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Questo mistero mi pare strano.

Questo mistero mi pare strano.
This mystery seems strange to me.
From Lesson 183:Subjunctive with opinions and doubts (penso che…)·Italian

Questions & Answers about Questo mistero mi pare strano.

This lesson is about using the subjunctive with verbs of opinion like parere. Why isn't there a subjunctive here?
The subjunctive is only triggered when you introduce a dependent clause using che (that). Here, parere (to seem) is just acting as a simple linking verb connecting the subject (questo mistero) directly to the adjective (strano). Since there is no che and no second verb, there is no place for the subjunctive!
How would I rewrite this exact thought to use the subjunctive with che?
You could say Mi pare che questo mistero sia strano (It seems to me that this mystery is strange). Notice how we use an impersonal structure (Mi pare che...) and introduce the new verb sia (the subjunctive form of essere) after che.
Is there a difference between parere and sembrare?
Not really. Both mean 'to seem' or 'to appear' and they are practically interchangeable in this context. Sembrare is slightly more common in everyday speech, but parere is perfectly normal and widely used.
Could I say a me instead of mi?
Yes, you could say Questo mistero pare strano a me. Using the stressed pronoun phrase a me emphasizes that it seems strange to you specifically, perhaps in contrast to someone else who thinks it is perfectly normal. Mi is just the standard, neutral way to state your opinion here.

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