1. "Appears" as a Main Verb
* If "appears" is the main verb in a sentence, it is in the present tense (simple present or present continuous).
* Example: "He appears happy today." (simple present)
* Example: "She is appearing in a play this weekend." (present continuous)
2. "Appears" as a Linking Verb
* If "appears" acts as a linking verb (connecting the subject to a description), it is also in the present tense.
* Example: "The problem appears solvable."
3. "Appears" in a Subordinate Clause
* If "appears" is in a subordinate clause (a clause that depends on the main clause), the tense can vary.
* Example: "He appears to be tired." (infinitive after "appears")
4. "Appears" in Passive Voice
* If "appears" is in a passive voice construction, it is in the past participle form ("appeared").
* Example: "The results of the experiment appeared last week."
In short, the form of "appears" before a verb depends on its role in the sentence.