When you start feeling more confident speaking Spanish, you quickly realize that knowing verb tenses isn’t enough to sound natural. One of the things that truly makes a difference is the ability to build sentences without a clearly defined subject.
That’s exactly where impersonal expressions come in.
These structures are extremely common in both spoken and written Spanish. We use them to express opinions, make general statements, describe situations, or give evaluations without clearly stating who performs the action.
We do something similar in English when we say: “It’s clear that…”, “It’s possible that…”, “People say that…”. In Spanish, these constructions follow specific rules, especially when it comes to choosing between the indicative and the subjunctive.
In this article, we’ll look at how impersonal expressions work, when to use different verb moods, and the main structures that allow you to speak without an explicit subject.
1. What are impersonal expressions?
Impersonal expressions are structures in which the subject is either not expressed or not relevant. The focus is not on who performs the action, but on the information being conveyed.
The most typical structure is:
Ser / Estar / Parecer + adjective (or expression) + que + verb
– Es seguro que mañana empiezan las clases.
– Está claro que nos gustaría ayudar.
– Me parece evidente que estáis mintiendo.
In these sentences, there is no specific subject. Instead, they express a general viewpoint, an observation, or an evaluation.
2. Indicative or subjunctive: the key difference
One of the most important aspects of impersonal expressions is choosing between the indicative and the subjunctive. This choice depends less on grammar and more on the type of information you want to convey.
When presenting a fact as certain, evident, or verified, the indicative is used.
When expressing a judgment, evaluation, or personal reaction, the subjunctive is used.
This distinction is central in Spanish and allows you to communicate your attitude toward what you’re saying with precision.
3. Impersonal expressions with the indicative
Impersonal expressions followed by the indicative are used when the information is considered objective, evident, or certain.
Some of the most common include: es seguro que, es cierto que, está claro que, está comprobado que, me parece evidente que.
Here are a few examples:
– Es obvio que hemos hecho algo mal.
– Es cierto que ganaremos dinero con este negocio.
– Está comprobado que el fuego fue provocado.
In all these cases, the speaker presents the information as a fact or as highly probable.
4. Negation and the shift to the subjunctive
When these same expressions are negated, the meaning of the sentence changes. It’s no longer about certainty, but about doubt or an unconfirmed possibility. For this reason, the subjunctive is used.
Examples make this shift clear:
– No es seguro que mañana empiecen las clases.
– No es obvio que hayamos hecho algo mal.
– No es cierto que ganemos dinero con este negocio.
The switch from indicative to subjunctive is not mechanical—it reflects a change in how the information is presented.
5. Impersonal expressions with the subjunctive
The subjunctive is also used when expressing a personal judgment, evaluation, or emotional reaction. In these cases, the information is not presented as objective, but as a subjective interpretation.
Common expressions include: es normal que, es lógico que, es increíble que, es horrible que, está bien que, me parece intolerable que.
Some examples:
– Es normal que estés asustado.
– Es lógico que no quiera venir después de lo que pasó.
– Es horrible que haya tanta violencia en el mundo.
In these sentences, the focus is not on the fact itself, but on the speaker’s evaluation of it.
6. Other impersonal structures in Spanish
In addition to expressions with ser, estar, and parecer, Spanish offers several other ways to build impersonal sentences. These are very common in real-life language and help you sound more natural and fluent.
6.1 Verb in the third person plural
One way is to use the verb in the third person plural without specifying the subject. This assigns the action to an undefined agent.
– ¿Qué ponen en el cine Victoria?
– Van a subir los impuestos.
This construction is similar to English “they say…” or “they’ve decided…”.
6.2 Using impersonal “se”
Another very common structure uses se followed by a verb in the third person singular or plural. In these cases, the sentence takes on a passive or impersonal meaning.
– Se vende coche a buen precio.
– Se hacen fotocopias a color.
This structure is extremely common in everyday Spanish, especially in practical or informational contexts.
You can turn an active sentence into an impersonal one by removing the subject, adding se, and adjusting the verb:
– Los españoles cenan muy tarde. → En España se cena muy tarde.
Watch out for a common mistake: when the direct object is a person introduced by a, the verb stays in the singular.
– Se recibió a los deportistas con entusiasmo.
This detail is important and can easily lead to errors.
6.3 Second person singular with general meaning
Spanish often uses the second person singular to express general ideas. In this case, the pronoun doesn’t refer to a specific person, but to people in general.
– Si viajas solo tienes más libertad.
– Cuando conduces debes ser muy prudente.
This structure is very natural in spoken language and has a direct equivalent in English (“when you travel…”, “when you drive…”).
6.4 Using “la gente” and “todo el mundo”
Another way to express generality is by using expressions like la gente or todo el mundo. In these cases, the speaker distances themselves from the statement.
– La gente es muy desordenada.
– Todo el mundo sabe la verdad.
These structures are useful for making general statements without directly involving yourself or the listener.
7. Summary
To use impersonal expressions correctly, it’s essential to distinguish the type of information you want to convey.
Expressions that indicate certainty, evidence, or factual statements use the indicative.
Expressions that convey judgment, opinion, or reaction require the subjunctive.
When a sentence expressing certainty is negated, the verb shifts to the subjunctive because the content is no longer presented as certain.
Alongside these, there are other common impersonal forms, such as the third person plural, impersonal se, the second person singular with general meaning, and expressions like la gente and todo el mundo.
8. Why are they so important?
Impersonal expressions are essential for making your Spanish sound more natural and closer to real-life usage. They allow you to avoid overly direct sentences, express opinions more subtly, and build smoother discourse.
Without these structures, you risk producing sentences that are grammatically correct but unnatural or overly simple.
On the other hand, mastering impersonal expressions helps you communicate more precisely and confidently, especially when expressing opinions, doubts, or evaluations.
9. Want to go further?
To get a complete and easy-to-reference overview, you can use the grammar sheet dedicated to the expresiones impersonales in the Sillabi resources.
It’s a useful tool for reviewing structures, revisiting examples, and clearing up any doubts while studying.
10. Ready to take your Spanish to the next level?
Knowing the rules is just the first step. To actually use these structures when speaking, you need guided practice and a path that helps you apply them in real contexts.
If you want to improve your fluency, feel more confident using the indicative and subjunctive, and build more natural sentences, check out the course ¡Ojalá!.
It’s a clear, structured, and progressive program designed to help you develop real Spanish skills through explanations, exercises, and practical activities.
If you’re not sure where to start, you can also take the placement test—in just a few minutes, you’ll find the level that suits you best.