SPAN2001 · Grammar
The many uses of SE
One small word, several different functions.
When you see se, do not translate it immediately.
Starting point
Does SE mean the same thing here?
Juan se levanta a las ocho.
No. The form is the same, but the function changes.
The map
Five core uses + one common case
| Type | Example | Simple idea |
|---|
| 1. Reflexive | Juan se lava. | himself / herself |
| 2. Reciprocal | Ana y Juan se abrazan. | each other |
| 3. LE / LES → SE | Se lo doy. | replacement before lo/la/los/las |
| 4. Passive | Se venden pisos. | something is done |
| 5. Impersonal | Aquí se vive bien. | people / one in general |
| + Pronominal verb | Juan se va. | SE is part of the verb |
1 · Reflexive SE
The action returns to the subject
JUAN → JUAN
Juan se lava.
The subject performs the action on himself / herself.
mirarse
María se mira en el espejo.
Reflexive pronouns
Remember: it is not always se
me levanto
te levantas
se levanta
nos levantamos
os levantáis
se levantan
SE is the third-person reflexive form.
2 · Reciprocal SE
The action goes both ways
ANA ↔ JUAN
Ana y Juan se abrazan.
Two or more people perform the same action on each other.
se saludan
se miran
se ayudan
se escriben
Reflexive or reciprocal?
Same form, different relationship
REFLEXIVE
Juan → Juan
Juan se lava.
himself
VS.
RECIPROCAL
Ana ↔ Juan
Ana y Juan se miran.
each other
Useful test: Can we add el uno al otro?
3 · LE / LES → SE
A familiar SE from CD + CI
Doy el libro a María.
a María → le
el libro → lo
❌ Le lo doy. → ✅ Se lo doy.
Here, se does not mean “himself” or “each other”.
LE / LES → SE
The rule
le / les + lo / la / los / las → se + lo / la / los / las
le + lo → se lo
le + la → se la
les + los → se los
les + las → se las
4 · Passive SE
Focus on what receives the action
ACTIVE IDEA
Construyeron este edificio en 1990.
Someone built this building.
→
PASSIVE SE
Este edificio se construyó en 1990.
This building was built in 1990.
Passive SE
The verb agrees with the subject
Se vende un piso.
one apartment → singular verb
Se venden pisos.
apartments → plural verb
Se alquila una habitación.
5 · Impersonal SE
People in general — without saying who
En España se cena tarde.
≈ People eat dinner late in Spain.
Se habla mucho de este problema.
The verb is in the third-person singular.
Passive vs. impersonal
These two uses look similar — but they are not the same
PASSIVE
Se venden casas.
casas is the subject.
The verb agrees with it:
Se vende una casa.
Se venden tres casas.
IMPERSONAL
Aquí se vive bien.
No specific person is the subject.
Meaning: people in general.
SE + 3rd-person singular
+ Pronominal verbs
Sometimes SE is simply part of the verb
Juan se va a casa.
irse = to leave / go away
María se queda en casa.
quedarse = to stay
Pedro se arrepiente.
arrepentirse = to regret
Ana se queja mucho.
quejarse = to complain
Pronominal verbs
Do not force a translation for SE
irse · quedarse · quejarse · arrepentirse
Learn the verb together with SE.
Summary
One form, different functions
| Ask yourself... | Type | Example |
|---|
| Does the action return to the subject? | Reflexive | Juan se lava. |
| Do two or more people act on each other? | Reciprocal | Ellos se abrazan. |
| Is SE before lo/la/los/las? | LE/LES → SE | Se lo doy. |
| Does a thing receive the action and agree with the verb? | Passive | Se venden casas. |
| Are we talking about people in general? | Impersonal | Aquí se vive bien. |
| None of these? | Check the verb | Juan se va. |
Practice 1 · Identify
What type of SE is it?
1. Los estudiantes se ayudan.
Reciprocal SE
2. María se mira en el espejo.
Reflexive SE
3. Se venden libros usados.
Passive SE
4. En Hong Kong se come muy bien.
Impersonal SE
Click a sentence to reveal the answer.
Practice 2 · Identify
Same SE, different function
1. ¿El libro? Se lo doy mañana.
LE / LES → SE
2. Pablo se va a las nueve.
Pronominal verb: irse
3. Los dos amigos se saludan.
Reciprocal SE
4. La puerta se cerró.
Here SE marks a change/state event; for this course, treat cerrar / cerrarse as a pronominal contrast rather than forcing it into the five basic labels.
Practice 3 · Passive or impersonal?
Look for agreement
1. Se alquilan apartamentos.
Passive — apartamentos is the subject; the verb is plural.
2. Aquí se trabaja mucho.
Impersonal — people in general; 3rd-person singular.
3. Se venden dos entradas.
Passive — dos entradas is the subject; the verb agrees.
4. En esta ciudad se vive muy bien.
Impersonal — people in general.
Final strategy
When you see SE...
1
Do not translate it immediately.
2
Look at the verb and the other elements in the sentence.
3
Ask: What function is SE performing here?
Meaning comes from the structure, not from SE alone.