Spanish grammar: voz pasiva

What this grammar point covers

The passive voice in Spanish ('voz pasiva') is a way to focus on the action or the object of the action, rather than who does it. The subject receives the action.

When to use it

Use the passive voice in Spanish when you want to emphasize the action or the result, or when the person doing the action is unknown, unimportant, or obvious.

Key forms

• ser + participio pasado + por + agente
• Ejemplo: El libro fue escrito por el autor.

Examples

Tips

• Always match the participle with the gender and number of the subject (e.g., 'fue escrita', 'fueron escritos').
• The agent (who does the action) is introduced with 'por'.
• Sometimes, Spanish prefers the 'se' passive (e.g., 'Se vendieron todas las entradas.') for general statements.

Exceptions and edge cases

• Some verbs do not form the passive voice naturally in Spanish.
• The 'se' passive is often used instead of the 'ser' passive, especially in informal contexts.