La voz pasiva (The Passive Voice)
Passive Voice In active voice the subject does an action to a direct object. The Mayas constructed many temples and palaces. In passive voice the subject is acted upon by an agent. Many of the temples and palaces were constructed by the Mayas.
In Spanish the Passive Voice is formed the same as it is in English. + ser + past participle + por the object + agent Remember that the past participle is the “ado/ido” or an irregular form of some verbs. exs. comprado, vendido, comido, hecho, dicho, etc. Ex.: Los templos y palacios fueron construidos por los mayas. In Passive Voice sentences, the ending on the past participle MUST agree in number and gender with subject of the sentence.
Ex. El libro fue escrito por Juan. La composición fue escrita por Juan. Los artículos fueron escritos por Juan. Las cartas electrónicas fueron escritas por Juan. Generally, the Passive Voice uses only the 3rd person forms of SER. Present: es/son Preterite: fue/fueron Future: será/serán
Making Active Voice Sentences Passive Voice 1. Pick out the DIRECT OBJECTin the sentence. 2. Make the direct object the SUBJECT of the sentence. 3. Choose the form/tense of SER that agrees with the subject. 4. Change the verb in the active voice sentence to the PAST PARTICIPLE. 5. Then add POR. 6. Then add the SUBJECT of the active voice sentence (agent). Ex.: Los mayas construyeron muchas pirámides. Muchas pirámides fueron construídas por los mayas.