Grammar: Verbs: Passive Voice Flashcards
Two ways to express passive voice in Spanish:
1) True passive voice
2) ‘Se’ substitute
For when the object acts upon the:
Subject
TRUE PASSIVE VOICE:
Subject + ser + past participle + por + agent
True Passive Voice:
El tema fue escrito por el estudiante.
The paper was written by the student.
‘Ser’ can be:
1) In any tense
2) Singular or plural
3) In any person
4) But usually third person
‘Por’ is sometimes replaced by ‘de’ when:
The agent is a person, especially when the verb stresses an emotional attitude
Common verbs that express emotional attitudes:
Temer
Amar
Odiar
‘Se’ SUBSTITUTE is used when:
1) The agent is neither expressed nor important
‘Se’ SUBSTITUTE is used when:
2) The speaker wishes to emphasize an action done to the subject
‘Se’ SUBSTITUTE:
Se ven los gatos a lo lejos.
The cats are seen in the distance.
Sometimes infinitives are used as (masculine) nouns:
Se practican hablar y escribir en la clase.
Speaking and writing are practiced in the class.
Reflexive verbs in the passive voice use ‘uno’:
Uno se levanta al despertarse.
One gets up upon awaking.