Constructions with se Flashcards
What is the general use of the impersonal se?
For when the person/group isn’t defined (ie. they speak spanish in Mexico)
“Spanish is spoken in Costa Rica”
Se habla español en Costa Rica.
“You can read in the waiting room”
Se puede leer en la sala de espera.
“They perform operations here.”
Se haven operaciones aquí.
“Swimming is prohibited”
Se prohibe nadar.
Se is also good for what kinds of events?
Unplanned events.
How does the word focus/importance change in constructions with se?
The object becomes the subject, and the verb will agree with it instead.
Example 1
Se me cayó la pluma
Example 2
Se le cayó la taza.
Example 3
Se te daño la radio.
Example 4
Se le rompieron las botellas.
“to fall/drop”
caer
“To damage/to break down”
dañar
“To forget”
olvidar
“to lose”
perder
“to be left behind”
quedar
“to break”
romper
“to drop” special phrase
dejar caer
“He dropped the aspirin” in both “se” and in the other form
Dejó caer la aspirina / se le cayó la aspirina.
“I dropped the notebooks”
Dejé caer los cuadernos.
What do you need to use when people are involved?
a + noun / a + pronoun
“The patient lost his prescription.”
Al paciente se le perdió la receta.
