1. She seems to be nice.
2. She seems nice.
3. She seems to be a nice person.
4. She seems a nice person.
5. The parcel seems to be a gift for our children.
6. The parcel seems a gift for our children.
7. What seems to be the trouble?
8. What seems the trouble?
9. She seems to be a farmer.
10. She seems a farmer.
11. He seems to be the owner of the car.
12. He seems the owner of the car.
-------------------------------------
According to Cobuild Usage, #6 and #8 don't seem to be a good usage or wrong. Why is that?
Are both okay in #9 and #10? Is #12 wrong?
1. She seems to be nice.
2. She seems nice.
3. She seems to be a nice person.
4. She seems a nice person.
5. The parcel seems to be a gift for out children.
6. The parcel seems a gift for out children.
7. What seems to be the trouble?
8. What seems the trouble?
9. She seems to be a farmer.
10. She seems a farmer.
11. He seems to be the owner of the car.
12. He seems the owner of the car.
-------------------------------------
According to Cobuild Usage, #6 and #8 don't seem to be a good usage or wrong. Why is that?
Are both okay in #9 and #10? Is #12 wrong?
2 answers
Omitting the verb phrase "to be" in 6, 8, 10, and 12 makes no sense. She seems a farmer? She appears a farmer? She's conjuring up a farmer as she might a ghost? It means nothing. Sometimes it's okay to omit the phrase "to be" and it still makes sense (the verb "to be" is assumed). In all cases, each example, including the "to be" is best.
1 answer