DELE A2 Spanish Impersonal Se: Practice Test & Review
Impersonal se is how Spanish makes general statements without naming who does the action — “you say,” “they sell,” “one does.” It is one of the most common structures in everyday Spanish, and it appears in every section of the DELE A2 exam, especially in signs, advertisements, and instructions.
This page gives you a five-part practice quiz: an evaluation set to see where you stand, three practice sets to drill the forms and uses, and a challenge set to confirm mastery. If you get stuck, scroll down for the full explanation. Ready? Start with the evaluation set below.
Grammar Guide
The Rule
Impersonal se is used to make general statements without naming who does the action. It translates as “one does,” “you do,” “they do,” or “it is done.” It is extremely common in signs, instructions, advertisements, and everyday speech.
Se habla español = Spanish is spoken (here).
Se vende pan = Bread is sold (here).
¿Cómo se dice…? = How do you say…?
Impersonal se uses the verb in the third person, singular or plural, depending on the object.
Structure
| Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Se + third person singular verb | General statement about a singular thing | Se vende pan. |
| Se + third person plural verb | General statement about a plural thing | Se venden libros. |
| Se + third person singular verb + infinitive | General rule or permission | No se puede fumar. |
| Se + third person singular verb + a + person | General statement about people | Se atiende a los clientes. |
The verb agrees with the thing being discussed, not with an unnamed person.
Singular vs. Plural Agreement
The verb is singular when the thing being discussed is singular. The verb is plural when the thing being discussed is plural.
| Subject | Verb | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| pan | se vende | Se vende pan. | Bread is sold. |
| libros | se venden | Se venden libros. | Books are sold. |
| español | se habla | Se habla español. | Spanish is spoken. |
| idiomas | se hablan | Se hablan varios idiomas. | Several languages are spoken. |
| piso | se alquila | Se alquila piso. | Apartment for rent. |
| pisos | se alquilan | Se alquilan pisos. | Apartments for rent. |
The plural agreement is one of the most tested points on the DELE A2 exam.
Common Uses
| Context | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Signs and ads | Se vende coche. | Car for sale. |
| Language use | ¿Cómo se dice “hello”? | How do you say “hello”? |
| General rules | No se permite fumar. | Smoking is not allowed. |
| Directions | ¿Cómo se llega al centro? | How do you get to the center? |
| Customs and norms | En España se cena tarde. | In Spain, dinner is eaten late. |
| Instructions | Se añade sal al gusto. | Salt is added to taste. |
With Modal Verbs
When impersonal se is used with a modal verb (poder, deber), the structure is:
Se + modal verb (third person singular) + infinitive.
| Example | Translation |
|---|---|
| No se puede fumar. | You can’t smoke. |
| Se puede pagar con tarjeta. | You can pay by card. |
| ¿Se puede aparcar aquí? | Can you park here? |
| No se debe entrar sin permiso. | You shouldn’t enter without permission. |
Impersonal Se vs. Passive Se
Both use se + verb, but the function differs.
| Type | Focus | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Impersonal se | General statement, no specific subject | Se habla español aquí. |
| Passive se | The thing affected is the topic | Las casas se construyeron en 1900. |
At A2, the focus is on impersonal se for general statements. Passive se appears more at B1.
Impersonal Se vs. Reflexive Verbs
| Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Impersonal se | General statement | Se vende pan. |
| Reflexive verb | Action done to oneself | Juan se lava. |
In impersonal se, the verb refers to no specific person. In reflexive verbs, the subject does the action to themselves.
Common Mistakes
- Making the verb singular when the object is plural.
✗ Se vende libros.
✓ Se venden libros.
The verb agrees with the object (libros = plural). - Making the verb plural when the object is singular.
✗ Se venden pan.
✓ Se vende pan.
Pan is singular. - Using the wrong subject pronoun.
✗ Ellos se venden libros.
✓ Se venden libros.
Impersonal se has no subject pronoun. It stands alone. - Writing “se” with an accent.
✗ Sé vende pan.
✓ Se vende pan.
Se is the impersonal pronoun, no accent. Sé with an accent is the verb saber (I know) or the command of ser (be).
Quick Decision Chart
| Ask yourself | Answer | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Am I making a general statement? | Yes | Se + third person verb |
| Is the thing being discussed singular? | Yes | Se + singular verb |
| Is the thing being discussed plural? | Yes | Se + plural verb |
| Is there a modal verb? | Yes | Se + modal + infinitive |
| Am I talking about a specific person doing a reflexive action? | Yes | Reflexive verb, not impersonal se |
| Does the sentence have a subject pronoun? | No | Impersonal se stands alone |
Two Sentences That Show the Difference
Se vende pan.
Bread is sold.
- Impersonal se. Pan is singular.
Se venden libros.
Books are sold.
- Impersonal se. Libros is plural.
Juan se lava.
Juan washes himself.
- Reflexive verb. Juan is the subject doing the action to himself.
Se habla español.
Spanish is spoken.
- Impersonal se. General statement about a language.
