Inklingo

How to Say "they seemed" in Spanish

The Spanish word forthey seemedis parecíanA2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.

English → SpanishA2
VerbA2
past impression/state
Two small children are peering cautiously at two large, gentle brown bears sitting peacefully in a sunlit forest clearing, illustrating a perceived state.

Examples

Las nubes parecían algodón de azúcar antes de la tormenta.

The clouds seemed like cotton candy before the storm.

Ellos parecían muy contentos con la noticia que les diste.

They seemed very happy with the news you gave them.

¿Ustedes parecían preocupados? ¿Pasó algo?

Did you (formal plural) seem worried? Did something happen?

Continuous Past State

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.

Agreement with Subject

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

Mixing Past Tenses

Mistake:Usando 'parecieron' para describir un estado continuo.

Correction: Use 'parecían' (imperfect) to describe how something was or looked. Use 'parecieron' (preterite) only if you mean they suddenly began seeming that way at a specific moment.

Related Translations

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