Se puede entrar?

Ruby C.B2Kwiziq community member

While working in a Spanish-speaking school, the kids would say, "Se puede entrar?" to ask if they could enter the class room. The teacher would respond by saying, "Sí, se puede." Why would they use this form? It's like saying, "Can one enter the room?" Is it actually a passive question instead?

This question relates to:Spanish lesson "Using se debe/se puede to say You must/you can (impersonal sentences)"

Asked 4 years ago

Like1Answer1

InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Ruby,

Exactly! you got it right. It is an impersonal sentence formed by "se" + verb conjugated in the 3rd person singular, meaning "one can do something". I can see you have already seen this lesson using modal verbs poder and deber. Here is another general lesson on this if you want to have a look.

I hope this helps.

Saludos

Inma

Like14 years ago

Ruby C. asked:

Se puede entrar?

While working in a Spanish-speaking school, the kids would say, "Se puede entrar?" to ask if they could enter the class room. The teacher would respond by saying, "Sí, se puede." Why would they use this form? It's like saying, "Can one enter the room?" Is it actually a passive question instead?

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