Bill,
The other big question (in a functional or cognitive framework) might be what MOTIVATES these choices.
Why not just say "he demanded my speedy entrance"? "He thought we were friends?"
"Seem" and "appear" work as a kind of hedge. They tell the reader or listener that the speaker is not fully certain. They imply that there is evidence, but that questions still remain.
They can also set us up for a contradiction. "he appeared to demand my speedy entrance, but as soon as I started to enter, he stopped me." "He appeared to be my friend, but later I found out he had been plotting against me." I don't think you can replace either of those with "be" verbs without changing meaning.
This would, of course, be true of "seem" and "appear" when followed by simple adjectives, but they frame an entire predicate with this sense of uncertain stance. In that sense, you can talk about them when discussing the role of the modals and modality.
That may err on the side of complexity, but I think it also links grammar to discourse, to actual reading and writing.
Craig
________________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Spruiell, William C <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 12:17 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: linking with infinitive question
Scott,
With undergraduates, I just call the infinitive phrases in those examples subject complements, parallel to the adjectival subject complements in “He appeared upset” or “He seemed happy.” That hammers the sentences into the nice, familiar “S link-V SC” mold. I tell the students that that’s a labeling dodge, though — it’s a cost-benefit tradeoff between simplicity and accuracy.
— Bill Spruiell
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> on behalf of Scott Woods <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Reply-To: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Date: Monday, August 17, 2015 at 1:28 AM
To: "[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Subject: linking with infinitive question
Dear List,
How would you characterize the verbs in the following sentences?
He appeared to demand my speedy entrance.
He seemed to think that we were friends.
Thanks,
Scott Woods
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