It seems that/ it appears that Practice Tests with C1 Grammar Rules & Examples

It Seems That / It Appears That: Advanced Reporting Structures

In sophisticated English writing and speech, we frequently need to present information carefully — showing that something is probable, inferred, or reported rather than stated as absolute fact. Two of the most powerful and elegant structures for doing this at C1 level are it seems that and it appears that.

These structures allow you to:

• Report information cautiously without committing to its truth
• Draw logical inferences from evidence
• Sound formal, measured, and objective — essential in academic, professional, and journalistic English
• Avoid direct statements that might be too blunt or premature

Consider the difference in register and precision here:

Basic: The economy is getting worse.
C1 level: It seems that the economy is deteriorating more rapidly than previously anticipated.

The C1 version signals that this is an interpretation based on available evidence, not a declared fact. This lesson will teach you every form, nuance, and variation of it seems that and it appears that so you can use them with full confidence.

The Core Meaning: What Do These Structures Express?

Both it seems that and it appears that are used to express:

• Epistemic modality — the speaker's degree of certainty or confidence about something
• A conclusion drawn from observation, evidence, or reported information
• A deliberate distancing from a claim — useful when you are not 100% sure, or when you want to appear objective

Think of them as formal, impersonal equivalents of phrases like I think, I believe, or apparently — but far more nuanced and sophisticated.

Example:

It seems that the project has been delayed.
→ The speaker is not stating the delay as a fact. They are inferring it — perhaps from missed deadlines, absent colleagues, or rumours.

The Basic Sentence Pattern

The fundamental structure is straightforward:

It + seems / appears + that + subject + verb (+ rest of clause)

Examples:

• It seems that the negotiations have broken down.
• It appears that no one was informed of the changes.
• It seems that she has misunderstood the instructions.
• It appears that the data was corrupted during the transfer.

Notice that it here is a dummy subject — it does not refer to any specific thing. Its only purpose is to fill the subject position in the sentence so that the real information can follow in the that-clause.

Tense Variation in the That-Clause

One of the most important skills at C1 level is using the correct tense inside the that-clause to express different time relationships. The tense of the main verb (seems / appeared) and the verb inside the that-clause work together to communicate precise meaning.

Present Tense Main Verb + Various Tenses in the That-Clause

Past Tense Main Verb + That-Clause

When reporting past observations or past inferences, use it seemed that or it appeared that:

• It seemed that the committee had reached an agreement.
• It appeared that no further action would be taken.
• It seemed that she was avoiding the question.

This is particularly common in narrative writing, journalism, and academic reporting of past research.

The Infinitive Alternative: Seem / Appear + To-Infinitive

A key C1 feature is the ability to transform the it seems that structure into a personal construction using a to-infinitive. This is a highly valued alternative in formal writing because it is more concise.

The pattern is:

Subject + seems / appears + to + infinitive

Compare these pairs — they have the same meaning:

Choosing the Right Infinitive Form

The form of the infinitive you choose depends on the time relationship between the main verb and the action described.

1. Simple infinitive (to + base verb)
Used when both actions happen at the same time:

She seems to enjoy working independently. (She enjoys it now.)

2. Perfect infinitive (to + have + past participle)
Used when the described action happened before the moment of seeming/appearing:

He appears to have misled the board. (He misled them earlier; we notice this now.)

3. Continuous infinitive (to + be + -ing)
Used to describe an action in progress at the moment of observation:

The government appears to be reconsidering its position.

4. Perfect continuous infinitive (to + have + been + -ing)
Used to describe an action that was ongoing up to the point of observation:

She seems to have been working on this for months.

Adverb Modification: Strengthening and Softening the Degree of Certainty

At C1 level, you can fine-tune the degree of certainty expressed by it seems that and it appears that by adding adverbs. This gives you a full epistemic scale — from near certainty to tentative suggestion.

These adverbs most commonly appear between the verb and "that", or they can follow it at the beginning:

It quite clearly seems that no consensus has been reached.

It Seems As Though / It Seems As If

Two important variations use as though and as if instead of that. These are used to introduce a comparison or impression — often suggesting something is not literally true but gives a certain impression.

Pattern:
It seems / appears + as though / as if + subject + verb

• It seems as though the entire department has collapsed.
• It appears as if history is repeating itself.
• It seemed as though nobody was willing to take responsibility.

With as though / as if, the verb in the following clause is often in the subjunctive or past form, even when referring to a present situation, in more formal registers:

It seems as though she were deliberately withholding information. (formal/literary)

It seems as though she is deliberately withholding information. (standard)

Passive Constructions with It Seems That / It Appears That

These structures combine naturally with passive voice in the that-clause, which is particularly common in academic and formal writing where the agent (the person doing the action) is unknown, irrelevant, or deliberately omitted.

• It seems that the evidence has been tampered with.
• It appears that the decision was made without proper consultation.
• It seemed that the files had been deleted intentionally.
• It appears that significant progress is being made in the negotiations.

In the personal construction, this becomes:

• The evidence seems to have been tampered with.
• The files appeared to have been deleted intentionally.

Negation: Negative Forms

Negation in these structures can occur in two positions, and the choice of position subtly changes the meaning.

Negating the Main Verb

It doesn't seem that… / It doesn't appear that…

This negates the appearance or impression — the speaker is saying that no such impression exists.

• It doesn't seem that any progress has been made.
• It didn't appear that he had noticed the error.

Negating the That-Clause

It seems that… not…

This negates the content of the impression — the speaker is reporting a negative situation.

• It seems that the government has not considered all the implications.
• It appears that she is not prepared to compromise.

With the Infinitive Construction

The infinitive can also be negated:

• He seems not to understand the gravity of the situation.
• They appear not to have been informed of the change.

Question Forms

Although less common, it seems that and it appears that can appear in question forms, particularly in formal speech or rhetorical writing:

Does it seem that…?
Does it appear that…?

• Does it seem that the policy is achieving its intended goals?
• Did it appear that there was any consensus among the delegates?

More naturally, the question form is often expressed using the personal construction:

• Does the situation seem to be improving?
• Does he appear to have any knowledge of the matter?

It Seems That vs. It Appears That: Important Differences

Although these two structures are largely interchangeable in formal English, there are subtle differences in usage and connotation that a C1 speaker should be aware of.

In most formal contexts, however, both are fully interchangeable. The key is consistency within a single piece of writing.

Comparison with Related Structures

At C1 level, it is important to understand how it seems that and it appears that relate to other epistemic structures so that you can choose the most appropriate one for each context.

It Would Seem That — A Special Case

It would seem that deserves particular attention. The use of would here adds an additional layer of tentativeness — it is the most cautious and diplomatic version of this structure. It is often used when the speaker wants to draw a conclusion but wishes to appear especially measured:

• It would seem that the original estimate was significantly underestimated.
• It would appear that some miscommunication has taken place.

This form is particularly favoured in diplomatic, legal, and academic writing where maintaining a cautious, non-confrontational tone is paramount.

Using These Structures in Academic and Formal Writing

In academic English — essays, dissertations, reports, and research papers — it seems that and it appears that are essential hedging tools. They allow you to present findings, interpretations, or conclusions without overstating your certainty, which is a critical academic writing skill.

Compare:

❌ Over-confident (avoid in academic writing):
The data proves that the intervention caused the improvement.

✅ Appropriately hedged:
It appears that the intervention may have contributed to the observed improvement, although further research is needed to establish causality.

Additional academic examples:

• It seems that the variables interact in ways that were not anticipated by the original model.
• It appears that the findings of earlier studies may have been influenced by sampling bias.
• It would seem that a more nuanced approach is required to address this phenomenon.

Common Mistakes

Even advanced learners make errors with these structures. Here are the most frequent mistakes to avoid:

❌ It seems that he doesn't likes the proposal.
✅ Correct verb form in the that-clause: It seems that he doesn't like the proposal.

❌ It seems that have been a mistake.
✅ Do not omit the subject in the that-clause: It seems that there has been a mistake.

❌ She seems to have make the wrong decision.
✅ Use past participle after 'have': She seems to have made the wrong decision.

❌ It seems that the results would not be reliable. (when expressing a present inference)
✅ Use present tense for current inferences: It seems that the results are not reliable.

❌ It appears that he knows not the full picture.
✅ Use standard negation with auxiliary: It appears that he does not know the full picture.

❌ It seems as though the problem is solving itself. (when expressing completion)
✅ Choose the correct aspect: It seems as though the problem has solved itself.

❌ The government seems to have been not informed.
✅ Place the negative before the infinitive: The government seems not to have been informed.

❌ It seems like that the situation is improving.
✅ Do not combine 'like' and 'that': It seems that the situation is improving. or It seems like the situation is improving. (informal only)

It Seems That / It Appears That: Quick Summary

Here is a concise overview of everything covered in this lesson:

• It seems that and it appears that are used to present inferences, impressions, or cautious conclusions based on evidence or perception.
• Both use a dummy subject "it" + verb + that-clause.
• The tense in the that-clause can vary freely to express present, past, or future time reference.
• Both can be transformed into personal constructions: Subject + seems / appears + to-infinitive.
• The choice of simple, perfect, continuous, or perfect continuous infinitive conveys the precise time relationship.
• It appears that is slightly more formal and evidence-based; it seems that is broader in its register and usage.
• It would seem / appear that adds additional tentativeness — ideal for diplomatic or cautious contexts.
• These structures are fundamental tools for academic hedging, formal reporting, and sophisticated argumentation.
• Related structures include it is reported that, it is believed that, apparently, and it is alleged that — each with its own nuance.
• Negation can target either the main verb or the content of the that-clause, depending on your intended meaning.

Now practise it seems that and it appears that in the exercises below.