schijnen + te + Infinitive
Seem to
Schijnen te is the Dutch 'hearsay' verb. It tells the listener that you are relaying information you heard from someone else, rather than something you saw yourself or know for a fact.
How It Works
The construction schijnen te is essential for reporting news, gossip, or unverified information. It allows the speaker to distance themselves from the truth of the statement.
1. Syntactic Structure
It follows the pattern: Subject + schijnen (conjugated) + ... + te + infinitive. In a subordinate clause, the verbs cluster at the end.
2. Hearsay vs. Observation
Dutch distinguishes between how you know something:
- Schijnen: Hearsay (I heard it from others).
- Lijken: Subjective impression (It looks that way to me).
- Blijken: Proven fact (It has turned out to be true).
3. Expressing the Past
Unlike other verbs, the hearsay meaning of 'schijnen' is rarely used in the perfect tense (heeft geschenen is for the sun). To talk about something that reportedly happened in the past, use the present tense of 'schijnen' with a perfect infinitive:
- Hij schijnt te zijn vertrokken. (He reportedly left / It seems he has left).
4. The 'Het schijnt dat...' Alternative
A very common alternative is using het as a dummy subject followed by a dat-clause:
- Het schijnt dat hij ziek is. (It seems/they say that he is ill).
5. Copular Use (Optional 'te zijn')
Because 'schijnen' can function as a linking verb, it can connect a subject directly to an adjective without using 'te zijn'. Both forms are grammatically correct in standard Dutch:
- Dat schijnt waar. (That seems true.)
- Dat schijnt waar te zijn. (That seems to be true.)
6. Word Order with Separable Verbs
When using a separable verb, the 'te' is placed between the prefix and the verb stem (e.g., op te bellen).
Examples (5)
- Hij schijnt volgend jaar naar het buitenland te verhuizen.
He is reportedly moving abroad next year.
Word by Word: He shines next year to the abroad to move.
The speaker is relaying a rumor or report they heard about his move.
- Er schijnen daar gisteren rellen te zijn geweest.
There are said to have been riots there yesterday.
Word by Word: There shine there yesterday riots to be been.
This uses the perfect infinitive (te zijn geweest) to report hearsay about a past event.
- Zij schijnt erg rijk te zijn.
She is said to be very rich.
Word by Word: She shines very rich to be.
The speaker hasn't seen her bank account but is repeating what people say.
- Het schijnt morgen te gaan regenen.
It is supposedly going to rain tomorrow.
Word by Word: It shines tomorrow to go rain.
Used here to report a weather forecast (information from a source).
- De nieuwe buren schijnen heel aardig te zijn.
The new neighbors are said to be very nice.
Word by Word: The new neighbors shine very nice to be.
Information based on what the speaker has heard from others in the neighborhood.
Common Mistakes
Using 'schijnen' when you can see the evidence yourself, such as a smoking engine.
Different MeaningDe auto schijnt kapot te zijn.De auto lijkt kapot te zijn.If you can see the evidence with your own eyes, use lijken (seem/appear). Use 'schijnen' only if you heard it from someone else.
Using 'heeft geschenen' to express hearsay in the past.
Hij heeft geschenen te vertrekken.Hij schijnt te zijn vertrokken.The form 'heeft geschenen' is only used for the literal meaning 'to shine' (like the sun). To express hearsay about a past event, use the present tense of 'schijnen' with a perfect infinitive.
Incorrect 'te' placement with separable verbs.
Hij schijnt te opbellen.Hij schijnt op te bellen.In a te + infinitive construction, 'te' must go between the prefix and the verb.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'schijnen te', you first need to be comfortable with basic verb conjugation and the general 'te + infinitive' structure. This pattern functions similarly to other semi-auxiliary verbs in Dutch that require 'te' before the final infinitive.
- te + InfinitiveTo + Infinitive
The 'schijnen te' construction is a specific application of the 'te + infinitive' structure, where the main verb is followed by 'te' and a second verb in its infinitive form.
Level 3 - zijnTo Be (Zijn)
The verb 'zijn' (to be) is the most common infinitive used with 'schijnen te' to describe a state or condition (e.g., 'hij schijnt ziek te zijn').
Level 1
Related Patterns
- lijken + te + InfinitiveAppear to
'Lijken te' is used for subjective impressions based on appearance, whereas 'schijnen te' is for hearsay.
Level 4 - blijken + te + InfinitiveTurn Out to
'Blijken te' indicates that something has been proven or turned out to be a fact, contrasting with the unverified nature of 'schijnen'.
Level 4 - datThat (Conjunction)
'Schijnen' can also be used with a 'dat'-clause (Het schijnt dat...) as an alternative to the 'te + infinitive' structure.
Level 2 - Separable Verbs
Separable verbs require specific 'te' placement when used with 'schijnen te'.
Level 2 - Double Infinitive (IPP)
When expressing past hearsay, 'schijnen' is used with a perfect infinitive, creating a cluster of verbs.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice schijnen + te + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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