The Impersonal "Se"
To express general facts or public rules without a specific subject—like "one," "people," or "they" in English—use the impersonal se. You will often see this on signs and public notices.
| This sign says that smoking is prohibited. | Este letrero dice que se prohíbe fumar. |
Singular and Plural Agreement
When using the impersonal se, the verb matches the noun that follows it.
Use the singular form of the verb for a singular noun or an action (an infinitive verb):
| Silence is required in the library. | Se requiere silencio en la biblioteca. |
| A large house is for rent in this zone. | En esta zona se alquila una casa grande. |
Use the plural form of the verb if it is followed by a plural noun:
| The sign says that pets are not allowed. | El letrero dice que no se permiten las mascotas. |
| Are the tickets sold in this office? | ¿Se venden los boletos en esta oficina? |
Community Rules
You can combine these forms to state guidelines or describe what is allowed in a given area:
| Smoking and pets are not allowed in this hotel. | En este hotel no se fuma y no se permiten mascotas. |
Your questions are stored by us to improve Elon.io