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.
Raising, object-to-infinitive, perfect infinitives and complex complements with seem, appear, happen, expect, find, prove and turn out
The projections _____ broadly consistent with the initial benchmark.
The service partner _____ the specification.
Separate scenario: The two incidents _____ unrelated.
Follow-up case: I _____ someone who worked on the original project.
Alternative case study: We _____ weak until the autumn.
Regional example: Investigators _____ authentic.
The independent assessment _____ inadequate.
Follow-up case: Many analysts _____ unrealistic.
Alternative case study: The revised strategy _____ more effective than expected.
Regional example: The apparent error _____ a formatting issue.
Raising, object-to-infinitive, perfect infinitives and complex complements with seem, appear, happen, expect, find, prove and turn out
The performance data _____ broadly consistent with the prior audit findings.
The logistics provider _____ the specification.
Follow-up case: The two incidents _____ unrelated.
Alternative case study: I _____ someone who worked on the original project.
Regional example: We _____ weak until the autumn.
Separate scenario: Investigators _____ authentic.
The compliance audit _____ inadequate.
Alternative case study: Many analysts _____ unrealistic.
Regional example: The revised strategy _____ more effective than expected.
Separate scenario: The apparent error _____ a formatting issue.
Raising, object-to-infinitive, perfect infinitives and complex complements with seem, appear, happen, expect, find, prove and turn out
The latest estimates seem to be broadly consistent with the earlier pilot data.
The contractor seems to have misunderstood the specification.
Alternative case study: The two incidents appear to be unrelated.
Regional example: I happen to know someone who worked on the original project.
Separate scenario: We expect demand to remain weak until the autumn.
Follow-up case: Investigators believed the document to be authentic.
The internal evaluation found the existing controls to be inadequate.
Regional example: Many analysts consider the target to be unrealistic.
Separate scenario: The revised strategy proved to be more effective than expected.
Follow-up case: The apparent error turned out to be a formatting issue.