Question

What is the difference between "there seem" and "it seem". When use one or the other?. Thank you very much.

Rover_KE · Accepted Answer

We don't say 'it seem'.

'There seem to be more people here than usual.'

'It seems to be busier at the mall today.'

Rover

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousWhat is the difference between "there seem" and "it seems".

There are a couple of things you need to know before this will make sense to you.

1. You can add It seems that at the beginning of any present tense declarative sentence.

It is raining. / It seems that it is raining.
Tom needs a new car. / It seems that Tom needs a new car.
Jane wants to buy some anchovies. / It seems that Jane wants to buy some anchovies.
There are too many people in this elevator. / It seems that there are too many people in this elevator.
The man carrying the suitcase has a bad cold. / It seems that the man carrying the suitcase has a bad cold.

2. It seems that Subject {Verb} can be changed to Subject {seem} to Verb. The meaning is the same.

It seems that Fran likes cats. > Fran seems to like cats.
It seems that the boys enjoy playing baseball. > The boys seem to enjoy playing baseball.
It seems that George knows more than he's saying. > George seems to know more than he's saying.

Note that is, are, and am become be in the changed form.

It seems that I am confused. > I seem to be confused.
It seems that Paul is ready now. > Paul seems to be ready now.
It seems that Bob and Laura are bored with the movie. > Bob and Laura seem to be bored with the movie.

Note that 'there' is considered a subject for the purposes of this transformation.
Agreement is between the verb and the following noun phrase, as is usual for "there" constructions.

It seems that there is an intruder in the house. > There seems to be an intruder in the house.
It seems that there are enough plates on the table. > There seem to be enough plates on the table.
It seems that there is a limit to what we can do today. > There seems to be a limit to what we can do today.
It seems that there are several more problems to solve. > There seem to be several more problems to solve.

3. There are some exceptions to 2, above. You can't do that transformation with modal verbs because modal verbs have no infinitives. You have to reword "can", for example, as "to be able to".

It seems that Ron can swim very well. > Ron seems to be able to swim very well.
______________________________

What is that?
....................It is a pencil.
It seems that it is a pencil.
....................It seems to be a pencil.

How many cups are there on the table?
....................There are five cups on the table.
It seems that there are five cups on the table.
....................There seem to be five cups on the table.

CJ

Quaerereverum · Answer

Wunderbar, bravo.

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