seems and sentential complement

[Tibor Kiss]

Hi,

since I was so successful recently in asking questions about English, I try
again. Very simple question this time: Is it correct that 'seem' requires
a that-complement if its complement is finite, i.e. is the following
distribution correct?

(1) John seems to be certain to leave.
(2) It seems that John is certain to leave.
(3) *It seems John is certain to leave.

Thanks,

T.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prof. Dr. Tibor Kiss -- Sprachwissenschaftliches Institut
Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum
+49-234-3225114 // +49-177-7468265 // +49-234-3214137 (fax)
What is present now will later be passed.