DELE B2 Impersonal Se Spanish: Practice Test & Review
The impersonal se is one of the most common structures in Spanish, and one of the most confusing for learners. It has two distinct uses: the impersonal se, which has no subject and means “one” or “people in general,” and the passive se, which has a subject but shifts focus away from the agent. Both use the same pronoun but follow different rules.
This page gives you a five-part practice quiz: an evaluation set to see where you stand, three practice sets to drill both uses, and a challenge set to confirm mastery. The grammar review below covers the impersonal versus passive distinction, agreement rules, and the contrast with the true passive voice.
The impersonal se appears in every B2 reading passage that involves instructions, advertisements, or general statements. Master the agreement rules and you can handle any se construction the exam throws at you. Ready? Start with the evaluation set below.
Grammar Guide
The Rule
Spanish has three ways to express an action without naming the agent: the impersonal se, the passive se, and the true passive voice with ser. The impersonal se has no subject and means “one” or “people in general.” The passive se has a subject but shifts focus away from the agent. The true passive uses ser plus participle and can name the agent with por. All three are common at B2, and the exam tests the distinction.
The Three Structures
| Structure | Form | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impersonal se | se + third person singular verb | Se dice que… | They say that… |
| Passive se | se + verb agreeing with subject | Se venden casas. | Houses are sold. |
| True passive | ser + participle (+ por + agent) | Las casas fueron vendidas. | The houses were sold. |
Impersonal Se — No Subject
The impersonal se has no subject. The verb is always in the third person singular. It is used for general statements, instructions, and rules.
| Example | Translation |
|---|---|
| Se dice que va a llover. | They say it’s going to rain. |
| Se prohíbe fumar. | Smoking is prohibited. |
| Se puede entrar por aquí. | You can enter here. |
| Se vive bien en esta ciudad. | One lives well in this city. |
The impersonal se is the equivalent of English “one,” “you,” “they,” or “people” in a general sense. There is no specific subject.
Passive Se — Agreement with the Subject
The passive se has a subject, and the verb agrees with that subject in number. The subject is the thing being acted upon, not the agent.
| Subject | Verb form | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Third person singular | Se vende casa. | A house is sold. |
| Plural | Third person plural | Se venden casas. | Houses are sold. |
The key difference from the impersonal se: the passive se has a subject, and the verb must agree with it. The impersonal se has no subject, so the verb is always singular.
Comparing Impersonal Se and Passive Se
| Structure | Subject | Verb agreement | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impersonal se | None | Always singular | Se habla español. |
| Passive se | The thing acted upon | Agrees with subject | Se venden casas. |
The confusion arises because both use se. The test: does the sentence have a subject? If yes, it’s passive se and the verb agrees. If no, it’s impersonal se and the verb is singular.
True Passive Voice
The true passive uses ser plus past participle. It can name the agent with por. It is more formal than the passive se and is common in news writing and academic texts.
| Example | Translation |
|---|---|
| La casa fue construida en 1990. | The house was built in 1990. |
| Los libros fueron vendidos por la librería. | The books were sold by the bookstore. |
| La carta fue escrita por Juan. | The letter was written by Juan. |
The past participle agrees with the subject in gender and number: fue construida, fueron vendidos.
Passive Se vs True Passive
| Structure | Example | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Passive se | Se venden casas. | Common, everyday |
| True passive | Las casas son vendidas. | Formal, written |
Both are correct. The passive se is more common in speech and everyday writing. The true passive is more formal and appears in news and academic texts. The true passive is the only structure that can name the agent with por.
Fixed Expressions
| Expression | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Se dice que… | They say that… | Impersonal |
| Se prohíbe… | …is prohibited | Impersonal |
| Se vende / Se venden | For sale | Passive se, common in ads |
| Se busca / Se buscan | Wanted / sought | Passive se |
| Se habla español | Spanish spoken | Impersonal or passive se |
Common Mistakes
Using a plural verb with impersonal se.
Incorrect: Se hablan español.
Correct: Se habla español.
The impersonal se has no subject, so the verb is always singular.
Using a singular verb with a plural subject in passive se.
Incorrect: Se vende casas.
Correct: Se venden casas.
The passive se verb agrees with the subject (casas, plural).
Confusing impersonal se with passive se.
Incorrect: Se dice muchas cosas. (mixed)
Correct: Se dicen muchas cosas. (passive se with cosas as subject)
Correct: Se dice que… (impersonal se, no subject)
Check whether the sentence has a subject.
Using the true passive when the passive se is more natural.
Incorrect: Las casas son vendidas aquí. (grammatically correct but formal)
Correct: Se venden casas aquí. (more natural)
The passive se is more common in everyday Spanish.
Quick Decision Chart
| Ask yourself | Answer | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Does the sentence have a subject? | No | Impersonal se, verb singular |
| Does the sentence have a subject? | Yes | Passive se, verb agrees with subject |
| Is the agent named with por? | Yes | True passive (ser + participle) |
| Is the register formal? | Yes | True passive is possible |
| Is the register everyday? | Yes | Passive se is preferred |
| Is the statement general? | Yes | Impersonal se |
Two Sentences That Show the Difference
Se habla español.
Spanish is spoken.
Impersonal se: no subject, verb singular. The focus is on the language, not on who speaks it.
Se venden casas.
Houses are sold.
Passive se: casas is the subject, verb agrees in plural. The focus is on the houses.
Las casas fueron vendidas por la empresa.
The houses were sold by the company.
True passive: ser + participle, agent named with por. Formal register.
Se dice que va a llover.
They say it’s going to rain.
Impersonal se: no subject. General statement.
