Mixing Past Tenses

This form ('parecían') is the way Spanish talks about how things looked or felt over a period of time in the past, or how they habitually appeared. It focuses on the description, not a single finished event.

Continuous Past State

Since this is the 'they/you plural' form, the subject must be plural, whether it's people ('los invitados') or things ('las luces').

Agreement with Subject

'Parecer' is perfect for giving your opinion or impression. If you are certain of a fact, use 'ser' or 'estar' instead.

Opinion vs. Fact

Extremely common. Used constantly to describe how things or people looked or felt in the past.

When you want to say that two things look alike, the reflexive form 'parecerse' is often used, followed by the word 'a': 'Ellos se parecían a sus padres.' (They looked like their parents.)

Using 'a' for Resemblance

Commonly used when describing similarities or comparisons in the past.

'Parecían' is the third-person plural imperfect indicative form of 'parecer,' meaning 'they/you seemed' or 'they/you looked like.' Learn its full conjugation and how to use this essential verb for describing past impressions and resemblances.

parecían

Complete Conjugation Tables

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

imperfect

preterite

future

conditional

subjunctive

present

imperfect

imperative

affirmative

negative

Practice Conjugations