Spanish Linking & Copular Verbs

Parecer, resultar, quedarse, permanecer, seguir. Verbs that connect subjects to descriptions.

Beyond ser and estar: other linking verbs

Spanish has many verbs that work like "to be" — connecting a subject to an adjective or noun. These add nuance that ser/estar can't express.
VerbNuanceExample
parecerto seem / appearParece cansado. (He seems tired.)
resultarto turn out / end up beingResultó difícil. (It turned out difficult.)
quedarseto end up / remain (state)Se quedó sorprendido. (He was/remained surprised.)
permanecerto remain / stay (formal)Permaneció callado. (He remained silent.)
seguirto continue beingSigue enfermo. (He's still sick.)
ponerseto become (emotion)Se puso rojo. (He turned red.)
volverseto become (permanent)Se volvió loco. (He went crazy.)
hacerseto become (through effort)Se hizo famoso. (He became famous.)
encontrarseto feel / find oneselfMe encuentro bien. (I feel fine.)
andarto be going around (state)Anda preocupado. (He's been worried.)

Parecer — seem, appear, look like

Three uses of parecer

Parecer + adjective = to seem: Parece interesante. (It seems interesting.)
Parecer + noun = to look like: Parece un actor. (He looks like an actor.)
Parecerse a = to resemble: Se parece a su madre. (She looks like her mother.)
Me parece que = I think: Me parece que tiene razón. (I think he's right.)

Resultar — turned out to be

Expresses an outcome or discovery

El examen resultó fácil. (The exam turned out easy.)
Resultó ser un error. (It turned out to be a mistake.)
Resulta que no sabía nada. (It turns out he knew nothing.)
Me resulta difícil entender. (I find it difficult to understand.)

Seguir / Continuar — still being

Continuation of a state

Sigue lloviendo. (It's still raining.)
Sigue enfadado. (He's still angry.)
Siguen siendo amigos. (They're still friends.)
¿Sigues viviendo allí? (Do you still live there?)

Adjective agreement: same rules as with ser/estar

Ella parece cansada. (feminine) | Ellos parecen contentos. (masculine plural)
Se quedó sorprendida. (feminine) | Permanecieron callados. (masculine plural)

Quick quiz

1. He seems tired = _____ cansado.

2. It turned out easy = _____ fácil.

3. He's still sick = _____ enfermo.

4. She looks like her mother = Se _____ a su madre.

5. He remained silent = _____ callado.

6. I think he's right = Me _____ que tiene razón.

7. He turned red = Se _____ rojo.

8. I feel fine = Me _____ bien.

9. It turns out he knew = _____ que no sabía.

10. He's been worried = _____ preocupado.

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