Se #4: impersonal se — se vive bien aquí

Explicación

Impersonal se expresses 'one / people / you' in general, with no specific subject at all. The verb is always singular: se vive bien aquí, se trabaja mucho, se dice que va a subir, ¿cómo se llega al centro? ('how does one get downtown?').

This differs from the se passive: the impersonal has no grammatical subject, so the verb can never go plural. It's the form on generalizations and instructions: aquí se come tarde, no se puede fumar, se entra por atrás.

When the action targets specific people, the personal a appears and the verb stays singular: se entrevistó a los candidatos, se respeta a la gente, se ayuda a los clientes. That singular verb + personal a is the tell that distinguishes it from the se passive (which agrees with a plural thing).

Ejemplos

Reglas relacionadas

• Se #3: the se passive — se venden casas
• Impersonal expressions: se dice, es importante que, hace falta