Passive voice in spanish?

[Hombre-Araña]

On my english papers, I have been reprimanded for my tendency of using a "passive voice". I think that means "to be" + verb. Is this passive voice used the same way in spanish, and is it acceptable in high school-college level writing?

[Rusty]

Verbs are grouped into an active voice, as in 'My dad drove the car,' or a passive voice, 'The car was driven by my father.' In the active voice, the subject is the agent, or 'doer' of the action. In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence is acted upon by some other agent or by something unnamed (The car was driven - The plan was adopted).

The passive voice is a 'to be + past participle' construction in both languages. This construct occurs frequently in English. It isn't a good idea to always use it, however. Your teacher wants you to write straight-forward sentences instead of overusing the passive voice. This is a proper expectation in high school and college work.

In Spanish, the passive voice is not used as frequently as in English. Instead, a reflexive verb construct is much more prevalent. A very good example can be seen in this popular phrase: Se habla español
Here is the passive voice English translation: Spanish is spoken here
Here is another translation, using an active voice: One speaks Spanish here
You'll note that the latter translation sounds odd to us because we like to know who is doing the speaking. If we don't know who that person is, we tend to use the passive voice. To a person whose native language is Spanish, however, it doesn't at all sound strange to use se habla español. If the subject is acted upon by some other agent, or if it is unnamed, they use a reflexive construct. I doubt you'll ever see a sign that reads español está hablado aquí. If you do, it was probably written by someone whose native tongue is English.

Using a reflexive construct instead of the passive voice in Spanish is an important concept to master (and understand).
Tip: When the subject is not known, thinking 'one speaks Spanish' will help you remember to use a reflexive construct.


It is very common in Spanish for a subject to be acted upon, rather than to do the action. This is another case where the reflexive construct is used.
Examples of being acted upon instead of doing the action:
I forgot my keys = se me olvidaron las llaves (the keys forgot me - I didn't forget them!)
I dropped the vase = se me cayó el florero

[Elaina]

Thank you Rusty!

You have a very natural way of explaining things. You have refreshed my memory with this explanation.

Thanks again!
Elaina;)

[sosia]

good one Rusty!
apuntate una!
saludos :D

[Tomisimo]

Great post Rusty. Just one small thing. Wouldn't it be se me olvidaron las llaves not se me olvidó las llaves?

[Rusty]

Yes, you're right. Thanks, David! (Post corrected.)

[Hombre-Araña]

Thanks a bunch, Rusty =]

[Alfonso]

Great post Rusty. Just one small thing. Wouldn't it be se me olvidaron las llaves not se me olvidó las llaves?

Actually, both are correct!

The former is pasiva refleja, last one is impersonal. It's the same case as:

Se vende casas. (Impersonal)
Se venden casas. (Pasiva refleja)
Anyway, this is a deep grammar concept on which many grammarians are loosing their youths. It is not worthwhile focusing on it.

[Tomisimo]

I didn't know that. It just goes to show you that you learn something every day.

[Iris]

Se vende casas sounds incorrect to me. Is it ok?:confused:

[Alfonso]

Se vende casas sounds incorrect to me. Is it ok?:confused:
Se pueden dividir / se puede dividir a los hablantes de español entre quienes consideran correcta la construcción impersonal (se vende casas) y quienes sólo admiten la pasiva refleja (se venden casas), tanto como se pueden clasificar / se puede clasificar a las personas de acuerdo con rasgos fenotípicos como ser capaces o no de doblar la punta de la lengua o tener el lóbulo de la oreja pegado o no a la cara. ;)
I hope this helps!

[Tomisimo]

That makes perfect sense Alfonso; I asked a few native speakers and got mixed results. Some thought both were ok and others thought only "se venden casas" was ok.

[Tomisimo]

An interesting note: (as a non-native speaker) En mi opinión:

Se venden casas. :good:
Se vende casas. :bad:
Se pueden dividir a los hablantes de español. :good:
Se puede dividir a los hablantes de español. :good:

La diferencia en las últimas dos frases es que en la primera los hablantes pueden ser divididos y en la segunda alguien los puede dividir. Para mí son diferentes.

:D

[Alfonso]

Yeah... and se puede vender casas?

[Elaina]

Yo creo que....

se puede vender casas = :good:
se pueden vender casa = :bad:

al menos que digas...

se pueden vender las casas = :good:

Estoy correcta?

Elaina:confused:

[Alfonso]

La cuestión, Elaina, es que en el asunto de admitir la construcción impersonal cada hablante lo ve de una manera. Para la pasiva refleja, la que señalas como correcta, suele haber acuerdo, pero no para la construcción impersonal. Sin embargo, España, y creo que también Hispanoamérica, está llena de carteles con Se vende coches...
Fíjate que, en tu caso, estableces la diferencia según la presencia del artículo. Sin embargo, la sintaxis de la frase y, por tanto, su corrección, no depende de la presencia del artículo. Decides por tu oído, por tu costumbre y no por una regla gramatical que pueda explicarse.

De todos modos, la opción que das por inválida es inválida a todas luces, pues casa aparece en singular. Te ruego que lo revises y me digas si se trata de una errata o si era eso lo que querías decir.

Muchas gracias por tu información.

Mejor que *¿estoy correcta? podrías decir ¿estoy en lo cierto? / ¿estoy equivocada?, etc.

[Elaina]

Gracias Alfonso.....

Elaina:o

[Tomisimo]

También Estoy en lo correcto.