Hedging & distancing

Rules

• Rule 1: seem / appear + to + verb

  seem and appear mean “to look like / to give the impression”. They are followed by to + verb or directly by an adjective. As state verbs, they don't take -ing.

  Pattern: subject + seem / appear + to + verb

  Example: The dog seems to be hungry.

  Example: They appear to know each other.

• Rule 2: Past and ongoing actions

  If the event happened in the past, use to have + V3; if it is happening now, use to be + -ing.

  Pattern: seem / appear + to have + V3 · to be + -ing

  Example: He seems to have lost his keys.

  Example: They appear to be waiting for someone.

• Rule 3: It seems that… / There seems to be…

  At the start of a sentence we can say It seems / It appears that + clause. For “there looks like there is/are…”, use There seem(s) to be; the verb agrees with the noun after it.

  Pattern: It seems that + clause · There seems / seem to be + noun

  Example: It seems that the game has started.

  Example: There seem to be two keys on the table.

• Rule 4: tend to, likely, adverbs and distancing

  tend to + verb = “it's usually true”. be likely / unlikely to = “probably will / probably won't”. apparently, arguably, presumably and supposedly soften a sentence. It is thought / estimated that… and according to create distance.

  Pattern: tend to + verb · be likely to + verb

  Example: Dogs tend to get excited when guests arrive.

  Example: It is likely to be sunny tomorrow.

Common mistakes

• It is seemed that he is angry. → It seems that he is angry.

  *seem* has no passive; It seems that is active.

• She is seeming tired. → She seems tired.

  *seem / appear* are state verbs; no -ing.

• They seem enjoying the trip. → They seem to be enjoying the trip.

  *seem* needs to; an ongoing action uses to be + -ing.