What is se cuentan?

Question

Desde que varios compañeros y yo formamos el equipo de voluntarios,hemos prestado mucha ayuda en la sociedad. Las personas que han sido objeto de nuestra ayuda,si no llegan a ser centenas,por lo menos se cuentan por decenas.

What does se cuentan mean here?

Answer 1

contar in the pronominal form with the impersonal "se". Se cuentan.. One counts in tens.

Es un error. Lo voy a corregir. Gracias. - francobollo, Dec 1, 2012

Franco, tengo la duda de si se debe usar "docena" en inglés aunque en español usemos la palabra "decena" para referirnos a personas (y claro, a sabiendas de que designamos distintas "unidades" de medida o conteo). - -cae-, Dec 1, 2012

Borre lo que quieras, "se cuentan por decenas" no es impersonal sino pasivo (they are counted) bye. - QFour, Dec 1, 2012

Answer 2

"por lo menos se cuentan por decenas"

In English, one would say, "at the least they are/can be counted in tens." I like Franco's suggestion to use "dozens" and it might be my choice too but strictly speaking "decenas" are tens or even, "double handfuls".

Answer 3

Hi Francobollo,

Is it an impersonal use with "one" Or is it a passive use "they are counted"?

are all impersonal "se".*** - QFour, Dec 1, 2012

¿pensé que se cuentan era igual a "son contadas"? ¿no? Creo que te equivocaste - QFour, Dec 1, 2012

Answer 4

"si no llegan a ser centenas,por lo menos se cuentan por decenas." - original

"Passive would be son contadas en decenas. Se cuentan / Se habla español / Se cose ropa is all impersonal "se"" - Francobollo

Ok,

por lo menos se cuentan por decenas = they are at least counted by the hundreds

(counted by whom?) It's already a passive use, this is an example of the passive se, as far as I understand. It's subject is being acted upon without mentioning the doer (the counter) but simply the COUNTED is mentioned. It's passive

Se habla español = Spanish is spoken

This is impersonal, it speaks on something being done but not who does it in particular... which is similar to the passive, but the difference is that with the passive use, the EFFECTED is the subject. With the impersonal, there is no subject.

Se cose ropa = Clothes are sewn

It's speaking about what is down in general, with no specific doer existing at all.

Sea como fuere, es un uso pasivo... no impersonal. - QFour, Dec 1, 2012

Se aquillan borrachos para sus fiestas = Drunks are rented out (by etc) for your parties (another example of the passive se) - QFour, Dec 1, 2012

Lo siento, pero no creo que tengas razón, así que me cuesta prestar atención a lo que dices. - QFour, Dec 1, 2012

Supongo que vas a tener que ir a estudiar ""passive" Vs. "impersonal" ...y hablamos después.. buenas noches... ya es tarde - QFour, Dec 1, 2012

Se alquilan Q4 - one of your "l"s slipped somewhat. - geofc, Dec 2, 2012