B2 · Intermedio alto Capítulo 49

Advanced Passive and Impersonal

4 Reglas totales
26 ejemplos
1 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of professional distance and objective reporting in Romanian.

  • Construct complex passive sentences using auxiliary and reflexive forms.
  • Utilize impersonal 'se' and supine constructions for objective reporting.
  • Eliminate personal pronouns to achieve a formal, academic tone.
Professionalism through precision: mastering the objective voice.

Lo que aprenderás

Impersonal structures for formal reports. Avoiding the 'I' perspective.

  • Advanced Passive
    Master passive reporting to share rumors, news, and general beliefs objectively using se or este constructions.
  • Impersonal Structures
    Use the se reflexive-passive to report information objectively and focus on the action rather than the actor.
  • Avoiding Agentive Focus
    Focus on the action by using reflexive se or the passive voice to sound more professional and objective.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to transform active sentences into complex passive structures using modal verbs.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to evaluate a text and remove subjective 'I' perspectives using impersonal 'se'.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to draft a formal executive summary in Romanian.

Ejemplos clave (6)

1

Se spune că iarna aceasta va fi foarte grea.

It is said that this winter will be very hard.

Advanced Passive
2

Este confirmat că președintele va vizita orașul.

It is confirmed that the president will visit the city.

Advanced Passive
3

În România se mănâncă multă mămăligă.

In Romania, a lot of polenta is eaten.

Impersonal Structures
4

Se spune că acest castel este bântuit.

It is said that this castle is haunted.

Impersonal Structures
5

Se mănâncă bine în acest oraș.

One eats well in this city.

Avoiding Agentive Focus
6

Se vând bilete la intrare.

Tickets are sold at the entrance.

Avoiding Agentive Focus

Consejos y trucos (4)

💡

The Gossip Starter

If you want to sound like a local sharing a secret, start with Se aude că... (It is heard that...). It's the ultimate conversation starter.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Advanced Passive
🎯

The 'Se' Shortcut

If you forget how to conjugate a difficult verb for a specific person, turn the sentence into an impersonal one with se. It's a lifesaver in exams!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Impersonal Structures
💡

Avoid 'Eu'

Whenever you want to say 'I', stop and rephrase using 'Se'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Formal Report Writing
💡

The 'Se' Shortcut

If you aren't sure which one to use, go with 'se'. It is the most versatile and natural way to avoid the agent in daily conversation.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Avoiding Agentive Focus

Vocabulario clave (6)

raport report a constata to observe/find concluzie conclusion a implementa to implement estimat estimated obiectiv objective

Real-World Preview

briefcase

The Executive Meeting

Review Summary

  • [Subject] + [A FI conjugated] + [Participle]
  • SE + [Verb 3rd person singular]
  • ESTE DE + [Supine form]

Errores comunes

The auxiliary 'a fi' must agree in number with the subject (măsurile = plural, so 'au fost').

Wrong: Măsurile a fost luate.
Correcto: Măsurile au fost luate.

In the reflexive passive, the verb must agree with the thing being sold (mere = plural, so 'se vând').

Wrong: Se vinde mere aici.
Correcto: Se vând mere aici.

Using 'Eu' (I) is too personal for formal reports; the impersonal 's-a observat' is preferred.

Wrong: Eu am observat că este o problemă.
Correcto: S-a observat că există o problemă.

Next Steps

You've reached a major milestone! Mastering these structures is what separates intermediate learners from truly advanced speakers. Keep practicing that professional tone!

Rewrite a personal diary entry as a formal police report.

Listen to a Romanian news broadcast and count how many times 'se' is used.

Continue to: Stylistic Nuances

Práctica rápida (10)

Fill in the blank with the correct impersonal form.

___ (se observa) o creștere a vânzărilor.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Se observă
Present tense impersonal.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Formal Report Writing

Complete the formal notice using the correct participle ending.

Intrarea este ___ prin această ușă.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
The noun 'Intrarea' is feminine singular, so the participle 'permisă' must match.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Avoiding Agentive Focus

Correct the agreement in this passive reported sentence.

În ziar ___ că prețurile au scăzut.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se scrie
Even though 'prețurile' is plural, the reporting verb 'se scrie' must stay singular.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Advanced Passive

Choose the correct impersonal form for a plural object.

În acest magazin ___ fructe proaspete.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: se vând
Because 'fructe' is plural, the verb 'a vinde' must be in the 3rd person plural.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Impersonal Structures

Report a rumor using the correct past tense contraction.

___ că examenul a fost anulat.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: S-a spus
'S-a spus' is the perfect compus form, meaning 'it was said'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Impersonal Structures

Complete the sentence to share a rumor you heard at work.

___ că managerul va pleca luna viitoare.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Se zice
'Se zice că' is the standard way to introduce office gossip or casual rumors.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Advanced Passive

Choose the most formal option.

Which is more formal?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: S-a finalizat.
Passive voice is more formal.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Formal Report Writing

Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the passive sentence.

Aici ___ multe limbi străine.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Since 'limbi' (languages) is plural, the verb must be 'se vorbesc'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Avoiding Agentive Focus

Identify the correct way to express 'it's worth it'.

___ să înveți limba română.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Merită
'A merita' is used without 'se' in this impersonal construction.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Impersonal Structures

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu cred că raportul e bun.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Se consideră că raportul este bun.
Remove 'Eu' and use formal adjectives.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Formal Report Writing

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (6)

It means you are reporting information without naming a specific person who said it. You use structures like se spune că to say 'it is said that'.
You can, but it sounds a bit basic. Using se spune is more sophisticated and common in news or formal writing.
It means the sentence doesn't have a specific person (like I, you, or Maria) doing the action. We use se to show the action is general, like se știe (it is known).
Exactly! It's the Romanian equivalent of 'people say' or 'they say' when you don't mean a specific group of people.
In formal reports, the focus must be on the data, not the person. Using 'Eu' makes it subjective.
No, it can be reflexive, but in reports, it's almost always impersonal passive.
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