Breakdown of Il semble que la réalité soit différente de l'illusion.
être
to be
de
of / from / any (in negative sentences) / about (concerning)
il
it (impersonal subject)
différent
different
Questions & Answers about Il semble que la réalité soit différente de l'illusion.
Why do we use the subjunctive soit here instead of the indicative est?
Because the impersonal expression il semble que ("it seems that") implies a level of doubt or uncertainty. It describes an appearance rather than a certain fact, which triggers the subjunctive.
If I wanted to say "It seems to me that...", would I still use soit?
What if I make that personal opinion negative and say "It doesn't seem to me that..."?