Sembler (seem)
Informations
Usage Frequency: high
Regularity: regular (1st group group)
Auxiliary: avoir
Past Participle: semblé
Synonyms: paraĂźtre, apparaĂźtre, avoir l'air, ressembler, passer pour, faire mine
Antonyms: dissimuler, cacher, masquer
Language levels: The verb 'sembler' is used at all levels of language, from informal to formal.
Connotations use: The verb 'sembler' generally has neutral connotations, but can sometimes imply uncertainty or doubt.
Contextual use:
Oral
:
high
Formal
:
high
Written
:
high
Informal
:
medium
Culture and Usage
The verb 'sembler' is often used in expressions and proverbs, such as 'il semble que' (it seems that).
Specific Grammatical Constructions
The verb 'sembler' is often used with the subjunctive mood in French, especially in expressions of doubt or uncertainty.
Phonetic Difficulties
The final 'r' in 'sembler' is not pronounced, which can be confusing for English speakers.
False Friends
The verb 'sembler' does not mean 'to assemble' in English, a common mistake made by English speakers learning French.
Pronunciation
The pronunciation of 'sembler' is /sÉÌble/.
Common Difficulties
The verb 'sembler' is often confused with the verb 'paraĂźtre'. Both verbs can mean 'to seem' or 'to appear', but 'sembler' is generally used when the speaker is less certain.
Common Errors
One common error is to use 'sembler' when 'paraĂźtre' would be more appropriate, and vice versa.
Associated Slangs:
Avoir l'air ( To seem )
Usage Frequency: high
Context: Used in informal conversation to express something appears to be a certain way.
- Examples FR: Il a l'air d'ĂȘtre fatiguĂ©. Cette idĂ©e a l'air intĂ©ressante.
- Examples EN: He seems to be tired. This idea seems interesting.
Paraitre ( To appear )
Usage Frequency: medium
Context: Used in casual conversation to describe how something appears or seems.
- Examples FR: Il parait content. Elle parait confuse.
- Examples EN: He appears happy. She appears confused.
Ressembler ( To look like )
Usage Frequency: high
Context: Informally used to describe something looks like or seems like something else.
- Examples FR: Il ressemble Ă un acteur que je connais. Cette maison ressemble Ă un chĂąteau.
- Examples EN: He looks like an actor I know. This house looks like a castle.
On dirait ( It looks like )
Usage Frequency: medium
Context: Used in casual conversation to express something looks or seems a certain way.
- Examples FR: On dirait qu'il va pleuvoir. On dirait qu'elle est triste.
- Examples EN: It looks like it's going to rain. It looks like she is sad.
Proverbes
Il semble que la perfection soit atteinte non quand il n'y a plus rien Ă ajouter, mais quand il n'y a plus rien Ă retrancher.
It seems that perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
Tout ce qui brille n'est pas or, tout ce qui semble utile n'est pas nécessaire.
All that glitters is not gold, all that seems useful is not necessary.
Il semble difficile jusqu'Ă ce que vous le fassiez.
It seems difficult until you do it.
Il ne semble pas y avoir de fin à la route, mais avec persévérance, la destination est atteinte.
There seems to be no end to the road, but with perseverance, the destination is reached.
Tout ce qui semble trop beau pour ĂȘtre vrai, l'est probablement.
Anything that seems too good to be true, probably is.
Ne jugez pas chaque jour par la récolte que vous faites, mais par les graines que vous plantez. Il peut sembler que vous ne faites pas de progrÚs, mais chaque graine plantée est un pas en avant.
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant. It may seem like you're not making progress, but every seed planted is a step forward.
Citations
"Il semble que la perfection soit atteinte non quand il n'y a plus rien Ă ajouter, mais quand il n'y a plus rien Ă retrancher."
"Il semble que l'espoir est le pire des maux, car il prolonge la souffrance de l'homme."
"Il semble toujours impossible jusqu'Ă ce qu'on le fasse."
"Il semble que l'art est une forme de souffrance, une façon de supporter la vie."
"Il semble que la nature ait caché dans le plus profond de l'homme des talents et des capacités qui ne sont révélés que par les passions."
"Il semble que le bien et le mal soient liés à une chaßne inextricable. Dans ce cas, le bien est le malheur évité."
Indicatif présent
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Sentence Normal | Sentence Negative | Sentence Interrogative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | je semble (I seem) |
Il semble que je sois en avance (It seems that I am early) |
Il ne semble pas que je sois Ă l'heure (It doesn't seem that I am on time) |
Est-ce que je semble triste ? (Do I seem sad?) |
| Tu | tu sembles (you seem) |
Tu sembles heureux aujourd'hui (You seem happy today) |
Tu ne sembles pas comprendre (You don't seem to understand) |
Semble-t-il que tu sois malade ? (Do you seem to be sick?) |
| Il | il semble (he seems) |
Il semble fatigué (He seems tired) |
Il ne semble pas préoccupé (He doesn't seem worried) |
Semble-t-il qu'il soit perdu ? (Does he seem to be lost?) |
| Elle | elle semble (she seems) |
Elle semble ĂȘtre en forme (She seems to be in shape) |
Elle ne semble pas intéressée (She doesn't seem interested) |
Semble-t-elle ĂȘtre en colĂšre ? (Does she seem to be angry?) |
| Nous | nous semblons (we seem) |
Nous semblons déterminés à réussir (We seem determined to succeed) |
Nous ne semblons pas d'accord (We don't seem to agree) |
Semble-t-il que nous soyons prĂȘts ? (Do we seem to be ready?) |
| Vous | vous semblez (you seem) |
Vous semblez effrayé par la situation (You seem frightened by the situation) |
Vous ne semblez pas concentré (You don't seem focused) |
Semble-t-il que vous soyez en retard ? (Do you seem to be late?) |
| Ils | ils semblent (they seem) |
Ils semblent motivés par le projet (They seem motivated by the project) |
Ils ne semblent pas disposés à coopérer (They don't seem willing to cooperate) |
Semble-t-il qu'ils soient ennuyés ? (Do they seem to be bored?) |
| Elles | elles semblent (they seem) |
Elles semblent excitées par l'idée (They seem excited by the idea) |
Elles ne semblent pas satisfaites (They don't seem satisfied) |
Semble-t-il qu'elles soient débordées ? (Do they seem to be overwhelmed?) |
Indicatif imparfait
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Sentence Normal | Sentence Negative | Sentence Interrogative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | je semblais (I seemed) |
Il semble que je sois perdu (It seemed that i was lost) |
Il ne semble pas que j'Ă©tais content (It did not seem like i was happy) |
Semblait-il que je sois en retard ? (Did it seem like i was late?) |
| Tu | tu semblais (you seemed) |
Il semblait que tu avais raison (It seemed that you were right) |
Il ne semblait pas que tu te sois trompé (It didn't seem like you made a mistake) |
Semblait-il que tu aies faim ? (Did it seem like you were hungry?) |
| Il | il semblait (he seemed) |
Il semblait qu'il travaillait dur (It seemed he was working hard) |
Il ne semblait pas qu'il Ă©tait prĂȘt (It did not seem like he was ready) |
Semblait-il qu'il était fatigué ? (Did it seem like he was tired?) |
| Elle | elle semblait (she seemed) |
Il semblait qu'elle Ă©tait heureuse (It seemed she was happy) |
Il ne semblait pas qu'elle comprenait la situation (It did not seem like she understood the situation) |
Semblait-il qu'elle Ă©tait triste ? (Did it seem like she was sad?) |
| Nous | nous semblions (we seemed) |
Il semblait que nous gagnions du terrain (It seemed we were gaining ground) |
Il ne semblait pas que nous arrivions Ă temps (It did not seem like we would arrive on time) |
Semblait-il que nous avions gagné le match ? (Did it seem like we won the match?) |
| Vous | vous sembliez (you seemed) |
Il semblait que vous aviez bien dormi (It seemed that you had slept well) |
Il ne semblait pas que vous alliez ĂȘtre Ă l'heure (It didn't seem like you were going to be on time) |
Semblait-il que vous ayez réussi le test ? (Did it seem like you passed the test?) |
| Ils | ils semblaient (they seemed) |
Il semblait qu'ils Ă©taient satisfaits (It seemed they were satisfied) |
Il ne semblait pas qu'ils Ă©taient d'accord (It did not seem like they agreed) |
Semblait-il qu'ils aient apprécié le repas ? (Did it seem like they enjoyed the meal?) |
| Elles | elles semblaient (they seemed) |
Il semble qu'elles aient aimé le cadeau (It seemed that they liked the gift) |
Il ne semble pas qu'elles aient compris les instructions (It didn't seem like they understood the instructions) |
Semblait-il qu'elles Ă©taient prĂȘtes pour l'examen ? (Did it seem like they were ready for the exam?) |
Futur simple
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Normal | Negative | Interrogative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | je semblerai (I will seem) |
Il semblerait que je vais aller au marché (It would seem that I'm going to the market) |
Il ne semblerait pas que je vais peindre la maison (It doesn't seem that I'm going to paint the house) |
Semble-t-il que je ferai la vaisselle ? (Does it seem like I will do the dishes?) |
| Tu | tu sembleras (you will seem) |
Il semblerait que tu aies un rendez-vous (It would seem that you have an appointment) |
Il ne semblerait pas que tu viendras Ă la fĂȘte (It doesn't seem like you're coming to the party) |
Semble-t-il que tu aimeras le nouveau livre ? (Does it seem like you will like the new book?) |
| Il | il semblera (he will seem) |
Il semblerait qu'il ait l'intention d'Ă©tudier ici (It would seem that he intends to study here) |
Il ne semblerait pas qu'il fera ce travail (It doesn't seem like he's going to do this job) |
Semble-t-il qu'il Ă©crira un article sur le sujet ? (Does it seem like he will write an article on the topic?) |
| Elle | elle semblera (she will seem) |
Il semblerait qu'elle veuille cuisiner ce soir (It would seem that she wants to cook tonight) |
Il ne semblerait pas qu'elle déménagera à Paris (It doesn't seem like she's moving to Paris) |
Semble-t-il qu'elle achĂštera cette robe ? (Does it seem like she will buy this dress?) |
| Nous | nous semblerons (we will seem) |
Il semblerait que nous allons organiser une fĂȘte (It would seem that we are going to organize a party) |
Il ne semblerait pas que nous allons changer nos plans (It doesn't seem that we are going to change our plans) |
Semble-t-il que nous allons gagner le match ? (Does it seem like we will win the match?) |
| Vous | vous semblerez (you will seem) |
Il semblerait que vous vouliez visiter ce musée (It would seem that you want to visit this museum) |
Il ne semblerait pas que vous participerez à la réunion (It doesn't seem that you're going to attend the meeting) |
Semble-t-il que vous irez au concert ? (Does it seem like you will go to the concert?) |
| Ils | ils sembleront (they will seem) |
Il semblerait qu'ils ont planifié un voyage (It would seem that they have planned a trip) |
Il ne semblerait pas qu'ils déménageront dans une nouvelle ville (It doesn't seem that they're moving to a new city) |
Semble-t-il qu'ils vont ouvrir un nouveau restaurant ? (Does it seem like they're going to open a new restaurant?) |
| Elles | elles sembleront (they(sex-female) will seem) |
Il semblerait qu'elles veulent rejoindre le club (It would seem that they want to join the club) |
Il ne semblerait pas qu'elles vont partir en vacances (It doesn't seem like they're going on holiday) |
Semble-t-il qu'elles vont chanter à la compétition ? (Does it seem like they will sing in the competition?) |
Passé composé
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Normal | Negative | Interrogative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | j'ai semblé (I seemed) |
Il m'a semblé entendre un bruit (I seemed to hear a noise) |
Je n'ai pas semblé comprendre les instructions (I did not seem to understand the instructions) |
Ai-je semblé confus lors de ma présentation ? (Did I seem confused during my presentation?) |
| Tu | tu as semblé (you seemed) |
Tu as semblé aimer le film (You seemed to like the movie) |
Tu n'as pas semblé apprécier le repas (You did not seem to appreciate the meal) |
As-tu semblé intéressé par la leçon ? (Did you seem interested in the lesson?) |
| Il | il a semblé (he seemed) |
Il a semblé surpris par la nouvelle (He seemed surprised by the news) |
Il n'a pas semblé comprendre notre point de vue (He did not seem to understand our point of view) |
A-t-il semblé déçu par les résultats ? (Did he seem disappointed by the results?) |
| Elle | elle a semblé (she seemed) |
Elle a semblé satisfaite de son cadeau (She seemed satisfied with her gift) |
Elle n'a pas semblé convaincue par l'argument (She did not seem convinced by the argument) |
A-t-elle semblĂ© heureuse pendant la fĂȘte ? (Did she seem happy during the party?) |
| Nous | nous avons semblé (we seemed) |
Nous avons semblé confiants lors de l'entretien (We seemed confident during the interview) |
Nous n'avons pas semblé préoccupés par la situation (We did not seem bothered by the situation) |
Avons-nous semblé contrariés par la décision ? (Did we seem upset by the decision?) |
| Vous | vous avez semblé (you seemed) |
Vous avez semblé épuisé aprÚs l'entraßnement (You seemed exhausted after training) |
Vous n'avez pas semblé surpris par l'annonce (You did not seem surprised by the announcement) |
Avez-vous semblé offensé par le commentaire ? (Did you seem offended by the comment?) |
| Ils | ils ont semblé (they seemed) |
Ils ont semblé satisfaits de leur performance (They seemed satisfied with their performance) |
Ils n'ont pas semblé concernés par les conséquences (They did not seem concerned about the consequences) |
Ont-ils semblé intéressés par le sujet ? (Did they seem interested in the topic?) |
| Elles | elles ont semblé (they seemed) |
Elles ont semblé ravies de la surprise (They seemed delighted by the surprise) |
Elles n'ont pas semblé impressionnées par la démonstration (They did not seem impressed by the demonstration) |
Ont-elles semblé dérangées par le bruit ? (Did they seem bothered by the noise?) |
Conditionnel présent
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Normal | Negative | Interrogative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | je semblerais (I would seem) |
Je semblerais ĂȘtre en forme si je faisais du sport rĂ©guliĂšrement (I would seem to be fit if I exercised regularly) |
Je ne semblerais pas heureux si je travaillais tout le temps (I wouldn't seem happy if I worked all the time) |
Semblerais-je plus détendu si je prenais des vacances ? (Would I seem more relaxed if I took a vacation ?) |
| Tu | tu semblerais (you would seem) |
Tu semblerais plus confiant si tu participais à des débats publics (You would seem more confident if you took part in public debates) |
Tu ne semblerais pas timide si tu parlais plus souvent (You wouldn't seem shy if you spoke more often) |
Semblerais-tu plus gentil si tu aidais les autres ? (Would you seem nicer if you helped others ?) |
| Il | il semblerait (he would seem) |
Il semblerait plus intelligent s'il lisait plus de livres (He would seem smarter if he read more books) |
Il ne semblerait pas faible s'il prenait soin de sa santé (He wouldn't seem weak if he took care of his health) |
Semblarait-il plus fort s'il faisait de la musculation ? (Would he seem stronger if he did weight training ?) |
| Elle | elle semblerait (she would seem) |
Elle semblerait plus heureuse si elle voyait ses amis plus souvent (She would seem happier if she saw her friends more often) |
Elle ne semblerait pas triste si elle prenait du temps pour elle (She wouldn't seem sad if she took time for herself) |
Semblarait-elle plus calme si elle faisait du yoga ? (Would she seem calmer if she practiced yoga ?) |
| Nous | nous semblerions (we would seem) |
Nous semblerions plus efficaces si nous travaillions ensemble (We would seem more efficient if we worked together) |
Nous ne semblerions pas désordonnés si nous rangions notre maison (We wouldn't seem messy if we cleaned up our house) |
Semblarions-nous plus inspirés si nous allions à une exposition d'art ? (Would we seem more inspired if we went to an art exhibition ?) |
| Vous | vous sembleriez (you would seem) |
Vous sembleriez plus détendus si vous preniez une pause (You would seem more relaxed if you took a break) |
Vous ne sembleriez pas stressés si vous méditiez tous les jours (You wouldn't seem stressed if you meditated every day) |
Semblarerez-vous plus organisés si vous utilisiez une application de planification ? (Would you seem more organized if you used a planning application ?) |
| Ils | ils sembleraient (they would seem) |
Ils sembleraient plus unis s'ils coopéraient plus souvent (They would seem more united if they cooperated more often) |
Ils ne sembleraient pas paresseux s'ils Ă©taient plus actifs (They wouldn't seem lazy if they were more active) |
Semblareraient-ils plus ambitieux s'ils lançaient leur propre entreprise ? (Would they seem more ambitious if they launched their own business ?) |
| Elles | elles sembleraient (they would seem) |
Elles sembleraient plus créatives si elles suivaient un cours de peinture (They would seem more creative if they took a painting class) |
Elles ne sembleraient pas distantes si elles communiquaient plus (They wouldn't seem distant if they communicated more) |
Semblareraient-elles plus déterminées si elles participaient à une compétition sportive ? (Would they seem more determined if they participated in a sport competition ?) |
Impératif présent
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Normal | Negative | Interrogative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tu | semble (seem) |
Semble heureux (Seem happy) |
Ne semble pas triste (Do not seem sad) |
none (none) |
| Nous | semblons (let's seem) |
Semblons joyeux (Let's seem joyful) |
Ne semblons pas déprimés (Let's not seem depressed) |
none (none) |
| Vous | semblez (seem) |
Semblez intéressé (Seem interested) |
Ne semblez pas désintéressé (Do not seem uninterested) |
none (none) |