The Impersonal se
Talking Impersonal in English They, you, one, people… can be used to mean “people in general” Other times it is implied Examples Breadsticks are served with soup Apartments for rent You can’t eat in class / Eating in prohibited in class. The pastas are recommended You can’t eat lunch until 11:30 at this cafe Talking Impersonal in English
Talking Impersonal in Spanish Add se to the front of the verb, but not connected to it. The verb is conjugated in third person singular or plural, based on the subject Examples Se sirve pan con la sopa Se alquilan apartamentos Se prohibe comer en clase Se recomiendan las pastas No se almuerza antes de las 11:30 Talking Impersonal in Spanish
Juan makes the reservations Juan hace las resevaciones Reservations are required here Se requiere reservaciones aqui Beatrice can’t drive in the park Beatrice no puede manejar en el parque Driving in the park is not allowed No se maneja en el parque Practice
Carmen serves the eggs Carmen sirve los huevos Eggs are served here Se sirven huevos I sell houses Vendo casas Houses are sold here (real estate office) Se venden casas More Practice
What do these statements mean? Who is doing the action? Se venden libros Se añade leche No se sirven frutas Se puede disfrutar de los lagos en MN Se encuentran influencias de España y Aleman en America del Sur What Does It Mean