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Understanding the Passive Voice in Spanish | My Language Classes
How to Use “Ser” + Past Participle in Spanish
Are you struggling to understand how to use the passive voice in Spanish? Do phrases like “La carta fue escrita” leave you confused? You’re not alone! Mastering the “ser” + past participle construction can feel tricky at first, but it’s actually one of the most powerful tools for clear, natural Spanish communication.
The passive voice in Spanish is a must-know grammar structure for learners who want to sound more advanced, express actions formally, or shift focus from the person doing an action to the action itself. This structure is used in books, news articles, and real-life conversations—everywhere Spanish is spoken.
In this blog, we’ll walk you step-by-step through:
- What the passive voice is in Spanish
- How it works with “ser” + past participle
- When and how to use it naturally in everyday conversations
- Easy-to-follow grammar rules and lots of examples
- Real-world usage, common mistakes, and helpful tips
- A fun exercise with answers to test your learning
Whether you’re just starting out or brushing up for an exam, this guide will give you everything you need to understand and master passive voice with “ser” + past participle in Spanish—clearly, confidently, and correctly.
Let’s dive in!
What Is the Passive Voice with “Ser” + Past Participle? Explanation and Overview
The passive voice in Spanish is a way to shift the focus of a sentence from who does something to what is being done. It often answers the question: What happened? or What was done? This structure is commonly used in news reports, formal writing, and when the subject is unknown or not important.
At the heart of the Spanish passive voice is this formula:
“Ser” (to be) + past participle
(El verbo “ser” + participio pasado)
Just like in English—where we say “The book was written” instead of “Someone wrote the book”—Spanish uses ser + past participle to form these types of passive sentences.
🔍 Let’s break it down:
- Ser: This is the verb “to be.” It must be conjugated to match the tense and the subject of the sentence.
- Past participle: This is the form of the verb that usually ends in -ado or -ido (similar to “-ed” in English). It must agree in gender and number with the subject.
📘 Examples:
| Spanish Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| La carta fue escrita por Ana. | The letter was written by Ana. |
| Los libros fueron leídos en clase. | The books were read in class. |
| El coche fue reparado ayer. | The car was repaired yesterday. |
| Las ventanas fueron abiertas. | The windows were opened. |
🧠 Why Use the Passive Voice?
- When the person who did the action doesn’t matter El edificio fue construido en 1995.
(The building was built in 1995.) - When the focus is on the action or result, not the person La decisión fue tomada rápidamente.
(The decision was made quickly.) - When the doer is unknown or obvious El documento fue firmado.
(The document was signed.)
The passive voice gives your Spanish a more refined and formal tone. It helps you write and speak like a native, especially in written texts, storytelling, and formal reports.
Everyday Sentences Using the Passive Voice: 10 Common Examples
Now that you understand the basics of the passive voice in Spanish, it’s time to see how it works in real-life, everyday situations. These examples will help you get a feel for how native speakers use the “ser” + past participle structure naturally in speech and writing.
The great thing is, once you start noticing the passive voice, you’ll realize it’s everywhere—in stores, schools, news, and even casual chats!
Here are 10 common passive voice sentences you might hear or use in daily life:
🔟 Spanish Passive Voice Examples
- La comida fue preparada por mi abuela.
The food was prepared by my grandmother. - Los boletos fueron comprados ayer.
The tickets were bought yesterday. - El examen fue corregido por el profesor.
The test was graded by the teacher. - Las llaves fueron encontradas en la mesa.
The keys were found on the table. - La película fue dirigida por un famoso director.
The movie was directed by a famous director. - El correo fue enviado esta mañana.
The mail was sent this morning. - Los niños fueron recogidos por sus padres.
The children were picked up by their parents. - La puerta fue cerrada con fuerza.
The door was closed firmly. - Las cartas fueron entregadas a tiempo.
The letters were delivered on time. - El pastel fue hecho con mucho amor.
The cake was made with a lot of love.
✅ Quick Tip:
Notice how the verb “ser” changes based on the tense and the subject (singular/plural), and how the past participle agrees with the subject in gender and number:
- Fue (singular) vs. Fueron (plural)
- Preparado / preparada / preparados / preparadas
By practicing sentences like these, you’ll train your ear and mind to recognize and use the Spanish passive voice more confidently. Keep these examples handy, or even better—try turning your own daily routines into passive sentences!
When to Use the Passive Voice in Spanish: All the Key Situations
Understanding when to use the passive voice with “ser” + past participle is just as important as knowing how to form it. The passive voice is not used in every sentence—it’s used with a purpose. Below are the main situations where this grammar structure is used naturally and correctly in Spanish.
📌 Key Situations for Using the Passive Voice in Spanish
1. ✅ When the person doing the action is unknown
Sometimes we don’t know who did something—and that’s okay! Spanish uses the passive voice to focus on the action, not the doer.
La ventana fue rota.
(The window was broken.)
We don’t know who broke it!
2. ✅ When the person doing the action is unimportant
In many formal or informational contexts, who did something is less important than what was done.
La carretera fue construida en 2001.
(The highway was built in 2001.)
3. ✅ When you want to sound formal or objective
This is common in news reports, academic writing, instructions, or official announcements.
La ley fue aprobada por el Congreso.
(The law was approved by Congress.)
4. ✅ When writing or speaking in a professional or academic tone
The passive voice is often preferred in scientific reports, school projects, or business presentations.
El informe fue revisado por el comité.
(The report was reviewed by the committee.)
5. ✅ When the result of the action is more important than the person doing it
If the end result is your focus, rather than the person performing the action, the passive voice is the perfect choice.
Los resultados fueron publicados en línea.
(The results were published online.)
6. ✅ To shift focus or emphasize the subject receiving the action
This is a powerful tool when you want to highlight the object of an action instead of the agent.
El premio fue ganado por la estudiante más joven.
(The prize was won by the youngest student.)
🧠 Remember:
- Passive voice is not as common in everyday conversation as in written or formal language.
- Spanish often prefers active voice or reflexive structures, but “ser” + past participle is ideal for certain contexts like those above.
- By knowing when to use the passive voice in Spanish, you’ll make your communication more accurate, clear, and natural—especially in settings that require more formal or descriptive language.
Conjugation Rules for Using “Ser” + Past Participle in the Passive Voice
To use the passive voice correctly in Spanish, you need to conjugate the verb “ser” to match the tense and the subject of your sentence. Then, you pair it with the past participle of the main verb, which must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the subject.
Let’s break this down step by step, so it’s easy to follow.
🧱 Step 1: Conjugate “Ser” in the Needed Tense
Here are the most commonly used tenses for ser in the passive voice:
| Tense | “Ser” Conjugation (Singular) | “Ser” Conjugation (Plural) |
|---|---|---|
| Present | es | son |
| Preterite | fue | fueron |
| Imperfect | era | eran |
| Future | será | serán |
| Conditional | sería | serían |
| Present Perfect | ha sido | han sido |
✔️ Tip: The preterite is the most common tense used in the passive voice for past events.
🧱 Step 2: Add the Past Participle of the Main Verb
The past participle is usually formed like this:
- AR verbs → -ado
- hablar → hablado (spoken)
- ER / IR verbs → -ido
- comer → comido (eaten)
- vivir → vivido (lived)
⚠️ Don’t forget! The past participle must agree with the subject:
- Masculine singular → -ado / -ido
- El libro fue escrito.
- Feminine singular → -ada / -ida
- La carta fue escrita.
- Masculine plural → -ados / -idos
- Los libros fueron escritos.
- Feminine plural → -adas / -idas
- Las cartas fueron escritas.
📚 Conjugation Examples
Let’s see how it all fits together with real examples across different tenses:
✔️ Preterite Passive Voice
- El informe fue escrito por el jefe.
(The report was written by the boss.) - Los correos fueron enviados por Marta.
(The emails were sent by Marta.)
✔️ Present Passive Voice
- La comida es servida caliente.
(The food is served hot.) - Las tareas son corregidas cada noche.
(The assignments are corrected every night.)
✔️ Future Passive Voice
- El paquete será entregado mañana.
(The package will be delivered tomorrow.) - Las cartas serán firmadas por el director.
(The letters will be signed by the director.)
✔️ Conditional Passive Voice
- El proyecto sería terminado en dos días.
(The project would be finished in two days.) - Las decisiones serían tomadas con cuidado.
(The decisions would be made carefully.)
Passive Voice Grammar Rules You Need to Know
Now that you’ve learned the structure and conjugation of “ser” + past participle, it’s time to go deeper into the grammar rules behind the passive voice in Spanish. These rules will help you avoid mistakes and use this structure correctly in real conversations and writing.
Here’s everything you need to keep in mind when forming passive voice sentences.
📘 1. Use “Ser” — Not “Estar” — in Passive Voice
Always remember that the passive voice in Spanish is formed with “ser”, not “estar.”
- ✔️ La canción fue cantada por ella.
(The song was sung by her.) - ❌ La canción estuvo cantada por ella. (Incorrect!)
🔑 “Estar” + past participle is used for describing states, not passive actions.
📘 2. The Past Participle Must Match the Subject
The past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject of the sentence, even though it comes after the verb “ser.”
- Masculine singular: El libro fue escrito.
- Feminine singular: La carta fue escrita.
- Masculine plural: Los informes fueron revisados.
- Feminine plural: Las tareas fueron corregidas.
📘 3. You Can Mention the Agent (Who Did the Action) — But You Don’t Have To
If you want to say who did the action, use the word “por” followed by the agent:
- La cena fue preparada por mi madre.
(The dinner was prepared by my mother.)
If the agent is unknown, obvious, or not important, just leave it out:
- La cena fue preparada.
(The dinner was prepared.)
📘 4. Don’t Overuse the Passive Voice in Informal Spanish
In everyday Spanish, especially in spoken language, the passive voice with “ser” is used less often than in English. Spanish prefers active or reflexive structures in casual settings.
Instead of:
La puerta fue cerrada.
A native might say:
Se cerró la puerta. (The door was closed.)
Use “ser + participio” more often in formal writing, news, or when the agent matters.
📘 5. You Can Use Different Tenses Depending on the Situation
Use the right tense of “ser” to express the time frame:
- Present: Es construido — is built
- Preterite: Fue construido — was built
- Imperfect: Era construido — was being built
- Future: Será construido — will be built
- Conditional: Sería construido — would be built
- Present Perfect: Ha sido construido — has been built
📘 6. The Past Participle Always Stays in Passive Form
Even when you change the tense of “ser,” the past participle remains passive in form and keeps agreement rules.
- La casa fue pintada.
- La casa será pintada.
- La casa ha sido pintada.
🎯 You only change “ser,” not the participle form.
📝 Quick Review:
- ✅ Use “ser” + participio pasado
- ✅ Make the participle agree in gender/number
- ✅ Use “por” if you include the agent
- ✅ Choose the correct tense of “ser”
- ✅ Use in formal, written, or objective contexts
By keeping these key grammar rules in mind, you’ll use the Spanish passive voice correctly, clearly, and naturally in any setting.
Important Tips for Using the Passive Voice Correctly
The Spanish passive voice can feel unfamiliar at first, especially if you’re used to more direct or active sentence structures. But with the right strategies, you can learn to use it naturally, confidently, and correctly.
Here are some simple but powerful tips to help you master the use of “ser” + past participle in Spanish.
🧠 1. Focus on the Action, Not the Actor
The passive voice is ideal when the person doing the action is not the focus of the sentence. This helps make your language sound more neutral, formal, or objective.
La canción fue escrita en 1990.
(The song was written in 1990.)
– We care more about when and what, not who.
🔁 2. Practice with Common Verbs First
Start using the passive voice with frequently used verbs, such as:
- escribir (to write) → escrito
- hacer (to do/make) → hecho
- abrir (to open) → abierto
- ver (to see) → visto
- decir (to say) → dicho
- romper (to break) → roto
El correo fue enviado
(The mail was sent)
Learning these irregular past participles early will help you avoid mistakes.
⏱️ 3. Choose the Right Tense of “Ser” Based on the Time Frame
Always ask: When did the action happen?
- If it happened in the past: Use fue / fueron
- If it’s happening now: Use es / son
- If it will happen later: Use será / serán
El documento será firmado mañana.
(The document will be signed tomorrow.)
👀 4. Watch Out for Agreement Errors
Double-check that the past participle agrees with the gender and number of the subject:
- La puerta fue cerrada ✔️
- Los informes fueron revisados ✔️
This is one of the most common mistakes—but one of the easiest to fix!
🔄 5. Practice Switching Between Active and Passive Voice
Take an active sentence and try converting it to passive:
- Active: Ana preparó el almuerzo.
- Passive: El almuerzo fue preparado por Ana.
This will help you internalize the structure and build fluency faster.
📺 6. Listen and Read in Spanish
Pay attention to how the passive voice is used in:
- News articles and TV reports
- Instructions and manuals
- History documentaries
- Books and short stories
The more exposure you get, the more natural it will feel to use it yourself.
🎤 7. Say It Out Loud
Practicing out loud helps your brain connect grammar with real communication. Read example sentences and say them slowly and clearly to improve fluency and memory.
Las decisiones fueron tomadas con cuidado.
(The decisions were made carefully.)
✅ Bonus Tip: Make Flashcards!
Create cards with different tenses of “ser” on one side and examples of past participles on the other. Mix and match to practice forming full passive voice sentences.
With these easy-to-remember tips, you’ll start using the passive voice in Spanish more naturally and accurately—whether you’re speaking, writing, or just trying to understand what you’re reading or hearing.
Common Mistakes with the Passive Voice and How to Fix Them
The Spanish passive voice is powerful—but only when used correctly. Many learners make small but important errors when using “ser” + past participle, especially if they’re translating directly from English or forgetting agreement rules.
Here are the most common mistakes Spanish learners make with the passive voice—and simple ways to fix them.
❌ 1. Using “Estar” Instead of “Ser”
Mistake:
El libro estuvo escrito por ella.
Why it’s wrong:
The passive voice must be formed with “ser”, not “estar”. Using “estar” changes the meaning and describes a state, not an action.
✅ Fix:
El libro fue escrito por ella.
(The book was written by her.)
❌ 2. Forgetting Gender and Number Agreement in the Past Participle
Mistake:
La casa fue pintado. ❌
Why it’s wrong:
“La casa” is feminine, so “pintado” must be changed to “pintada”.
✅ Fix:
La casa fue pintada.
(The house was painted.)
❌ 3. Forgetting to Include or Misusing “Por” with the Agent
Mistake:
La carta fue escrita Juan. ❌
Why it’s wrong:
When you name the person doing the action in a passive sentence, you must use “por” (by).
✅ Fix:
La carta fue escrita por Juan.
(The letter was written by Juan.)
❌ 4. Using Passive Voice in Casual Speech Too Often
Mistake:
La puerta fue cerrada por mí. (in casual conversation) ❌
Why it’s wrong:
Native Spanish speakers often avoid the passive voice in informal speech. A reflexive construction is usually preferred.
✅ Fix:
Yo cerré la puerta.
Or
Se cerró la puerta.
(The door was closed.)
❌ 5. Incorrect Verb Tense of “Ser”
Mistake:
La película es filmada ayer. ❌
Why it’s wrong:
The sentence refers to the past, so “ser” should be in the preterite tense, not present.
✅ Fix:
La película fue filmada ayer.
(The movie was filmed yesterday.)
❌ 6. Translating Word-for-Word from English
Mistake:
It was given to him → Fue dado a él. ❌
Why it’s tricky:
Spanish doesn’t always use the passive voice the same way English does. Sometimes, a different construction is more natural.
✅ Fix:
Se le dio.
(It was given to him.)
❌ 7. Mixing Up Past Participles and Infinitives
Mistake:
El proyecto fue completar por el equipo. ❌
Why it’s wrong:
“Completar” is the infinitive. You need the past participle, which is “completado.”
✅ Fix:
El proyecto fue completado por el equipo.
(The project was completed by the team.)
🛠 Quick Fix Recap:
- ✅ Use ser, not estar
- ✅ Match the gender and number of the participle
- ✅ Use “por” with the agent
- ✅ Pick the correct tense
- ✅ Avoid using passive voice too much in casual talk
- ✅ Don’t translate literally from English
- ✅ Use the past participle, not infinitives
20 Passive Voice Example Sentences for Better Understanding
The best way to truly understand how to use the Spanish passive voice with “ser” + past participle is by seeing it in action. These example sentences cover a range of tenses, subjects, and contexts, so you can recognize how this structure works in real situations.
We’ll include both singular and plural, masculine and feminine subjects—and mix in different verb tenses for full understanding.
📘 Examples in the Present Tense
- La comida es servida caliente.
(The food is served hot.) - Las tareas son corregidas por la profesora.
(The assignments are corrected by the teacher.) - El correo es entregado a las ocho.
(The mail is delivered at eight.) - Las reglas son explicadas en clase.
(The rules are explained in class.) - El coche es limpiado cada semana.
(The car is cleaned every week.)
🕰 Examples in the Preterite Tense (Simple Past)
- El libro fue escrito por Gabriel García Márquez.
(The book was written by Gabriel García Márquez.) - La carta fue enviada ayer.
(The letter was sent yesterday.) - Los regalos fueron abiertos por los niños.
(The gifts were opened by the children.) - Las preguntas fueron contestadas correctamente.
(The questions were answered correctly.) - El contrato fue firmado por ambas partes.
(The contract was signed by both parties.)
⏳ Examples in the Imperfect Tense (Was Being…)
- La casa era construida por obreros locales.
(The house was being built by local workers.) - Los pasteles eran decorados con frutas.
(The cakes were being decorated with fruit.)
🔮 Examples in the Future Tense
- El examen será corregido mañana.
(The exam will be corrected tomorrow.) - Las decisiones serán tomadas por el comité.
(The decisions will be made by the committee.) - La cena será preparada por el chef.
(The dinner will be prepared by the chef.)
🎯 Examples in the Conditional Tense
- El problema sería resuelto por un experto.
(The problem would be solved by an expert.) - Las entradas serían vendidas en la taquilla.
(The tickets would be sold at the box office.)
⏱️ Examples in the Present Perfect (Has Been…)
- El informe ha sido enviado a tiempo.
(The report has been sent on time.) - Las puertas han sido cerradas por seguridad.
(The doors have been closed for safety.) - El museo ha sido renovado recientemente.
(The museum has been renovated recently.)
These examples show how “ser” + past participle helps describe actions done to the subject—not by it. The verb “ser” adjusts to the tense, and the past participle always agrees with the subject in gender and number.
Passive Voice Fill-in-the-Blank Exercise: Test Your Knowledge
Let’s see how well you understand the structure and usage of the passive voice in Spanish using “ser” + past participle. Below are 20 sentences with missing words. Each sentence is written to test your knowledge of:
- Verb tense
- Past participle agreement (gender and number)
- Correct form of “ser”
- Using “por” when needed
👉 Fill in the blanks using the correct form of “ser” and the past participle of the verb provided in parentheses. Some sentences will also require the word “por”.
✏️ Fill in the Blanks
- La novela ________ ________ en 1985. (escribir)
- Los platos ________ ________ por el camarero. (servir)
- El paquete ________ ________ esta mañana. (entregar)
- Las cartas ________ ________ con mucho cariño. (escribir)
- La fiesta ________ ________ por mis padres. (organizar)
- Los boletos ________ ________ en la taquilla. (vender)
- La puerta ________ ________ por el viento. (abrir)
- El informe ________ ________ a tiempo. (terminar)
- Las luces ________ ________ durante la tormenta. (apagar)
- El discurso ________ ________ por el presidente. (dar)
- La tarea ________ ________ por el estudiante. (hacer)
- Las fotos ________ ________ en el periódico. (publicar)
- El documento ________ ________ por el abogado. (firmar)
- El edificio ________ ________ el año pasado. (construir)
- Los errores ________ ________ rápidamente. (corregir)
- La canción ________ ________ por un famoso cantante. (cantar)
- Las ventanas ________ ________ para dejar entrar aire. (abrir)
- El mensaje ________ ________ ayer. (enviar)
- Las maletas ________ ________ por el botones. (llevar)
- El museo ________ ________ recientemente. (renovar)
Check Your Answers for the Passive Voice Exercise
Here are the completed sentences. The correct answers are in bold, and each sentence includes an English translation so you can understand the meaning clearly.
✅ Answers
- La novela fue escrita en 1985.
(The novel was written in 1985.) - Los platos fueron servidos por el camarero.
(The dishes were served by the waiter.) - El paquete fue entregado esta mañana.
(The package was delivered this morning.) - Las cartas fueron escritas con mucho cariño.
(The letters were written with a lot of care.) - La fiesta fue organizada por mis padres.
(The party was organized by my parents.) - Los boletos fueron vendidos en la taquilla.
(The tickets were sold at the ticket office.) - La puerta fue abierta por el viento.
(The door was opened by the wind.) - El informe fue terminado a tiempo.
(The report was finished on time.) - Las luces fueron apagadas durante la tormenta.
(The lights were turned off during the storm.) - El discurso fue dado por el presidente.
(The speech was given by the president.) - La tarea fue hecha por el estudiante.
(The homework was done by the student.) - Las fotos fueron publicadas en el periódico.
(The photos were published in the newspaper.) - El documento fue firmado por el abogado.
(The document was signed by the lawyer.) - El edificio fue construido el año pasado.
(The building was built last year.) - Los errores fueron corregidos rápidamente.
(The mistakes were corrected quickly.) - La canción fue cantada por un famoso cantante.
(The song was sung by a famous singer.) - Las ventanas fueron abiertas para dejar entrar aire.
(The windows were opened to let air in.) - El mensaje fue enviado ayer.
(The message was sent yesterday.) - Las maletas fueron llevadas por el botones.
(The suitcases were carried by the bellboy.) - El museo fue renovado recientemente.
(The museum was renovated recently.)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Passive Voice in Spanish
Learning how to use the passive voice in Spanish—especially with “ser” + past participle—can raise a lot of questions. Here are some of the most common doubts Spanish learners have, answered clearly and simply.
❓1. What is the difference between active and passive voice in Spanish?
- Active voice: The subject does the action.
→ Juan escribió la carta.
(Juan wrote the letter.) - Passive voice: The subject receives the action.
→ La carta fue escrita por Juan.
(The letter was written by Juan.)
❓2. When should I use “ser” instead of “estar” in passive voice?
Use “ser” for the true passive voice—to focus on the action being done to something.
La casa fue construida en 1990.
(The house was built in 1990.)
Use “estar” for describing states or results, not actions.
La puerta está cerrada.
(The door is closed.)
❓3. Why does the past participle have to match gender and number?
Because in passive voice, the participle acts like an adjective—and adjectives in Spanish must agree with the subject.
La película fue vista. (feminine singular)
Los informes fueron leídos. (masculine plural)
❓4. Can I use the passive voice in everyday conversation?
Yes, but with care. In formal or written Spanish, the passive voice is common. In everyday speech, people often prefer active voice or reflexive constructions.
- Passive: La puerta fue cerrada.
- Reflexive: Se cerró la puerta.
Both are grammatically correct, but the reflexive version is often more natural in conversation.
❓5. What if I don’t know who did the action?
Great! That’s when passive voice is most useful.
Los documentos fueron perdidos.
(The documents were lost.)
– No need to say who lost them.
❓6. Can I use different tenses of “ser” in passive voice?
Yes! Use the tense of “ser” that matches the time of the action.
- Present: es / son
- Past (preterite): fue / fueron
- Future: será / serán
- Conditional: sería / serían
❓7. Is the passive voice common in Spanish newspapers?
Yes! It’s very common in news reports, history books, academic writing, and official documents, where the action matters more than the person doing it.
La ley fue aprobada por el congreso.
(The law was passed by Congress.)
❓8. What’s the difference between passive voice and reflexive passive (se + verb)?
- True passive: Uses “ser + participle”
→ La carta fue escrita. - Reflexive passive: Uses “se + verb”
→ Se escribió la carta.
Both are correct, but “se” passives are more common in spoken Spanish.
❓9. Are all verbs allowed in the passive voice?
No. Only transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) can be used in the passive voice.
- Correct: La canción fue cantada. (cantar has a direct object)
- Incorrect: Fue dormido. (dormir is intransitive—you can’t “sleep” something)
❓10. What’s the easiest way to remember how to form passive voice?
Use this formula:
➡️ Subject + form of “ser” + past participle (+ por + agent)
And remember:
- Match participle with subject (gender and number)
- Use correct “ser” tense
- Add “por” only if you want to name the person/thing doing the action
Key Takeaways: Passive Voice Summary and Important Points
The passive voice in Spanish using “ser” + past participle may sound tricky at first, but once you understand the structure and practice a bit, it becomes a powerful tool in your Spanish-speaking journey.
Here’s a bullet-point summary of the most important points:
✅ What You Need to Remember
- The passive voice shows that the action is done to the subject, not by the subject.
- La carta fue escrita por Ana.
(The letter was written by Ana.)
- La carta fue escrita por Ana.
- The basic structure is:
➡️ Subject + conjugated “ser” + past participle (+ por + doer) - The verb “ser” is conjugated according to the tense of the action:
- Present: es / son
- Preterite: fue / fueron
- Imperfect: era / eran
- Future: será / serán
- Conditional: sería / serían
- Perfect tenses: ha sido / han sido, etc.
- The past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject:
- La casa fue construida.
- Los libros fueron leídos.
- Use “por” when you want to include who did the action:
- La película fue dirigida por un famoso director.
- The passive voice is more common in formal writing, news, academic language, and official documents.
- In spoken Spanish, it’s often replaced by the reflexive passive:
- Se vendieron las entradas.
- Only transitive verbs (those with a direct object) can be used in the passive voice.
- Be careful not to confuse with “estar + participle”, which describes states, not actions:
- La puerta está cerrada. (It’s closed – state)
- La puerta fue cerrada. (It was closed – action)
💡 Quick Reference Formula
Passive Voice in Spanish = Subject + Ser (in correct tense) + Past Participle (matched to subject) + [por + agent (optional)]
This summary gives you the solid foundation to recognize and use the passive voice like a pro—whether you’re reading, writing, or speaking Spanish.
Conclusion: Mastering the Passive Voice in Spanish | My Language Classes
The Spanish passive voice using “ser” + past participle is more than just a grammar rule—it’s a powerful way to add variety, clarity, and fluency to your Spanish. Whether you’re reading a news article, writing an essay, or describing events with more precision, knowing how to use the passive voice can elevate your language skills to a whole new level.
Remember:
- Passive voice is all about shifting the focus from who does something to what happens.
- It helps you sound more natural in formal settings and understand Spanish more deeply.
- The key is to always match “ser” to the right tense and make the past participle agree with the subject in gender and number.
With plenty of real-life examples, clear explanations, and practice exercises in this guide, you’re now well-prepared to use the passive voice correctly and confidently.
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