Phrase · ⚠️ Instructions and warnings
Se prohíbe fumar en todo el edificio.
Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the building.
B1stating prohibitionsformalAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Se1pronoun(impersonal)3rdprohíbe1verbis forbiddenprohibir · present · 3rd sing.fumar2verbsmoking (to smoke)infinitiveenprepositionintodo3determinerall, the wholemasc. · sing.el3determinerthemasc. · sing. · definiteedificionounbuildingmasc. · sing..
- Se → prohíbe: impersonal se
- prohíbe → fumar: prohibir + infinitive
- todo → edificio: todo el + noun
- el → edificio: m. sg.
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1se prohíbe + infinitive: impersonal se, the standard wording of official signs. Note the accent on í. Impersonal and passive se; reciprocal se →
- 2The infinitive acts as a noun: fumar = smoking.
- 3todo el edificio = the whole building: todo + article + noun.
Variations
- Prohibido fumar en todo el edificio.
- Está prohibido fumar en todo el edificio.