When you use Spanish passive voice (la voz pasiva), you shift focus from the doer of an action to what receives the action. Spanish offers two main passive constructions: the true passive voice using ser + past participle, and the reflexive passive using se.
True Passive Voice (ser + past participle)
Form this construction with ser (to be) + the past participle of the main verb. The past participle must match the subject in gender and number.
Consider this transformation:
- Active: Los estudiantes escribieron el ensayo. (The students wrote the essay.)
- Passive: El ensayo fue escrito por los estudiantes. (The essay was written by the students.)
Essential elements:
- The active sentence’s object becomes the passive sentence’s subject
- Conjugate ser to match the original verb’s tense
- Make the past participle agree with the new subject
- Introduce the original subject with “por”
Reflexive Passive (se passive)
This more common form uses “se” + the verb in third person:
- Se venden casas. (Houses are sold.)
- Se habla español. (Spanish is spoken.)
Choosing Between Forms
Use true passive (ser + participle) when:
- Mentioning the agent (doer)
- Writing formally
- Emphasizing action completion
- Describing specific past events
Use reflexive passive when:
- The agent is unknown or unimportant
- Making general statements
- Creating signs and announcements
- Describing ongoing situations
Real-World Examples
- Business:
- True: El contrato fue firmado por el director. (The contract was signed by the director.)
- Reflexive: Se aceptan tarjetas de crédito. (Credit cards are accepted.)
- Academic:
- True: La teoría fue desarrollada por Einstein. (The theory was developed by Einstein.)
- Reflexive: Se estudian tres idiomas en esta escuela. (Three languages are studied in this school.)
Key Points for Accuracy
Avoid these common errors:
- Using passive voice when active voice sounds more natural
- Failing to match the participle with the subject
- Including “por” when the agent isn’t needed
- Confusing se passive with other se structures
Alternative Expressions
Spanish often prefers these alternatives to passive voice:
- Active voice with indefinite subject: Alguien robó mi bicicleta. (Someone stole my bicycle.)
- Impersonal se: Se dice que va a llover. (It is said that it’s going to rain.)
- Active voice with general subject: La gente habla mucho de eso. (People talk a lot about that.)
Note: Spanish uses passive voice less frequently than English. While understanding these constructions is important, Spanish often favors active voice or alternative expressions where English might use passive voice.