Explanation
Exercises
Complex Verb Patterns

Lesson focus

Raising, object-to-infinitive, perfect infinitives and complex complements with seem, appear, happen, expect, find, prove and turn out

Advanced aim: Use raising and object-to-infinitive patterns to package evidence, judgement and temporal relationships concisely in formal English.

Seem to be

Seem + to-infinitive presents an impression without asserting it as fact.

  • Example: The figures seem to be broadly consistent with last year's results.
  • In another context: The survey results seem to be broadly consistent with the previous quarter's figures.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Seem to have

Use seem to have + past participle for an earlier event inferred from present evidence.

  • Example: The supplier seems to have misunderstood the specification.
  • In another context: The external vendor seems to have misunderstood the specification.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Appear to be

Appear + to-infinitive is a formal alternative to seem.

  • Example: The two incidents appear to be unrelated.
  • In another context: Regional example: The two incidents appear to be unrelated.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Happen to

Happen to + infinitive means do or be something by chance.

  • Example: I happen to know someone who worked on the original project.
  • In another context: Separate scenario: I happen to know someone who worked on the original project.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Expect object to

Expect can take object + to-infinitive to state an anticipated action or state.

  • Example: We expect demand to remain weak until the autumn.
  • In another context: Follow-up case: We expect demand to remain weak until the autumn.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Believe object to be

Believe can take object + to be in formal constructions, especially passive or written styles.

  • Example: Investigators believed the document to be authentic.
  • In another context: Investigators believed the signed statement to be authentic.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Find object to be

Find + object + to be can express a conclusion based on experience or investigation.

  • Example: The review found the existing controls to be inadequate.
  • In another context: The quality review found the existing controls to be inadequate.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Consider object to be

Consider + object + to be is a formal pattern for judgements and classifications.

  • Example: Many analysts consider the target to be unrealistic.
  • In another context: Many analysts consider the timetable to be unrealistic.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Prove to be

Prove to be describes how something ultimately turns out after evidence or experience.

  • Example: The revised strategy proved to be more effective than expected.
  • In another context: Follow-up case: The revised strategy proved to be more effective than expected.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Turn out to be

Turn out to be introduces an eventual discovery or unexpected result.

  • Example: The apparent error turned out to be a formatting issue.
  • In another context: Alternative case study: The apparent error turned out to be a formatting issue.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

C1 takeaway

Do not ask only “Which form is grammatically possible?” Ask what the speaker is presenting as background or foreground, completed or ongoing, certain or tentative, generic or specific, neutral or emphatic. Advanced grammar is the control of those choices.

Exercises:
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Raising, object-to-infinitive, perfect infinitives and complex complements with seem, appear, happen, expect, find, prove and turn out

Practice 1 · Controlled production

Complete each gap using the stated cue. Read the whole context; some items accept more than one form.

1
Use SEEM and BE for a current impression:
The measurements consistent with the revised hypothesis.
2
Use SEEM and MISUNDERSTAND for an earlier apparent mistake:
The supplier the colour code.
3
Use APPEAR and BE to report an activity apparently ongoing now:
The two lawyers negotiating privately.
4
Use HAPPEN and KNOW for incidental knowledge:
I the person who restored that clock.
5
Use EXPECT and REMAIN with a separate subject:
We weak until spring. Include DEMAND.
6
Use BELIEVE and BE for a past formal judgement:
Investigators genuine. Include THE SIGNATURE.
7
Use FIND and BE for a past inspection result:
We inaccessible. Include THE EMERGENCY EXITS.
8
Use CONSIDER and BE for a current formal judgement:
Most critics unconvincing. Include THE ENDING.
9
Use PROVE and BE for an eventual result:
The apparently minor detail decisive.
10
Use TURN OUT and BE for a discovery:
The supposed manuscript a modern imitation.

Raising, object-to-infinitive, perfect infinitives and complex complements with seem, appear, happen, expect, find, prove and turn out

Practice 2 · Contextual choice

Choose the option that best fits the stated meaning, viewpoint or register.

1
Express an apparent current property, without a prior or future viewpoint:
The figures .
2
Locate an apparent omission earlier:
The researcher a key variable.
3
Present apparent activity in progress:
The curator the donor's account.
4
Mark incidental rather than sought-out acquaintance:
I someone who can decipher the inscription.
5
State an expectation about a separate subject:
We expect .
6
Choose a formal object-infinitive judgement:
They believed .
7
Express the finding from an inspection:
We found inadequate.
8
Retain a standard shortened judgement:
They considered the explanation .
9
Report a conclusion established by experience:
The alternative route safer.
10
Report an eventual discovery:
The apparent stain an artist's fingerprint.

Raising, object-to-infinitive, perfect infinitives and complex complements with seem, appear, happen, expect, find, prove and turn out

Practice 3 · C1 challenge

Choose the interpretation or analysis that best fits the example.

1
“She seems to understand.” Must she consciously perform seeming?
2
“There seems to be a problem.” What does there demonstrate?
3
“I seem to have misread it.” How does have misread differ from be misreading?
4
“I happened to see the notice.” What is presented as incidental?
5
“We expect you to attend.” What readings can context distinguish?
6
“They believed him to be honest.” Is to be always necessary after believed him?
7
“I found the room empty.” Does this require a deliberate search for the room?
8
“She proved to be reliable.” Does she necessarily present a proof herself?
9
“The story turned out to be true.” What discourse development is implied?
10
“The plan appears to work” versus “appears to have worked.” What shifts?