Regarding the reflexive pronoun

Question

Hi,

I'm wondering how I would correctly phrase this sentence:

en Melbourne el alcohol se compra generalmente en las tiendas de alcoholes

I'm a bit confused on how the reflexive pronoun works in this instance.

Also, if anyone could help me with this sentence that would be great:

en España el alcohol es acompañado por la comida

Any help is appreciated,

Thanks

welcome to the forum, :) - 006595c6, Jul 31, 2017

Answer 1

Hi Richard! The first sentence is perfect, but I would say "tiendas de alcohol" instead of "de alcoholes" though.

Regarding the "se", this is not a reflexive sentence but a passive voice. Sentences can be active or passive both in English and Spanish: Pedro broke the window: active. The window was broken (by Pedro): passive.

Passive voice inverts the subject and the object of the active voice: the object becomes the subject. It makes focus on the passively affected noun and the actor, the thing or person that acts upon the object, is optional (therefore it is between brackets, it may or may not be included).

In Spanish, there are two ways of making a sentence passive. Ser + participle: la ventana fue rota (por Juan). Closer to the English version but much less common.

Or with "se": Se rompió la ventana. This option doesn't allow you to add the actor. It is closer to "the window was broken". This is much more frequent.

In your example you are saying "In general alcohol is bought in liquor stores". This is passive voice. Its active version could be something like "La gente puede comprar alcohol en las tiendas de alcohol".

Your second sentence is an example of the other passive voice. "Es acompañado": Ser + participle. You can also say "En España el alcohol se acompaña con la comida" which would be better. However, I would say this using active voice: "En España el alcohol acompaña la comida".

Fantastic! That clears it up. Thank you so much - Richard8843, Jul 31, 2017

You are welcome! - Shamelesspanish, Jul 31, 2017

Also if possible, is there anything wrong with this: - Richard8843, Jul 31, 2017

"En España y Australia, la legislación de alcohol está controlado por cada estado." Could I again say something like "En España y Australia, la legislación se controla por cada estado"? - Richard8843, Jul 31, 2017

Richard: Note the comment in the answer above. With passive se...this option doesn't allow you to add the actor (agent) so no, you cannot have "por cada estado" with this construction. - DilKen, Jul 31, 2017

Great answer. Thank you! - billygoat, Jul 31, 2017

And without the agent (each state) the sentence probably doesn't make much sense, right? - DilKen, Jul 31, 2017

The thing is that in that sentence ("En España y Australia, la legislación de alcohol está controlado por cada estado") there is no passive voice at all. Ser + participle is different from Estar + participle! - Shamelesspanish, Jul 31, 2017

genial la respuesta shame...un gusto verte de nuevo :) - 006595c6, Jul 31, 2017

En España y Australia, la legislación de alcohol está bien controlado. The legislation of alcohol is well controlled (as an adjective) You wouldn't put the agent (who does the action of controlling) in this sentence either. - DilKen, Jul 31, 2017

Although the se passive I S a passive statement focusing on the action, it is just a rule of Spanish grammar that one should not mention the agent...who does the controlling. For this you need to use the ser passive. - DilKen, Jul 31, 2017

So is this a better alternative? "En España y Australia, los estados o las autonomías controlan la legislación de alcohol." Thank you so much to everyone who commented, you guys have been a huge help! - Richard8843, Jul 31, 2017

Answer 2

Se compra is perfect.

My idea of writing "alcohol" and "alcoholes" so close is not that good according to elegance in style.

En Melbourne el alcohol se compra generalmente en tiendas especializadas en la venta de bebidas alcohólicas.

En Melbourne el alcohol se compra generalmente en comercios especializados en la venta de bebidas alcohólicas.

Answer 3

Shamelespanish gave you a very good answer.

If you want to know more about these topics I recommend you click on Language Guide in the main menu, then click on pronouns and read the articles about se passive and personal se. Then click on Verb Articles and read the article about Active vs Passive voice.

After you do this, I recommend that you click on Learning Spanish in the main menu and then click on SpanishDict video course. If you take this course, the answers to the questions that you are asking now will be explained logically and in detail. You will also learn the answers to at least 100 other things that English speakers learning Spanish typically have.

Enjoy your learning process.

Thank you! I will certainly do that. - Richard8843, Jul 31, 2017