Impersonal verbs

Content

• Types of impersonal verbs
• Examples of sentences with impersonal verbs

The impersonal verbs are those verbs that lack a subject. Also called defective or incomplete verbs, they are characterized by having an incomplete conjugation: they do not incorporate all grammatical persons (with the exception of some third-person verbs). For example: I know are waiting big storms.

It is important not to confuse them with verbs that do have a subject but that is not expressed in the sentence. For example: I have a new dog. In this case, it is not an impersonal verb, but there is a tacit subject (I) that is inferred from the conjugation of the verb.

• See also: Impersonal sentences

Types of impersonal verbs

Third-person verbs

Third-person verbs refer to events, not people. In some cases they have a subject and are conjugated in the third person singular or third person plural. For example: It happened long ago.

Some of the third-person verbs can also be used as personal verbs. For example: May be it true. ("may" is a third-person verb, because there is no subject that executes the action). / I can do it. ("I can" is a personal verb because it refers to the subject "I")

Impersonal verbs with "se"

When the subject of an action is unknown or does not matter, transitive, intransitive and copulative verbs can become impersonal with the use of “se”. For example: I know believe that nobody lives in that house.

However, it is important to remember that not all verbs with "se" are impersonal. For example: Maria smiles. / Juan gets up. / Alberto gets angry. In these examples there is a subject who carries out the action and, therefore, they are not impersonal verbs.

Unipersonal verbs

Unipersonal verbs are those that are only conjugated in the third person singular. Although that is their conjugation, they lack a subject. They are also called "verbs of nature", since they usually describe atmospheric phenomena. For example: Hail all night.

When one of these verbs is used figuratively, they are no longer impersonal verbs and are normally conjugated. For example: After hours of travel, we fell into the evening on the beach. ("We got dark" in this example is not an impersonal verb but the person who executes it is "we")

Grammatical impersonality

Certain verbs can have regular uses and also uses that make them impersonal, that is, without an explicit subject and only conjugated in the third person singular. The verbs haber, ser, estar, and do can present grammatical impersonality in certain cases. For example: There are Many people. / It is early. / Is raining.

Examples of sentences with impersonal verbs

THIRD PARTIES

1. His death it happened in the early morning.
2. The facts happened ten years ago.
3. Atañer: The fight between them will not concerns.
4. Concern: The Decision concerns to the whole family.
5. Strike say that this was not the outcome we expected.
6. The fall of the empire it happened in the fifteenth century.
7. Urges find a solution.

IMPERSONAL WITH "SE"

1. Anticipates a storm.
2. Is considered rude not to greet the neighbors.
3. It is believed that will give the verdict tomorrow.
4. It counts that the ancient Greeks put a coin in the mouth of the dead.
5. It is said that that the mayor will give a speech today.
6. With this panorama, expected worst.
7. Life's good in this town.
8. Frequently forget the invasion of America as an example of genocide.
9. It is assumed that the government must look after our interests.

ONE-MEMBER

1. No will dawn until seven.
2. Nightfall early in winter.
3. What time will sunset?
4. It was supposed to be sunny today but Deluge all day.
5. I heard some noises and when I looked out the window I saw that hailed.
6. Rains since the morning. It rained a lot this month.
7. Drizzled when I left home.
8. Never snows in this region.
9. Flashed all night.

GRAMMATICAL IMPERSONALITY

1. He was pouring down.
2. There are two exits.
3. There were many people.
4. There was three big snowfalls last winter.
5. Make much that we do not see each other.
6. Make trust.
7. It is very late.