The Impersonal

“se”

“Se” can be used with the he/she form of a verb to

signify the English subject pronoun “one”

One could get in trouble for calling Mrs. Kitch short!

¡Se puede ser castigado por llamar a Sra. Kitch baja!

The impersonal “se”

In English"You shouldn't smoke in a hospital“ "They say she is very pretty“ "One never knows when he will turn

up.“  These are "impersonal expressions".  In other words, we don't really have anyone specific in mind when we say "They say..." or  "One" or  " You".  We mean people in general. 

Unos ejemplos: •They say it's going to snow.

Se dice que va a nevar.

•One should’t sleep in class.No se duerme en la clase.

•How does one say "icecream" ¿Cómo se dice "helado"

Can also be the passive “se” can also be used as the passive voice in place of ser/estar + participle

•Se habla ruso en el mercado(or Ruso es hablado por el mercado)

= Russian is spoken at the market. •Se escribe el libro en italiano. (or El libro está escrito en italiano)

= The book is written in Itallian. • Se comió el pastel(or El pastel fue comido = action is strongly implied)

= The cake was eaten

Impersonal “se” sentences translate and

are used in 2 ways!No se puedan llevar las gorras.One can’t wear hats here.

No se llevan las gorrasHats aren’t worn here.

Said frequently to children caught doing something they shouldn't:

°¡Eso no se hace!