Verb Agreement with ‘Se’ Constructions in Spanish: How to Use ‘Poder’ and ‘Deber’ with Singular and Plural Nouns

When using “se” constructions with “poder” or “deber” plus an infinitive and a plural noun, verb agreement can cause confusion. Here are the guidelines:

1. Plural noun as subject without “a”: The verb should be in the plural (e.g., Se pueden contratar actores).
2. Plural noun with “a” (personal a): The verb stays singular, as it’s an impersonal construction (e.g., Se puede contratar a estos actores).
3. Non-person nouns: Generally, the verb should be plural (e.g., Se deben respetar las normas), but using singular is also possible in some regions (Se debe rellenar los formularios).
4. Pronoun placement: “Se” can precede auxiliary verbs or attach to the infinitive (e.g., Se pueden contratar actores or Pueden contratarse actores).

Summary: Use plural verbs unless “a” is used, in which case singular is preferred.