Passive "se"

Question

Hi, I have a question about the use of "se" for passive. I am unsure when you are supposed to conjugate the verb in the 3rd person singular or plural. I read that if the noun that comes after the verb is singular, then the verb should be singular and the if its plural, the verb should be 3rd person plural. However, I found the sentence "Se puede evitar muchos problemas dándole mantenimiento al coche" which goes against this rule, as "puede" is in the singular form but it is followed by "problemas" in the plural. Is there a reason for this? I assume it may have something to do with the fact that "pooder" is a modal verb?

Thanks

Maybe you're thinking of verbs like gustar, eg me gusta and me gustan? - Kiwi-Girl, Feb 2, 2013

Answer 1

Hi Ralphmat. Poder is not a “gustar-like” verb, so se puede (third-person singular) may be used regardless of the singularity or plurality of any noun that follows. Interestingly enough, Spanish has a more clever way of dealing with this construct than English does. In English, we’re stuck saying something like “You can . . .” or “One can . . .” but we don’t really mean “you” in the sense of talking to anyone in particular; and the use of “one” to mean someone in general quickly sounds stilted if it’s overused. “Sí se puede” get its meaning across better and more efficiently than “You can do it,” (but I don’t mean “you” in particular) or “One can do it,” or “A person can do it,” or “It can be done.” And no, this is not an issue of poder being a modal verb. It is not; Spanish doesn’t have them. I hope this helps a little.

Answer 2

You may find this lesson on se helpful. Here's an except

3) 'Se' used in impersonal constructions

For impersonal expressions to indicate that people in general, or no person in particular, performs the action, without stating who's doing the action of the verb, you can use the impersonal 'se' construction. It's similar to the impersonal English expressions 'one', 'you' (without any particular 'you' in mind) or 'they' (without any particular 'they' in mind).

One can always buy fresh vegetables at the local market. They say he's really successful now. You can take a bus to the city from that shopping centre.

In Spanish impersonal constructions the verb is always in 3rd person singular, and there is no grammatical subject, but there can be objects.

¿Se puede nadar en el mar aquí? Can you swim in the sea here? / Can one swim in the sea here?

Se dice que hay cocodrilos en el mar aquí. They say that there are crocodiles in the sea here.

Hi Kiwi-Girl. We’re thinking a little bit alike again. (Be afraid. Be very afraid.) - brian5764, Feb 2, 2013

Just a little joke, by the way. It’s a reference to an old movie. Then I got to thinking, you might not have seen that (American) movie. - brian5764, Feb 2, 2013

Answer 3

The impersonal se = Se + third person singular

Se siente en casa en ese hotel. One feels at home at that hotel.

The passive se = Se + third person singular or plural + noun

Se reparan los zapatos en la zapatería.

They repair shoes at the shoe store.