Het voorzichtig zeggen: appear, tend, seem, would suggest

Voorbeelden

1. The figures appear to have been rounded up.

   De cijfers lijken naar boven te zijn afgerond.

2. People tend to underestimate how long it takes.

   Mensen neigen ertoe te onderschatten hoe lang het duurt.

3. The evidence would suggest a link rather than a cause.

   Het bewijs zou eerder op een verband dan op een oorzaak wijzen.

4. It would appear that nobody read the second annexe.

   Het lijkt erop dat niemand de tweede bijlage heeft gelezen.

Veelgemaakte fouten

• ✗Fout: The data proves that the policy worked.

  ✓Goed: The data suggests that the policy worked.

  Op B2 wordt een bewering afgestemd op het bewijs; prove houdt zelden stand.

• ✗Fout: It seems that to be a mistake.

  ✓Goed: It seems to be a mistake.

  seem to en it seems that zijn twee constructies; meng ze niet.

• ✗Fout: They tend to be always late.

  ✓Goed: They tend to be late.

  tend to betekent al meestal, dus always spreekt het tegen.

Oefenvragen

Probeer elke vraag eerst zelf en open dan „Toon antwoord” voor de oplossing en de reden.

1. 1Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AThe results are appearing to contradict the earlier study.
   2. BThe results appear to contradict the earlier study.
   3. CThe results appear contradicting the earlier study.
   4. DThe results appear that contradict the earlier study.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B The results appear to contradict the earlier study.

   appear krijgt to plus infinitief.

2. 2Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AIt would seem the fault to be in the software.
   2. BIt would seem that the fault is in the software.
   3. CIt seem that the fault is in the software.
   4. DIt would seeming that the fault is in the software.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B It would seem that the fault is in the software.

   It would seem that leidt een bijzin in.

3. 3Kies de juiste zin.

   1. ACosts tend rising in the second year.
   2. BCosts tend to rise in the second year.
   3. CCosts are tending rise in the second year.
   4. DCosts tend to rising in the second year.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B Costs tend to rise in the second year.

   tend to plus infinitief.

4. 4Vul het gat in.

   The survey _____ that most tenants never complain.

   1. Aindicates
   2. Bindicate
   3. Cindicating
   4. Dis indicate
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A The survey indicates that most tenants never complain.

   Een enkelvoudig onderwerp krijgt de -s-vorm.

5. 5Vul het gat in.

   The delay _____ to have been avoidable.

   1. Aappear
   2. Bis appearing
   3. Cappeared to be
   4. Dappears
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D The delay appears to have been avoidable.

   appears to have been nuanceert een oordeel over het verleden.

6. 6Vul het gat in.

   _____ speaking, the two reports agree.

   1. AA broad
   2. BBroadly
   3. CBroad
   4. DBroadness
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B Broadly speaking, the two reports agree.

   Broadly speaking is een vaste nuancering.

7. 7Vul het gat in.

   There is _____ evidence that the scheme reduced waiting times.

   1. Aany
   2. Ba
   3. Csome
   4. Dthe few
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: C There is some evidence that the scheme reduced waiting times.

   some evidence beweert minder dan evidence.

8. 8Vul het gat in.

   The conclusion is _____ overstated.

   1. Aarguing
   2. Barguably
   3. Cargue
   4. Darguable
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B The conclusion is arguably overstated.

   arguably markeert een verdedigbare mening.

9. 9Deze zin klopt niet. Kies de verbetering.

   Welke zin is fout?

   1. AThe study proves definitely that the treatment works.
   2. BThe findings are consistent with the treatment working.
   3. CThe study suggests that the treatment works.
   4. DThe study provides evidence that the treatment works.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A The study proves definitely that the treatment works.

   Eén onderzoek draagt zelden bewijst definitief.

10. 10Deze zin klopt niet. Kies de verbetering.

    Welke zin is fout?

    1. ANobody seems to have been told.
    2. BIt seems that nobody was told.
    3. CIt would appear that nobody was told.
    4. DIt seems to that nobody was told.
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D It seems to that nobody was told.

    De twee constructies zijn door elkaar gehaald.