1. 表示“出現”“露面”“到達”等，是不及物動詞，因此既不能后接賓語，也不能用于被動語態。如：

　　雨后天空出現彩虹。

　　正：A rainbow appeared in the sky after the rain.

　　誤：A rainbow was appeared in the sky after the rain.

　　2. 表示“似乎”“好像”，是連系動詞，其后可接形容詞、名詞、不定式等作表語。如：

　　He appears (to be) quite rich 他似乎相當富有。

　　He appears to be living in the area. 他似乎就住在這一帶。

　　It appears a true story. 它似乎是一個真實的故事。

　　3. 在 it appears 后可接 that 從句或 as if 從句。如：

　　It appears that he forgot to sign the letter. 他似乎忘記在信上署名了。

　　It appears as if she’s lost interest in her job. 看來她對自己的工作已失去興趣。

　　后接 that 從句時，有時可用 so, not 代之。如：

　　A：Are they reliable? 他們可靠嗎?

　　B：It appears so (not). 似乎是可靠的(不可靠)。

　　4. 有時可與there be句式搭配使用。如：

　　There appears to have been an accident. 好像出了事故。

　　There appears to be a problem with the oil pressure. 看來是油壓出了問題。

　　5. 比較以下同義句型：

　　He appears to have been waiting a long time.= It appears that he has been waiting a long time. 看來他已經等了很久了。

　　There appears to have been a mistake.= It appears that there has been a mistake. 看來一直就有錯。