---
title: seem — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «seem» in the school dictionary: To seem means to look or appear to be something, from what you can see or know: «She seems happy». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# seem

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, She, It, dog, puzzle, Things · **What happens:** seem, mean, look, appear, be, see · **To what, where:** something, we, owner, answer, wrong path, It · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«seem» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [seem in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/seem.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To seem means to look or appear to be something, from what you can see or know: «She seems happy».

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seem:m1:1
# text = To seem means to look or appear to be something, from what you can see or know: «She seems happy».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	seem	seem	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	appear	appear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
12	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	16	obj	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	16	nsubj	_	_
15	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	16	aux	_	_
16	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl:relcl	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	22	punct	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
22	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
23	happy	happy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **look** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **appear** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **is a** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **see** | can | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer what=Stimulus |
| 7 | **know** | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 8 | **seem** *in a quote* | present | She |  |  |  |  | happy *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«It seems» is used to say what you think is true but are not sure about: «It seems we are lost».

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seem:m2:1
# text = «It seems» is used to say what you think is true but are not sure about: «It seems we are lost».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	xcomp	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	11	obj	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	think	think	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	ccomp	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	ccomp	_	_
14	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
15	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
17	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	conj	_	_
18	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
22	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	ccomp	_	_
23	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	25	nsubj	_	_
24	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	25	aux:pass	_	_
25	lost	lose	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	25	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** *in a quote* | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **use** | present · passive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **think** *speech: other* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn wish-62 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot what=Theme |
| 5 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 6 | **not** **is** | present | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sure *property* | tree rules |
| 7 | **seem** *in a quote* | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 8 | **lose** *in a quote* | present · passive |  | we |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Eventuality |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You seem tired today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seem:x1:1
# text = You seem tired today.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	seem	seem	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	tired	tired	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | present | You |  |  |  | today |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog seems friendly, but ask the owner first.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seem:x2:1
# text = The dog seems friendly, but ask the owner first.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	friendly	friendly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	ask	ask	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	owner	owner	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | present | the dog |  |  |  |  | friendly *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | infinitive | the dog *not said here* | the owner |  |  |  | first *property* | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent owner=Recipient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It seems like it will rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seem:x3:1
# text = It seems like it will rain.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
5	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | present | It |  |  |  |  | like rain | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puzzle seemed hard at first.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seem:x4:1
# text = The puzzle seemed hard at first.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puzzle	puzzle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	hard	hard	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | past | the puzzle |  |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Things are not always what they seem.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seem:x5:1
# text = Things are not always what they seem.
1	Things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	5	advmod	_	_
5	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	seem	seem	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | present | Things |  |  |  |  | always *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **seem** | present | Things *= thing* |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He seems to know the answer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seem:x6:1
# text = He seems to know the answer.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | present | He |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **know** | to-infinitive | He *not said here* | the answer |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer answer=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The test seemed to last forever.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seem:x7:1
# text = The test seemed to last forever.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	seemed	seem	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	last	last	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	forever	forever	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | past | the test |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **last** | to-infinitive | the test *not said here* |  |  |  |  | forever *property* | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It seems that we took the wrong path.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seem:x8:1
# text = It seems that we took the wrong path.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	wrong	wrong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seem** | present | It |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme clause=Attribute |
| 2 | **take** | past | we | the wrong path |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent path=Theme |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"It's fated I must, it seems!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:seem:x9:1
# text = "It's fated I must, it seems!
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	fated	fate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	seems	seem	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fate** *in a quote* | present · passive |  | It |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **seem** *in a quote* | present | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn seem-109-1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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