Fundamentos

Passive Voice

¡Hola estudiantes! Today we will be discussing the difference between passive and active voice in Spanish.

In Spanish, as in English, there are two types of voice: active and passive. In an active sentence, the subject performs the action of the verb. In a passive sentence, the subject receives the action of the verb.

For example, in the active sentence “Juan comió la manzana” (Juan ate the apple), “Juan” is the subject who performs the action “comió” (ate) on “la manzana” (the apple). In the passive sentence “La manzana fue comida por Juan” (The apple was eaten by Juan), “la manzana” (the apple) is now the subject receiving the action “fue comida” (was eaten) by “Juan”.

It’s important to note that in Spanish, the passive voice is not used as frequently as it is in English. In fact, it’s more common to use the reflexive se to indicate that an action is being done without specifying who is performing it. For example, “Se vende casa” (House for sale) or “Se habla español” (Spanish spoken here).

Understanding the difference between active and passive voice is important for clear communication in Spanish. By using the appropriate voice, you can convey the intended meaning of the sentence more accurately. Keep practicing and you’ll be a pro in no time!