semble

Semble is a French verb meaning to seem or to appear. It is used to express perception, impression, or appearance, and is common in both spoken and written French. The verb often functions in impersonal constructions such as “il semble” to introduce a proposition or impression.

Conjugation and forms: Semble is a regular -er verb in its endings, but it has distinct present-tense forms: je semble, tu sembles, il semble, nous semblons, vous semblez, ils semblent. Its past participle is semblé, and the present participle is semblant. The passé simple (literary past) forms are semblai, semblas, sembla, semblâmes, semblâtes, semblèrent. The infinitive is sembler. Semblant and semblant de + infinitive form the present participle and the “pretending to” construction, respectively (for example, “Il partit, semblant de ne pas entendre”).

Usage notes: Semble expresses a perception that may not be certain. It is commonly used with il semble que followed by either the subjunctive or, more often in contemporary usage, the indicative, depending on formality and certainty (for example, “Il semble que vous ayez raison” versus the less formal “Il semble que vous avez raison”). The clause “Cela semble être la bonne solution” uses the infinitive after the verb. Semblant de + infinitive indicates feigning action, as in “Il partit, semblant de ne pas entendre.”

Relation to other verbs: Semble is closely related to paraître, another verb meaning to seem or appear, with subtle distinctions in usage. Semble tends to emphasize perception or impression, while paraître can imply outward appearance or seeming to be a certain way.

See also: paraître, semblerêtre.