impersonal

Question

The book is written in Italian. I want to say in as impersonal form.

1.Se escribe el libro en italiano. 2.Se escriben el libro en italiano. 3.Escriben el libro en italiano.

I thought , to express impersonal is Se + singular or only plural form. I asked one friend, he told me it's se escriben, so, I am confused now.

Which is correct?

Answer 1

If the book is already written you cannot say it something like an everyday-thing. Se impersonal is correct but not the tense.

"El libro se escribió en italiano."

If you want to say "The book is being written." then maybe you can say it. Or

"El libro se está escribiendo en italiano."

If you were talking about some books that are written in Italian then:

"Los libros se escribieron en italiano" would be correct.

And plural books that are being written now in Italian:

"Los libros se escriben en italiano." or "Los libros se están escribiendo en italiano."

Very good! - lazarus1907, Jan 12, 2011

But the "se" here is called passive, though. - lazarus1907, Jan 12, 2011

Answer 2

The book is written in Italian. I want to say in as impersonal form.

1.Se escribe el libro en italiano. 2.Se escriben el libro en italiano. 3.Escriben el libro en italiano.

I thought , to express impersonal is Se + singular or only plural form. I asked one friend, he told me it's se escriben, so, I am confused now.

As I explained before, it depends on what kind of "impersonal" construction you want to use. A "se" here in singular would be classified as passive, but the effect would be the same: to hide the person responsible. Your attempt (1) is grammatically correct (but in singular the book is still being written), but (2) is wrong, because on one hand, impersonal constructions with "se" should be in singular, but here, being a passive "se", it must agree with the subject (el libro), which is singular. The sentence can be fixed with "Se escribió..."

Another impersonal possibility is "El libro lo escribieron en italiano". Your sentence (3) is grammatically correct, but it suggests that the book is still being written.

The lo is necessary because the object (el libro) precedes the verb? - 0074b507, Jan 12, 2011

So, if it's los libros, should I say "Se escriben los libros en italiano.", correct? - zhmelissa, Jan 12, 2011

You are both right! - lazarus1907, Jan 12, 2011

Answer 3

Impersonales, In my book ,it says there are two cases for impersonal.

1). Se + singular

examples:

Se ve que no está en condiciones de trabajar.

No se puede entrar a la tienda por ahí.

2) plural (The third person , plural)

He llamado al Seguro y me ban dicho que vendrán esta tarde.

Ayer detuvieron al empresario acusado de corrupción.

My question is, passive and impersonal is very similar, correct?

El libro se escribe en chino. Passive? Or Impersonal?

Se escribe el libro en chino. Is it the same with the one above? Passive or impersonal?

Escriben el libro en chino. Passive Or Impersonal?

Los libros se escriben en chino. Passive or impersonal?

Escriben los libros en chino. Passive or impersonal?

Answer 4

Se impersonal is a passive sentence already. Look:

"Desserts are eaten after dinner in my country": "Los postres se comen después de la cena en mi país."

"Coffee is taken with milk" : "El café se toma con leche."

So, being passive doesn't depend on being plural or singular.

se + verbo (3ª persona singular/plural) means something is done or some things are done. If it is one thing, you use 3ª persona singular with you conjugation and if it's plural you use 3ª persona plural.

Answer 5

I have one doubt. I think passive and impersona are too similar.

I want to distinguish impersona and passive, now my problem is that I confused them.

Impersona :

se + singular

plural form

Passive:

se + singular se + plural according to the subject?

Am I right?