The French verb "sembler" means "to seem" in English. It is a regular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "sembler" across all 5 tenses. New to French verbs? Start with the French verb guide.
Jump to a tense
How to Conjugate "sembler" in the Present Tense
Présent de l'indicatif Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | semble |
| tu | you (informal) | sembles |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | semble |
| nous | we | semblons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | semblez |
| ils/elles | they | semblent |
Il semble prêt pour l'examen.
He seems ready for the exam.
How to Conjugate "sembler" in the Past (completed) Tense
Passé composé Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | ai semblé |
| tu | you (informal) | as semblé |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | a semblé |
| nous | we | avons semblé |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | avez semblé |
| ils/elles | they | ont semblé |
Il a semblé surpris.
He seemed surprised.
Want to actually remember these?
VerbPal drills "sembler" in real French sentences using spaced repetition.
Try VerbPal FreeHow to Conjugate "sembler" in the Past (ongoing) Tense
Imparfait Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | semblais |
| tu | you (informal) | semblais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | semblait |
| nous | we | semblions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | sembliez |
| ils/elles | they | semblaient |
Il semblait très calme ce matin.
He seemed very calm this morning.
How to Conjugate "sembler" in the Future Tense
Futur simple Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | semblerai |
| tu | you (informal) | sembleras |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | semblera |
| nous | we | semblerons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | semblerez |
| ils/elles | they | sembleront |
Il semblera fatigué après le travail.
He will seem tired after work.
How to Conjugate "sembler" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Conditionnel présent Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | semblerais |
| tu | you (informal) | semblerais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | semblerait |
| nous | we | semblerions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | sembleriez |
| ils/elles | they | sembleraient |
Il semblerait être prêt.
He would seem to be ready.
Frequently Asked Questions About "sembler"
Is "sembler" regular or irregular in French?
"Sembler" is a regular French verb that follows standard conjugation patterns for its verb group.
What does "sembler" mean in English?
The French verb "sembler" means "to seem" in English.
How do you conjugate "sembler" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Présent de l'indicatif): je → semble, tu → sembles, il/elle/on → semble, nous → semblons, vous → semblez, ils/elles → semblent.
How many tenses does "sembler" have in French?
"Sembler" is conjugated across 5 tenses in French: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
Master French verbs for real
Stop memorizing tables. Start speaking with confidence.
Try VerbPal Free3-day free trial. Cancel anytime.