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In Spanish we use the impersonal pronoun se with the modal verbs deber and poder to express "you must [do something]" or "you can [do something]" in an impersonal way. In English you could also say "one must" or "one can" but this is more formal.
Se debe + infinitive of main verb
Se puede + infinitive of main verb
The modal verbs will always take the 3rd person singular form of the present.
This type of impersonal sentence where the subject is not specific but rather refers to people in general is used with intransitive verbs, i.e. verbs with no direct objects, like dormir, ir, descansar, pasear...
Have a look at the following examples:
There are transitive verbs that may be used sometimes with no mention of a direct object. In this case the impersonal form "se debe/se puede" can also be used.
Read and listen to these examples:
Remember all modal verbs are followed by an infinitive.
Although this type of impersonal sentence seems very similar to the "passive se" sentences, this type cannot be turned into a "normal" passive sentence with "ser + participle".
For example:
No se debe fumar. (You must not smoke)
Fumar no es debido.
See also Forming the Spanish passive se with modal verbs deber/poder (la pasiva refleja)
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