a xente / un
Impersonal a Xente and Un
A xente means people but is grammatically singular: A xente di..., not din. Un can mean one or general you: Un non sabe que facer.
How It Works
A xente: many people, one singular noun
Xente refers to a group of people, but it is a feminine singular noun. Everything that agrees with it is singular and feminine:
- Verb: A xente di que chove moito aquí (people say it rains a lot here).
- Adjective: A xente está cansa (people are tired). See adjective agreement.
- Pronoun: A xente coñécese (people know each other).
English says people are, so learners often make the verb plural. In Galician, keep it singular.
Un: anyone, including me
Un used on its own can mean one or a general you. The speaker usually includes himself: Un non sabe que facer (one doesn't know what to do). A woman often uses unha when she is thinking of herself: Unha xa non ten idade para isto.
After de and en, pronoun un contracts as usual (falan mal dun, they speak badly of you), but not after con: con un. See contractions with un.
Other ways to be impersonal. Galician also uses impersonal se (Aquí vívese ben) and the impersonal they (Din que vai chover). Un sounds more personal, because the speaker is part of the group.
Examples (6)
- A xente di que chove moito aquí.
People say it rains a lot here.
Xente is singular, so the verb is di, not din.
- A xente está cansa de agardar.
People are tired of waiting.
The adjective is feminine singular: cansa.
- Nesta vila a xente coñécese moito.
In this town people know each other well.
- Un non sabe que facer.
One does not know what to do.
Un means anyone in this situation, including the speaker.
- Cando un está canso, todo custa máis.
When you are tired, everything is harder.
- Unha xa non ten idade para estas cousas.
I am getting too old for these things.
Word by Word: One already not has age for these things.
A woman speaking of herself often says unha.
Common Mistakes
Using a plural verb with a xente.
A xente din que vai chover.A xente di que vai chover.Xente is a singular noun, so the verb must be singular.
Making adjectives plural or masculine.
A xente está contentos.A xente está contenta.Adjectives agree with xente: feminine singular.
Using the Spanish form uno.
Uno non sabe que facer.Un non sabe que facer.The Galician pronoun is un (or unha), never uno.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Xente and generic un refer to people without requiring a plural verb.
Related Patterns
- Impersonal se
Another way to talk about people in general.
Level 3 - Impersonal They
Impersonal they, used when the speaker is not included.
Level 3 - dun / nun / cunContractions with Un and Unha
Explains the contractions dun and nun with pronoun un.
Level 2 - Agreement With Collective Nouns
Agreement with other collective nouns at a more advanced level.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice a xente / un in Bubblegum
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