The Passive (Junior Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
The passive
Overview
The passive voice allows us to focus on what happens to someone or something, rather than who does the action. In Spanish, just like in English, we use the passive to shift emphasis or when the person doing the action is unknown or unimportant.
For example, instead of saying "Someone built this house," we say "This house was built." This change in focus is the key purpose of the passive voice.
Spanish offers two main ways to express passive meaning, both of which are essential for natural communication.
Rules & formation
Method 1: Using ser + past participle
This method works similarly to English passive construction. We combine the appropriate tense of the verb ser (to be) with a past participle.
Formation steps:
- Choose the correct tense of ser (present, preterite, future, etc.)
- Add the past participle of the main verb
- Make sure the past participle agrees with the subject in gender and number
Method 2: Using reflexive se
This approach is more common and natural in Spanish. We use se with the third person form of the verb, making it appear as though the action happens by itself.
Formation steps:
- Place se before the verb
- Use the third person singular or plural form of the verb
- Match the verb form to whether the subject is singular or plural
Key forms
Past participle formation
| Verb type | Ending removed | New ending | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ar verbs | -ar | -ado | hablar → hablado (spoken) |
| -er verbs | -er | -ido | comer → comido (eaten) |
| -ir verbs | -ir | -ido | vivir → vivido (lived) |
Ser conjugations for passive
| Tense | Forms | English |
|---|---|---|
| Present | es/son | is/are |
| Preterite | fue/fueron | was/were |
| Future | será/serán | will be |
Example sentences
Using ser + past participle
Worked Example: Ser + Past Participle Construction
El coche fue vendido la semana pasada. The car was sold last week.
Analysis: fue (preterite of ser) combines with vendido (past participle of vender).
Worked Example: Agreement in Gender and Number
Los ordenadores son apagados al final de la clase. The computers are turned off at the end of the lesson.
Analysis: Notice how son (present plural of ser) matches with the plural subject, and apagados agrees in gender and number.
Worked Example: Future Tense Passive
Los resultados serán publicados la semana próxima. The results will be published next week.
Analysis: The future tense serán shows when the action will happen.
Using reflexive se
Worked Example: Reflexive Se Construction
Se usa principalmente para bajar música. It is mainly used for downloading music.
Analysis: The verb usa is third person singular because the implied subject is singular.
Worked Example: Plural Agreement with Se
Se publicarán los resultados la semana próxima. The results will be published next week.
Analysis: Here, publicarán is third person plural to match los resultados.
Worked Example: Natural Sounding Passive
Se construirán unos pisos nuevos en las afueras. Some new flats will be built in the outskirts.
Analysis: The reflexive se makes this sentence sound more natural than the ser + past participle alternative.
Common mistakes & tips
Agreement errors: Remember that past participles must agree with the subject in gender and number when using ser. For example: La habitación fue limpiada (feminine singular) vs Los coches fueron vendidos (masculine plural).
Choosing the right method: The reflexive se construction is generally more common and natural in modern Spanish. Use ser + past participle when you want to emphasise the action or when including "by whom" (aunque esto no aparece en estos ejemplos).
Tense selection: Look at time expressions to choose the right tense of ser. Words like la semana pasada (last week) indicate preterite, while la semana próxima (next week) suggests future.
Mini practice
Spanish → English
- La novela fue escrita en dos mil diecinueve.
- Los ejercicios se hacen online.
- Los resultados serán publicados el viernes.
English → Spanish
- The climate is affected by the actions we take.
- New toys are not sold in the market.
- The money was found in the street.
Answers
- The novel was written in 2019.
- The exercises are done online.
- The results will be published on Friday.
- El clima es afectado por las acciones que tomamos.
- No se venden juguetes nuevos en el mercado.
- El dinero fue encontrado en la calle.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Spanish has two main ways to form the passive: ser + past participle and reflexive se
- Past participles end in -ado for -ar verbs and -ido for -er/-ir verbs
- Past participles must agree in gender and number when used with ser
- The reflexive se construction is more common and sounds more natural
- Choose your tense of ser based on when the action happens (present, past, or future)