Page 526 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

5 watch TV
Watch is normally used with TV; watch and see are both used to talk about TV programmes and films.
You spend too much time watching Tv.
We watched/saw a great film on TV last night.
6 see if/whether
See can be followed by iflwhether, in the sense of 'find out'. Look and watch are not normally used in this way.
See if that suit still fits you. (NOT Leek i/tftat sliit ...)
I'm looking to see whether there's any food left. (NOT I'm 16eking whether
there's . ..)
Ring up and see whether she's in.
For infinitives and -i1lg forms after these verbs. see 242.
For other meanings of see (and progressive uses). see 243. 471.
For other meanings of look. see 157.19. For ifand wllether. see 621. There are similar differences between hear and lisren (to). See 241.
507 seem
1 link verb: used with adjectives
Seem is a link verb (see 328); it is followed by adjectives, not adverbs. You seem angry about something. (NOT ¥8l;t seent angrily . ..)
2 seem and seem to be
Seem is often followed by to be. We prefer seem to be when we are talking about objective facts - things that seem definitely to be true. Seem is used without to be when we are talking about subjective impressions. (The difference is not always clear-cut, and both are often possible.) Compare:
- -
-
-
The bus seems to be full.
She seems excited.
The doctors have done the tests, and he definitely seems to be mentally ill. It seems crazy, but I think I'm in love with the postman. (NOT It seems t8 he
eM£y •.•)
According to the experts, the north side ofthe castle seems to be about 100 years older than the rest.
He seems older than he is. (NOT He seents ttJ he tJltler than he is - this would suggest that he might actually be older than he is.)
She doesn't seem to be ready yet. She seems (to be) very sleepy today.
seem 507
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