sembler
to seem / to appear
Auxiliary: avoir
'sembler' is a regular -er verb, most common in the third person and in the impersonal form 'il semble que'. It is often followed by an adjective or by an infinitive (il semble fatigué; elle semble comprendre).
Tu sembles fatigué aujourd'hui.
You seem tired today.
Indicatif
Présent
Present
Je semble calme, mais je suis très nerveux.
I seem calm, but I'm very nervous.
Tu sembles content de ta nouvelle voiture.
You seem happy with your new car.
Cette histoire semble trop belle pour être vraie.
This story seems too good to be true.
Nous semblons d'accord sur l'essentiel.
We seem to agree on the essentials.
Vous semblez surpris par la nouvelle.
You seem surprised by the news.
Les enfants semblent heureux à l'école.
The children seem happy at school.
Imparfait
Imperfect
Je semblais sûr de moi, mais je doutais.
I seemed sure of myself, but I had doubts.
Tu semblais toujours pressé le matin.
You always seemed in a hurry in the morning.
La maison semblait abandonnée depuis des années.
The house seemed to have been abandoned for years.
Nous semblions perdus dans cette grande ville.
We seemed lost in that big city.
Vous sembliez ne pas comprendre la question.
You seemed not to understand the question.
Les preuves semblaient irréfutables.
The evidence seemed irrefutable.
Passé composé
Present Perfect
J'ai semblé hésiter, mais j'avais déjà décidé.
I seemed to hesitate, but I had already decided.
Tu as semblé déçu par le résultat.
You seemed disappointed by the result.
Elle a semblé soulagée en apprenant la nouvelle.
She seemed relieved on hearing the news.
Nous avons semblé convaincre le jury.
We seemed to have convinced the jury.
Vous avez semblé apprécier le spectacle.
You seemed to enjoy the show.
Ils ont semblé accepter le compromis.
They seemed to accept the compromise.
Plus-que-parfait
Pluperfect
J'avais semblé d'accord, mais j'avais des réserves.
I had seemed to agree, but I had reservations.
Tu avais semblé rassuré après notre discussion.
You had seemed reassured after our talk.
Tout avait semblé simple au départ.
Everything had seemed simple at the start.
Nous avions semblé prêts, mais il manquait tout.
We had seemed ready, but everything was missing.
Vous aviez semblé comprendre mes intentions.
You had seemed to understand my intentions.
Les choses avaient semblé s'arranger d'elles-mêmes.
Things had seemed to sort themselves out.
Futur simple
Future
Je semblerai plus reposé après quelques jours.
I will seem more rested after a few days.
Avec ce costume, tu sembleras plus âgé.
In this suit, you will seem older.
La route semblera longue sans musique.
The journey will seem long without music.
Nous semblerons débordés si nous acceptons tout.
We will seem overwhelmed if we accept everything.
Vous semblerez plus confiants après la répétition.
You will seem more confident after the rehearsal.
Ces problèmes sembleront petits dans un an.
These problems will seem small in a year.
Conditionnel
Conditionnel présent
Present Conditional
Je semblerais ridicule avec un tel chapeau.
I would seem ridiculous with such a hat.
Tu semblerais plus détendu si tu dormais mieux.
You would seem more relaxed if you slept better.
Il semblerait qu'il y ait eu une erreur.
It would seem that there has been a mistake.
Nous semblerions ingrats en refusant.
We would seem ungrateful by refusing.
Vous sembleriez plus crédibles avec des chiffres.
You would seem more credible with figures.
Sans contexte, ces mots sembleraient absurdes.
Without context, these words would seem absurd.
Subjonctif
Subjonctif présent
Present Subjunctive
Je fais tout pour que je semble à l'aise.
I do everything so that I seem at ease.
Il ne faut pas que tu sembles indifférent.
You mustn't seem indifferent.
Je crains qu'elle ne semble trop sévère.
I'm afraid she may seem too strict.
Il vaut mieux que nous semblions unis devant eux.
It's better that we seem united in front of them.
Je doute que vous sembliez sincères après ça.
I doubt you will seem sincere after that.
Il est possible qu'ils semblent distants au début.
It's possible that they seem distant at first.
Impératif
Impératif
Imperative
Semble sûr de toi, même si tu doutes.
Seem confident, even if you have doubts.
Semblons enthousiastes devant les invités.
Let's seem enthusiastic in front of the guests.
Semblez détendus, la caméra tourne.
Seem relaxed, the camera is rolling.
