Hi David and everyone,

またまた日本語でごめんなさい。seemの使い方は、なんとなく理解できましたが、lookとどう使い分ければいいんでしょうか？今回のDavidの例文の"seem"は、"look"に置き換えてもいいのですか？

Amica

•  Amica
• 2010年1月25日 22:05

Good question Amica. I forgot to write that.

"Look" means that you formed an opinion using your eyes, and "sound" means that you formed an opinion using your ears. "Seem" doesn't say how you formed your opinion, so it is vaguer, but it can be used in place of either "look" or "sound."

•  David
• 2010年1月25日 22:40

Thanks David. I got it!

Amica

•  Amica
• 2010年1月25日 23:04

Just wondering, is "vaguer" a word? Should it be "more vague?"
I wasn't sure, so I checked, and apparently "vaguer" is correct. You learn something new every day!

•  David
• 2010年1月25日 23:27

Hi David,

I've just read the new entry and "vaguer" is new to me. Yes! I(we) learn something new every day!;-)
I feel really sleepy, so that I will write more tomorrow.

Good night.

Maki

•  Maki
• 2010年1月25日 23:45

vaguer…vagueと見間違えてました。vague自体が初めて見る単語だったので(+_+)ほんと、日々勉強ですね！

•  Amica
• 2010年1月25日 23:51

Hi David and everyone,

I understand your explanation so my answer is (B) and (C).

* What about "seem like"?
* What about "seem + noun" case?--She seems (to be) a good girl.

By the way, as for the translation, you mean the part (A),(B) and (C)?

I'll think about it more and post my comment tomorrow.

By for now,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2010年1月25日 23:55

Hi David and everyone.

Yes, I remember that we talked a few weeks ago about "seem". It was good study for me as well.

(a) Yes, I can understand the new explanation.

(b) I didn't know that there is a slight difference between “She seems…” and “It seems that she…”. It's interesting.

(c) I have a similar question to Anne's. As for the pattern “seem + adjective”, I sometimes see a sentence like “Alice seems to be happy”. I was wondering if there was a difference between “Alice seems happy”(seem) and “Alice seems to be happy”(seem to be). I had a look in Practical English Usage, but I'd like to hear your explanation because I didn't understand it well.

See you soon,

Tomo

•  Tomo
• 2010年1月26日 00:12

Hi David and Everyone,

I remember that we talked about "seem" a few weeks ago and it was very useful for me.

Yes, I can understand the new explanation and I didn't know that "She seems・・・" is slightly different to "It seems that she・・・", as Tomo said.
So my answer for (b) is Yes. It's interesting!
As for (c), I have the same question as Tomo has.
I also had a look in Practical English Usage and it says that "We prefer seem to be when we are talking about objective facts - things that seem definitely to be true." And "The difference is not always clear-cut, and both are often possible." is added. Still I can't understand it well. Would you like to explain it?

Talk to you later,

Maki

•  Maki
• 2010年1月26日 11:18

Hi David and everyone,

Again about this week's topic"seem."
I'm afraid I didn't get the entry correctly. Sorry, please forget about my stupid question,(a),(b),and (c).
As Tomo and Maki said, I also had a look at the part "seem" in Practical English Usage. The difference between 'seem' and'seem to be' is vague and difficult to draw the line.

By the way, I've never used "vague" as the comparative degree!

Talk to you soon,

Anne

•  匿名
• 2010年1月26日 13:42

Hi David and everyone,

As for David’s questions,
a) Yes, your explanation is clear enough to understand. Actually, Tomo had introduced the explanation of some old members about the difference between “look”, “sound”, “feel”, and “seem” in Japanese before that helped me to understand your explanation.;p

b) Yes, it’s very interesting, especially is the part of explaining about a subtle difference between those two structures as other members mentioned. By the way, I liked your referring to “it” as “the DUMMY subject” in the previous explanation that was very impressive for me. In the new version, “PREPARATORY” is used which is commoner and sounds more grammatical, I guess.

c) I remember trmr and Tomo were discussing the following. Also, amo had asked if there was any difference between “it looks that ~” and “It looks like~” and you answered you thought they meant the same thing. I think these questions are quite common, so if there would be any tips in your new book, it would be helpful for us learners.

(excerpts from Tomo’s comment)
>1. You seem to have had a great time in Kyushu.
= It seems that you had a great time in Kyushu.
>2. You seemed to have had a great time in Kyushu.
= It seemed that you had had a great time in Kyushu.

tsuneko

•  tsuneko
• 2010年1月26日 20:26

Hi team,

Thanks for your comments. Tsuneko, did I really say that "it looks that~" is okay? It's not, so sorry about that. You cannot say that in English (although you can say "It seems that," which is quite interesting. That is one difference between "look/sound" and "seem."

As for Tomo's question, I don't think there is a difference between those two structures, which is probably why Practical English Usage doesn't give a clear explanation.

The explanation in PEU suggests that "seems to be" is used when you are talking about something that is not just your opinion, but something that you are sure other people would think as well. It says that "seems~" is used just to express your own impression of something. Like I said, though, I don't think this is a very important difference, so I wouldn't worry about it.

•  David
• 2010年1月26日 23:59

Hi David
I understand your new explanation.

As tsuneko mentioned in her comment, I think she just made a mistake. She wanted to say “It seems like~” and “It seems that~”. So you did not say wrong thing.

Last time we talked about “seem”, tsuneko asked the usage of “appear” too. I don’t think you answered her question, so if you don’t mind, would you give us an explanation of it? Because “appear” can be translated as”ようだ(らしい)” in Japanese.

Bye for now

•  amo
• 2010年1月27日 01:15

correction

As tsuneko mentioned in her comment, I think she just made a mistake. She wanted to say “It seems like~” and “It seems that~”. So you did not say wrong thing.

→As for tsuneko's comment, I think she just made a mistake. She wanted to say “It seems like~” and “It seems that~”. So you did not say anything wrong.

have a lovely day everyone!

•  amo
• 2010年1月27日 08:45

Sorry Tsuneko,

"Appears" can be used in the same way as "seem," but I think it is a bit more formal. I will have a think about whether or not there are any other differences.

•  David
• 2010年1月27日 09:03

Hi David and everyone,

Thank you for your explanation, David. It's much easier to understand than the one in Practical English Usage. As you said before, PEU is a good book, but it sometimes makes me confused because it contains so much information.(That's why I like your books;-)) The question was something that had been bothering me for a while. I wanted to ask you about it when we talked about "seem" a few weeks ago, but I missed the chance, so I'm glad I did this time. Thanks!

See you soon,

Tomo

•  Tomo
• 2010年1月27日 11:26

Hi David and everyone,

David, SOOOOOOO SORRY! You didn’t have to say sorry at all. What amo said is everything. I just mixed up "look" with "seem". Thanks for your big help, amo! Thanks for information about “appear”, both of you! Umm, I seem to be still struggling with “seem” and “look” after all.;p

tsuneko

•  tsuneko
• 2010年1月27日 14:57

Thanks Tomo. I'm glad the explanation was useful. PEU (We teachers usually just call it "Swan") is very useful for us, but it is written for all language learners (and teachers) of all levels, so it contains a lot of information that many Japanese learners do not need. It's also very expensive! (Great book, though.)

•  David
• 2010年1月27日 16:45

By the way, just because I wrote about "seem" this week, it doesn't mean that you have to talk about it. Please feel free to talk about anything that you want to talk about (as always:-) )

PS If you don't know the structure I used here, it is a good idea to learn it.

"Just because..., it doesn't mean that...."

•  David
• 2010年1月27日 23:34

Hi David,

Thank you for your explanation. Now I understand and I'm relieved as well that I don't need to worry about it. As Tomo said, PEU sometimes tells us so much information and that makes me confused.

As for "Just because..., it doesn't mean that...",
this isn't new to me, but I can't use it properly yet...

Good night.

Maki

•  Maki
• 2010年1月28日 00:32

Hi David
Thank for answering the question.
Bye the way, your last comment made me laugh. You are worrying about that we talked just this week topic?
Just because I wrote about nothing but “seem”, it dose not mean that I stick to the topic. (I know this structure, but I never used it before so I tried. I am not sure I used it properly)
I am busy at work these days, because one member of staff at my section has flu. She needs to stay home at least this week, which means the other members have to cover her work. I am too tired to write a comment at night this week.

•  amo
• 2010年1月28日 00:57

Hi David and everyone.

Just because you said about "seem",it doesn't mean that I've skipped this topics.
I've learned a lot about from this topics.
Thank you, David and everyone.

Kazu

•  Kazu
• 2010年1月28日 03:32

Hi David,

Thank you for your easy-to-understand explanation. As other members said, I'm relieved too! Just because there are a lot of information, it doesn't mean that the book is always easy to understand. Too much information sometimes makes us difficult to understand the basic and important things.

I know the expression" just because..., it doesn't mean that...", but I didn't have a chance to use it so I tried.

Hi amo,
That's too bad! You seem to have been working hard these days!
By the way, I had a fever ( 38℃)the day before yesterday and went to bed from seven to seven. I slept about twelve hours! It's the first time I have slept for such long hours in ages! When I was young, I managed to do household chores even in such a situation but .....! I still have a sore throat but feel better now. I'm thinking of getting a humidifier seriously.

Have a good day,everyone!

Anne

•  Anne
• 2010年1月28日 09:03

it's me again.
訂正；

in such a situation →in such a condition

•  Anne
• 2010年1月28日 09:19

Hi David and everyone,

Anne, that's too bad.. I hope you get better soon, and take good care of yourself!

Actually, my middle son had a fever yesterday, too, and I took him to see a doctor. Fortunately, it was not the flu, and he's got better and gone to school today. It seems like that the new flu is still going around at my son's school, and some of the classes are closed.

I'm going out now. Take care of yourselves!

Tomo

•  Tomo
• 2010年1月28日 10:51

Hi David and everyone

Did you already get new flu shot?
Every generation people can get it now.

My daughter hasn't caught new flu yet though she is high school student.
(Many students have caught new flu since last year as you know.)
I want to make her get new flu shot,but she hate it.
I'm going to get it but the hospital that I work in doesn't have new flu vaccine yet・・・

Hi Anne

You had 38℃ temperature?
Are you all right now?

Hi Tomo

How is your middle son's condition?
I hope he gets better soon.

Green

•  Green
• 2010年1月28日 13:06

Hi David and everyone,
I didn't know the structure "Just because...., it doesn't mean that". So I tried to use it. "Just because I'm not good at English, it doesn't mean that I don't like it." Is this correct?.

Hi Anne,
How is your fever today? Take care and good rest.

Hi Tomo and Green,
I have two nephews, and they both got new flu last year. They had high fever, so I was very worried about them. I have already had a vaccination of new flu. I hope that you don't get new flu and you can get a vaccination of it soon.

Amica

•  Amica
• 2010年1月28日 14:34

Hi Amica

予防接種は、vaccinationを使うのですね。
Thank you Amica!

Green

•  Green
• 2010年1月28日 14:55

Hi Green,
私を信用しないでください！正しいのかどうかは、全く自信がないので(^_^;)

•  Amica
• 2010年1月28日 18:35

Hi Amica,

Yes, that's a good example.

•  David
• 2010年1月28日 20:37

Good morning!

I coudln't post a comment last night, because of アクセス不可. Here is my yesterday one below.

Have a lovely day!!

======================================
Hi Anne,

How do you feel now? I hope you will get better soon. Please take good care
of yourself.

Hi Tomo,

I'm relieved to hear that your middle son didn't catch the flu. Hope he
feels well now.

Hi David and Everyone,

I tried to translate the explanation about "seem", though I'm not too good at translating. Anyway, I hope this will be a basic idea for Japanese version.

SEEM

X You seems to have a good time.
O You seem to have had a good time.

日本人は、「～のようだ」の英訳として"it seems that"を習うので、多くの人は、"seems"の"s"が三人称単数の"s"と気づいていません。(I seem, you seem, he/she seems, etc.)
"seem"は、主語を名詞や代名詞（本当の主語）とすることもできるし(She seems・・・)、形式的に"it"を主語（仮主語）として使う事もできます。(It seems that・・・)
これら２つの文は、基本的に同じ意味になります。
しかし、"She seems・・・"の方が、より自分で見たり、感じたりしたことについて話している、というように聞こえます。"It seems that she・・・"は、直接見たり、感じたりしたことに
ついても使う事ができますが、他の人から聞いたり、情報を得たりしたことを意味しているかもしれません。

"seem"を使った文は、通常これから説明する３通りです。

Seem + adjective (Alice seems happy.)
Seem to + infinitive verb (Alice seems to be enjoying herself. She seems to like John.)
Seem as if/though + clause (Alice seems as though she is having a good time.)

また、"seem"は、過去形でも使われます。

Alice seemed happy.
Alice seemed to be enjoying herself. She seemed to like John.
Alice seemed as though she liked John.

もし、現在の状況をふまえて(based on present evidence)、過去の事を話すのに"seem"を使うなら、"seem"+現在完了形を使います。

Alice seems to have had a good time in Hawaii.

これを"it seems that・・・"を使って表現するなら、that以下は過去形を使います。

It seems that Alice had a good time in Hawaii.

This is my translation. I can't do "based on present evidence" properly. Not only this part, but also every part needs your help, everyone! I hope this
wil be nicer one with all your help as well.

Bye for now,

Maki

•  Maki
• 2010年1月29日 07:02

P.S.
保存していた文をそのままポストしたら、改行がひどいことに。。。
読みにくくてごめんなさい！＞＜

•  Maki
• 2010年1月29日 07:05

Hi David and everyone,
Good morning! How is the weather around you? It's fine here in Nagoya.

Tomo,Amica, Green and Maki,
Thanks for your warm words.
I'm OK now. Luckily it wasn't the flu but just a cold.

Hi Maki,
Thank you for sharing the nice translation!!
Actually, I also tried translating the entry and it was a good study for me to read your translation.

As for your question...

*based on present evidence---- 現時点の状況で.
→「もし"seem"　を現時点の状況で、過去のことを話すのに使うのであれば、" seems"を現在完了形と共に使います。」（my version)

What I was not sure while translating was the part"
follow one of three patterns". I wanted to translated the nuance of "one of" not just three patterns."
mine is "seem"　を使った文章は通常、次に説明する3通です。”　Ｉ　like your version.　読みやすい！

I also tried to translate example sentences, but it was very difficult to express the difference between" seemed to+ infinitive verb” and " seem to the present perfect tense(現在完了形）。

Could you check my translations?
１．She seems to like John.(彼女はジョンが好きらしい。）
2. She seems to have liked John.(彼女はジョンが好きだったようだ。）
3. She seemed to like John.(彼女はジョンが好きなようだった。）？？？
4.She seemed to have liked John.(彼女はジョンが好きだったようだ。）

Isn't it very confusing?

See you soon,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2010年1月29日 09:28

it's me again.
Tomo,
Your son had the fever? I hope he feels better now.
Have your sons and daughter already got the shot of new flu?

I'm wondering if I should have a new flu vaccination or not at the moment.
Amica have already got it, and Green, I hear there are enough vaccine for new flu so I'm wondering why you can't get it.

Anne

•  匿名
• 2010年1月29日 09:50

Hi David and everyone,

It’s sunny today here too. It sounds interesting to use “just because---, it doesn’t mean---”, so I gave it a try too.

a) Just because David requested us some birthday presents for him, it doesn’t mean he really wants to get.
b) Just because David sounded funny about his birthday presents, it doesn’t mean he was joking, perhaps he meant it.

I can’t think of any better translation of Maki’s and Anne’s that helped me understand more.
Hope everyone is fine now!

tsuneko

•  tsuneko
• 2010年1月29日 12:13

correction:
>any better translation OF ~

=> any better translation THAN~

•  tsuneko
• 2010年1月29日 12:16

Hi Maki and Anne

Thank you for sharing your nice translation.
Translation is too difficult for me now ,but I woud like to translate someday!

Anne

It is cloudy and occasionaly sunny in Tokyo,and it is not too cold today!

I heard that there are enough new flu vaccine in Japan too.
I don't know why not only the staff but also outpatiants in my hospital can not get new flu vaccination yet.
The outpatients have to make reservation to get new flu vaccination then the staff tell later when the outpatient can get new flu.
Of course I made reservation.
It must be my hospital own way.

Green

•  Green
• 2010年1月29日 12:47

correction:
*to translated →to translate
*3通です→3通りです。

•  Ａｎｎｅ
• 2010年1月29日 13:07

訂正です。
then the staff tell later when the outpatient can get new flu.

→then the staff tell them later when they can get new flu　vaccine.

Green

•  Green
• 2010年1月29日 13:09

Hi Team,

Green, Amica, Maki and Anne, thanks for your messages. My son's fever was not that high, and the doctor said that it was お腹にくる風邪. He is still not 100%, but he is a lot better now:) It seems that some other type of cold is also going around, so please take care of yourselves.

Green & Amica,
I think both "shot" and "vaccination" are okay. vaccination を辞書で引くと、（医）とあるので、これは医療用語なのかなと思います。 get a flu shot/vaccination、 get a shot/vaccination against the new flu とか・・かな？(I'm not sure about this!)

Maki, thanks for your great translation! I was going to try it last night, but I fell asleep before I translated one line...＾＾;
As for the part you were not sure, I think both your and Anne's versions are very nice.
参加することに意義ありってことで私versionを書くなら･･

『現時点から見て、過去の出来事について「～だったようだ」という場合は、完了形の不定詞（seem to + have done) を使います。』

あとこの部分を日本語に・・

『Seem + 形容詞 (Alice seems happy.)
Seem + to 不定詞 (Alice seems to be enjoying herself. She seems to like John.)
Seem + as if/though 節 (Alice seems as though she is having a good time.)』

Anne, my sons haven't got a flu shot against H1N1 yet.(I've been so busy that I had forgotten all about it..) I was going to take my oldest son to hospital today（真ん中は病み上がりなので後日に）, but he said, “I have a sore throat” this morning. It's not a very good time to get vaccinated when you are not feeling well, isn't it? I should have moved earlier..

1～４の文ですが、1～3までは私も同じ意見です。　４は過去の時点から見て、それより前のことについて「～だったようだった」という意味になると思うので、「彼女はジョンが好きだったようだった」かな、と思います。　ちょっと日本語的には微妙な気もしますが、「（その頃は）好きだったみたいだよ」という感じでしょうか。。

See you soon,

Tomo

PS アクセス不可なので携帯から･･（涙）

•  Tomo
• 2010年1月29日 13:23