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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to use the pronoun "se" in Spanish to express impersonal actions, general rules, and passive constructions. Practice with key expressions like "Se reciclan" (They recycle), "Se debe" (One must), and "Se recomienda" (It is recommended).
  1. 'Se' + verb in infinitive → giving instructions.
  2. 'Se' + verb in third person → to indicate generalisations.
  3. In reflexives, se removes the specific subject.
Ejemplo (Example)Uso (Use)
Se reciclan los envases. (Containers are recycled.)Pasiva refleja. (Reflexive passive)
Se debe reducir el uso de plástico. (The use of plastic should be reduced.)Norma general. (General rule.)
Se recomienda apagar las luces. (It is recommended to turn off the lights.)Consejo (Advice).
Se venden productos ecológicos. (Ecological products are sold.)Uso impersonal. (Impersonal use.)
Se lavan las manos antes de comer. (Hands are washed before eating.)Reflexivo impersonal. (Impersonal reflexive)

Exceptions!

  1. In the reflexive passive, the verb agrees with the object.

Exercise 1: El pronombre impersonal "se"

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Se compran, Se recicla, Se apaga, Se vive, Se compra, Se, Se ahorran, Se pueden

1.
... reducen los residuos en esta empresa.
(Waste is reduced in this company.)
2.
... recursos naturales cuando se recicla correctamente.
(Natural resources are saved when recycling is done correctly.)
3.
... la luz cuando no se necesita para ahorrar energía.
(The light is turned off when it is not needed to save energy.)
4.
... en casas más ecológicas para ahorrar energía.
(People live in more ecological houses to save energy.)
5.
... hacer pequeños cambios para ser más ecológico.
(Small changes can be made to be more environmentally friendly.)
6.
... mucha ropa de segunda mano.
(A lot of second-hand clothes are bought.)
7.
... productos ecológicos en la tienda.
(Ecological products are bought in the shop.)
8.
... el papel en la escuela para ayudar al planeta.
(Paper is recycled at school to help the planet.)

The Impersonal Pronoun "se" in Spanish

This lesson covers the use of the pronoun "se" in Spanish, focusing on its grammatical functions in impersonal and passive constructions, as well as in reflexive and general instruction contexts. This is essential for communicating actions where the subject is unspecified or general, corresponding to A2 level grammar complexity.

Key Uses of "se"

  • Passive Voice (Pasiva refleja): "se" is used to express actions where the receiver is emphasized rather than the doer. For example, Se reciclan los envases. translates as "Containers are recycled," with the verb agreeing with the plural subject (los envases).
  • General Norms and Rules: "se" plus a third person verb form expresses commonly accepted norms or general truths. Example: Se debe reducir el uso de plástico. means "Plastic use should be reduced."
  • Advice or Recommendations: It is used to give suggestions impersonally, e.g., Se recomienda apagar las luces. ("It is recommended to turn off the lights.")
  • Impersonal Use: Actions done by people in general without specifying who. For instance, Se venden productos ecológicos. translates as "Ecological products are sold."
  • Impersonal Reflexive: When "se" is used reflexively to omit the subject, as in Se lavan las manos antes de comer. meaning "One washes their hands before eating."

Grammar Highlights

  • "Se" + infinitive verb: Used to give instructions or commands impersonally.
  • "Se" + third person verb: Indicates general statements or rules.
  • Concordance: In passive constructions, the verb agrees in number with the subject receiving the action.
  • Reflexive Impersonal: "se" removes the need to specify a subject, making the sentence more general.

Differences Between English and Spanish

Unlike English, which often uses the passive voice with "by" phrases or impersonal expressions like "one," Spanish frequently uses "se" to form impersonal sentences. For example, English might say "The containers are recycled," but Spanish uses Se reciclan los envases. without specifying an agent. English does not have an exact equivalent pronoun; instead, it relies on passive forms or generic subjects such as "people," "you," or "one."

Useful Spanish phrases including "se":

  • Se llama – It is called / He/She calls himself/herself
  • Se puede – It can be / One can
  • Se necesita – It is needed / One needs

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