verb in the 3rd person plural impersonal or not

Ashlyn T.A1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

verb in the 3rd person plural impersonal or not

How to say to have something done with a sentence using the verb in the 3rd person plural


this is the other lesson that uses 3rd person plural verb conjugation.

I find this lesson very similar to the other and I cannot see any differences at all.


for example,

me han robado . this could be for this lesson of being impersonal but this can only be under the other lesson that something negative happened or something was done on me.


Are they actually the same thing?


Asked 2 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Ashlyn

They are very similar but the lesson saying "impersonal sentences using the ellos form" doesn't always mean "to have something done [to you]", for example, these would be  impersonal sentences using the ellos form: 

Llaman a la puerta.

Someone is knocking on the door. 

Dicen que los precios van a subir.

People in general are saying that prices are going up. 

The other lesson is always using an indirect object pronoun indicating that something has been done to "someone": 

The example "me han robado" is in the two lessons because it can be interpreted both ways:

I've been robbed or Someone has robbed me. 

If I use a similar sentence without the "me", the impersonal aspect is seen more clearly. For example:

Esta mañana han robado en el centro comercial. 

This moring "someone/some people/unknown subject" has stolen (things) in the shopping centre.

I hope this clarified it.

Saludos

verb in the 3rd person plural impersonal or not

How to say to have something done with a sentence using the verb in the 3rd person plural


this is the other lesson that uses 3rd person plural verb conjugation.

I find this lesson very similar to the other and I cannot see any differences at all.


for example,

me han robado . this could be for this lesson of being impersonal but this can only be under the other lesson that something negative happened or something was done on me.


Are they actually the same thing?


Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your Spanish level for FREE

Test your Spanish to the CEFR standard

Find your Spanish level
I'll be right with you...