virðast / sýnast
Seem (Virðast, Sýnast)
Hún virðist vera ánægð. (She seems happy.) Mér sýnist hann vera þreyttur. (It looks to me like he is tired.)
How It Works
Forms. Both are -st verbs:
- virðast: ég virðist, hún virðist, við virðumst, þau virðast; past virtist, virtust; supine virst
- sýnast: mér sýnist, þér sýnist, henni sýnist; past mér sýndist; supine sýnst
virðast. Hún virðist vera ánægð. (She seems happy.) Þau virtust ekki skilja spurninguna. (They didn't seem to understand the question.) An adjective after vera agrees with the subject: ánægður, ánægð, ánægt. You can often leave out vera: Hún virðist ánægð.
sýnast. Mér sýnist hann vera þreyttur. (It looks to me like he is tired.) Mér sýnist þetta vera í lagi. (This looks fine to me.) Mér sýnist gives an impression based on what you see. mér finnst gives your opinion.
No að. Old texts sometimes have virðist að vera, but modern Icelandic uses the infinitive alone: Hún virðist vera ánægð.
In the news. Formal writing often uses svo virðist sem (it seems that) with the subjunctive: Svo virðist sem enginn hafi slasast. (It seems that nobody was hurt.)
Other ways. líta út means look: Hann lítur vel út. (He looks good.) For a firm conclusion, use hljóta að.
Examples (6)
- Hún virðist vera ánægð.
She seems happy.
Word by Word: She seems be happy.
- Mér sýnist hann vera þreyttur.
It looks to me like he's tired.
Word by Word: To-me seems he be tired.
The person who is looking is in the dative: mér.
- Þau virtust ekki skilja spurninguna.
They didn't seem to understand the question.
Word by Word: They seemed not understand the question.
- Mér sýnist þetta vera í lagi.
This looks fine to me.
Word by Word: To-me seems this be in order.
- Hann virðist ekki vita neitt.
He doesn't seem to know anything.
Word by Word: He seems not know anything.
- Svo virðist sem enginn hafi slasast.
It seems that nobody was hurt.
Word by Word: So seems as nobody have been-hurt.
svo virðist sem is common in the news. The verb after it is in the subjunctive.
Common Mistakes
Leaving off the -st.
Hún virðir vera ánægð.Hún virðist vera ánægð.virða without -st means respect. For seem, always use virðast: hún virðist.
Putting the person who is looking in the nominative.
Ég sýnist hann vera þreyttur.Mér sýnist hann vera þreyttur.With sýnast, the person who is looking is in the dative: mér, þér, honum.
Not making the adjective agree with the subject.
Þau virðast vera þreyttur.Þau virðast vera þreytt.The adjective agrees with the subject. þau is neuter plural, so use þreytt.
How It Connects
Learn This First
virðast builds on -st verbs and oblique subjects.
Related Patterns
- mér finnstOpinions (Mér Finnst)
mér finnst gives an opinion; mér sýnist gives an impression from what you see.
Level 1 - hljóta aðMust Be (Hljóta Að)
For a firm conclusion rather than an impression.
Level 4 - kannski / líklegaMaybe and Probably
Adverbs for how sure you are.
Level 4 - er talinn veraSaid or Thought to Be (Er Talinn Vera)
Another way to say what someone is thought to be.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice virðast / sýnast in Bubblegum
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