- Master passive "se" (most common!) - Use se + verb constructions with transitive verbs, with number agreement
- Understand ser + past participle - Form formal passive constructions using ser conjugated + past participle
- Know transitive vs intransitive - Distinguish which verbs work with passive se vs impersonal se
- Make participles agree - Adjust past participles for gender and number with the subject
- Use "por" for agents - Express who performed the action using "por" (by)
- Avoid overusing passive - Understand when Spanish prefers active voice or other alternatives
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SentencesUpper intermediate
Passive Voice: The Action Was Done (Ser + Past Participle)
Form passive constructions with ser and se in Spanish
What You'll Learn
Overview
The passive voice shifts focus from who does an action to what happens or what receives the action. While English uses passive voice frequently, Spanish uses it much more sparingly -mainly in formal writing, news reports, and when the agent (who did it) is unknown or unimportant.
The Core Structure
Active voice: Cervantes escribió el libro (Cervantes wrote the book)
Passive voice: El libro fue escrito por Cervantes (The book was written by Cervantes)
Formula: ser (conjugated) + past participle (agreeing with subject) + por (by - optional)
Important: Spanish Avoids Passive Voice
Unlike English, Spanish speakers often find passive voice unnatural in everyday conversation. Instead, they prefer: active voice, se constructions, or third-person plural verbs. Passive voice is mainly reserved for formal writing, academic texts, and news reports.
You'll learn to form and recognise passive voice, but more importantly, you'll learn when NOT to use it and what alternatives native speakers prefer.
Structure & Formation
1. The Basic Formula
SER (conjugated) + PAST PARTICIPLE (agrees) + POR + agent (optional)
Step by step transformation:
Active:
Los estudiantes leen los libros
The students read the books
Passive:
Los libros son leídos por los estudiantes
The books are read by the students
Key point: The past participle acts like an adjective and must agree in gender and number with the subject!
2. Past Participle Agreement
The past participle changes its ending to match the subject:
| Subject | Past Participle | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine singular | -o | El libro fue escrito |
| Feminine singular | -a | La carta fue escrita |
| Masculine plural | -os | Los libros fueron escritos |
| Feminine plural | -as | Las cartas fueron escritas |
3. Different Tenses in Passive Voice
Conjugate ser in the appropriate tense, then add the past participle:
Present
La casa es construida
The house is (being) built
Preterite
La casa fue construida
The house was built (completed action)
Imperfect
La casa era construida
The house was being built (ongoing in past)
Future
La casa será construida
The house will be built
Present Perfect
La casa ha sido construida
The house has been built
4. Passive "Se" Construction (Most Common!)
The passive "se" (se pasiva) is the MOST common way to express passive meaning in Spanish. It's used with transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) and the verb agrees in number with the subject.
Important: Passive Se vs Impersonal Se
Passive se: Verb agrees in number (singular/plural) - used with transitive verbs
Impersonal se: Always singular - used with intransitive verbs or general statements
Singular Subject
Se habla español aquí
Spanish is spoken here
"español" is singular → verb "habla" is singular
Se vende casa
House for sale
"casa" is singular → verb "vende" is singular
Se construyó el edificio en 2020
The building was built in 2020
"edificio" is singular → verb "construyó" is singular
Plural Subject (Verb Agrees!)
Se hablan muchos idiomas aquí
Many languages are spoken here
"idiomas" is plural → verb "hablan" is plural
Se venden coches
Cars for sale
"coches" is plural → verb "venden" is plural
Se construyeron los edificios en 2020
The buildings were built in 2020
"edificios" is plural → verb "construyeron" is plural
Transitive vs Intransitive Verbs
Passive se only works with transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object):
vender (to sell) - transitive - Se vende casa
hablar (to speak) - transitive - Se habla español
construir (to build) - transitive - Se construyó el puente
hablar (to speak) - transitive - Se habla español
construir (to build) - transitive - Se construyó el puente
With intransitive verbs (no direct object), use impersonal se instead:
trabajar (to work) - intransitive - Se trabaja mucho (always singular)
vivir (to live) - intransitive - Se vive bien aquí (always singular)
vivir (to live) - intransitive - Se vive bien aquí (always singular)
5. Other Spanish Alternatives to Passive Voice
Besides passive se, native speakers also use:
Option 1: Active Voice
Passive: La puerta fue abierta por Juan
Active: Juan abrió la puerta
Juan opened the door
Option 2: Third Person Plural
Passive: La casa fue construida en 1990
Third person plural: Construyeron la casa en 1990
They built the house in 1990
Rule of thumb: If you can avoid "ser + past participle" passive in Spanish, do so! Use passive se, active voice, or third person plural instead.
Examples
News & Journalism
Preterite
El edificio fue destruido por un incendio
The building was destroyed by a fire
Preterite
Los sospechosos fueron arrestados ayer
The suspects were arrested yesterday
Future
La ley será aprobada el próximo mes
The law will be approved next month
Academic & Formal Writing
Preterite
El experimento fue realizado por científicos
The experiment was conducted by scientists
Preterite
Los datos fueron analizados cuidadosamente
The data were analysed carefully
Perfect
La teoría ha sido confirmada
The theory has been confirmed
Historical & Official Contexts
Literature
Don Quijote fue escrito por Cervantes
Don Quixote was written by Cervantes
Architecture
La catedral fue construida en el siglo XIII
The cathedral was built in the 13th century
History
América fue descubierta en 1492
America was discovered in 1492
Passive vs Natural Alternatives
Spanish is spoken in 20 countries
Formal: El español es hablado en 20 países
Natural: Se habla español en 20 países
The door was opened
Formal: La puerta fue abierta
Natural: Se abrió la puerta
This car was made in Japan
Formal: Este coche fue hecho en Japón
Natural: Este coche se hizo en Japón
Common Mistakes
Most Common Passive Voice Mistakes
Wrong: Esto es vendido aquí
Correct: Esto se vende aquí
Spanish prefers "se" construction for everyday passive - sounds more natural
Wrong: La carta fue escribido
Correct: La carta fue escrita
Past participle must agree with subject - "carta" is feminine singular
Wrong: El libro está escrito por Cervantes
Correct: El libro fue escrito por Cervantes
Passive voice uses SER not estar - estar + participle describes state/result
Wrong: Las casas fueron construido
Correct: Las casas fueron construidas
Past participle must be feminine plural to match "casas"
Ser vs Estar with Participles
Passive (SER) = Action
La ventana fue rota ayer
The window was broken yesterday (someone broke it)
State (ESTAR) = Result
La ventana está rota
The window is broken (current state)
When to Include "por" (by)
Include when agent matters
Don Quijote fue escrito por Cervantes
The author is important information
Omit when agent is unknown
La casa fue construida en 1920
The builder is not relevant
Quick Test
Practice forming passive voice and knowing when to use alternatives:
1. Form the passive: 'Cervantes wrote the book'
AEl libro fue escrito por Cervantes
BEl libro era escrito por Cervantes
CEl libro está escrito por Cervantes
DEl libro es escribido por Cervantes
2. Which is the most natural way to say 'Spanish is spoken here'?
AEspañol es hablado aquí
BSe habla español aquí
CEspañol fue hablado aquí
DEspañol está hablado aquí
3. Complete with correct agreement: 'Las cartas fueron ____'
Aescribido
Bescrita
Cescribidos
Descritas
4. When is passive voice most commonly used in Spanish?
AIn everyday conversation
BIn casual speech
CIn formal writing and news
DIt's never used
5. Which verb forms passive voice in Spanish?
Aestar + past participle
Bser + past participle
Chaber + past participle
Dtener + past participle
6. What's the difference? 'La puerta fue abierta' vs 'La puerta está abierta'
ANo difference
Bfue = action was done; está = current state
Cestá is wrong
Dfue is wrong
7. Rewrite naturally: 'El español es hablado en México'
ASe habla español en México
BEspañol fue hablado en México
CEstar hablado español en México
DKeep it as is
8. Complete: 'El edificio ____ destruido ayer' (preterite)
Aes
Bestá
Cfue
Dera