⇒ Impersonal se constructions (oraciones impersonales) are used to make general observations about what people do.

⇒ Check out these examples of the impersonal se:

Se debe trabajar mucho para tener éxito. One should work hard to gain success.

Se vive muy bien en este pueblo. You live well in this village./Life is good in this village.

Se busca a los testigos del crimén. They're looking for witnesses to the crime.

⇒ While the above English translations contain one, they, or you, there is no obvious grammatical subject in Spanish. This lack of an obvious subject is a key part of impersonal se constructions; it's what makes them impersonal!

⇒ In impersonal se constructions, verbs are always conjugated in the third person singular.

Impersonal Se Formula se + verb in third person singular

Se estudia muy bien en ese café. That coffee shop is great for studying.

Se trabaja mejor sin distracciones. It's better to work without distractions.

⇒ Looking for information on the differences between the impersonal se and the passive se? Check out our notes here!