seem

seem, appear, look

这三个词都可用作系动词,表示“看起来”。它们的区别是：

1.在含义上, appear 强调外表上给人的某种印象,有时含实质上并非如此的意思; look意味着看上去如此,实际亦是如此; seem 则暗示判断有一定根据,这种判断往往接近事实。例如:

He appears to be very young.

他看上去很年轻。(实际上不一定如此)

He looks to be very young.

他看上去很年轻。(实际上也年轻)

He seems to be very young.

他看上去很年轻。(可能他的确很年轻)

2.在用法上,这三个词都可跟形容词或“to be+形容词或名词”结构,也可用于It appears〔appeared〕/looks〔looked〕/seems〔seemed〕 as if...结构。但是, appear 和seem跟to- v 时仍表示“看起来”,而look 接to- v 则是“盼望”的意思。例如:

He appears〔seems〕 to know it.

他看来知道这件事。

He looks to hear from you.

他期待你来信。

另外, appear 和seem可用于It appears〔appeared〕/seems〔seemed〕 that...结构,而look不能。例如:

我看他似乎很喜欢看这部小说。

［误］ It looks to me that he enjoys read- ing the novel.

［正］ It appears〔seems〕 to me that he enjoys reading the novel.

还有, appear 和seem一般不用于进行体; 而look可用现在进行时,这和一般现在时所表示的意思无多大区别。例如:

You are looking〔look〕 very unhappy.你看起来很不高兴。

下面各组中的两个句子意思相同:

He seemed to be ill.

It seemed that he was ill.

他好像在生病。

He doesn't seem to be at home.

He seems not to be at home.

他好像不在家。

下面两句意思不同:

It seems as if it might rain.

看样子像要下雨似的。

It seems as if it is going to rain.

看来快要下雨了。