¿Es posible o se puede

Question

Recently I wanted to buy a theatre ticket for the performance that night, in Spain. At the ticket office I asked, "¿Es posible comprar un billete para la actuación de esta noche?

The person in the queue behind me told me that I should not use Es posible when asking such a question as it makes it evident to a Spanish speaker that I am a tourist. He said I should use "¿Se puede comprar un billete para la actuación de esta noche?

I do not understand the use of "se puede" in this context. Can anyone explain this to me?

Thanks Neil

Answer 1

"¿Se puede comprar un billete para la actuación de esta noche?

Maybe the above can best be understood as:

Can a ticket be bought for the performance this evening.

It is a passive sentence structure.

Sí. - Goyo, Mar 21, 2010

Answer 2

Hola Neil,

Se puede is impersonal se. You can learn about that in this article from our reference secton.

¡Buenas suerte!

Answer 3

I think when you use "se puede" it means "can I buy the ticket", not literary of course. And "es posible" asks about possibility to buy it. So it's more logical to use "se puede", especialy when you do buy the ticket.

No, se puede un billete means "can one buy a ticket" - Goyo, Mar 21, 2010

Yes, what you're saying is quite logical to me. That's fully understandable once you have had a look below at Goyo's response :) - bomberapolaca, Mar 21, 2010

Answer 4

Either way is grammatically correct, but it's better to simply say, "Quisiera comprar un billete para la actuación de esta noche," and have done with it.

When you say it as you did, you're asking for permission or possibilities to buy something (giving away money) and of course it is. Spanish doesn't use all the nicey, nicey stuff that "political correctness" has demanded that English use as of late.

"and be done with it." - Goyo, Mar 21, 2010

In England they'd say "have done with it." - --Mariana--, Mar 21, 2010

Answer 5

How about "es posible que se compre"