Ser vs Parecer

Ser vs Parecer
 

Can someone please explain the difference between Ser and Parecer and how they would be used in sample sentences?

Many thanks in advance.

I'll have a very basic go, no doubt others can give better replies. The two verbs basically have different meanings: to be and to seem to or appear to.

Ser is the most basic verb, expressing identity or nature (as opposed to estar which expresses condition or state)

Ignacio es alto: Ignatio is tall.
Es muy callada: She is very quiet

Parecer can mean to appear to:
Parece mucho mayor de lo que es: She looks much older than she is
Parece muy simpática: She seems very nice.

The whole range of meanings for the two verbs is too big for one forum post.

Does that help? :)

That's a great help and a start on the subject.

If you know of any resources on the web that throw more light on this subject I'd be incredibly appreciative!

Thanks!

I agree with Perikles. I also would like to add the following.

She is very nice

She seems/appears (to be) very nice

thanks chileno.

My second cousin used to joke about people at his village who wanted to buy things that "seemed to be, but were not the actual thing"...

Me gustaría una tela que parezca y no sea... o sea, que dé el pego.

(I'd like a fabric that would seem [to be the real McCoy] but that it is not..., that is, one that fools you.)

Oxford gives
pego m (Esp fam): no es de oro pero da el pego = it could pass for gold, it isn’t gold but it fools most people;
¿qué? ¿doy el pego? =well, how do I look?, well, do I pass inspection?

And as the old maxim goes, "No es oro todo lo que reluce".

Parece "Adidas", pero es sólo una imitación muy buena.

Parece sincero, pero es un hipócrita de dos pares de narices...