Apuntes: Impersonal se and passive se

Apuntes: Impersonal se and passive se
The impersonal se...
● Can be the subject of the 3rd person singular form (él/ella/usted) of a verb
without an object.
● It can mean they, one, or you.
● Examples:
Se vive bien en este pueblo.
They (people) live well in this town.
Se trabaja mucho en este país.
One works a lot in this country.
The pronoun se can also be...
● Used to say that something is done, without saying who does it.
● The verb agrees in number with the noun receiving the action. This use is
called passive se.
● Examples:
→¿Se vende pan en la tienda de comestibles?
(vende agrees with the noun pan--singular)
Is bread sold at the grocery store?
→ ¿Dónde se pueden comprar unos mapas?
(pueden agrees with the noun mapas--plural)
Where can you (one) buy some maps?
→ Se habla español aquí.
Spanish is spoken here.
The passive se is often...
● used to say what is or is not allowed.
● examples:
Se prohíbe fumar.
No se permite nadar.
No se permite correr en la clase.
¡Escribe al español!
1. English is spoken here.
2.
Speaking Spanish is allowed.
3.
Yelling is prohibited.
¡Las respuestas!
1. Se habla inglés aquí.
2.
Se permite hablar español.
3.
Se prohíbe gritar.