Passive Voice with Ser
Passive Voice with Ser
You already met one way Spanish avoids naming a doer — the impersonal se. This lesson covers the other way, a formal ser-based passive that maps closely onto English's own 'to be' passive.
Grammar Comparison
Grammar Comparison
Ser + past participle, participle agrees with the subject
la carta fue escrita por Juan (the letter was written by Juan) — escrita agrees with the feminine la carta
the letter was written by Juan — 'written' never changes form
This ser passive matches English's passive voice structurally — subject, 'to be', past participle, optional 'by' agent — but the participle itself has to agree in gender and number with the subject, the same adjective-like agreement you've seen participles take before. English participles in the passive never change form regardless of the subject.
Rare in everyday speech — the impersonal se is usually preferred
se vende la casa (the house is sold/for sale) is far more common than la casa es vendida
the house is sold — English doesn't have this everyday-vs-formal split between two passive constructions
Although grammatically correct, the ser passive sounds formal or literary in most everyday Spanish — native speakers reach for the impersonal se construction (from your earlier lesson) far more often in casual conversation. Recognize the ser passive when you read it, but don't feel obligated to produce it yourself outside formal writing.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
- English
- the letter was written
- English
- the book was published
- English
- the house was built
- English
- by (the agent)
- English
- it was written by Juan
- English
- he is admired
- English
- they will be awarded
- English
- they were invited
- English
- he's known by everyone
- English
- the prize was won