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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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they seems

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

'they seems' is not correct.
You should use 'they seem'. Example: They seem happy to help.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

The failure modes were also analyzed, and they seems to be affected by the nanoclay addition to face sheets.

That "they" seems to apply to a wider group than just her dance peers.

News & Media

Independent

But they seems highly likely to strain relations with the Chinese even further.

News & Media

The New York Times

Even from Krugman's point of view, the use of "they" seems premature with a Republican President and a hard-to-elect Democratic frontrunner candidate in the wings.

News & Media

The Economist

If the flimsy entrance canopy and covered walkways are intended as a riff on Los Angeles's pop culture traditions, they seems no more than an afterthought.

Not are the non-steamed oats apparently more nutritious (although Harold McGee disputes this), but, after testing a standard recipe from the Ballymaloe Cookery School bible, they seems to retain a stronger, more distinctive flavour, and a more interesting texture.

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Do they seem confident?

News & Media

The New York Times

They seemed pathetic.

News & Media

Independent

They seem fresh here.

News & Media

The New York Times

Instead, they seemed immune.

"They seemed very artsy.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure subject-verb agreement. With plural subjects like "they", use the base form of the verb, such as "seem" instead of "seems".

Common error

Do not mistakenly use the singular verb form "seems" with plural subjects like "they", "we", or plural nouns. This error often occurs due to oversight or when writing quickly. Always double-check for agreement in your sentences.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they seems" is an instance of incorrect subject-verb agreement. The pronoun "they", being plural, requires the plural form of the verb, which is "seem". Ludwig AI identifies this as an error, despite its occurrence in some sources. The function should correctly use "they seem" to form a grammatical subject and verb.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

43%

Wiki

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they seems" demonstrates a common grammatical error involving subject-verb disagreement. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is "they seem". While Ludwig provides numerous examples of the incorrect usage, these instances should be viewed as errors to avoid rather than accepted patterns. Correcting this error is crucial for maintaining clarity and credibility in writing, especially in formal and scientific contexts. Consider using alternative phrases like "they appear" to convey similar meanings with proper grammar.

FAQs

How do I correct the phrase "they seems"?

The correct phrase is "they seem". The verb must agree with the plural subject "they".

What's a good alternative to "they seems" that maintains a similar meaning?

Consider using alternatives like "they appear" or "it seems to them", depending on the context.

Is "they seems" ever grammatically correct?

No, "they seems" is never grammatically correct. The correct form is "they seem". Using the incorrect verb form results in a subject-verb disagreement error.

How does the meaning change if I use "they seem" instead of "they seems"?

Using "they seem" corrects a grammatical error and ensures your sentence is clear and understandable. "They seems" is incorrect and may confuse readers. It is always recommended to use the grammatically correct form. Consider also "they do seem" for emphasis.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: