Page 527 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

3 with nouns
Seem to be is normal before noun phrases.
I looked through the binoculars: it seemed to be some sort oflarge rat.
(NOT ••. itseemed86me86FtaflargeMt.)
I spoJce to a man who seemed to be the boss. (NOT •.. wlJa seemed the bass.)
However, to be can be dropped before noun phrases which express more subjective feelings.
She seems (to be) a nice girl.
The cup seemed almost doll's size in his hands. Itseemsapity,butIcan'tseeyouthisweekend.(NOTItseemst6be(J; pity...)
4 other infinitives
Seem can be followed by the infinitives of other verbs besides be. Ann seems to need a lot ofattention.
Perfect infinitives (see 280) are possible.
The tax people seem to have made a mistaJce.
To express a negative idea, we most often use a negative form of seem; but in a more formal style not can go with the following infinitive. Compare:
He doesn't seem to be at home.
He seems not to be at home. (formal) Note the structure can't seem to ...
I can't seem to get anything right.
(More formal: I seem not to be able to get anything right.)
5 seem like
We can use like, but not as, after seem.
North Wales seems (like) a good place for a holiday. (NOT • • . seetI'tS tt9 (J; • • • )
6 it seems
It can be a preparatory subject (see 446) for that- and as if-clauses after seem. It seems that Bill and Alice have had a row.
It seemed as if the night was never going to end.
7 there seems
There (see 586) can be a preparatory subject for seem to be. There seems to be some mistaJce.
For like and as, see 326. Appear is used in similar ways (see 58).
508 sensible and sensitive
A sensible person has 'common sense', and does not make stupid decisions. I want to buy that dress. - Be sensible, dear. It's much too expensive.
A sensitive person feels things easily or deeply, and may be easily hurt. Don't shout at her - she's very sensitive. (NOT ••• lfet'j'semible.)
Have you got a sun cream for sensitive skin? (NOT ••• /tJr sensible skin?)
Sensible is a 'false friend' - similar words in some languages mean 'sensitive'.
sensible and sensitive 508
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