B1 (Intermediate)Lesson 5: The "SE" Constructions
Distinguishing between reflexive and impersonal uses of "se" in different contexts.
Reflexive: ele se lava (he washes himself)
Passive: lavam-se carros (cars are washed; standard plural agreement)
Same verb, different meanings with se
Reflexive = the subject acts on itself, even if the subject is omitted
Passive = agreement with the patient; impersonal = singular with an unspecified agent
Check verb structure and agreement together
Position rules vary
Context usually clarifies
Reflexive: verb agrees with its subject; passive se: verb agrees with the patient in standard usage; impersonal se: third-person singular.
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Confusing reflexive and impersonal "se" can completely change your message! "Ele se vende" means "He sells himself" (or sells out), while "Vende-se" means "For sale" (normal commerce). This distinction affects everything from reading signs to understanding conversations. Brazilian Portuguese uses both extensively – reflexive/pronominal forms for daily routines and emotions, passive or impersonal forms for announcements and general statements. Master the difference to avoid embarrassing misunderstandings and navigate both personal and public communication.
Subject performs action on themselves
Subject may be expressed or understood
Agrees with subject
Can refer to an individual or a generic subject
Agent is not specified; the patient is the grammatical subject
In standard passive usage, the verb agrees with that subject
"Ela se olha no espelho toda manhã" (She looks at herself in the mirror every morning)
"Eles se cumprimentaram na rua" (They greeted each other on the street)
"Eu me machuquei jogando futebol" (I hurt myself playing soccer)
"Vocês se divertiram na festa?" (Did you enjoy yourselves at the party?)
"Vende-se este apartamento" (This apartment is for sale)
"Falam-se três idiomas nesta escola" (Three languages are spoken at this school)
"Vive-se bem no Brasil" (One lives well in Brazil)
"Procura-se emprego" (Employment is sought/Looking for work)
The se belonging to these pronominal verbs is not simply an impersonal marker:
suicidar-se (never "suicida-se" impersonally)
arrepender-se
zangar-se
Check the verb and meaning rather than assuming that every pronoun can be dropped:
"Me sinto bem" / "Sinto-me bem"
Both forms keep the pronoun; its absence alone would not prove impersonal use
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