Raising Verbs

Raising verbs are the class of verbs that share with the copula the property that the complement, rather than the verb, places semantic constraints on the subject.

(72)0(72

(73)

Carl seems a jerk .
Carl seems upset .
Carl seems in a foul mood . 

(73)0(73

(74)

Carl appears a jerk .
Carl appears upset .
Carl appears in a foul mood . 

The raising verbs are similar to auxiliaries in that they order with other verbs, but they are unique in that they can appear to the left of the infinitive, as seen in the sentences in ((75)). They cannot, however, invert or contract like other auxiliaries ((76)), and they appear to the right of adverbs ((77)).

(74)0(74

(75)

Carl seems to be a jerk .
Carl seems to be upset .
Carl seems to be in a foul mood . 

(75)0(75

(76)

seems Carl to be a jerk ?
Carl seemn't to be upset .
Carl`ems to be in a foul mood . 

(76)0(76

(77)

Carl often seems to be upset .
Carl seems often to be upset .