Impersonal se
Se + a verb in the third person singular talks about people in general: Aquí vívese ben (people live well here), Por onde se vai á estación? (How do you get to the station?)
How It Works
What it means
Impersonal se is like English "people", "you" or "one" in general statements: Neste restaurante cómese moi ben (you eat very well in this restaurant).
Typical verbs. It is most common with verbs that have no direct object: vivir, ir, estar, traballar, durmir. Nas aldeas vívese tranquilo (life is quiet in the villages).
Always singular. Even when a plural word comes before the verb, the verb does not agree with it: Nas cidades vívese de présa.
Where se goes
- Plain statement: after the verb — Aquí vívese ben, Antes traballábase máis.
- After non: before the verb — Aquí non se pode fumar (see pronouns after negatives).
- After a question word: before the verb — Por onde se vai? (see pronouns in questions).
With a noun object the verb usually agrees with that noun instead: Véndense pisos. See passive se.
Other ways to be impersonal: the plural "they" (Din que vai chover) and a xente and un.
A fixed expression: Trátase de... means "it is about..." or "it is a matter of...".
Examples (6)
- Nesta vila vívese moi ben.
People live very well in this town.
Word by Word: In-this town lives-itself very well.
Vive + se attaches in a plain statement and needs an accent: vívese.
- Por onde se vai á estación?
How do you get to the station?
After the question word onde, se goes before the verb.
- Aquí non se pode aparcar.
You cannot park here.
After non, se goes before the verb.
- Neste restaurante cómese de marabilla.
You eat wonderfully in this restaurant.
A general statement about anyone who eats there.
- Antes traballábase máis horas.
People used to work longer hours.
Impersonal se also works in the past: traballaba + se. Máis horas says how long, not what is done, so the verb stays singular.
- Trátase dun problema serio.
It is a serious problem.
Tratarse de is a common impersonal expression meaning "to be a matter of".
Common Mistakes
Putting se before the verb in a plain statement.
Aquí se vive ben.Aquí vívese ben.Aquí does not move the pronoun. In a plain statement, se is attached after the verb.
Making the verb plural to match a place word.
Nas aldeas vívense ben.Nas aldeas vívese ben.Nas aldeas is not the subject. Impersonal se always takes a singular verb.
Attaching se after the verb in a wh-question.
Por onde vaise á estación?Por onde se vai á estación?Question words such as onde pull the pronoun in front of the verb.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Impersonal se leaves the actor unspecified and has a singular verb.
Related Patterns
- Passive se
The related construction where the verb agrees with a noun: véndense pisos.
Level 3 - Impersonal They
Another impersonal pattern using the plural verb (din que...).
Level 3 - a xente / unImpersonal a Xente and Un
Everyday alternatives for talking about people in general.
Level 4 - Pronouns Before the Verb in Wh- Questions
Why se comes before the verb after question words.
Level 2 - Pronouns Before the Verb After Negatives
Why se comes before the verb after non.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Impersonal se in Bubblegum
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