🎯 Why This Matters
To emphasize actions over actors, especially in formal writing.
Appropriate use of passive in formal and academic contexts.
🇪🇸 The Challenge
Overuse and formation. Spanish has 'se' passive which differs from English BE + past participle. Learners either avoid passive or overuse it.
🇲🇽🇨🇴🇦🇷 SE passive vs BE passive
Problem: Spanish uses 'se' for many passives: 'se habla español'
Watch out: Trying to translate 'se' directly: 'Spanish speaks here'
✅ Fix: 'Se' passive = English BE passive: 'Spanish is spoken here'
🧠 Mental Note: 'se + verb' usually = 'is/are + past participle' in English
🇪🇸 Same SE challenge
Problem: Spain Spanish also uses 'se' passive extensively
Watch out: Direct translation creates awkward structures
✅ Fix: Reframe: What IS DONE? Use BE + past participle.
🧠 Visual Explanation (The Mental Fix)
Spotlight Shift
Active = who did it. Passive = what was done. BE + past participle = passive formula.
🗣️ Pronunciation Guide
How Spanish speakers should pronounce this structure:
Past participle endings
Spanish Habit: Pronouncing all -ed endings the same
English Reality: Three sounds: /t/, /d/, /ɪd/ depending on final sound
Examples:
- watched → /wɒtʃt/ (after voiceless)
- played → /pleɪd/ (after voiced)
- wanted → /ˈwɒntɪd/ (after t/d)
Practice: Only add syllable /ɪd/ after /t/ or /d/ sounds
📖 How It Works
Teacher Recommendation: Teacher recommended
Time Investment: 6 hours
🔑 Signal Words (Memory Anchors)
These words/phrases appear with this structure:
| English | Spanish | Example |
|---|---|---|
| be + past participle | ser/estar + participio | is made, was done, has been seen |
| by + doer | por + agente | written by Shakespeare, made by Apple |
| it is said | se dice | It is said that he's rich / Se dice que es rico |
| get + past participle | quedarse/ponerse | get injured, get lost, get married |
💬 Real Examples
Let's see this structure in action with correct vs incorrect usage:
Example 1: Basic passive transformation
✅ CORRECT: "The book was written by Hemingway."
🇪🇸 Translation: "El libro fue escrito por Hemingway."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "The book was wrote by Hemingway."
Why wrong? Passive needs BE + PAST PARTICIPLE (written, not wrote)
Example 2: Present passive
✅ CORRECT: "English is spoken here."
🇪🇸 Translation: "Aquí se habla inglés."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "English is speak here. / English speaks here."
Why wrong? is/are + PAST PARTICIPLE: is spoken, are made, is done
Example 3: Passive with unknown doer
✅ CORRECT: "My wallet was stolen."
🇪🇸 Translation: "Me robaron la cartera. / Mi cartera fue robada."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "Someone stole my wallet. (active - unnecessary)"
Why wrong? When doer is unknown, passive is natural: 'was stolen'
✏️ Practice Exercises
Ready to test your understanding? Let's practice!