Teacher Discussion Forums

Why is it that we can't use the progressive in ,

"Wong Kar Wai's new film appears to have been a success",

but its use seems to be acceptable in "Wong Kar Wai is appearing at the opening of Cannes Film Festival tonight?"

The progressive aspect puts emphasis on a beginning and ending time. We have 'tonight' and thus the progressive is referring to a future arrangement. In the first case there is no time mentioned -- the action is timeless and thus we use the unmarked form, the present simple.

Bear in mind also that 'appear' has a different meaning in the two contexts. In the first one it is the equivalent of 'seems'; in the second of 'turning up or being there'.

I think the key is the different meanings of appear, as SJ points out.