Learn to use the impersonal "se" in Spanish for expressing general actions without a specific subject, with verbs like "se sale" (one leaves), "se trabaja" (one works), and "se escucha" (one hears) in singular form.
- The verb is always in the third person singular.
- Use the se impersonal with estar or verbs without a direct object.
- With transitive verbs use "a" + person.
| Fórmula (Formula) | Ejemplo (Example) |
|---|---|
| Se + salir | Se sale al campo al amanecer. (One goes out to the countryside at dawn.) |
| Se + vivir | Se vive tranquilo en la naturaleza. (One lives peacefully in nature.) |
| Se + ver | Se ve al agricultor trabajar. (The farmer is seen working.) |
| Se + escuchar | Se escucha a los animales de la granja. (The animals of the farm are heard.) |
| Se + alimentar | Se alimenta al caballo por la mañana. (The horse is fed in the morning.) |
| Se + criar | Se cría a las ovejas con cuidado. (Sheep are raised with care.) |
| Se + trabajar | Se trabaja mucho en la granja. (There is a lot of work on the farm.) |
Exceptions!
- Impersonal sentences, since 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.
Se escucha, Se vive, Se cuida, se trabaja, Se ve, se cría, Se sale
1.
Vivir:
: ... tranquilo en la granja.
(: Se vive tranquilo en la granja.)
2.
Escuchar:
: ... a las cabras por la noche.
(: Se escucha a las cabras por la noche.)
3.
Trabajar:
En esta granja ... mucho.
(En esta granja se trabaja mucho.)
4.
Trabajar:
: En el campo ... desde temprano.
(: En el campo se trabaja desde temprano.)
5.
Salir:
: ... al campo al amanecer.
(: Se sale al campo al amanecer.)
6.
Criar:
: En esta zona ... al cordero con cuidado.
(: En esta zona se cría al cordero con cuidado.)
7.
Cuidar:
: ... bien al toro en la granja.
(: Se cuida bien al toro en la granja.)
8.
Ver:
: ... naturaleza por todas partes.
(: Se ve naturaleza por todas partes.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence in each group that properly uses the reflexive pronouns "conmigo", "contigo", "consigo" or the pronouns "mí", "ti", "sí" after prepositions, according to the explained rules.
1.
'Con ti' is incorrect; the correct form is 'contigo', which combines 'con' + 'ti'.
After the preposition 'con', the personal pronoun 'tú' is not used, but the tonic pronoun 'ti', which in this case combines as 'contigo'.
2.
'Con ti' is incorrect; 'contigo' must be used, combining 'con' + 'ti'.
After a preposition, 'tú' is not used, but the tonic pronoun 'ti' joined as 'contigo'.
3.
'Con sí' is not used; the correct form is 'consigo' to express reflexivity with 'él/ella'.
Here the reflexive pronoun 'consigo' is needed, not the personal pronoun 'her' after the preposition.
4.
'Con mí' is incorrect; the correct form is 'conmigo'.
Repeating 'conmigo' is redundant and incorrect in this sentence.
