- Master impersonal se structure - Use se + verb (always singular) for general statements
- Understand intransitive verbs - Know which verbs work with impersonal se vs passive se
- Make general statements - Express actions without specifying who does them
- Use common patterns - Learn se + verb + adverb patterns (se vive bien, se trabaja mucho)
- Distinguish from passive se - Know when verb stays singular vs when it agrees in number
- Apply in real contexts - Use impersonal se for rules, signs, advice, and cultural statements
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SpecialUpper intermediate
Impersonal Se: General Statements (People Say, One Does)
Express general statements and passive meaning with se
What You'll Learn
Overview
Impersonal se (se impersonal) allows you to make general statements about actions without specifying who performs them. It's like saying "one does," "people do," or "you (in general) do" in English, but much more common and natural in Spanish.
The Core Concept
Se trabaja mucho aquí (People work hard here / One works hard here / You work hard here)
Se vive bien en España (People live well in Spain / One lives well in Spain)
Formula: se + verb (3rd person singular) - always singular, no matter what!
Important: Impersonal Se vs Passive Se
Impersonal se: Always singular - for general actions, often with intransitive verbs
Se trabaja mucho (People work hard) - "trabaja" stays singular
Passive se: Agrees with noun - for passive meaning with transitive verbs
Se vende casa / Se venden casas (House for sale / Houses for sale) - verb agrees
See our Passive Voice page for more on passive se.
You'll learn to use impersonal se naturally for giving advice, making observations about culture, expressing rules, and talking about how things are done in general.
Structure & Formation
How Impersonal Se Works
1. The Basic Formula
SE + VERB (3rd person singular ALWAYS)
The verb never changes to plural, even if there's a plural noun nearby!
Se trabaja mucho en esta empresa
People work hard at this company
"trabaja" is singular - stays singular always
Se come bien en Italia
People eat well in Italy / One eats well in Italy
"come" is singular - talking about eating in general
Se vive más tranquilo en el campo
One lives more peacefully in the countryside
"vive" is singular - general statement about living
2. Common with Intransitive Verbs
Impersonal se is especially common with intransitive verbs - verbs that don't take a direct object.
| Verb Type | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| trabajar (to work) | Se trabaja duro aquí | People work hard here |
| vivir (to live) | Se vive mejor aquí | One lives better here |
| dormir (to sleep) | Se duerme bien aquí | One sleeps well here |
| llegar (to arrive) | Se llega temprano | One arrives early |
3. Common Patterns
Impersonal se often appears with these structures:
Pattern 1: Se + Verb + Bien/Mal
Se come bien aquí - People eat well here
Se duerme mal en los aviones - One sleeps badly on planes
Se vive bien en Suiza - People live well in Switzerland
Pattern 2: Se + Poder/Deber + Infinitive
Se puede fumar aquí - One can smoke here / Smoking allowed
No se debe correr - One shouldn't run / Running not allowed
Se tiene que trabajar duro - One has to work hard
Pattern 3: Se + Verb + Adverb/Adjective
Se trabaja mucho - People work a lot
Se aprende rápido - One learns quickly
Se está tranquilo aquí - It's peaceful here / One is peaceful here
4. When to Use Impersonal Se
Use for general statements:
Cultural observations: En España se cena tarde
General advice: Se debe estudiar todos los días
How things are done: Se cocina con aceite de oliva
Rules and signs: No se puede fumar
Don't use when agent is specific:
If you know who does the action, use active voice instead:
Se trabaja en la oficina (when referring to yourself)
Trabajo en la oficina (I work in the office)
Se trabaja en la oficina (when referring to yourself)
Trabajo en la oficina (I work in the office)
Examples
Signs & Rules
Prohibition
No se puede fumar
No smoking / One cannot smoke
Prohibition
Se prohíbe el paso
No entry / Passage prohibited
Request
Se ruega silencio
Silence requested / Please be quiet
Advertisement
Se alquila piso
Flat for rent
Cultural Observations
Spain
En España se cena muy tarde
In Spain people have dinner very late
Mexico
En México se come mucho picante
In Mexico people eat a lot of spicy food
General
Aquí se vive tranquilo
Here one lives peacefully
Work
En esta ciudad se trabaja demasiado
In this city people work too much
Advice & Recommendations
Obligation
Se debe estudiar todos los días
One should study every day
Suggestion
Se recomienda llegar temprano
It's recommended to arrive early
Prohibition
No se puede correr aquí
You can't run here
Advice
Se aprende más practicando
One learns more by practising
Impersonal Se vs Passive Se
Impersonal
Se trabaja mucho aquí
People work hard here
Intransitive verb - always singular
Passive (singular)
Se vende casa
House for sale
Transitive verb - agrees with singular noun
Passive (plural)
Se venden casas
Houses for sale
Transitive verb - agrees with plural noun
See the passive se section for more details.
Common Mistakes
Most Common Impersonal Se Mistakes
Wrong: Se trabajan mucho aquí
Correct: Se trabaja mucho aquí
Impersonal se ALWAYS uses singular verb - never plural with intransitive verbs
Wrong: Se viven bien aquí
Correct: Se vive bien aquí
Vivir is intransitive - impersonal se keeps verb singular
Wrong: Se trabajo en Madrid (meaning "I work")
Correct: Trabajo en Madrid
Impersonal se is for general statements, not specific people - use normal conjugation
Wrong: Se vende casas
Correct: Se venden casas
This is passive se (transitive verb) - verb MUST agree with plural noun
Quick Test: Transitive or Intransitive?
Transitive (takes object)
vender (sell what?)
Use passive se - verb agrees with noun
Intransitive (no object)
trabajar (work - no object)
Use impersonal se - always singular
When to Use Impersonal Se
General statements
Se trabaja mucho aquí
People work hard here (in general)
NOT for specific people
Trabajo en Madrid
I work in Madrid (specific person)
Quick Test
Practice using impersonal se for general statements!
1. Complete: 'En España ___ tarde' (people have dinner late)
Ase cenan
Bse cena
Ccena se
Dcenan se
2. Which is correct for 'People work hard here'?
ASe trabajan mucho aquí
BSe trabaja mucho aquí
CTrabajan se mucho aquí
DSe trabajo mucho aquí
3. What's the difference? 'Se trabaja' vs 'Se venden coches'
ANo difference
BFirst is impersonal se (singular), second is passive se (agrees)
CFirst is wrong
DBoth should be plural
4. How do you say 'One lives well here'?
ASe viven bien aquí
BVive se bien aquí
CSe vive bien aquí
DViven bien aquí
5. Complete the sign: 'No ___ fumar' (No smoking)
Ase pueden
Bse puede
Cpuede se
Dpueden se
6. Which verb form is correct? 'Se ___ mejor en el campo'
Aviven
Bvive
Cvivir
Dviviendo
7. When should you NOT use impersonal se?
AFor general statements
BFor cultural observations
CWhen referring to a specific person
DFor rules and signs
8. Which uses impersonal se correctly?
ASe venden casa
BSe come bien aquí
CSe trabajan duro
DTrabaja se mucho