我猜測原文的意思是這樣:
※ 引述《scju (QQ)》之銘言：
: 大家好，請問一下
: 想釐清seem/appear (to be)的用法，看到牛津英語用法指南PEU是這樣寫的：
: 條目507.3 seem
: "Seem to be" is normal before noun phrases.
: I looked through the binoculars: it "seemed to be" some sort of large rat.
: (NOT ... it seemed some sort of large rat.)
: I spoke to a man who "seemed to be" the boss. (NOT ... who seemed the boss.)
這兩句的重點在於 "是不是" 某物/某人
這樣的是非判斷偏向"客觀" 所以通常加 to be
可以把句子想成是 What/Who is 主詞? 的回答
: However, "to be" can be dropped before noun phrases which express more
: subjective feelings.
: She "seems (to be) " a nice girl.
當後方是一個普遍性的名詞時
此時重點不是客觀的 "是不是"
而是她人"好不好"的主觀意見 所以可省掉 to be
可以把這類句子想成是 How is 主詞? What is 主詞 like? 的回答
例如用下列兩句比較:
She seemed the kind of girl to give money to the poor.
此句雖然後方有 the，但其實是普遍性的通稱 (會捐錢給窮人的那種女孩)
不是特定某位女孩
句義重點是"她有沒有某種特質"的主觀意見 所以可省 to be
She seemed to be the girl who killed John.
此句就明顯的在指 "是不是" 的客觀判斷 所以通常加 to be
: The cup "seemed" almost doll's size in his hands.
: It "seems" a pity, but I can't see you this weekend. (NOT It seems to be a
: pity ... )
: 以上是書中內容，但我覺得這有模糊地帶，
: 例如I spoke to a man who "seemed to be" the boss.難道就不能這是我的「主觀」
: 感受而寫成who seemed the boss？
: 總之，這解釋似乎會有自由心證的部分？
: 請教一下。謝謝！
: 原文http://i.imgur.com/FSVuDe5.jpg