Breakdown of Por lo visto, se oyen ruidos inexplicables en el bosque.
en
in / on / by (means of transport) / about (after pensar)
el bosque
the forest
el ruido
the noise
oír
to hear
se
one, people (impersonal)
por lo visto
apparently, by the looks of it
inexplicable
inexplicable
Questions & Answers about Por lo visto, se oyen ruidos inexplicables en el bosque.
Does por lo visto trigger the subjunctive in this sentence?
No, it takes the indicative mood. Evidential phrases like por lo visto and al parecer are used to declare information you have heard or deduced, rather than to express doubt or emotion. Because you are presenting the noises as a perceived fact, you use the indicative oyen instead of the subjunctive oigan.
How does por lo visto differ in nuance from just saying aparentemente?
While both mean apparently, por lo visto is extremely common in everyday conversational Spanish in Spain. It tells the listener that you are either repeating hearsay or drawing a conclusion from evidence (literally 'by what is seen'). Aparentemente has the same meaning but sounds slightly more formal or written.
Why is the verb plural in se oyen rather than singular se oye?
Can I place por lo visto somewhere else in the sentence?
Yes, its placement is quite flexible. You can put it at the very end (Se oyen ruidos inexplicables en el bosque, por lo visto) or even right after the verb. However, placing it at the beginning is very natural because it immediately sets the context that you are reporting hearsay or a deduction before delivering the actual news.
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