She Appears to Have Left
Explore how seem and appear connect present evidence with earlier actions in fictional updates, from simple deductions to subtle distinctions.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.
When did Mara most likely leave?
Mara appears to have left. Her coat is gone, and her desk is empty.
- Before the speaker gives this update.
- At the exact moment the speaker gives this update.
- After the speaker gives this update.
Compare the time of the departure with the time of the update.
Show solution
- Before the speaker gives this update.
The perfect infinitive, "to have left," places the departure before the present assessment.
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2. Užpildykite tuščią vietą.
The cabinet door is lying on a workbench, and its hinges are bare. The door appears ___ during last night's repairs.
- to have removed
- to have been removed
- to be removing
Did the door perform the action, or did someone act on it?
Show solution
The cabinet door is lying on a workbench, and its hinges are bare. The door appears to have been removed during last night's repairs.
"To have been removed" is a perfect passive infinitive: the door received an action that happened earlier.
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3. Užpildykite tuščią vietą.
The edit log shows repeated changes from midnight until dawn. The editor has now gone home. She seems ___ steadily on the draft throughout the night.
- to be working
- to have been worked
- to have been working
The update looks back at an extended period of activity.
Show solution
The edit log shows repeated changes from midnight until dawn. The editor has now gone home. She seems to have been working steadily on the draft throughout the night.
"To have been working" emphasizes activity continuing over an earlier period, rather than a single completed action.
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4. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.
Which paraphrase preserves both the likely conclusion and the cautious tone?
Rosa doesn't seem to have signed the waiver.
- It is certain that Rosa has not signed the waiver.
- It seems that Rosa has not signed the waiver.
- It seems that Rosa has signed the waiver.
Keep the negative assessment without turning it into certainty.
Show solution
- It seems that Rosa has not signed the waiver.
"Doesn't seem to have signed" normally expresses a tentative conclusion that the signing has not happened.
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5. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.
Which wording fits a formal update that presents Jules's earlier entry as an inference, not a verified event?
A broken seal and a fresh access mark are the only evidence. Nobody saw Jules enter the records room.
- Jules is known to have entered the records room.
- Jules is expected to enter the records room.
- Jules appears to have entered the records room.
Match the strength of the wording to the strength of the evidence.
Show solution
- Jules appears to have entered the records room.
"Appears to have entered" marks a deduction. "Is known to have entered" presents the entry as established, while "is expected to enter" looks ahead.
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6. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.
How can both parts of this update be true?
The meeting room seems to have been empty at midnight, although it is occupied now.
- The earlier emptiness need not continue into the present.
- The room must be empty now; "occupied" describes a future booking.
- The earlier emptiness is certain; only the current occupancy is inferred.
Distinguish an earlier state from the room's current state.
Show solution
- The earlier emptiness need not continue into the present.
A perfect infinitive can describe an earlier state that has ended. It does not require that state to remain true now.
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7. Užpildykite tuščią vietą.
The archived sketches show an abandoned proposal, and the finished building has no balcony. The architects appear ___ a balcony during the original design phase.
- to have managed to add
- to have planned to add
- to be planning to add
An earlier intention is not the same as a completed result.
Show solution
The archived sketches show an abandoned proposal, and the finished building has no balcony. The architects appear to have planned to add a balcony during the original design phase.
"To have planned" places the planning in the past. The following "to add" describes the intended action, not something that necessarily happened.
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8. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.
Which update cautiously reports earlier attempts without implying that either succeeded?
The security log contains two separate failed access requests from last night. Neither opened the safe.
- The safe appears to have been opened after two separate attempts.
- There appear to be two separate attempts to open the safe underway now.
- There appear to have been two separate attempts to open the safe.
An attempt has a goal, but reaching that goal is a separate matter.
Show solution
- There appear to have been two separate attempts to open the safe.
"There appear to have been" tentatively reports that the attempts occurred. "To open the safe" states their purpose, not their outcome.
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9. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.
Which interpretation keeps the uncertainty attached to the act of making a claim?
The analyst seems to have claimed that the figures were adjusted.
- The analyst probably made that claim; the sentence does not establish whether the figures were adjusted.
- The figures were probably adjusted; the sentence establishes that the analyst made the claim.
- The analyst probably adjusted the figures; whether the analyst made a claim remains uncertain.
Separate what someone apparently said from whether its content is true.
Show solution
- The analyst probably made that claim; the sentence does not establish whether the figures were adjusted.
"Seems to have claimed" qualifies the act of claiming. Reporting a claim does not establish that the claim is true.
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10. Pasirinkite teisingą atsakymą.
What does this wording suggest about Ada's role?
The file is missing, and an automatic cleanup setting was enabled. Ada appears not to have deleted the file deliberately.
- She apparently did not delete it at all; accidental deletion is also ruled out.
- She apparently did not delete it intentionally; accidental deletion remains possible.
- She apparently intended to delete it; only the actual deletion is doubtful.
Consider what "deliberately" adds to the action being negated.
Show solution
- She apparently did not delete it intentionally; accidental deletion remains possible.
The negation targets deliberate deletion, so the sentence does not exclude the possibility that Ada deleted the file accidentally.