Impersonal se formation

Question

In the lesson for forming the Personal se it states the way to form this is se+the 3rd person singular of the verb and that you only use this form of the verb. During the test exercises there are a couple of questions where the use of the third person singular is shown as incorrect and the plural used, in other similar questions the singular is used even though plurals are used in the actual question.In about four questions the answers tend to contradict the grammatic rule, is the plural form of the verb used in forming the impersonal se or not? I know its used in the passive se.

Answer 1

I suposse you are estuding the use of the "se" in impersonal sentences and is for this question that apears the problem. Because it can be confued whit the use of the "se" form in a pasiva refleja sentence when goes with a transitive verb.

-pasiva refleja:( you can remake the sentence into formal pasive with the same meaning)

Se compra/compran libros en la libreria.

Los libros son comprados en la libreria por el /ellos

The books can be purchased by him/them at the bookshop

Se puede/pueden encontrar vestidos en el mercado

Los vestidos pueden ser encontrados en el mercado The dreses can be finded at the market by him/them

• impersonal tense

Se compra libros en la libreria Los libros pueden ser comprados en librerias

The books can be purchased at the bookstores

Se puede encontrar vestidos en el mercado

Los vestidos pueden ser comprados en los mercados

The dreses can be finded at the markets

Se tiene/hay libros en la biblioteca With the sense of haber/estar it only can be an impersonal sentence .There is not exist a subject

When apears the "a" prepositon it is always a impersonal tense.

Se vio A un par de caballos en la hierba A couple of horses were saw on the grass

Sorry for my terrible english

Very well done Txelis, it's not easy explaining grammar in a second language, te felecito! Unas sugerencias si no te molesta .... studying (no 'e' estudying), that's why you are asking this question / having this problem, when 'it' goes with, - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 16, 2015

He/They can find the dresses at the market. The dresses can be found at the market. There is no subject. (A subject doesn't exist.) When the preposition 'a' appears ( or ... when you have the preposition 'a'). A couple of horses were 'seen' ... - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 16, 2015

para servirte :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 16, 2015

thanks kiwi. you can correct my english whenever you want. are you sure that t had made these few mistakes? . i'm happy i left my english estudies 25 years ago and seems i haven't forget it at all - 000a35ff, Jul 17, 2015

Many thanks for the explanation now it makes sense - bellevueace, Jul 18, 2015

Lol :D. For someone who hasn't studied English for 25 years you're doing amazingly well :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 18, 2015

Answer 2

Can you add the examples that are correct and the ones that are not correct?

Thanks.

Answer 3

Books or courses of foreign languages aren't completely trustworthy when it comes to grammar rules.

There are two different kind of sentences in Spanish with the pronoun 'se':

a) Oraciones de pasiva refleja.

b) Oraciones impersonales.

In the first case, oraciones de pasiva refleja, you can use the singular or the plural form, acording with the noun next to the verb, which is the subject.

Se vende casa / Se venden casas.

In the second case, oraciones impersonales, the sentences lack a subject, and you must use allways the singular form.

Se busca al culpable / Se busca a los culpables.

Se premió al ganador / Se premió a los ganadores.

For further explanation, click here: Se venden casas / Se busca a los culpables

:) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 16, 2015

Answer 4

Correct: (Comprar) libros en la libería Answer: se Compran

(Poder) encontrar vestidos de seda en el Mercado Answer: se Puede

Incorrect: (Tener) libros en la biblioteca Answer: se tiene

Vestidos is plural but the correct answer is the 3rd person singular, Libros in the first example is plural but the 3rd person plural is given as correct though the formation of the impersonal se is stated as only using the singular. Libros in the third example again the 3rd person singular is given as correct when libros is plural, it seems contradictory to me.

Answer 5

Many thanks for the help, grammar can be a bit tricky at times and books can sometimes be vague, having personal explanations helps a lot thanks.