Breakdown of Un buen minero sabe que uno puede asfixiarse aquí.
un
a, an (masculine)
aquí
here
poder
to be able to / can
saber
to know (facts) / to hear from (someone)
que
that / than
bueno
good
uno
one (impersonal, people in general)
el minero
miner
asfixiarse
to suffocate
Questions & Answers about Un buen minero sabe que uno puede asfixiarse aquí.
Why use uno here instead of the impersonal se?
While impersonal se is very common for general statements, it clashes with reflexive verbs like asfixiarse. You cannot say se se puede asfixiar. Using uno is the standard way to express an impersonal idea when the verb is already reflexive.
If the speaker is female, could she use una instead of uno?
Can I move the reflexive pronoun se before the verb, as in uno se puede asfixiar?
Absolutely. With verb phrases made of a conjugated verb and an infinitive, the pronoun se can either attach to the end of the infinitive or go before the conjugated verb. Both uno puede asfixiarse and uno se puede asfixiar are completely natural and mean the exact same thing.
Why does sabe que use the indicative puede instead of the subjunctive pueda?
Affirmative statements with saber declare a fact or certainty rather than expressing doubt, emotion, or influence. Because the miner is stating a known reality, the indicative mood puede is required.
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