- 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
← Back to Grammar
Impersonal Se
What You'll Learn
Overview / Usage
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.
At B2 level, 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
• 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
💬 Real-World Examples
🪧 Signs & Rules
No se puede fumar
No smoking / One cannot smoke
Se prohíbe el paso
No entry / Passage prohibited
Se ruega silencio
Silence requested / Please be quiet
Se alquila piso
Flat for rent
🌍 Cultural Observations
En España se cena muy tarde
In Spain people have dinner very late
En México se come mucho picante
In Mexico people eat a lot of spicy food
Aquí se vive tranquilo
Here one lives peacefully
En esta ciudad se trabaja demasiado
In this city people work too much
💡 Advice & Recommendations
Se debe estudiar todos los días
One should study every day
Se recomienda llegar temprano
It's recommended to arrive early
No se puede correr aquí
You can't run here / Running not allowed
Se aprende más practicando
One learns more by practising
🍽️ How Things Are Done
Aquí se cocina con aceite de oliva
Here one cooks with olive oil
Se paga en efectivo
One pays in cash / Cash payment
Se entra por la puerta principal
One enters through the main door
Se sirve caliente
It's served hot / One serves it hot
🔄 Impersonal Se vs Passive Se: Side by Side
Impersonal Se (intransitive verb - stays singular):
Se trabaja mucho aquí
People work hard here - "trabaja" stays singular
Passive Se (transitive verb - agrees with noun):
Se vende casa (singular noun → singular verb)
Se venden casas (plural noun → plural verb)
House/Houses for sale - verb agrees with noun!
For more detailed information on passive se, see the passive se section on our Passive Voice page.
Gotchas / Common Mistakes
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Making the verb plural
Se trabajan mucho aquí ❌
✓ Se trabaja mucho aquí (always singular!)
✓ Se trabaja mucho aquí (always singular!)
Se viven bien aquí ❌
✓ Se vive bien aquí (singular with intransitive verbs)
✓ Se vive bien aquí (singular with intransitive verbs)
⚡ Confusing impersonal se with passive se
With transitive verbs (can take objects):
✅ Se vende casa / Se venden casas (passive se - verb agrees)❌ Se vende casas (incorrect agreement)
With intransitive verbs (no objects):
✅ Se trabaja mucho (impersonal se - always singular)✅ Se vive bien (impersonal se - always singular)
⚡ Using impersonal se for specific people
Don't use impersonal se when the subject is specific:
❌ Se trabajo en Madrid (trying to say "I work")✅ Trabajo en Madrid (specific person - use normal conjugation)
✅ Impersonal se is for general, non-specific actions only!
💡 Quick test: Transitive or intransitive?
Ask: Can this verb take a direct object?
Transitive: vender (sell what?) → Use passive se (agrees)
Intransitive: trabajar (work - no object) → Use impersonal se (singular)
Intransitive: trabajar (work - no object) → Use impersonal se (singular)
Quick Test / Mini Quiz
📝 Test Your Impersonal Se Skills
Practice using impersonal se for general statements!
1
Complete: 'En España ___ tarde' (people have dinner late)
2
Which is correct for 'People work hard here'?
3
What's the difference? 'Se trabaja' vs 'Se venden coches'
4
How do you say 'One lives well here'?
5
Complete the sign: 'No ___ fumar' (No smoking)
6
Which verb form is correct? 'Se ___ mejor en el campo'
7
When should you NOT use impersonal se?
8
Which uses impersonal se correctly?
Useful Resources
Coming soon...