The passive (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Flashcards

What does passive voice show?

Action being done TO someone/something (not by them)

Two methods for forming Spanish passive voice

1. ser + past participle 2) reflexive se construction

Verb used in Method 1 of passive

ser (to be)

Past participle ending for -ar verbs

-ado (e.g. hablar → hablado)

Past participle ending for -er and -ir verbs

-ido (e.g. vender → vendido, vivir → vivido)

Agreement rule for past participles with ser

Must agree with subject in gender and number (-o/-a, -os/-as)

What is added to make Method 2 passive?

se (makes verb reflexive)

Pattern for reflexive se passive

se + verb (3rd person) + subject

English 'is/are' passive → Spanish tense

Present tense (e.g. es usado)

English 'was/were' passive → Spanish tense

Preterite tense (e.g. fue vendido)

English 'will be' passive → Spanish tense

Future tense (e.g. será visto)

How common is reflexive se passive in Spanish?

Extremely common (newspapers, formal writing, conversation)