Would "se puede ver" and "se pueden ver" both be correct Spanish?

David M.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Would "se puede ver" and "se pueden ver" both be correct Spanish?


[Reposted so as to be visible in the Dictation]

I think I can understand why "... se puede ver a las ballenas jorobadas retozando, coqueteando ..." is correct - [meaning: "... one can see the humpback whales ...", or "... you can see ..."] - after reading your Kwiziq lessons " Using se debe/se puede to say You must/you can (impersonal sentences) "  [number 6933] and " Expressing instructions and general statements in Spanish with the impersonal se = one " [number 5132].

However - under 'Your Practice', you recommend the lesson " Forming the Spanish passive with se (la pasiva refleja) " [number 6089] - which seems more consistent with this answer: "... se pueden ver las ballenas jorobadas"? (i.e. with 'pueden' in the plural, and without the "a" [before the 'las']). Would this^ be a correct way of saying "... the humpback whales can be seen ..."?

Asked 2 years ago
David M.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

In this particular case, it would probably be better, under "Your Practice", to point us towards Kwiziq Lesson ".... 6933" [or .... "5132"] - see above^, rather than ".... 6089", so as to correspond with the answer given in the Dictation.

Would "se puede ver" and "se pueden ver" both be correct Spanish?


[Reposted so as to be visible in the Dictation]

I think I can understand why "... se puede ver a las ballenas jorobadas retozando, coqueteando ..." is correct - [meaning: "... one can see the humpback whales ...", or "... you can see ..."] - after reading your Kwiziq lessons " Using se debe/se puede to say You must/you can (impersonal sentences) "  [number 6933] and " Expressing instructions and general statements in Spanish with the impersonal se = one " [number 5132].

However - under 'Your Practice', you recommend the lesson " Forming the Spanish passive with se (la pasiva refleja) " [number 6089] - which seems more consistent with this answer: "... se pueden ver las ballenas jorobadas"? (i.e. with 'pueden' in the plural, and without the "a" [before the 'las']). Would this^ be a correct way of saying "... the humpback whales can be seen ..."?

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...