“Sembrare” in Italian
The verb sembrare (to seem) is a tricky one in Italian, not because of its meaning, but due to its various grammatical uses.
It is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object: it is often used to express perceptions, opinions, or how something appears, either from a personal perspective or as an external observation.
Il ristorante sembra chiuso.
The restaurant seems closed.
Despite its relative simplicity in meaning, the verb has distinct grammatical rules depending on how it is used, particularly in conjunction with pronouns, infinitive verbs, or clauses that require the subjunctive.
In this article, I will explore two different constructions in which the verb sembrare is used: sembra di and sembra che.
“Sembra di” in Italian
The construction sembra di is followed by an infinitive verb to describe subjective impressions or sensations. It is similar to the English expression “it seems like (I am doing something)” or “it feels like (I am experiencing something)”.
The verb sembrare is always conjugated in the third person singular, because it conveys an impersonal meaning. This means that there is nothing or none that “seems” somehow, but just the situation does.
Sembra di volare.
It feels like flying.
Mi sembra di sognare.
It feels like I’m dreaming.
Sembra di essere in un altro mondo.
It feels like being in another world.
Sembra di vivere in un film.
It feels like living in a movie.
You can use this expression to describe impressions, feelings, or sensory experiences that are based on how things feel to you. It is especially common when describing personal sensations that involve the senses.
“Sembra che” in Italian
While sembra di focuses on personal sensations, sembra che introduces an external observation, where the subject of the sentence is different. In this case, you’re making a statement about what seems to be happening outside of yourself.
This structure is followed by a clause that typically uses the subjunctive mood because it reflects doubt, uncertainty, or subjectivity.
Sembra che stia piovendo.
It seems that it’s raining.
Sembra che abbiano finito il lavoro.
It seems that they’ve finished the work.
Sembrava che lui fosse molto felice.
It seems that he is very happy.
Mi è sembrato che il ristorante fosse chiuso.
It seemed to me that the restaurant was closed.
What all these phrases have in common is that the speaker makes an observation about something based on external cues. This construction is ideal for reporting perceptions or interpreting situations that involve other people or external events.
Of course, as you can see, the verb can be in the present subjunctive, past subjunctive, imperfect subjunctive, or past perfect subjunctive, depending on what verb tense the verb sembrare is conjugated in.
Sembra che tu Abbia Capito
It seems like you understood!
The verb sembrare is an essential tool in Italian to express how things seem or appear, either from a personal perspective or an external observation.
Use sembra di + infinitive for personal impressions and sembra che + subjunctive for external observations. These expressions allow you to describe everything from personal sensations to uncertain situations with precision and depth.
Whether you’re expressing how something feels to you or interpreting an outside event, mastering the use of sembrarewill enhance your fluency in Italian and improve your ability to communicate perceptions effectively.
