appear to have comprehended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appear to have comprehended" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's understanding or grasp of a concept or information, often implying uncertainty about their comprehension. Example: "After reviewing the material, the students appear to have comprehended the main ideas presented in the lecture."

✓ Grammatically correct

Critical Care

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The next of kin appear to have comprehended the information given.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They appear to have succeeded.

The New York Times

They appear to have failed.

The New York Times - Science

Matters appear to have calmed.

The New York Times

Talks appear to have stalled.

Los Angeles Times

It's a role that not even Wikipedia, which describes him as an "American actor, musician, producer and director", appears to have fully comprehended.

The Guardian - Music

In time, I came to accept that maybe this had a place in the village leagues but cannot comprehend how this attitude appears to have inveigled itself into the England establishment.

The Guardian - Sport

The concept appears to have originated in the study of philosophy and literature as a technique to more fully comprehend and appreciate a complex text.

Huffington Post

Although the Swiss government appears to have quickly understood the possible repercussions of the Falciani list, the management at H.S.B.C. was slow to comprehend the extent of its predicament.

The New Yorker

He appears to have been admired by his peers in the credit card industry, some of whom say they have trouble comprehending the reasons Mr. Lacy gave for his dismissal.

The New York Times

None appeared to have fled.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "appear to have comprehended" when you want to express a tentative assessment of someone's understanding, based on available evidence but without absolute certainty. It's suitable in situations where direct confirmation is lacking.

Common error

Avoid using "appear to have comprehended" when you possess definitive proof of understanding. In such cases, use stronger verbs like "understood", "knew" or "realized" to reflect the certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appear to have comprehended" functions as a verb phrase expressing a tentative assessment of someone's past comprehension. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase. It suggests that based on available evidence, someone seems to have understood something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "appear to have comprehended" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey a tentative assessment of someone's past understanding. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. It typically functions to express an opinion based on available evidence, as opposed to definitive proof. Though relatively rare, its usage spans across Science, News & Media, and Formal & Business contexts, leaning towards a neutral register. When expressing certain knowledge, stronger verbs are recommended. Alternative phrases, such as ""seem to have understood"", offer similar nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seem to have understood

Indicates a perception of understanding, focusing on outward signs.

appear to understand

A more direct statement about understanding, lacking the past perfect construction.

seem to grasp

Suggests a basic level of understanding or initial realization.

appear to grasp

A more immediate form for realization of something.

seem to have grasped

Implies a more complete or firm understanding gained over time.

seem to realize

Focuses on the moment of understanding or awareness.

appear to realize

Reflects the act of understanding.

seem to appreciate

Implies understanding and valuing the importance of something.

appear to appreciate

Focuses in understanding and valorization.

seem to perceive

Suggests a sensory or intuitive understanding.

FAQs

How to use "appear to have comprehended" in a sentence?

You can use "appear to have comprehended" when you want to express a tentative assessment of someone's understanding based on the available evidence. For example: "After reviewing the material, the students "seem to have understood" the main ideas presented in the lecture".

What can I say instead of "appear to have comprehended"?

You can use alternatives like ""seem to have understood"", "appear to understand", or "seem to grasp" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "appear to have comprehended" or "appear to comprehend"?

"Appear to have comprehended" implies a past action and a present assessment, suggesting understanding has been achieved, whereas "appear to comprehend" suggests the understanding is happening now. Use the former when you want to talk about an already done action and a present assessment.

What's the difference between "appear to have comprehended" and "seem to have understood"?

Both "appear to have comprehended" and ""seem to have understood"" express a perception of understanding, but "appear" often implies a judgment based on outward signs, while "seem" suggests a more intuitive feeling. They're largely interchangeable, but "appear" carries a slightly more objective tone.