La Voz Pasiva

The Spanish voz pasiva is used for two reasons:

1. To focus on the direct object receiving the action
Un niño escribió este libro. Este libro fue escrito por un niño.
vs.
A child wrote this book. This book was written by a child.
2. To focus on an action without identifying the performer
José escribió este libro en 1927. Este libro fue escrito en 1927.
vs.
José wrote this book in 1927. This book was written in 1927.
La voz pasiva is rather formal and is much less common in spoken Spanish than spoken English. In
Spanish, the passive tends to be reserved for writing, such as newspapers and literature. The passive is
used mainly when there is a named agent (e.g., Este libro fue escrito por un niño).

Voice is a grammatical term which indicates the relationship between a subject and verb. There
are three different voices in Spanish (and English): active (what you might call normal),
reflexive, and passive.
In the passive voice, the action described by the verb is being done to the subject by an agent.

Active Voice
Reparo los coches. I repair the cars.
Ella lee el libro. She reads the book.
Todo el mundo le respeto a él. Everyone respects him.
Mis amigos la quieren a mi madre. My friends like my mother.

Passive Voice
Los coches son reparados por mí. The cars are repaired by me.
El libro es leído por ella. The book is read by her.

La comida es cocinada a las ocho. The meal is cooked at 8 o'clock.

Él es respetado por todo el mundo. He is respected by everyone.
Mi madre es querida por mis amigos. My mother is loved by my friends.

Notes:
• The agent (the person performing the action on something else) is introduced by the
preposition por.
 • The passive voice has two parts: the conjugated verb ser + the past participle.

• The past participle has to agree with the subject, not the agent, in gender and number,
just like adjectives.
La voz pasiva can occur in all tenses and moods by conjugating ser into that tense or mood:
Voz activa Voz pasiva
presente yo hago la comida la comida es hecha por mí
pretérito yo hice la comida la comida fue hecha por mí
imperfecto yo hacía la comida la comida era hecha por mí
futuro yo haré la comida la comida será hecha por mí
subjuntivo ...que yo haga la comida ...que la comida sea hecha por mí

MODELO: El secretario arregló los papeles. Los papeles fueron arreglados por el
secretario.
1. La recepcionista encontró el número de teléfono.
______________________________________________________
2. El bibliotecario ha preparado el folleto.
______________________________________________________
3. Los agentes de viajes tradujeron los documentos.
______________________________________________________
4. El programador reparó la pantalla de la computadora.
______________________________________________________
5. Los mensajeros han puesto los recados en los escritorios.
______________________________________________________

Se Pasivo
As an alternative to the voz pasiva, the se pasivo can be used when you want to focus on an
action without identifying the performer. The “agent phrase” (por Juan) is not used with the se
pasivo. The verb is used in either the 3rd person singular or 3rd person plural depending on
whether the subject is singular or plural.
 El locator dio los premios.
Los premios fueron dados por el locator.
Se dieron los premios.
Se sabe el motivo.
know the reason. /One knows the reason.
Se entregó el trabajo.
Se entregaron los informes.
Notes:
• For verbs that do not take a direct object (intransitive verbs), the verb is always used in
the 3rd person singular.
○ Se sale por aquí.
○ Se vive bien en este país.
○ Se trabaja con entusiasmo.
The announcer gave out the prizes.
The prizes were given out by the announcer.
The prizes were given out.
The reason is known. /You (They, People)
The paper was handed in.
The reports were handed in.
You go out this way./This is the way out.
People live well in this country.
We (You, They) work enthusiastically.