Spanish grammar · Intermediate (B1)
The passive and se: fue construido, se vende
How to say what is done without saying who does it: the passive with ser, passive se (se venden pisos) and impersonal se (se dice que).
The passive with ser
The passive puts the focus on what happens to something: (The market was sold). Use in any tense + the past participle. The participle agrees with the subject like an adjective. To say who did it, add .
The passive with is common in the news and in writing, but it sounds formal in conversation.
- El mercado fue vendido a una empresa.The market was sold to a company.
- Estas casas fueron construidas en 1950.These houses were built in 1950.
- La casa fue vendida por el ayuntamiento.The house was sold by the council.
Passive se: se vende, se construyen
In everyday Spanish, the most common way to say that something is done is + verb. The verb is in the or form and agrees with the thing: , . This form never says who does the action.
- Se va a abrir un hotel.A hotel is going to be opened.
- En esta ciudad se construyen hoteles por todas partes.In this city hotels are being built everywhere.
- Se alquila.To let.
Impersonal se: se dice que, se come bien
+ the form also describes what people in general do, like English “you”, “one” or “people”: (In Spain people have dinner late). … means “people say that…”. You can also use the form (…) or + the form.
- ¿Cómo se dice «thank you» en español?How do you say “thank you” in Spanish?
- Aquí se come muy bien.You eat very well here.
- Se dice que trae buena suerte.People say it brings good luck.
Which one should I use?
In conversation, prefer or an active sentence with “they”: (They sold the market). Use the passive with when you read or write the news, or when you want to say who did the action with .
| Form | Example | Style |
|---|---|---|
| + participle | news, writing | |
| + verb | everyday and written | |
| active, form | everyday conversation |
More about se: se puede, se contrata a, se me olvidó
With a modal verb, goes first and the modal normally agrees with the thing: , . When the verb is about people introduced by , the verb is always singular: (Technicians are hired).
+ an indirect object pronoun describes things that happen by accident: (I forgot my pass), (He dropped his keys). The verb agrees with the thing, and the pronoun shows who it happened to.
- Se pueden hacer fotos, pero no se puede tocar nada.You can take photos, but you can't touch anything.
- Se contrata a gente de la zona.People from the area are hired.
- Se me olvidaron las llaves.I forgot my keys.