1. As you know, se can be used as a reflexive pronoun (Él se despierta.).
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2. Non-reflexive verbs can be used with se to form impersonal constructions. In impersonal constructions, the person performing the action is not defined. In English, the passive voice or indefinite subjects (you, they, one) are used.
Se habla español en Costa Rica.
Se puede leer en la sala de espera.
Spanish is spoken in Costa Rica.
You can read in the waiting room.
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3. ¡ojo!
The third person singular verb form is used with singular nouns and the third person plural form is used with plural nouns.
Se vende ropa.
Se venden camisas.
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4. You often see the impersonal se in signs and advertisements.
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5. Se can also be used to de-emphasize the person who performs an action, implying that the accident or event is not his or her direct responsibility. Use this construction:
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6. In this construction, what would normally be the direct object of the sentence becomes the subject and agrees with the verb.
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7. These verbs are often used with se to describe unplanned events.
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8. ¡ojo! Dejar caer (to let fall) is often used to mean to drop.
Elena dejó caer el libro.
Elena dropped the book.
El médico dejó caer la aspirina.
The doctor dropped the aspirin.
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9. Bueno, vamos a ver si se le rompió un hueso.
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10. A + [noun] or a + [prepositional pronoun] is frequently used to clarify or emphasize who is involved in the action.
Al estudiante se le perdió la tarea.
A mí se me olvidó ir a clase ayer.
The student lost his homework.
I forgot to go to class yesterday.
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11. Completa las frases de la primera columna con se impersonal y los verbos en presente. Completa las frases de la segunda columna con se para sucesos imprevistos (unplanned events) y los verbos en pretérito.
Presente
Pretérito
1. ___________ [enseñar] cinco lenguas en esta universidad.
2. ________ [comer] muy bien en El Cráter.
3. ________ [vender] muchas camisetas allí.
4. ________ [servir] platos exquisitos cada noche.
5. ________ [necesitar] mucho dinero.
6. ________ [buscar] secretaria.
Se enseñan
1. ________________ [I broke] las gafas.
2. ________ [you (fam.) dropped] las pastillas.
3. ________ [they lost] la receta.
4. ________ [you (form.) left] aquí la radiografía.
5. ________ [we forgot] pagar la medicina.
6. ________ [they left] los cuadernos en casa.
Se me rompieron
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