Impersonal verbs

Impersonal verbs

Use of the impersonal verb hay (there is / there are): never changes form for singular or plural. For example: Hay un libro en la mesa. (There is a book on the table.) or Hay muchas personas aquí. (There are many people here.)
Use of hay que + infinitive (one must / it is necessary to): this is used in general cases, i.e.not referring to a specific person. For example: Hay que estudiar para el examen. (One must study for the exam.) or Hay que limpiar la casa. (It’s necessary to clean the house.)
Impersonal use of se (for generalised you / one): this use of se makes a sentence impersonal, meaning it applies to people in general. This is often translated as ‘you can,’ ‘one needs to,’ etc. For example: Se puede nadar aquí. (You/One can swim here.), Se necesita tiempo. (Time is needed.), or Se come bien en este restaurante. (One eats well in this restaurant.)
Use of hace + noun (for weather): hace is used for certain weather expressions, and always stays the same, e.g. Hace frío. (It’s cold.).

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