The Passive Voice

Question 1

What is The Passive Voice?

Answer 1

Allows the object to become the subject of the sentence
The subject becomes the “agent”

E.g Pedro como las manzanas (Active)
Las manzanas fueron comidas por Pedro

Question 2

How do you form The Passive?

Answer 2

Ser + Past participle

The past participle must agree with the Object
E.g La chica fue pegada

“Por” is used to show who is doing the action (the agent)

Question 3

When do you use Ser or Estar?

Answer 3

Ser - Action (What has happened/what is being done)

Estar - Resultant State (how something is after the action)

E.g La puerta fue abierta por el profesor (Action)

La puerta está abierta (Resultant state)

Question 4

What are the Three ways to avoid the passive?

Answer 4

Make the sentence active (saying who did it)
E.g Cervantes escribió El Quijote en 1615

Using the verb with Se (Only if no Por)

E.g Se compran las entradas en la taquilla

Using the 3rd person construction

E.g Construyeron la casa en 1900