2013gmat wrote:
Although quite powerful in his time, the 16th century Russian czar Ivan the Terrible seems to us as a remote and barely visible historical figure.
to us as a remote and barely visible historical figure
to us to be as a remote and barely visible figure of history
to us a remote and barely visible figure of history
to us a remote and barely visible historical figure
to us to be a remote and barely visible historical figure
Can you please explain the difference between "seems to" and "seems to be" ?
thanks
Hi 2013gmat.
Although quite powerful in his time, the 16th century Russian czar Ivan the Terrible seems
to us as a remote and barely visible historical figure. * to us as a remote and barely visible historical figure
Wrong.
SEEMS + AS --> wrong idiom. ("
SEEM AS IF" is ok)
* to us to be as a remote and barely visible figure of history
Wrong.
SEEM + TO BE + AS --> wrong idiom
* to us a remote and barely visible figure of history
Wrong. Change meaning. "
figure of history" differs from "historical figure".
* to us a remote and barely visible historical figure
Correct. Idiom:
SEEMS TO X Y (
without AS; like "Consider X Y)
* to us to be a remote and barely visible historical figure[/quote]
Wrong.
"SEEM + TO BE + noun" is
suspect. (Please note: I do NOT say it's wrong) Why? Because "to be" means "in the future", thus the meaning is like "X seems to us
to be Y" <-- At this moment, X does not seem like Y, but will be Y in the future. The meaning is vague.
Hope it helps.