Se hace (sg.) vs Se hacen (pl.)

Question

I was just wondering what difference it makes when you use the plural vs. the singular form of the same verb after 'se' to state something is general.

It sounds like it would be equivalent to the difference in saying 'one does' or 'it is done' in the singular vs saying 'people do' in the plural.

• 'no se hace así' -- it is not done like that vs.
• 'no se hacen así' - 'people (in general) don't do it like that' (which also implies 'it is not done...')

It also seems to depend on subtle differences in context and form of phrasing, as in:

• "con eso no se juegan' vs
• 'como se juega con eso?'

Does that make sense at all, is it just a little vague and more intuitive or is there a strict rule as to how and when to use pl. or sg. when making a general statement/question?

Please fill out your profile so that we may better help you . Bienvenido al fora , buena suerte amiga. - ray76, Dec 9, 2014

"con eso no se juegan", it is not correct, you must say "con eso no se juega" - txustaboy, Dec 9, 2014

Answer 1

When we were children and started to learn Spanish grammar (maybe at seven or eight years old), one of the first things we learn is to detect the subject of the sentences (in Spanish is not always easy). Once you know what is the subject you know which form of the verb you have to use. The teachers used to say us: "you must ask to the verb who/what is the subject" (who/what is doing the action of the verb). It sounds stupid but when you are learning a language (as Spanish) in which the subject can be omitted, you have to learn to detect the subject before anything. Then, the verb form is so easy to deduce.

Maybe in this case, the problem looks like the opposite but the solution is similar, you must ask the verb "who did the action".

• no se hace así: What/who should not be done in that way? it (because the verb is in third person of the singular form)

• no se hacen así: What/who should not be done in that way? they (because the verb is in third person of the plural form)

Hi Txuxtaboy,Great answer, but on the last one did you mean to say..because the verb is in plural form? - biengracias, Dec 9, 2014

Of course :). Thank you for the correction - txustaboy, Dec 9, 2014

Answer 2

What you have is OK, but sometimes there is a definite subject of the sentence involved such as:

"Estos juegos se juegan con una pelota. These games are played with a ball.

El ajedrez se juega con piezas. Chess is played with pieces.

Estos juegos---plural "se juegan."

El ajedrez ---singular "se juega."

So, consider the subject of the sentence before putting your verb into the singular or plural.

Buena suerte.

And fill out yor cotton pickin" Profile!!!!! - Daniela2041, Dec 9, 2014

:) - sanlee, Dec 9, 2014

:) - rac1, Dec 9, 2014