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#2 (permalink) Sat Apr 02, 2005 19:12 pm Appear/look |
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Appear is another word for seem - something which shows itself gradually/slowly can appear. The sun appears over the horizon and note the opposite: disappear.
Look is more direct and explains something which you can see immediately. _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 17284 Location: UK
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#3 (permalink) Wed Oct 01, 2008 14:41 pm Difference between look and appear |
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Dear teachers,
Thank you for this sentence, but can I ask a question? Some grammar books say 'look' is a state verb and can't be used in Continuous. But here the situation is obviously temporary, changing. That is why it is possible? Am I right?
Many thanks in advance. :) |
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Nataliru I'm new here and I like it ;-)

Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 14
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#4 (permalink) Wed Oct 01, 2008 14:53 pm Difference between look and appear |
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Hi Nataliru, The verb look in the example (It is not looking very bright at the moment.) means (It doesn't seem to be very bright) On the other side, we can use the verb look in continuous actions. E.G. wait a minute! I'm looking for my pen. And also we have some other phrases like: I'm looking forward to meeting you. Let me know what you think,
Nola _________________ Nola |
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Nola I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 100
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#5 (permalink) Sat Jul 11, 2009 19:08 pm Difference between look and appear |
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Test No. incompl/elem-22 "Weather Forecast", question 2
Yes, thank you and I'm afraid it's not ......... very bright at the moment.
(a) seeming (b) appearing (c) seeing (d) looking
why not seeming is correct? |
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Ankur_Mind I'm new here and I like it ;-)

Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 10 Location: India
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#6 (permalink) Tue Jan 26, 2010 12:50 pm Difference between look and appear |
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Hello Ankur Mind, "seem" is a stative verb and can't be used in progressive forms.
Regards, Nola _________________ Nola |
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Nola I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 100
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#7 (permalink) Thu Sep 30, 2010 17:15 pm Difference between look and appear |
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Dear Alan and Nola,
"It's not looking very bright at the moment" Subject of the sentence is 'it', means 'weather'. The 'weather' doesn't look. We do look 'weather' very bright. Comparing to "I'm looking for my pen", the subject 'I' do look for something.
So I think the sentence should be PASSIVE: "It's not being looked very bright at the moment" or should be ACTIVE using verb 'appear': "It's not appearing very bright at the moment"
Please explain me, is my opinion incorrect?
Regards, |
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Nurhidayat New Member
Joined: 29 Sep 2010 Posts: 2
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#8 (permalink) Tue Dec 28, 2010 7:40 am Difference between look and appear |
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Hello everyone,
I would like to know the difference between 'seeming' and 'looking'. My answer is 'seeming' but it is wrong.
Regards, Jing |
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Jing M I'm new here and I like it ;-)

Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 41 Location: Malaysia
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#9 (permalink) Sun Jan 30, 2011 13:49 pm Difference between look and appear |
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Hi Everybody,
In this question why weather forecaster used sentence "i'm afraid",Does it mean she felt threatened ?
Pradeep |
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Gundela I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 25 Oct 2010 Posts: 10
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#10 (permalink) Sun Jan 30, 2011 16:35 pm Difference between look and appear |
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No. It means that she is sorry that she doesn't have better news for the listeners, as the forecast weather won't suit many of them. _________________ "Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett |
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Beeesneees Language Coach

Joined: 08 Apr 2010 Posts: 39144 Location: UK, born and bred
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#11 (permalink) Sun Feb 13, 2011 13:32 pm Re: Appear/look |
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Thanq Mr.Alan for your explanation on Appear and Look.
Lavakumar. |
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Chikatilavakumar I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 25 Oct 2010 Posts: 31
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#12 (permalink) Sat Jul 02, 2011 0:06 am Difference between look and appear |
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Thank you so much for your explanations, it is amazing. |
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Salimehafsh New Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2011 Posts: 9
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#13 (permalink) Fri Sep 28, 2012 14:59 pm Difference between look and appear |
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It's not looking very bright at this moment. Thank you Allan!:-) |
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Joyce2012 You can meet me at english-test.net

Joined: 16 May 2012 Posts: 54 Location: China
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#14 (permalink) Thu Oct 04, 2012 2:51 am Difference between look and appear |
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Thank you so much for your explanations. |
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Nutwararat New Member

Joined: 14 Jul 2012 Posts: 5 Location: Thailland
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Can narrow be replaced with the word poor here? | To put their back up |