As you become more familiar with the structure of Spanish language, youâll realize how useful the verb PARECER is to communicate in Spanish. Remember that, as other verbs ending in â-ecerâ it is irregular in the present tense (see verb PARECER conjugation).
Letâs see its five more common uses.
How to use verb PARECER
1. For appearances

When someone or something âlooksâ a certain way, then you can use parecer in Spanish to express your observation.
Carmen parece triste (Carmen looks sad.)
Alejandro parece mĂĄs joven de lo que es. (Alejandro looks younger than he is.)
2. To point out similarities
If you want to highlight the similarities between two people then you need to use parecer as a reflexive or reciprocal.
Se parecen como dos gotas de agua. (They are like two peas in a pod.)
Me parezco mucho a mi madre. (Iâm a lot like my mother.)
Tu novio se parece a un amigo mĂo. (Your boyfriend looks like a friend of mine.)
3. To ask for or give opinions
The next use of this verb is for stating your opinion about something, or asking others what they think. For this use of parecer, you will form the sentence like you would with the Spanish verb gustar  (the third person of the verb with an indirect object pronoun):
¿Qué te parece el libro? (What do you think about the book?)
Me parece que es muy entretenido (I think it is very entertaining.)
4. To seem
If you are deceived by the appearance of something, then just like the English verb âto seemâ, parecer can be used in the same way in Spanish.
El trabajo parecĂa fĂĄcil, pero era complicado. (The work seemed easy, but it was complicated.)
ÂĄParecĂa una buena idea en ese momento! (It seemed like a good idea at the time!)
5. Parecer bien, mal, regular, fatalâŠ.
It is also be used for stating opinions in a positive or negative way.
ÂżTe parece bien si nos tomamos algo? (Is it all right with you if we have anything?)
- We can also give opinions by using Me parece + adjective + que + subjunctive:
Me parece fatal que Marisa no haya dicho nada. (I think itâs awful that Marisa hasnÂŽt said anything at all.)
- Or Me parece + adjective + infinitive, for more impersonal point of view.
Me parece interesante estudiar español. (I think studying Spanish is interesting.)
Ejercicios con el verbos PARECER
Now it is time you practice what you have learned with this fill the gaps activity. Remember you can contact your tutor if you have any questions. DonÂŽt you have a Spanish online tutor yet?