[Grammar] Chinese English Test Choice Question （3）

[LiuJing]

There seem few movies by Hitchcock ________(that/which) can interest her.

The given answer is [that]. My teacher said that the word 'few' made the difference. Is that really so? Thank you.

 

[emsr2d2]

There seem few movies by Hitchcock ________(that/which) can interest her.

The given answer is [that]. My teacher said that the word 'few' made the difference. Is that really so? Thank you.

1) I don't see how the word "few" can have any effect.

2) This sentence is not grammatically correct using either "that" or which":

There seem few movies by Hitchcock that can interest her.
There seem few movies by Hitchcock which can interest her.

I can only assume it should be:

There seem to be few Hitchcock movies which interest her.

 

[LiuJing]

1) I don't see how the word "few" can have any effect.

2) This sentence is not grammatically correct using either "that" or which":

There seem few movies by Hitchcock that can interest her.
There seem few movies by Hitchcock which can interest her.

I can only assume it should be:

There seem to be few Hitchcock movies which interest her.

I see. We should use the structure 'there seem to be noun (plural)' or 'there seems to be noun (singular)'.
However, he seems very happy/he seems to be very happy are both ok, right? But in there seem structure, the 'to be' cannot be dropped. Am I understanding the grammar rule right?

Thank you.

 

[Nightmare85]

**Neither a teacher nor a native speaker.**

1) I don't see how the word "few" can have any effect.

2) This sentence is not grammatically correct using either "that" or which":

There seem few movies by Hitchcock that can interest her.
There seem few movies by Hitchcock which can interest her.

I can only assume it should be:

There seem to be few Hitchcock movies which interest her.

I agree with your first two points, but I dislike the version you suggest.
What about:
There seem to be only few Hitchcock movies that interest her.
:?:
Only is an option, but I cannot understand why you insist on using which.
(I don't say which is wrong, though.)

I see. We should use the structure 'there seem to be noun (plural)' or 'there seems to be noun (singular)'.
However, he seems very happy/he seems to be very happy are both ok, right? But in there seem structure, the 'to be' cannot be dropped. Am I understanding the grammar rule right?

Thank you.

I'm sure you're right.
He seems very happy. :up:
They seem very happy. :up:
He seems to be very happy. :up:
They seem to be very happy. :up:
There seem few movies. - no
There seem to be few movies. :up:

This is my opinion.

Cheers!

 

[konungursvia]

I see. We should use the structure 'there seem to be noun (plural)' or 'there seems to be noun (singular)'.
However, he seems very happy/he seems to be very happy are both ok, right? But in there seem structure, the 'to be' cannot be dropped. Am I understanding the grammar rule right?

Thank you.

It strikes me as poor grammar to drop 'to be' as well. Also, I agree 'few' makes little difference. I would use 'that' however as well. At least that's right. Which usually introduces information that's quite different in nature.