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。
appear，look，seem
这些动词均有“看起来，好像是”之意。
appear指从感观印象看似乎是如此，但有时着重指因视野、观点限制而产生的歪曲印象。
look指从样子看起来，侧重通过视觉而建立的印象。
seem多指从主观印象或个反应得出的看法。
