The Use of 'Se'
Spanish: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 8.1.14
How to Use 'Se'
'Se' is only used with verbs in the 'él/ella' form. It is often translated as 'one can, you can, they can'. It is formed like this: 'Se' + 'él/ella' form of a verb (puede) + Infinitive. Here are the two commonly used verbs:
Poder - to can, to be able to
- Se puede concluir que...
- One can conclude that...
- Como se puede ver.
- As you can see.
- Se puede llegar a una solución.
- They can come to a solution.
Deber - to ought to, to must
- Se debe hacer más.
- You must do more.
- Se debe tener en cuenta el contexto.
- One must take the context into account.
- Se debe trabajar duro.
- You must work hard.
Test yourself on The Use of 'Se'
¿Qué significa 'se debe hacer más para proteger el planeta' en inglés?
How do you say 'one can' in Spanish?