Impersonal constructions: se, uno, the third person plural

English uses you, one, they, people or the passive to talk about actions without naming who does them. Spanish has several tools. You met impersonal se in Impersonal se: se habla español, se dice and the passive se in The passive: ser + participle and the passive se; here is the whole set, and when each one sounds natural.

1. Se + verb: people in general

Se + third-person verb says what is done in general, with no doer at all. It is neutral and works in speech and writing.

• En esta empresa se trabaja mucho y se cobra poco.In this company people work hard and get paid little.
• Aquí se está muy bien.It's really nice here.

If there is a noun that is done (a plural object without a person), the verb agrees with it. This is the passive se:

• Se venden pisos de segunda mano en el centro.Second-hand flats are for sale in the centre.

If the object is a person introduced by the personal a (The personal a: Veo a María), the standard is a singular verb, even with a plural noun:

• Se contrató a tres enfermeras más.Three more nurses were hired.

The plural (se contrataron a tres enfermeras) is very common in the press, but the Real Academia advises against it. Use the singular in careful writing.

Formal notices love this pattern: se ruega, se informa, se prohíbe.

• Se informa a los pasajeros de que el vuelo sale con retraso.Passengers are informed that the flight is delayed.

2. Uno / una: when se is impossible

A verb that is already reflexive (acostumbrarse, levantarse, cansarse) cannot take a second se. Use uno (or una, if the speaker is a woman or thinks of a woman) + third person singular. Uno also sounds more personal: the speaker includes themselves.

• Uno se acostumbra a todo con el tiempo.You get used to anything in time.
• Cuando una trabaja desde casa, a veces se siente sola.When you work from home, you sometimes feel lonely.

3. The third person plural: someone, they

A plural verb with no subject means "someone" or "they": an unknown person or group that does not include the speaker.

• Dicen que van a subir los impuestos.They say taxes are going to go up.
• Me han robado la bicicleta.My bike has been stolen.
• Llaman a la puerta.There's someone at the door.

Even one person can be meant: Llaman a la puerta is true if just one person rings. Adding ellos breaks the impersonal meaning and points to specific people.

4. Generic tú

In conversation, tú often means "anyone", exactly like English you. It is informal.

• Si sales tarde del trabajo, no ves a tus hijos.If you leave work late, you don't see your kids.

Common mistakes

• Se vende pisos or Se venden un piso: with a thing, the verb agrees with the noun: se venden pisos, se vende un piso. (You will see se vende pisos on signs, but the standard is the plural.)
• Se se levanta temprano: two se are impossible. Say Uno se levanta temprano.
• Ellos dicen que va a llover for "they say": the pronoun makes it specific people. Just Dicen que va a llover.
• La gente dicen: la gente is singular: la gente dice.
• Using uno in formal writing for rules: Se prohíbe fumar sounds right on a sign; Uno no puede fumar does not.

Latin America

All five tools are used everywhere. Generic tú is also common in Latin America, and in voseo areas the generic form is vos (si salís tarde…).