Impersonal se/ "If you think about it"

Question

I recently learned that you can use "se" to make general statements, about a human subject:

http://www.spanishdict.com/topics/show/86

I want to say "If one thinks about it".

Se piensa sobre

Se lo piensa sobre

^Are any of those correct?

Answer 1

The best way to say the phrase "if one thinks about it..." would be "si se piensa en ello... (or ...en eso)". Combining se with an infinitive as Jubilado did makes a verb reflexive, where the subject and an object are the same, and this is completely different than the "impersonal" or "passive" use of "se" that you are asking about Laostirner. But Jubilado IS correct in his suggestion about "pensar en..."

Thanks from me for your input. When I don't know something and don't have a native speaker to consult, I depend on dictionary examples. As I said I could not find "pensarse" examples in the one I usually consult. - Jubilado, Jul 9, 2016

"se" is used in many different and unfortunately unrelated, ways - it certainly can be confusing!! - t8805jg, Jul 9, 2016

In Spanish, everything is "que" and "se". - laostirner, Jul 9, 2016

Answer 2

I am not fluent but I could not find "pensarse" listed in the online dictionary I use or any expressions using "se piensa." I don't think this is said (que se dice esto). If you want to be impersonal with this expression I would suggest Si alguien piensa en esto (if someone thinks about this) but again I am not fluent and this could be incorrect.

One thing I did find in my dictionary search was the "think about" is expressed pensar en . If you use sobre, it would be like this: Estoy pensando "algo" sobre la fiesta de mañana.

Answer 3

Pensar can also be transitive. Sí se lo piensa. (If one thinks about it)

If you want to say, "If you think about it" "Si lo piensas."

"¡Think about it! "¡Piénsalo! This is usually accompanied by "bien" "¡Piénsalo bien!

This may not be universally accepted, but it is taught in the college textbooks.

In the graphic, they forgot the accent over the "e" in "piénsalo"

This works too. Internet point for you. - laostirner, Jul 9, 2016

Answer 4

"If one thinks about it"

For this I would not use pensar at all. It´s more natural to say: "Si se considera ..." + direct object.