uses of se - passive voice & impersonal  



Gramática - impersonal se
The impersonal se is followed by a verb and its "subject".
There is agreement with the verb when the subject is:
- an inanimate object --> coches
OR
- "generic" impersonal, non-specific person/s --> mecánico

Se vendieron todos los coches usados.
[verb/subj. agreement: plural verb/plural noun]

Se busca mecánico con experiencia.
[singular verb/singular noun]

When specific person(s)=> no agreement and personal "a":

Todavía se busca al niñito de 4 años que desapareció...

When what follows the verb is people as direct/indirect object,
the pronouns le/les are most commonly used and there is
NO agreement with the verb:

A Juan y a Pedro se les pidió que renunciaran al trabajo.
A mí nunca se me informa nada de lo que pasa aquí.

Gramática - passive voice
You may also use se pasivo to speak in the passive voice.
Compare the construction of the passive voice with se and with ser.

voz pasiva with ser
El edificio fue construido en 1921.

se pasivo
El edificio se construyó en 1921.

fue construido = was built
se construyó = was built

Note! - When you use voz pasiva with ser, you the
chance to include "the agent" if known:

...fue construido por los inmigrantes rusos....

Sentences - voz pasiva
Lazarillo de Tormes fue publicado en 1554. - Lazarillo de Tormes was published in 1554.
El niño fue dejado solo. - The boy was left alone.
Su padre fue desterrado por haber robado a sus clientes. - His father was exiled for robbing his customers.
La revista es publicada todos los meses. - The magazine is published every month.
Las casas son construídas rápidamente. - The houses are built quickly.
Los carros son fabricados en Alemania. - The cars are made in Germany.

Sentences - se pasivo
Se publicó Lazarillo de Tormes en 1554. - Lazarillo de Tormes was published in 1554.
Se ha llamado una de las mejores novelas del mundo. - It has been called one of the world's best novels.
El niño se quedó a solas. - The boy was left alone.
Se le desterró a su padre por haber robado a sus clientes. - His father was exiled for robbing his customers.
La revista se publica todos los meses. - The magazine is published every month.
Las casas se contruyen rápidamente. - The houses are built quickly.
Los carros se fabrican en Alemania. - The cars are made in Germany

Notes for the Tutor

  • The student should repeat these sentences to practice vocabulary and improve pronunciation.
  • The tutor should help the student assimilate this information by having a conversation with the student.
  • Suggested Homework:The student should follow the pattern presented here and prepare 3 pairs of sentences demonstrating the different uses of SE.

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