LoginPassive Voice For Intermediate learners
What Is the Passive Voice?
The passive voice in Spanish (la voz pasiva) emphasizes the action or receiver of the action rather than the doer (agent). Spanish has two possible passive forms; one is more formal and literary while the other is preferred in everyday speech.
Passive with "Ser"
To form a passive sentence, the object of the active sentence moves to the subject position. This "true" passive is formed using the auxiliary verb "ser" and a past participle. Here is the structure of a passive sentence:
[Subject (receiver)] + [ser + past participle] + (por + agent)
"Ser" is conjugated in the same mood and tense as the verb of the active sentence. However, it agrees with the new subject in terms of person and number.
Destruyeron el edificio > El edificio fue destruido.
They demolished the building. > The building was demolished.
"fue" is indicative past simple, similarly to "destruyeron"; but in terms of person it agrees with the new subject which is singular third-person "el edificio"
The past participle form of the main verb agrees with the new subject in terms of gender and number.
El escribió la carta. > La carta es escrita.
He writes the letter. > The letter is written.
El escribió las cartas. > Las cartas son escritas.
He writes the letters. > The letters are written.
The agent, which is the doer of the action and subject of the active voice, can be introduced at the end of the sentence using the preposition "por."
La puerta fue cerrada por Juan.
The door was closed by Juan.
El libro será leído por las estudiantes.
The book will be read by the students.
Compare each set of active and passive sentences and observe the changes made:
Active sentence: Cervantes escribió el libro.
Active sentence: Los obreros construirán las casas.
Tip!
This passive structure is not common in Spanish and is limited to formal and literary use. In everyday language use, the se passive is preferred.
The "Se" Passive
This structure removes the agent altogether and does not require a subject. It is used when the agent is unknown or unimportant. To form the passive using "se," it must be followed by the third-person singular or plural conjugation of the main verb depending on the number of the passive subject, which often comes after the verb.
Se escribió el libro.
The book is written.
Se venden libros.
Books are sold.
Muchas preguntas se hicieron.
Many questions were asked.
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