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fluentbyear

FRENCH VERB

paraître

to seem, to appear

  • #105 most used
  • Irregular -re verb
  • Past participle: paru
  • Present participle: paraissant

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

  1. je I seem
  2. tu you seem
  3. il, elle, on he/she seems
  4. nous we seem
  5. vous you seem
  6. ils, elles they seem

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

  1. je I seemed
  2. tu you seemed
  3. il, elle, on he/she seemed
  4. nous we seemed
  5. vous you seemed
  6. ils, elles they seemed

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. je I used to seem
  2. tu you used to seem
  3. il, elle, on he/she used to seem
  4. nous we used to seem
  5. vous you used to seem
  6. ils, elles they used to seem

Future

Futur simple · plans; in speech, “je vais parler” is just as common

  1. je I will seem
  2. tu you will seem
  3. il, elle, on he/she will seem
  4. nous we will seem
  5. vous you will seem
  6. ils, elles they will seem

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

  1. je I would seem
  2. tu you would seem
  3. il, elle, on he/she would seem
  4. nous we would seem
  5. vous you would seem
  6. ils, elles they would seem

Present subjunctive

Subjonctif présent · wishes, doubts, “il faut que …”

  1. je (that) I seem
  2. tu (that) you seem
  3. il, elle, on (that) he/she seem
  4. nous (that) we seem
  5. vous (that) you seem
  6. ils, elles (that) they seem

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

  1. tu seem!
  2. nous seem! (let’s)
  3. vous seem! (plural, or formal)

How to use paraître

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Il paraît que ce restaurant est excellent.

    Apparently this restaurant is excellent.

  2. Past

    Son livre a paru au printemps dernier.

    Her book came out last spring.

  3. Imperfect

    Elle paraissait inquiète au téléphone hier.

    She seemed worried on the phone yesterday.

  4. Future

    L'article paraîtra dans le journal de samedi.

    The article will appear in Saturday's paper.

  5. Conditional

    Il paraîtrait que le patron va vendre.

    Word is the owner is going to sell.

  6. Present subjunctive

    Bien que ça paraisse bizarre, c'est la bonne route.

    Even though it seems odd, this is the right road.

  7. Imperative

    Paraissez détendus sur la photo, souriez !

    Look relaxed in the photo, smile!

Good to know

  • Il paraît que is apparently, I've heard that : il paraît qu'il va neiger.
  • Paraître is also to come out, for a book or an article.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: irregular -re verb.