11.1: Se constructions Flashcards
The pronoun SE is used when the person or thing performing an action is either unknown or unimportant. The verb is then conjugated in the third-person form. The singular form is used with singular nouns and the plural form with plural nouns. Notice that the subject can either precede or follow the verb.
En esa tienda no SE ACEPTAN tarjetas de crédito.
In that store credit cards ARE not ACCEPTED.
Esta ropa SE HACE en Guatemala.
This clothing IS MADE in Guatemala.
In English, when the subject of a sentence is not a specific person, we use constructions like “People think…” or “They say…”. In Spanish, general statements like these are made with the pronoun SE followed by a verb conjugated in third-person singular.
SE DICE que no es necesario pagar mucho para tener ropa bonita.
THEY SAY that it is not necessary to pay a lot to have nice clothing.
En la clase SE APRENDE sobre los tejidos de la gente indígena. In the class YOU LEARN about the weavings of the indigenous people.
SE VE que ella sabe vestirse bien.
ONE CAN SEE that she knows how to dress well.
When using a helping verb such as DEBER or PODER that is followed by an infinitive and a noun, the verb is conjugated in agreement with the noun because it is the subject. If there is no noun, then the verb is always singular.
Se PUEDEN ver los nuevos vestidos en la vitrina.
ONE CAN see the new dresses in the display window.
No SE DEBE ir de compras ahora.
ONE SHOULD not go shopping now.
