Do either of these seem awkward?

Question

I was watching a TV show, and one of the characters was watching for trespassers. Upon seeing some, he said to his boss "They seem to have entered the building."

I first thought that in Spanish, it would be

"Parece que han entrado el edificio" but I then realized that that would be more along the lines of "It seems that they have entered."

Would it make more sense for me to say

"Parecen haber entrado el edificio" ?

Thanks

"Does either ..." would be better. - samdie, Sep 7, 2011

Answer 1

I think that both mean the same, actually you get the same feeling when you spell out both of these sentences, but you must add :en el edificio: in both cases.

Yup. Same, same. - samdie, Sep 7, 2011

Answer 2

Yo diría:

Parece que han entrado en el edificio.

claro, wow, another 10k candidate, enhorabuena:) - 00494d19, Sep 7, 2011

Muchas gracias, Heidita. Saludos. - LuisCache, Sep 8, 2011

Answer 3

I agree with Luis.

What you are saying is that you no longer see them, so it appears (you surmise) as if they entered the building.

To use some silly hyperbolie....let's assume the building is full of dust in the air. When you see the two people covered in dust, then you would say... they appear to have entered by building...judging from their change in their appearance; not the fact that you can no longer see them.