SEEM Vs LOOK

To seem is always to resemble or to appear.

To look primarily refers to sight, images coming through yor eyes - you can tell people where to look, "look at this!"; you can tell people what you are looking at or where you are looking. It can also be used for searching - "I am looking for my lost dog."


LOOK LIKE = SEEM

To look takes on the same meaning as to seem when 'look' is used with 'like'. 
"You look like Charlie Chaplin." (= You resemble Charlie Chaplin.)
"It looks like it's going to rain." (It appears (that) it is going to rain.)
Or, if it's a purely visual appearance, you can leave off the 'like':
"You look terrible." (Your visual appearance is terrible.)



You can use "look" only when something is recognised visually. Some people might argue that that's true, strictly speaking, but in practice "looks" is sometimes used more widely instead of "seems" (though not always). 
* "Seems" can be used when you get an impression via any of the physical senses, or from information received by any other means. 
* "Look" may be used when the impression comes from sight, or from known facts, but not usually when it comes from other physical senses.

- I see black clouds in the sky — It seems it's going to rain // It looks as if it's going to rain.
- Share prices are falling — A market crash seems likely // A market crash looks likely.

But:
- His voice is very nasal — It seems he has a cold // It sounds as if he has a cold.. [Not "It looks"] - The heating must be off — It seems cold in here // It feels cold in here.. [Not "It looks"]

When we say "it looks like", we are talking about a quick visual inspection. If we want to investigate something casually, we say we will "take a look". The implication is that this is a brief, "at a glance" impression, and while we have some confidence we are not absolutely certain. "It looks like" is usually used to imply something we are almost certain about. 

There is a saying: "If it looks like a duck, and it walks like a duck, chances are... it's a duck." (Si se parece a un pato (= si tiene aspecto de pato) y camina como un pato, lo más probable es que sea un pato)

When we say "it seems like", we are focusing on the impression given by the subject (me da la impresión de que...). There is more doubt implied in this phrasing, because it suggests you may be deceived, where "it looks like" suggests you are likely correct.

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seem

You use seem to say that someone or something gives a particular impression.

1. used with adjectives

Seem is usually followed by an adjective. If someone gives the impression of being happy, you can say that theyseem happy. You can also say that they seem to be happy. There is no difference in meaning.

Even minor problems seem important.

You seem to be very interested.

If the adjective is a nongradable adjective such as alone or alive, you usually use seem to be. For example, you say 'He seemed to be alone'. You don't say 'He seemed alone'.

She seemed to be asleep.

In order to say who has an impression of someone or something, use seem followed by an adjective and thepreposition to.

He always seemed old to me.

This idea seems ridiculous to most people.

2. used with noun phrases

Instead of an adjective, you can use a noun phrase after seem or seem to be. For example, instead of saying 'Sheseemed nice', you can say 'She seemed a nice person' or 'She seemed to be a nice person'. In conversation and inless formal writing, people often say 'She seemed like a nice person'.

It seemed a long time before the food came.

She seems to be a very good boss.

It seemed like a good idea.

Be Careful!
Don't use 'as' after seem. Don't say, for example, 'It seemed as a good idea'.

If the noun phrase contains a determiner such as the or a but not an adjective, you must use seemed to be. Forexample, say 'He seemed to be the owner of the car'. Don't say 'He seemed the owner of the car'.

At first the seal seemed to be a rock.

What seems to be the trouble?

3. used with verbs

You can use other to-infinitives besides 'to be' after seem. For example, you can say 'He seemed to need help'. Youcan also say 'It seemed that he needed help' or 'It seemed as though he needed help'.

The experiments seem to prove that sugar is bad for you.

It seemed to me that she was right.

It seemed as though the war had ended.

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Diferencias entre "seem", "look", "appear"

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Seems like vs seems / looks like vs looks

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seem, appear and look


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