This lesson covers how to use the Spanish verb “parecer”. This is a Spanish verb that students sometimes have trouble with, because it is used in different ways and with different meanings. This verb is Parecer, and you can also use it as a reflexive verb and as a verb with the Indirect Object. Let’s look at each box:
LOOK
i look like
You seem
you/he/she seems
we-as we seem
you/they-as they appear
In this case, we use seem to talk about our impression of someone.
You look tired, did you sleep well? (You look tired, did you sleep well?)
I don’t know that girl very well, but she seems nice. (I don’t know much about this girl, but she seems nice.)
He seemed very smart, but obviously we have been wrong, he has answered most of the questions incorrectly. (He seemed very smart, but obviously we were wrong, he answered most of the questions incorrectly).
RESEMBLE
I look like
you are sorry
Looks like (Person)
our look like
look
We use Look Alike to compare a person to another person we think is similar.
Juan looks like his dad, because they are both tall. (Juan is like his father, because they are both tall.)
Who do you look like in your family? (Who are you like in your family?)
I look like my mom and my brother looks like my dad. (I look like my mom and my brother looks like my dad).
When we’re not being specific about whether we’re talking about personality or physique, we’re talking about physique, if not, we usually have to be specific.
My mom loves math, and I’m really bad at math, I hate it. In that we don’t look like ours. (My mom loves math and I am very bad at math, I hate it. In this case we are not the same).
SEEM with indirect object
(ami) I
(To you/you)
(To you/he/she) Does it seem
(To us) Our
(To you/them)
In this case, the verb is used to form opinions.
What do you think of Julio Iglesias’ latest CD? (What do you think of Julio Iglesias’ latest CD?)
It seems a bit boring to me. (I think it’s a bit boring.)
It seems to me + Adjective: It seems good to me. (I think it’s good.)
It seems to me that + Phrase with a verb: It seems to me that it has many beautiful songs. (I think it has many beautiful songs).
As with the verb Like, if I have a plural noun after the verb, I also have to use it in the plural.
What do you think of these photographs? (What do you think of these images?)
They look great to me. (I think they’re great.)