A question about “seems like (as If, as though)”
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He seems to be happy.
It seems that he is happy. (formal style)
It seems like (as if, as though) he is happy. (informal style)
1) Sentence #1 ; I assume that 'to infinitive' functions as subjective complement (that is, impersonal subject + intransitive verb + subjective complement).
2) Sentence #2, 3 ; I assume that
(1) 'it' functions as extraposed it to set up 'end focus',
(2) the conjunctions - 'that' and 'like', 'as if , as though' in informal style - lead not a subjective complement but a real subject clause (that is, subject + intransitive verb + real subject clause).
(3) in above Sentence #2, 3 'seems' is justified to function as an intransitive verb, which doesn't need a subjective complement but leads a real subject clause?
I sum up my assumptions in question, wchich are right?;
1.the 'seems' in the sentence #1 and #2, 3 are functioning different;
• sentence #1; 'seems' is an intransitive verb, which leads 'to be' - as a subjective complement.
• sentence #2, 3; 'seems' is an intransitive verb, which leads conjunctions - 'that, like, as if, as though' - as a true subject clause (not a subjective complement clause) triggered by extraposed it.
2.Thus, the syntax isn't the same between the sentence #1, which begins with the personal pronoun - 'he', and the sentence #2, 3, which begins with the impersonal pronoun - 'it'.
grammar
asked Apr 22 at 13:29
deepcosmosdeepcosmos
113
|
show 3 more comments
He seems to be happy.
It seems that he is happy. (formal style)
It seems like (as if, as though) he is happy. (informal style)
1) Sentence #1 ; I assume that 'to infinitive' functions as subjective complement (that is, impersonal subject + intransitive verb + subjective complement).
2) Sentence #2, 3 ; I assume that
(1) 'it' functions as extraposed it to set up 'end focus',
(2) the conjunctions - 'that' and 'like', 'as if , as though' in informal style - lead not a subjective complement but a real subject clause (that is, subject + intransitive verb + real subject clause).
(3) in above Sentence #2, 3 'seems' is justified to function as an intransitive verb, which doesn't need a subjective complement but leads a real subject clause?
I sum up my assumptions in question, wchich are right?;
1.the 'seems' in the sentence #1 and #2, 3 are functioning different;
• sentence #1; 'seems' is an intransitive verb, which leads 'to be' - as a subjective complement.
• sentence #2, 3; 'seems' is an intransitive verb, which leads conjunctions - 'that, like, as if, as though' - as a true subject clause (not a subjective complement clause) triggered by extraposed it.
2.Thus, the syntax isn't the same between the sentence #1, which begins with the personal pronoun - 'he', and the sentence #2, 3, which begins with the impersonal pronoun - 'it'.
grammar
asked Apr 22 at 13:29
deepcosmosdeepcosmos
113
I'm not familiar with the distinction you make between a "complete" and an "incomplete" intransitive verb. Seem (as well as appear, which has almost identical syntax) is an intransitive (1-place) verb that takes a subject complement. But English does not like subject complements with short verbs, e.g: *For him to be happy seems. So something has to change the structure, and either A-Raising in (1) or Extraposition in (2-3) will do the job of putting something else small in the subject slot and a main verb right after that.
– John Lawler
Apr 22 at 13:48
Thanks, John Lawler. Do you you agree to analyze above "that, like (as if)" clauses in (2), (3) as a real subject?
– deepcosmos
Apr 22 at 14:02
The clauses are the subjects; they function as noun phrases. That, like, as if in this case are complementizers, not noun phrases. So they can't be subjects; subjects have to be noun phrases. Complementizers introduce the clause; they don't have grammatical relations in it.
– John Lawler
Apr 22 at 14:28
I'm confused since you wrote, "The clauses are the subjects; they function as noun phrases. That, like, as if in this case are complementizers, not noun phrases." You mean that above "that, like, as if" clauses in (2), (3) isn't a real subject despite extraposed it?
– deepcosmos
Apr 22 at 15:02
What is your actual question? You give a long series of analyses but don't follow them up with a question. If it's simply Am I right? that's too broad, given how much you've said.
– Jason Bassford
Apr 22 at 15:13
|
show 3 more comments
He seems to be happy.
It seems that he is happy. (formal style)
It seems like (as if, as though) he is happy. (informal style)
1) Sentence #1 ; I assume that 'to infinitive' functions as subjective complement (that is, impersonal subject + intransitive verb + subjective complement).
2) Sentence #2, 3 ; I assume that
(1) 'it' functions as extraposed it to set up 'end focus',
(2) the conjunctions - 'that' and 'like', 'as if , as though' in informal style - lead not a subjective complement but a real subject clause (that is, subject + intransitive verb + real subject clause).
(3) in above Sentence #2, 3 'seems' is justified to function as an intransitive verb, which doesn't need a subjective complement but leads a real subject clause?
I sum up my assumptions in question, wchich are right?;
1.the 'seems' in the sentence #1 and #2, 3 are functioning different;
• sentence #1; 'seems' is an intransitive verb, which leads 'to be' - as a subjective complement.
• sentence #2, 3; 'seems' is an intransitive verb, which leads conjunctions - 'that, like, as if, as though' - as a true subject clause (not a subjective complement clause) triggered by extraposed it.
2.Thus, the syntax isn't the same between the sentence #1, which begins with the personal pronoun - 'he', and the sentence #2, 3, which begins with the impersonal pronoun - 'it'.
grammar
asked Apr 22 at 13:29
deepcosmosdeepcosmos
113
He seems to be happy.
It seems that he is happy. (formal style)
It seems like (as if, as though) he is happy. (informal style)
1) Sentence #1 ; I assume that 'to infinitive' functions as subjective complement (that is, impersonal subject + intransitive verb + subjective complement).
2) Sentence #2, 3 ; I assume that
(1) 'it' functions as extraposed it to set up 'end focus',
(2) the conjunctions - 'that' and 'like', 'as if , as though' in informal style - lead not a subjective complement but a real subject clause (that is, subject + intransitive verb + real subject clause).
(3) in above Sentence #2, 3 'seems' is justified to function as an intransitive verb, which doesn't need a subjective complement but leads a real subject clause?
I sum up my assumptions in question, wchich are right?;
1.the 'seems' in the sentence #1 and #2, 3 are functioning different;
• sentence #1; 'seems' is an intransitive verb, which leads 'to be' - as a subjective complement.
• sentence #2, 3; 'seems' is an intransitive verb, which leads conjunctions - 'that, like, as if, as though' - as a true subject clause (not a subjective complement clause) triggered by extraposed it.
2.Thus, the syntax isn't the same between the sentence #1, which begins with the personal pronoun - 'he', and the sentence #2, 3, which begins with the impersonal pronoun - 'it'.
grammar
grammar
asked Apr 22 at 13:29
deepcosmosdeepcosmos
113
asked Apr 22 at 13:29
deepcosmosdeepcosmos
113
edited Apr 23 at 0:44
deepcosmos
asked Apr 22 at 13:29
deepcosmosdeepcosmos
113
asked Apr 22 at 13:29
deepcosmosdeepcosmos
113
asked Apr 22 at 13:29
deepcosmosdeepcosmos
113
113
I'm not familiar with the distinction you make between a "complete" and an "incomplete" intransitive verb. Seem (as well as appear, which has almost identical syntax) is an intransitive (1-place) verb that takes a subject complement. But English does not like subject complements with short verbs, e.g: *For him to be happy seems. So something has to change the structure, and either A-Raising in (1) or Extraposition in (2-3) will do the job of putting something else small in the subject slot and a main verb right after that.
– John Lawler
Apr 22 at 13:48
Thanks, John Lawler. Do you you agree to analyze above "that, like (as if)" clauses in (2), (3) as a real subject?
– deepcosmos
Apr 22 at 14:02
The clauses are the subjects; they function as noun phrases. That, like, as if in this case are complementizers, not noun phrases. So they can't be subjects; subjects have to be noun phrases. Complementizers introduce the clause; they don't have grammatical relations in it.
– John Lawler
Apr 22 at 14:28
I'm confused since you wrote, "The clauses are the subjects; they function as noun phrases. That, like, as if in this case are complementizers, not noun phrases." You mean that above "that, like, as if" clauses in (2), (3) isn't a real subject despite extraposed it?
– deepcosmos
Apr 22 at 15:02
What is your actual question? You give a long series of analyses but don't follow them up with a question. If it's simply Am I right? that's too broad, given how much you've said.
– Jason Bassford
Apr 22 at 15:13
|
show 3 more comments
I'm not familiar with the distinction you make between a "complete" and an "incomplete" intransitive verb. Seem (as well as appear, which has almost identical syntax) is an intransitive (1-place) verb that takes a subject complement. But English does not like subject complements with short verbs, e.g: *For him to be happy seems. So something has to change the structure, and either A-Raising in (1) or Extraposition in (2-3) will do the job of putting something else small in the subject slot and a main verb right after that.
– John Lawler
Apr 22 at 13:48
Thanks, John Lawler. Do you you agree to analyze above "that, like (as if)" clauses in (2), (3) as a real subject?
– deepcosmos
Apr 22 at 14:02
The clauses are the subjects; they function as noun phrases. That, like, as if in this case are complementizers, not noun phrases. So they can't be subjects; subjects have to be noun phrases. Complementizers introduce the clause; they don't have grammatical relations in it.
– John Lawler
Apr 22 at 14:28
I'm confused since you wrote, "The clauses are the subjects; they function as noun phrases. That, like, as if in this case are complementizers, not noun phrases." You mean that above "that, like, as if" clauses in (2), (3) isn't a real subject despite extraposed it?
– deepcosmos
Apr 22 at 15:02
What is your actual question? You give a long series of analyses but don't follow them up with a question. If it's simply Am I right? that's too broad, given how much you've said.
– Jason Bassford
Apr 22 at 15:13
I'm not familiar with the distinction you make between a "complete" and an "incomplete" intransitive verb. Seem (as well as appear, which has almost identical syntax) is an intransitive (1-place) verb that takes a subject complement. But English does not like subject complements with short verbs, e.g: *For him to be happy seems. So something has to change the structure, and either A-Raising in (1) or Extraposition in (2-3) will do the job of putting something else small in the subject slot and a main verb right after that.
– John Lawler
Apr 22 at 13:48
I'm not familiar with the distinction you make between a "complete" and an "incomplete" intransitive verb. Seem (as well as appear, which has almost identical syntax) is an intransitive (1-place) verb that takes a subject complement. But English does not like subject complements with short verbs, e.g: *For him to be happy seems. So something has to change the structure, and either A-Raising in (1) or Extraposition in (2-3) will do the job of putting something else small in the subject slot and a main verb right after that.
– John Lawler
Apr 22 at 13:48
Thanks, John Lawler. Do you you agree to analyze above "that, like (as if)" clauses in (2), (3) as a real subject?
– deepcosmos
Apr 22 at 14:02
Thanks, John Lawler. Do you you agree to analyze above "that, like (as if)" clauses in (2), (3) as a real subject?
– deepcosmos
Apr 22 at 14:02
The clauses are the subjects; they function as noun phrases. That, like, as if in this case are complementizers, not noun phrases. So they can't be subjects; subjects have to be noun phrases. Complementizers introduce the clause; they don't have grammatical relations in it.
– John Lawler
Apr 22 at 14:28
The clauses are the subjects; they function as noun phrases. That, like, as if in this case are complementizers, not noun phrases. So they can't be subjects; subjects have to be noun phrases. Complementizers introduce the clause; they don't have grammatical relations in it.
– John Lawler
Apr 22 at 14:28
I'm confused since you wrote, "The clauses are the subjects; they function as noun phrases. That, like, as if in this case are complementizers, not noun phrases." You mean that above "that, like, as if" clauses in (2), (3) isn't a real subject despite extraposed it?
– deepcosmos
Apr 22 at 15:02
I'm confused since you wrote, "The clauses are the subjects; they function as noun phrases. That, like, as if in this case are complementizers, not noun phrases." You mean that above "that, like, as if" clauses in (2), (3) isn't a real subject despite extraposed it?
– deepcosmos
Apr 22 at 15:02
What is your actual question? You give a long series of analyses but don't follow them up with a question. If it's simply Am I right? that's too broad, given how much you've said.
– Jason Bassford
Apr 22 at 15:13
What is your actual question? You give a long series of analyses but don't follow them up with a question. If it's simply Am I right? that's too broad, given how much you've said.
– Jason Bassford
Apr 22 at 15:13
|
show 3 more comments
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I'm not familiar with the distinction you make between a "complete" and an "incomplete" intransitive verb. Seem (as well as appear, which has almost identical syntax) is an intransitive (1-place) verb that takes a subject complement. But English does not like subject complements with short verbs, e.g: *For him to be happy seems. So something has to change the structure, and either A-Raising in (1) or Extraposition in (2-3) will do the job of putting something else small in the subject slot and a main verb right after that.
– John Lawler
Apr 22 at 13:48
Thanks, John Lawler. Do you you agree to analyze above "that, like (as if)" clauses in (2), (3) as a real subject?
– deepcosmos
Apr 22 at 14:02
The clauses are the subjects; they function as noun phrases. That, like, as if in this case are complementizers, not noun phrases. So they can't be subjects; subjects have to be noun phrases. Complementizers introduce the clause; they don't have grammatical relations in it.
– John Lawler
Apr 22 at 14:28
I'm confused since you wrote, "The clauses are the subjects; they function as noun phrases. That, like, as if in this case are complementizers, not noun phrases." You mean that above "that, like, as if" clauses in (2), (3) isn't a real subject despite extraposed it?
– deepcosmos
Apr 22 at 15:02
What is your actual question? You give a long series of analyses but don't follow them up with a question. If it's simply Am I right? that's too broad, given how much you've said.
– Jason Bassford
Apr 22 at 15:13