Impersonal se: se habla español
B1Grammar path · Lesson 59 of 86 · Stage B1 · Complex sentences
Use impersonal se when you want to say what people in general do, what is allowed, or how something is done, without a specific subject, like English 'people', 'you' or 'one'. The pattern is simple: se + verb in the third-person singular, and the verb never changes: se vive bien aquí, no se puede fumar. If a person is the object, add a: se ayuda a los estudiantes. It is often confused with passive se: when a plural noun follows and the verb turns plural (se venden casas), that is the passive; impersonal se always stays singular.
Practise this lesson · 10 sentences
Form
se + verbo (3.ª persona singular)no + se + verbo (3.ª persona singular)¿(Cómo/Dónde/Cuándo) + se + verbo (3.ª persona singular)...?se + verbo (3.ª persona singular) + a + personaWhen to use it
General habits and ways of life
Use it to describe what people usually do somewhere, without saying who exactly.
Rules, permissions and prohibitions
Very common on signs and when talking about rules, especially with se puede and no se puede.
Reporting what people say or believe
Use se dice que or se cree que to pass on news or rumors without naming a source.
Don't confuse it with
Frequently asked questions
Why is the verb after impersonal se always singular?
Because there is no specific subject for the verb to agree with. So it always takes the third-person singular: se vive, se trabaja, se puede.
What is the difference between se habla español and se venden casas?
In se venden casas the plural verb agrees with casas, so it is passive se. Impersonal se usually goes with verbs without an object or with a + person, and the verb always stays singular.
Can I use impersonal se with a reflexive verb like levantarse?
No, because you cannot have two se in a row. Use uno instead: Uno se levanta temprano en el campo.
How do I say 'people say that' in Spanish?
Use se dice que + a clause: Se dice que el hotel es muy caro.
How is impersonal se built when the object is a person?
Use se + singular verb + a + person, even if the people are plural: Se busca a los responsables.