Just checking this is correct..Question about 'hacerse'

Question

If a person is shy, it is easier for them to make friends through the internet...I would say..Si una persona es timida es más facil para hacerse amigos por internet...is the 'them' tagged on the end of 'hacer'?...(se) Sorry for all these questions 'se' confuses me no end and I want to make sure i say everything correctly for my oral exam on friday! Gracias

Well, saying "If a person is shy, it is easier for /them/" is incorrect English anyway. It should be, "If a person is shy, it is easier for him or her..." - Azabache, May 10, 2011

Well, there is such a thing as the 'singular they' and in some cases acceptable ~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they - cristalino, May 10, 2011

"... debate continues about its acceptability." In most peoples' opinion, "singular they" is incorrect. - Azabache, May 10, 2011

May be incorrect as you say, but certainly more convenient...I'm thankful the Spanish language just uses "el" and leaves it at that! :) - cristalino, May 12, 2011

Answer 1

I've added 'se' on the end of hacer because I am saying it is easier for him/her so referring back to the subjects.....If a person is shy it is easier for him/her to make friends...So..Si una persona (subject) es timida es mas facil hacerse

The problem with that sentence is that there is no "him" or "her". The whole point of that construction is to actually avoid referring to any him or her at all. From the point of view of its meaning (i.e. semantically), the sentence is impersonal, like in English "Important things cannot be done in a rush", where we don't refer to anyone in particular.

But I guess that because you said "Si una persona es timida...", you are referring to someone, either him or her. Obviously, the second part (es más fácil...) seems to be linked, which is why you attempted to use that "se". What you want to do can be accomplished with an indirect object:

Si una persona es timida, le es más facil hacer amigos por Internet.

Alternatively,

Si una persona es timida, le resultará fácil hacer amigos por Internet.

Si una persona es timida, le costará poco (trabajo) hacer amigos por Internet.

That "le" works for both males and females.

Answer 2

...es más facil hacer amigos por internet - Perfect: "Hacer amigos..." is the subject.

Es fácil [atribute] algo [subject]

...es más facil hacerse amigos por internet - Correct, but that "se" is colloquial, and it suggests subjective effort and perseverance.

...es más facil para hacer amigos por internet - that "para" does not make much sense, because now there is no subject (subjects can't start with prepositions), so you are not saying what is easier... in order to make friends.

[subject??: omitted] Es fácil [atribute] para algo [adverbial phrase]

Answer 3

Thank you! so is the clause 'es mas facil hacer amigos' referring back to the indirect object 'le'?

Not exactly; that "le" is the equivalent of "for him/her/them" in this case. Without it, the sentence would not refer to anyone. - lazarus1907, May 10, 2011

Answer 4

Thanks everyone for your contributions...I've added 'se' on the end of hacer because I am saying it is easier for him/her so referring back to the subjects.....If a person is shy it is easier for him/her to make friends...So..Si una persona (subject) es timida es mas facil hacerse

Answer 5

"Si una persona es tímida, es más fácil para él a trabar amistad por la Internet"...

could even work... I tend to agree the "hacerse" is not required as noted above... "trabar amistad" seems to work just as well for me!

Need clarification folks - is "a trabar" okay or should "trabar" stand alone? Thanks! :) - cristalino, May 10, 2011

Answer 6

I can't answer your question exactly, but I don't think you even need to add se to the end of "hacer."

Si una persona es timida es más facil para hacer amigos por internet.

Seems fine to me.

Why para? - jeezzle, May 10, 2011