Spanish grammar
Se + a with people (se informa a los vecinos) vs passive se with things (se venden pisos)
Understand official notices that use se with people (se informa a los vecinos) and with things (se venden pisos).
From the scene Se informa a los vecinos (Residents are hereby informed)
In short
With people after a, se keeps the verb singular: se informa a los vecinos. With things, the verb agrees: se venden pisos.
Your turn
Which one goes with tenants are notified?
Options: se desalojará a los inquilinos · se comunica a los inquilinos · se informa a los vecinos
Show answer
tenants are notified → se comunica a los inquilinos
How it works
When se is followed by people introduced with a, the verb stays singular, whatever the number.
Good to know
Se informa a los vecinos, se desalojará a los inquilinos. Nobody says who does it.
Good to know
When se goes with things, the verb agrees with them: se vende un piso, se venden pisos.
residents are hereby informed se informa a los vecinos
Nuria
"Se informa a los vecinos de que la finca tiene nuevo propietario."
"Residents are hereby informed that the building has a new owner."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"(blank) de que la finca tiene nuevo propietario."
Options: Se informa a los vecinos · Se comunica a los inquilinos · Se desalojará a los inquilinos
Show answer
Nuria
"Se informa a los vecinos de que la finca tiene nuevo propietario."
"Residents are hereby informed that the building has a new owner."
tenants are notified se comunica a los inquilinos
Javi
Aquí sigue: "Se comunica a los inquilinos que tienen un plazo de seis meses."
It goes on: "Tenants are hereby notified that they have a period of six months."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Aquí sigue: "(blank) que tienen un plazo de seis meses."
Options: Se desalojará a los inquilinos · Se comunica a los inquilinos · Se informa a los vecinos
Show answer
Javi
Aquí sigue: "Se comunica a los inquilinos que tienen un plazo de seis meses."
It goes on: "Tenants are hereby notified that they have a period of six months."
the tenants will be evicted se desalojará a los inquilinos
Javi
"Pasado el plazo, se desalojará a los inquilinos."
"Once that period is over, the tenants will be evicted."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"Pasado el plazo, (blank)."
Options: se comunica a los inquilinos · se desalojará a los inquilinos · se informa a los vecinos
Show answer
Javi
"Pasado el plazo, se desalojará a los inquilinos."
"Once that period is over, the tenants will be evicted."
nobody evicts ME a mí no se me desaloja
Your turn
What goes with a mí no se me desaloja?
Options: nobody evicts ME · residents are hereby informed · tenants are notified
Show answer
a mí no se me desaloja → nobody evicts ME
flats for sale se venden pisos
Nuria
Y mire: "Se venden pisos con ascensor." ¡Si ni siquiera hay ascensor!
And look: "Flats with a lift for sale." There isn't even a lift!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Y mire: "(blank) con ascensor." ¡Si ni siquiera hay ascensor!
Options: Se comunica a los inquilinos · Se venden pisos · Se informa a los vecinos
Show answer
Nuria
Y mire: "Se venden pisos con ascensor." ¡Si ni siquiera hay ascensor!
And look: "Flats with a lift for sale." There isn't even a lift!
Common mistake
Not informan or informo here. Se + a + people: the verb stays singular.
"Se informa a los vecinos de que la finca tiene nuevo propietario."
"Residents are hereby informed that the building has a new owner."
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| residents are hereby informed | se informa a los vecinos |
|---|---|
| tenants are notified | se comunica a los inquilinos |
| the tenants will be evicted | se desalojará a los inquilinos |
| nobody evicts ME | a mí no se me desaloja |
| flats for sale | se venden pisos |
More lines from the story
- ElenaPone "se ruega", cariño. Y rogar no es obligar.It says "kindly asked", dear. And asking isn't ordering.
- Nuria¿Seis meses? ¿Un plazo para qué?Six months? A deadline for what?