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Generally, Expressing oneself , yourself, itself:
The subject is omitted. We don’t know who is doing the action.
Se habla español. Someone here speaks Spanish.
Se vend el coche. The car is for sale.
Se venden los libros. The books are for sale.
In addition to being a reflexive pronoun se is also used in “impersonal” construction.
¿Cómo se dice tablecloth en español? How does one say tablecloth in Spanish? Se dice “mantel.” One says mantel. (Or, you say mantel.)
Primero se agrega la sal y después se mezcla todo.
First you add the salt then you mix everything.
If the topic in question is plural, the verb is usually also plural.
¿Se sirven mariscos frescos aquí? Are fresh shellfish served here?
Sí, se preparan camarones deliciosos y el precio es muy módico.
Yes, they (or we) prepare delicious shrimp, and the price is very moderate.
Unplanned Occurrences:
Se + a verb to describe unplanned occurrences such as forgetting, dropping, breaking something.
¿Qué lo pasó el coche? What happened to the car?
Se descompuso. It broke down.
Qué lo pasó la botella? What happened to the bottle?
Se cayó y se rompió. It fell and it broke.
If a person is involved, he or she is referred to with an INDIRECT object pronoun -- me, te, le, nos, les. (se me, se te, etc.)
Se me olvidó a la medicine. I (myself) forgot the medicine.
A Ernesto se le perdió el dinero. Ernest (he) lost the Money.
If the subject involved is plural, the verb must be plural.
Se me quedaron los libros in casa. I (myself) left my books at home.
Hester Chamberlain
Learning Assistance Center
Eastfield College