Spanish language learning forums

Spanish language learning forums (http://forums.tomisimo.org/index.php)
-   Vocabulary (http://forums.tomisimo.org/forumdisplay.php?f=18)
-   -   "Se está" (http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=6162)

FrannyCakes November 13, 2009 01:40 PM

"Se está"
 
What does "se está" mean?
What does "estar" mean when used with "se"?

chileno November 13, 2009 01:49 PM

At first instance it would mean "it's being"

Tomisimo November 13, 2009 03:30 PM

It's a way to express the passive voice without actually using the passive voice.

For example:

Se está preparando para la fiesta.
The party is being prepared for.

Jubilee November 15, 2009 06:55 AM

Spanish speakers may need to correct me on this but se is sometimes an impersonal way of saying something, about no-one in particular:

se conduce rápido en la ciudad

they drive fast in the city - no -one in particular, a general comment... Can that work with estar also?

chileno November 15, 2009 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jubilee (Post 61585)
Spanish speakers may need to correct me on this but se is sometimes an impersonal way of saying something, about no-one in particular:

se conduce rápido en la ciudad it's driven fast in the city. (would that work better?)

they drive fast in the city - no -one in particular, a general comment... Can that work with estar also?

They drive fast in the city = Ellos conducen rápido en la ciudad.

It being driven fast in the city - Se está conduciendo rápido en la ciudad.

irmamar November 15, 2009 10:52 AM

Well, I think there is a more accurate explanation about "se está":

- Estarse, pronominal, with the meaning of "remain voluntarily":

Este perro se está callado si se lo ordenas.
El niño se está quieto.
Yo me estoy callada.

- Se está as "pasiva refleja impersonal":

Se está muy bien al sol.
En este hotel se está muy bien.
Se está conduciendo rápido en la ciudad.

- "Se está" as "pasiva refleja", concordancia con el sujeto paciente:

Se está preparando una fiesta.
Se están preparando unas fiestas.

"Se está preparando para la fiesta" is an active sentence:

(Ella/él) se está preparando para la fiesta. Yo diría que aquí el "se" tiene valor reflexivo (pronominal reflexivo).

De momento, no se me ocurren más ocasiones en que se use "se está".

I hope it helps :)


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:48 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.