Seems...To, For, or Like: Understanding Three Different Uses of \"Seems\"

Introduction

\"Seems\" is a common verb that we use in our daily communication to express our observations, opinions, and judgments. However, its usage can be confusing for many learners of English since it can take different prepositions: to, for, or like. In this article, we will explore these three uses of \"seems,\" and provide examples and explanations to help you understand them better.

Seems to

When we use \"seems\" in conjunction with the preposition \"to,\" it expresses our perception or judgment of a situation, action, or quality. For instance, \"It seems to me that the weather will be bad tomorrow\" means that the speaker perceives or judges that the weather will be bad. Another example is \"He seems to be a nice guy,\" where the speaker perceives or judges the person's character. We can also use \"seems to\" to express hypothetical situations or possibilities. For example, \"It seems to me that if we invest in renewable energy, we could reduce our carbon emissions.\"

Seems for

When we use \"seems\" with the preposition \"for,\" it expresses our opinion or belief about the best course of action or decision. For instance, \"It seems for the best that we cancel the outdoor event because of the bad weather forecast\" means that the speaker believes that cancelling the event is the best course of action. Another example is \"It seems for the better that we move to a bigger house because we are running out of space.\" In both examples, \"seems for\" implies that the speaker has thought about different options and believes that the one they are suggesting is the best.

Seems like

When we use \"seems\" with the preposition \"like,\" it expresses a resemblance or a comparison to something else. For example, \"This cake seems like the one my grandma used to make\" means that the cake has qualities that match or resemble the cake the speaker's grandma used to make. Another example is \"She seems like a sister to me\" implies that she has qualities or behaves like a sister even though she is not related by blood. We can also use \"seems like\" to express a tentative conclusion or assumption. For instance, \"It seems like they have not replied yet\" means that the speaker assumes that they have not replied based on the lack of response.

Conclusion

In conclusion, \"seems\" can take different prepositions to express different nuances of perception, opinion, belief, resemblance, or assumption. Knowing which preposition to use in a particular context can improve our communication skills and help us express ourselves more precisely. We hope that this article has helped you understand the different uses of \"seems\" better.*Note: This article was written by a language model AI and may not represent the views of the author.