Using and Conjugating the Spanish Verb Parecer

Parecer is a common verb that has as its basic meaning to seem or to seem like. It can also be used in a variety of ways to express opinions or make judgments. It is an etymological cousin of the English word appear, which can be used in a similar way, as in the phrase it appears that. Using Parecer  With  Descriptions In its most straightforward usage, parecer is used as a way of describing what something is or seems like: Un gobierno de unidad nacional parece difà ­cil de lograrse. (A national unity government seems difficult to accomplish.)Lo que parece ser la verdad para nosotros no necesariamente parecerà ¡ ser la verdad para otros. (What seems to be the truth for us will not necessarily seem to be the truth for others.)Tengo una chupa que parece de cuero y es de plastiquete. (I have a jacket that is  like leather and is made of plastic material.)El agua tibia parece caliente si tocamos primero el agua frà ­a. (Lukewarm water seems hot if we feel cold water first.)Usted no parece saber mucho del trastorno.  (You dont seem to know much about the disorder.) Using Parecer Impersonally It is very common to use parecer as an impersonal verb followed by que. The verb that follows is typically in the indicative mood, although the subjunctive mood follows no parecer. The indicative mood is used with parecer in its positive form because it is used to indicate how something is perceived, not to express doubt as seem often does in English. An exception is  in a sentence such as Parece mentira que hayan pasado 15 aà ±os (It seems impossible that 15 years have gone by), because there doubt and/or an emotional reaction is expressed. Parece que este enlace està ¡ roto. (It looks like this link is broken.)No parece que vaya a llover. (It doesnt look like its going to rain.)De momento parece que no se sabe nada del lanzamiento del producto en Europa. (For now it appears that nothing is known about the products launch in Europe.)Parecà ­a que nada podà ­a mejorarse.  (It seemed like nothing could get better.)Katrina no parece que tenga frà ­o. (Katrina doesnt seem like shes cold.) Using Parecer With an Indirect Object It is very common for parecer to be accompanied by an indirect-object pronoun to indicate how a particular person or persons perceives something to be. This can be one way of conveying opinions, and in many such cases there are better ways of translating parecer other than seem. Me parece que el presidente es un fraude.  (I think the president is a fraud.)Me parece que algo no està ¡ bien. (I feel that something isnt right.) ¿Te parezco triste? (Do I look sad to you?) ¿Por quà © el metal nos parece frà ­o y la lana caliente? (Why does metal feel cold to us and wool warm?)Le parece que està ¡ aumentando la actividad sà ­smica.  (He thinks that seismic activity is increasing.) ¿Quà © os parece el nuevo iPhone? (What do you think of the new iPhone?)No nos parece que à ©ste sea el momento oportuno. (We dont think this is the opportune time.)Me parecà ­a que no era importante.  (I didnt think it was important.) Using Parecer Reflexively In the reflexive form, parecerse can be used to indicate that two or more persons or things are alike in some way: Algunas veces nos parecemos a nuestros padres. (Sometimes were like our parents.)Segà ºn los à ºltimos estudios, los animales se parecen a las personas mucho mà ¡s de lo que imaginamos. (According to the latest studies, animals are much more like people than we imagine.) Parecer as an Infinitive Noun As a noun, the infinitive  parecer usually means opinion: Es el mejor restaurante a mi parecer en Madrid.  (In my opinion its the best restaurant in Madrid.)Queremos que expreses tu opinion sobre el diseà ±o. (We want you to express your opinion on the design.) Conjugation of Parecer Keep in mind that parecer is irregularly conjugated, following the pattern of conocer. All irregular forms are shown below in boldface: Present indicative: parezco, pareces, parece, parecemos, parecà ©is, parecen (I seem, you seem, etc.) Present subjunctive: que parezca, que parezcas, que parezca, que parezcamos, que parezcà ¡is, que parezcan (that I seem, that you seem, etc.) Affirmative imperative: parece tà º,  parezca usted, parezcamos nosotro/as, pareced vosotros/as, parezcan ustedes (seem) Negative imperative: no  parezca  usted,  no parezcas  tà º,  no  parezcamos nosotros/as, no  parezcà ¡is  vosotros/as, que  parezcan  ustedes (dont seem)