THE SE IMPERSONAL WHEN WE DO NOT KNOW REFERENCE

THE “SE IMPERSONAL” WHEN WE DO NOT KNOW/REFERENCE WHO IS DOING THE ACTION THE PASSIVE VOICE

When we talk about something being done without saying WHO does it, this is called the PASSIVE voice in English. Examples: - Italian is spoken in Italy. (could say “One speaks Italian in Italy”) - Basketball is played with a ball and two baskets. (“One plays basketball with a ball and two baskets)

• In Spanish, the pronoun SE is used to express the same idea. Ej: Se habla italiano en Italia. → They speak Italian in Italy OR Italian is spoken in Italy. Se juega baloncesto con una pelota y dos canastas. → You play basketball with a ball and two baskets. OR Basketball is played with a ball and two baskets.

The following statements in English are expressed with the impersonal SE in Spanish. Fish is sold in the fish market. They sell fish in the fish market One sells fish in the fish market. You/We sell fish in the fish market. → Se vende pescado en la pescadería. How do we say “to sell” in Spanish? VENDER

CREATING THE “SE IMPERSONAL” We use the verb in the third person present, either singular or plural and place a “se” in front. FOR REGULARS: 1. Knock off the –AR, –ER or –IR 2. Add an –a(n) for AR verbs and an -e(n) for –ER/-IR verbs. 3. Then, you add the pronoun “se” in front of verb to make it “impersonal” (no subject)

SE IMPERSONAL examples… • • Let’s use HABLAR Step one: Habl Step two: Add “a” or “an” (*think gustar) Let’s say “One speaks English in England. ” Since English is singular we would add “a” • Se habla ingles en Ingletierra. • If it is “One speaks BOTH Spanish and English in the United States of America. ” • Se hablan ingles y español en los EEUU.

SE IMPERSONAL cont… *Common BOOT stem-changes: O → UE (dormir, poder) U → UE (jugar) E → IE (querer, tener) or E → I (pedir, decir) QUERER: _____ TO WANT QUIERO QUEREMOS QUIERES QUEREIS QUIEREN ALWAYS THIRD PERSON FOR THE “SE IMPERSONAL” -DORMIR: *Él, ella, usted- duerme *Él, ella, usted- pide -PEDIR:

Common “SE IMPERSONAL” expressions “SE HABLA ESPAÑOL”↘ Verb? HABLAR: TO SPEAK “Se habla” : is spoken, speaks Therefore… “Spanish is spoken here” “We speak Spanish here” “One speaks Spanish here” etc. “You can speak Spanish here”

Common “SE IMPERSONAL” expressions ↑“SE VENDE POLLO” “SE VENDE CASA”↑ Verb? VENDER: TO SELL “Se vende” : is sold, sells Therefore… “Chicken is sold here / This house is sold here” “We sell chicken / this house here” “One sells here” “Chicken / This house is for sale”

Common “SE IMPERSONAL” SE BUSCA empleado → ↑SE BUSCA una persona Verb? : BUSCAR: TO SEARCH, TO LOOK FOR “Se busca” : is wanted, “are looking for” Therefore…”____is wanted here” “We are looking for _______ here” “One looks for _____ here” etc.

Common “SE IMPERSONAL” expressions Verb? : ALQUILAR: TO RENT ↑SE ALQUILA ESPACIO “Se alquila” : is for rent, “are renting” Therefore…”____is for rent ” “We are renting _______ ” “One can rent ______ here ” etc.

¡Y AHORA TÚ! Change each verb to the “SE IMPERSONAL” and create a complete sentence. Think in English…. ”One speaks Italian in Italy” “One speaks nicely to his boss” “One eats seafood on the beach” etc. JUGAR: u → ue DECIR: e → I TENER: e → ie PODER: o → ue