parecer Preterite Conjugation
parecer — to seem
Parecer is regular in the preterite: parecí, pareciste, pareció, parecimos, parecisteis, parecieron.
parecer Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite when 'seeming' refers to a specific, finished reaction or a moment when something suddenly appeared to be a certain way. It often translates to 'seemed' or 'appeared' in a specific instance.
Notes on parecer in the Preterite
Parecer follows the standard -er verb endings in the preterite. It does not have the 'z' found in the present tense.
Example Sentences
Ayer me pareció que estabas cansado.
Yesterday it seemed to me that you were tired.
él/ella/usted
Tus amigos me parecieron muy simpáticos.
Your friends seemed very nice to me.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
¿Te pareció difícil el examen?
Did the exam seem difficult to you?
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'parezco' in the past.
Correct: Use 'parecí' or 'pareció'.
Why: Learners often try to carry the 'z' from the present 'yo' form into other tenses where it doesn't belong.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: parezco
Parecer is irregular only in the 'yo' form (parezco); all other forms are regular.
Imperfect
yo: parecía
Parecer is regular in the imperfect: parecía, parecías, parecía, parecíamos, parecíais, parecían.
Future
yo: pareceré
The future tense of parecer is regular: pareceré, parecerás, parecerá, pareceremos, pareceréis, parecerán.
Conditional
yo: parecería
The conditional of parecer is regular: parecería, parecerías, parecería, pareceríamos, pareceríais, parecerían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: parezca
The present subjunctive uses the 'parezc-' stem: parezca, parezcas, parezca, parezcamos, parezcáis, parezcan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: pareciera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'parecie-' stem: pareciera, parecieras, pareciera, pareciéramos, parecierais, parecieran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: parece
The imperative for parecer is rarely used, but follows standard rules: parece, parezca, parezcamos, pareced, parezcan.
Negative Imperative
yo: no parezcas
The negative imperative always uses the 'zc' stem: no parezcas, no parezca, no parezcamos, no parezcáis, no parezcan.