Breakdown of Se prohíbe estacionar en esta zona.
en
in / on / at
esta
this (feminine)
se
(impersonal) one / passive marker
prohibir
to prohibit
estacionar
to park
la zona
the zone / the area
Questions & Answers about Se prohíbe estacionar en esta zona.
Why do we use se before prohíbe here?
This is the impersonal se. It is used on signs or to state general rules where it doesn't matter exactly who is enforcing the rule. It translates perfectly to the English passive voice, like 'is prohibited' or 'is not allowed' where a general statement is being made to the public.
Why is the verb prohíbe in the singular form?
In impersonal sentences, the main verb matches whatever comes after it. When the impersonal se construction is followed by an infinitive verb (an unconjugated action word like estacionar), the main verb is always conjugated in the singular he/she/it form.
Why is there an accent mark on the í in prohíbe?
The letter h is completely silent in Spanish, which puts the vowels o and i right next to each other in speech. The accent mark on the í breaks them into two separate syllables, so you pronounce it pro-EE-be. Without the accent, those two vowels would blend together into a single syllable.
Are there other common words for parking in Latin America besides estacionar?
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