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The impersonal "se"

Sentences with "se" impersonal take the verb in singular with estar, verbs without a direct object or with people.

Gramática: El "se" impersonal

A2 Spanish Impersonal form

Level: A2

Module 3: Planes para el fin de semana (Weekend plans)

Lesson 19: Visita el campo (Visit the countryside)

Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Audio and video

Audio with translations
Audio with translations

  1. The verb always goes in the third person singular.
  2. Use the se impersonal with estar or verbs without a direct object.
  3. With transitive verbs use "a" + person.
ExplicaciónEjemplo
No hay sujeto, verbo intransitivoSe duerme mal en verano
Con estar, sin sujetoSe está mejor en la montaña
Verbo intransitivo sin sujetoSe dice que lloverá
Verbo transitivo + personaSe entrevistó a un granjero
Plural pero verbo sigue en singularSe entrevistó a los trabajadores
Persona/animal con aSe alimenta al caballo
Verbo transitivo + animalesSe cría a las ovejas

 

Exceptions!

  1. Impersonal sentences, as they have no subject, do not allow the verb to change from singular to plural.

Exercise 1: El "se" impersonal

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Se entrevistó, se ve, se duerme, se dice, Se está, Se alimenta

1.
Decir: En el campo ... que las vacas dan mejor leche.
(They say: In the countryside, they say that cows give better milk.)
2.
Decir: En el campo ... que las vacas dan mejor leche.
(They say: In the countryside, they say that cows give better milk.)
3.
Dormir: En verano ... con la ventana abierta.
(In summer, you sleep with the window open.)
4.
Estar: ... muy tranquilo en esta granja.
(It's very calm on this farm.)
5.
Alimentar: ... al caballo cada mañana.
(Feed: The horse is fed every morning.)
6.
Ver: En la montaña ... una vaca
(On the mountain, one can see a cow)
7.
Entrevistar: ... a los niños para un reportaje escolar.
(The children were interviewed for a school report.)
8.
Alimentar: ... al cerdo por la tarde.
(Feed: The pig is fed in the afternoon.)

Exercise 2: Translate and use in a sentence

Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.

1

Se entrevistó

They interviewed

2

se duerme

one sleeps

3

se ve

one can see

4

Se alimenta

It is fed