Download HS4 – LOS USOS DIFERENTES DEL PRONOMBRE “SE” Perhaps

HS4 – LOS USOS DIFERENTES DEL PRONOMBRE “SE”
Perhaps one of the most important little words in the Spanish language is the pronoun “se.” Se can be used in
many ways:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Reflexive – as part of a reflexive verb
Reciprocal – showing reciprocal action (action done between
Impersonal – no person is specified; corresponds to “one, people, we, you, they” in a generic sense
Passive – similar to the impersonal, translated like passive voice construction
Accidental/Unplanned Occurrences – describe something that happens that was
unexpected/unintended
Use One: Reflexive – this use is the one with which you are most familiar. If you have a reflexive verb, meaning a
verb whose action reflects back on the person/is being performed on or for himself/herself, relates to personal
care, or indicates a change in physical/mental/social condition, the third person singular and plural will use “se”
along with the conjugation of the verb.
e.g.
Ronaldo se lava las manos  Ronaldo washes his hands.
Las chicas se quitan las chaquetas.  The girls take off their jackets.
Alicia se casa.  Alicia is getting married.
Use Two: Reciprocal – this use shows an action that is reciprocal; in other words, an action that is mutual,
complementary, or corresponding. In English we use the words “(to) each other” or (to)one another.” In
Spanish we use either “nos” or “se” depending on whether the speaker is involved.
e.g.
Ellos se abrazaron.  They hugged each other.
Vamos a escribirnos.  We are going to write each other.
Pablo y su novia se dijeron la verdad.  Pablo and his girlfriend told the truth to each other.
Tomás y Elena se quieren.  Tomás and Elena love one another.
Use Three: Impersonal – you can use “se” with the third person singular to express an idea without attributing it
to anyone in particular. In English, we have expressions with impersonal subjects like “people / one / you / we /
they.” Think about how we say “they say it’s important to study” even though the “they” doesn’t really refer to
specific people.
e.g.
Se dice que es importante poder hablar español.  They say it’s important to be able to
speak Spanish.
Se puede entrar.  You can enter.
If an unspecified person did something to specific people, you need to use the personal “a” after the
conjugation. You will still use the singular conjugation of the verb, even if referring to multiple people.
Structure: Se + singular verb + a + specific person
e.g.
Se despidió a los obreros perezosos.  They fired the lazy workers.
Se acepta a José porque logró un 36 en el ACT.  José is being accepted/they’re accepting
José because he got a 36 on the ACT.
Use Four: Passive – you can use “se” with the third person singular or plural as a substitute for the passive voice
when the person/thing doing the action is not mentioned. Note that the subject always agrees with the verb.
Structure: Se + verb + subject
e.g.
Se venden artículos de cuero aquí.  Leather goods are sold here.
Se busca una decoradora.  A decorator is being sought (we’re looking for a decorator).
Use Five: Accidental/Unplanned Occurrences – the “se” is used to express an accidental or unplanned
occurrence. Many times it is used to remove the element of blame from the person who did the action so that
(s)he does not have to claim responsibility. An indirect object pronoun will be used to refer to the person
involved in the occurrence and the verb will match the subject (thing or things) involved. Your verb will be
conjugated in the third person singular or plural. If you want to be even more specific about the person
involved, you can use the “a + noun/pronoun” for added clarity or emphasis.
Structure: se + indirect object pronoun + verb + subject
e.g.
Se me olvidaron las llaves.  I (accidentally) forgot my keys.
Se nos perdió el dinero.  We lost the money.
A los niños se les murió el gato que cuidaban.  The cat the kids were caring for died.
Commonly used verbs with this construction include the following:
acabar – to run out (of something), to finish
caer – to fall
dañar – to damage, harm, break (machine)
desaparecer – to disappear
descomponer – to fall apart, break down
morir – to die
ocurrir – to think about doing something, to have an idea
olvidar – to forget
perder – to get lost, to lose something
quedar – to remain behind, to leave (something) behind
romper – to break (an object)
Práctica: Usa la idea del “se accidental” para escribir las siguientes oraciones.
1. Los chicos rompieron los vasos. ___________________________________________
2. Olvidaste el periódico. ___________________________________________________
3. Tengo una idea. ________________________________________________________
4. Perdimos los boletos. ____________________________________________________
5. I left my books at school. _________________________________________________
6. My brother dropped the plate. ____________________________________________
7. Your car broke down. ____________________________________________________