Topic Summaries

Impersonal verbs

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GCSE > Spanish > Eduqas > GCSE Spanish Topic Summaries > Grammar II: Verbs > Impersonal verbs
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DIALOGUE EXAMPLES: The wider world

  • Use of the impersonal verb hay (there is / there are): never changes form for singular or plural. For example: Hay un libro en la mesa. (There is a book on the table.) or Hay muchas personas aquí. (There are many people here.)
  • Use of hay que + infinitive (one must / it is necessary to): this is used in general cases, i.e.not referring to a specific person. For example: Hay que estudiar para el examen. (One must study for the exam.) or Hay que limpiar la casa. (It’s necessary to clean the house.)
  • Impersonal use of se (for generalised you / one): this use of se makes a sentence impersonal, meaning it applies to people in general. This is often translated as ‘you can,’ ‘one needs to,’ etc. For example: Se puede nadar aquí. (You/One can swim here.), Se necesita tiempo. (Time is needed.), or Se come bien en este restaurante. (One eats well in this restaurant.)
  • Use of hace + noun (for weather): hace is used for certain weather expressions, and always stays the same, e.g. Hace frío. (It’s cold.).

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