Two ways to say seems
You know parece que + a clause. Spanish can also make the person or thing the subject of parecer and put an infinitive after it, just like English She seems to be right. Then parecer agrees with that subject: parece, pareces, parecen…
| parece que + clause | subject + parecer + infinitive |
|---|---|
| Parece que tu hermana tiene razón. | Tu hermana parece tener razón. |
| Parece que los niños están cansados. | Los niños parecen estar cansados. |
| Your sister seems to be right. | Tu hermana parece tener razón. |
| It seems that your sister is right. | Parece que tu hermana tiene razón. |
Same meaning, two shapes: with parece que, no person is the subject, so parece stays singular.
| The children seem to be tired. | Los niños parecen estar cansados. |
Pronouns and no
Pronouns usually join the infinitive, and no usually goes before parecer.
| You guys seem to have known each other for years. | Parecéis conoceros desde hace años. |
Conoceros = conocer + os, the each other of vosotros.
| This machine doesn't seem to work. | Esta máquina no parece funcionar. |
Something that seems to have happened
For an earlier event, put haber + participle after parecer.
| The neighbors seem to have gone on vacation. | Los vecinos parecen haberse ido de vacaciones. |
| The thief seems to have gotten in without breaking anything. | El ladrón parece haber entrado sin romper nada. |
No subject: parece que
Weather and other facts with no subject usually take parece que.
| It seems that it is going to snow tomorrow. | Parece que va a nevar mañana. |
| It seems that it is hotter today than yesterday. | Parece que hoy hace más calor que ayer. |
Common mistake
- Los niños parece estar cansados → Los niños parecen estar cansados: with an infinitive, parecer agrees with the subject.
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