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Infinitive vs normal forms

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Infinitive vs normal forms

by Anial » Mon Apr 19, 2010 5:07 am
Hi Guys,
Just a quick general question. What is the difference between following 2 sentences.
Doesn't it convey the same meaning?


1.caffeine did not seem to bother
2.caffeine did not seem to have bothered

Am i missing something .Can you pls help me out
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by gmat_Tutor » Mon Apr 19, 2010 6:00 am
Is there something else?

XX did not seem to bother some one.
=> Seem needs "to". So, this is grammatically correct.

XX did not seem to have bothered.

=> On the basis of GMAT rule, if same thing can be expressed by two ways, the shorter one is preferable.

I think, experts, like Ron, can speak more on this issue.
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by languageedge » Mon Apr 19, 2010 6:01 am
Anial wrote:Hi Guys,
Just a quick general question. What is the difference between following 2 sentences.
Doesn't it convey the same meaning?


1.caffeine did not seem to bother
2.caffeine did not seem to have bothered

Am i missing something .Can you pls help me out
the second to the past to which can mean that caffeine did once bother him whereas in the first sentence it simply states that the caffeine did not bother him
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by kevincanspain » Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:19 am
Sue seems to think that Chinese is the language of the future. It seems that Lisa thinks...
She has signed up for an intensive Chinese language course

Sue seems to be thinking about pursuing an MBA = It seems that Lisa is thinking about...
She has decided to go to an MBA fair just to see what is on offer.


Sue seems to have thought a lot about her future. = It seems that Sue has thought a lot about her future.
(She already has clearly defined plans and goals).

Sue seems to have had a wonderful childhood. = It seems that Lisa had a wonderful childhood


Trevor seemed to hear everything. = It seemed that Trevor heard everything. (seemed and heard not not sequential)
I wondered who kept him so well informed.

Trevor seemed to have heard everything = It seemed that Trevor had heard everything (heard and seemed are sequential).

I did not see the point of arranging a briefing meeting.


The medicine that we gave Lisa yesterday doesn't seem to have bothered her stomach. She is eating well today and hasn't complained of pains.

The jokes don't seem to bother her. Indeed, she often laughs along.
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