Using the Formal Pronominal Passive Imperative in orders/instructions in Spanish

Using El Imperativo Pasivo Pronominal for formal orders/instructions

In certain contexts, to formally give an instruction or an order we use El Imperativo pasivo pronominal. This formula uses the verb in El Imperativo, which takes the same form as El Presente de Subjuntivo and then "se" (to mark the passive voice) is joined to the end, forming one single word. 

The following are some examples in the different contexts where this is normally used.

El Imperativo Pasivo Pronominal with instructions about food/food containers/medicine

It's common to find this as instructions when opening and handling food or medicine, so you can see sentences of this type written on jar labels or bottles. Let's look at some examples.

In this context you will find the verb in El Presente de Subjuntivo in the 3rd person singular, as it will usually be referring to just one item (a dish, a tube of cream, a jar, etc.)

Although the most common translation for this is simply using the English imperative to give a direct order: "open..." "apply..." etc, the use of "se" in the Spanish sentence shows its passive nature, as if we were saying something like:

El Imperativo Pasivo Pronominal with instructions in recipes

Although there are other more common ways of giving instructions for recipes, you may also occassionally find El Imperativo pasivo pronominal used in this context. You might see sentences like:

In this context, the 3rd person plural of El Presente de Subjuntivo must be used if you are referring to different things as you can see in the last example (mézclense...)

El Imperativo Pasivo Pronominal to give instructions in exams or formal documents

In a formal context you may still find El Imperativo pasivo pronominal in exams or in formal documents in order to give/clarify instructions. For example:

These commands/instructions are not directed to anyone in particular, they are general commands, for a general public.

Note that "se" is invariable in this structure whichever the context.

The verbs are conjugated in the 3rd person singular or 3rd person plural, depending on Sujeto paciente:

Tilde/written accent

When forming this verbal structure that requires the addition of "se", the verb takes an accent as it becomes a longer word and, as per the general rules for accentuation in Spanish, a written accent becomes necessary on the syllable where the stress is:

It's importante to note that this structure is rarely used in spoken Spanish. It is very much limited to written texts.

See also Forming the Spanish passive with se (la pasiva refleja)