

Uses of “seem”

Here are the common uses of “seem“:

• “seem” as a linking verb
• “it seems” + that clause
• “it would seem” + that clause
• “seem” + simple infinitive
• “seem” + continuous infinitive
• “seem” + perfect infinitive

Let’s look at each one.

“seem” as a linking verb

“seem” is a linking (copular) verb. A linking verb gives us more information about the subject of the sentence.

Linking verbs are followed by adjectives (not adverbs)
Linking verbs can also be followed by noun phrases.

“seem” + adjective

Form:
subject + “seem” + adjective

Meaning:
Give the impression of being something.
Give the impression of having a particular quality.

Examples:
They seem young. How old are they?

Clare seems happy.
The cat seems hungry.

“seem to be” + adjective

We can also have the following structure:

Form:
seem to be + adjective

We use this to describe more objective situations.

Examples:
The walls seem to be damp.
The soup seems to be cold.

Often, there is no real difference in meaning between “seem” + adjective and “seem to be” + adjective. Often, both are possible.

“seem” + noun phrase

Linking verbs can also be followed by a noun phrase.

We only use the form: “seem to be” + noun phrase
We do not use: “seem” + noun phrase

Examples:
Who is that man with the children?

He seems to be their father.
He seems their father.

The woman standing up seems to be the manager.
The woman standing up seems the manager.

“it seems” and “it would seem”

Here is the form for these 2 expressions:
“it seems” + that clause
“it would seem” + that clause

The meaning of these 2 expressions is the same.

Meaning:
To suggest that something is true. “it seems” and “it would seem” are polite and indirect style.
It is a “non-committal” style. When someone says “it seems that……”, they are not saying that something is definitely true.

Examples:
Manager: Someone has broken my phone. (direct style)
Manager: It seems that someone has broken my phone. (indirect, polite)
Manager: It would seem that someone has broken my phone. (indirect, polite)

Politician: The economy is improving. (direct style, certain)
Politician: It seems that the economy is improving. (indirect, non-committal)
Politician: It would seem that the economy is improving. (indirect, non-committal)

Politicians often use this non-committal style because they can never be wrong. In the above example, if the economy declines in the future, they can save face by saying that they never said it was certain.

seem + infinitive

We use “seem” with different types of infinitive:

“seem” + simple infinitive
“seem” + continuous infinitive
“seem” + perfect infinitive

Let’s look at each one.

“seem” + simple infinitive

simple infinitive:  “to” + base form of verb
Example:  to cry

Form:  “seem” + simple infinitive

Meaning: To give the impression of doing an action in the present.

Examples:
She seems to cry a lot. Is she ok?
He seems to like her.

“seem” + continuous infinitive

Continuous infinitive:  “to be” + ING form of verb
Example:  to be crying

Form:  “seem” + continuous infinitive

Meaning: To give the impression of doing an action right now in the present or doing a continuous action in the present.

Examples:
You seem to be crying. What is wrong?
The new accountant seems to be working very hard today.

“seem” + perfect infinitive

perfect infinitive: “to have” + past participle
Example: to have finished

Form: “seem” + perfect infinitive
Meaning: To give the impression of having done an action in the past.

Examples:
Mark seems to have finished the project.

Principal: Where are the students?
Teacher: I don’t know. They seem to have left.

More English lessons

English lessons on our Youtube channel
“any more” and “anymore” – English lesson
What are New Year’s resolutions?
Slang in British English
The verb “to BE” – English irregular verbs
List of all lessons

English video lesson