爱华网2003,2《英语知识》/2003,4《英语自学》
seem和appear作系动词时都有“似乎”或“好像”之意。seem表示对某事物做出判断时虽有一定的根据，但仍然有所怀疑，着重于说话人的主观感觉。而appear与look一样，是凭视觉的印象而产生的一种看法，与look不同的是这种看法与实际不相符合。下面就将它们的用法总结如下，以供大家参考。
1．seem和appear常和形容词、名词连用，后面也可以用tobe+形容词或名词。如：
He appears (to be) quiteold.
他看上去显得很老。（实际不一定如此）
She appears (to be) a very religiousperson.
她这个人似乎很虔诚。
What seems easy to some people seemsdifficult to others.
对某些人好像是容易的事物，可能对其他人是困难的。
Mary seems (to be) a nicegirl.
玛丽看上去是一个好姑娘。
在一个不带形容词的名词前面，几乎永远要用seem tobe。如：
I spoke to a tall man who seemed to bethe boss.
我和一个高个子男人说话，他看上去像是老板。
seem后面还可跟like（一般不跟as），相当于seem tobe。如：
This small mountain village seems likea good place for a holiday.
这个小山村看来想一个度假的好地方。
2．seem和appear后面可以跟各种时态的动词不定式。如：
He appears to have many friends.
他似乎有许多朋友。
He appeared to be talking to himself.
他像似在自言自语。
I appear to have made a small mistake.
我好像犯了个小小的错误。
The cat seems to want a drink.
这猫看上去想喝水。
He seemed to be feeling very tired last week.
上一周，他好像觉得一直很累。
I seem to have seen you somewherebefore.
我觉得好像以前在什么地方见到过他。
Nothing seems to have been forgotten.
似乎什么也没有被遗忘。
当seem和appear后面跟动词不定式时，否定的想法可用两种方式来表达：把not放在seem和appear前，或放在下面一个动词前。在非正式文体中，第一种结构更为常用。如：
He did not appear to resent it.
他似乎没有对这件事不满。
He appeared not to resent it.
（同上）
She does not seem to be at home.
她好像不在家。
She seems not to be at home.
（同上）
I can’t seem to find my glasses anywhere.
看来我那儿也不可能找到我的眼镜了。
I seem to be unable to find my glassesanywhere.
（同上）
3．Itappears/seems that…在这一结构中，that用陈述语气。
It seems as if(though)… asif意为“像”、“好象”、“似乎”，只作连词，引导状语从句，通常用虚拟语气，表示与事实相反的情况。如表示与现在事实相反，动词用过去时；与过去事实相反，用过去完成时。asif与as though同义。当议论可能或真实的事或情形时，asif也可用陈述语气。如：
It appears to me that you are allmistaken.
据我看来，似乎你们都搞错了。
It seems that no one knew what hadhappened.
似乎没有人知道发生过什么事情。
It seems as if(though) this pen were mine.
这支钢笔好像是我的。
It seems as if it is going torain.
看来快下雨了。
另外，要特别注意带有seem的肯定或否定回答。如：
---“I’ve been out in therain” “我刚才在雨中淋过。”
---“So it seems”. or “It seemsnot”. “看来好像如此。”或“看来似乎不像。”
4．在Thereappear/seem to be结构中,appear ,seem的单复数形式由tobe后面的名词决定。
There appears to be a misunderstanding.
这里仿佛有一点误解。
There appears tobe no point in our continuing.
我们再继续下去似乎没有意义了。
There seems to besome mistake.
看来好像有个错误。
There seem to be several reasons for changing our plans.
看来改变我们的计划有几个理由。
