3. Clitic pronouns‎ > ‎3.1. Clitic functions‎ > ‎3.1.4 SE constructions (NP-SE)‎ > ‎

3.1.4.2 Middle SE

Middle se constructions can be distinguished from passive se constructions by the fact that they express a general property of some object. Consequently, the aspect of the corresponding verb is generally imperfective and the subject NP is typically inanimate.

In these constructions, NP-SE is co-indexed with the subject, just like it is in passive se constructions. This annotation scheme is applied to all unambiguous middle se constructions (even to those with a 3rd singular verb).
( (IP-MAT (NP-SBJ-1 (D-F-P as) (N-P cousas))
	  (PP (CONJ-NEG nem)
	      (P por)
	      (IP-INF (ET-F estarem)
		      (ADVP (Q muito) (ADV perto))))
	  (NP-SE-1 (CL se))
	  (VB-P vêem)
	  (ADVP (ADV-R melhor))
	  (. ,))
  (TYCHO BRAHE; ID A_001_PSD,30.516))

(IP-MAT   (NP-SBJ-1  (D-F Aquela)
                     (N carne)
                     (PP  (P de)
                          (NP (N cavalo))))
          (, ,)
          (CP-ADV  (C se)
                   (IP-SUB   (NP-SBJ *pro*)
                             (SR-SD-3S fosse)
                             (ADVP (ADV bem))
                             (VB-AN-F preparadinha)))
          (, ,)
          (VB-D-3S comia)
          (NP-SE-1 (CL se)) 
                    (ADVP (ADV bem))
          (. .))
(CORDIAL-SIN; ID VPA06)

See also