Impersonal SE vs. Passive SE
Both structures use se to talk about actions without saying who does them. They are used in signs, rules, ads, and general truths. The difference is whether the verb agrees with a noun.
Quick answer
- Impersonal se: no subject, singular verb: Se vive bien aquí.
- Passive se: the thing is the subject: Se venden casas.
- Ask: is there a noun the verb can agree with? Se habla español.
Passive se: the thing is the subject
With a thing that can be done to, the verb agrees with that thing. If it is singular, use the singular verb. If it is plural, use the plural verb.
Examples
- Se vende casa.House for sale.Casa is singular.
- Se venden casas.Houses for sale.Casas is plural.
- Aquí se habla español.Spanish is spoken here.Singular.
- Se hablan tres idiomas en esta oficina.Three languages are spoken in this office.Plural.
Impersonal se: no noun to agree with
When the sentence has no subject noun, the verb is always third person singular. This happens with intransitive verbs and when the object is a person with the personal a.
Examples
- Se vive bien aquí.One lives well here.Intransitive verb, singular.
- Se come muy bien en México.People eat very well in Mexico.No noun.
- Se busca a los ladrones.The thieves are being sought.Personal a keeps it singular.
- No se puede fumar aquí.Smoking is not allowed here.Rule.
A simple test
Ask whether there is a noun right after the verb that could be the subject. If yes, the verb agrees with it: passive se. If not, the verb stays singular: impersonal se.
| Sentence | Type |
|---|---|
| Se venden coches. | Passive: coches is the subject |
| Se trabaja mucho. | Impersonal: no noun |
| Se necesita ayuda. | Passive: ayuda is the subject |
| Se necesitan voluntarios. | Passive: plural |
Signs and notices
Two people read signs around town.
Examples
- ¿Qué dice ese letrero?What does that sign say?Question.
- Dice: se rentan cuartos.It says: rooms for rent.Plural.
- Y este otro dice: no se permite fumar.And this one says: smoking is not permitted.Impersonal.
- Aquí se come bien y se paga poco.You eat well here and pay little.Impersonal.
Spanish around the world
- Both structures are used everywhere. In casual speech some speakers use a singular verb even with plural nouns (Se vende casas), but in writing and exams use agreement: Se venden casas.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Se vende casas.
Correct: Se venden casas.
Casas is plural, so the verb is plural.
Incorrect: Se viven bien aquí.
Correct: Se vive bien aquí.
No noun: use singular.
Incorrect: Se habla dos idiomas.
Correct: Se hablan dos idiomas.
Dos idiomas is plural.
Incorrect: Se necesitan ayuda.
Correct: Se necesita ayuda.
Ayuda is singular.
Remember the test
- A thing after the verb: the verb agrees with it (passive se).
- No noun, or a person with a: use the singular (impersonal se).
- Signs and rules use se all the time.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the passive se?
A structure that uses se with a third person verb that agrees with the thing, like Se venden casas.
What is the impersonal se?
A structure with a singular verb and no subject, like Se vive bien.
Is se the same as the reflexive se?
It looks the same, but the meaning is different. Here no one does the action to themselves.
How is this different from the accidental se?
The accidental se (se me olvidó) adds a pronoun to show who was affected.
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