La voz pasiva con “se” • In language there is something called “active voice” and then there is “passive voice” • Your English teachers don’t like the passive voice much • Your Spanish teacher loves it!
1. La voz pasiva con se In language there is something called
active voice and then there is passive voice Your English teachers
dont like the passive voice much Your Spanish teacher loves
it!
2. La voz activa v. la voz pasiva Active voice is very clear,
precise & detailed. You know exactly who is responsible for the
action, because you have a subject. Ej: Juan habla espaol Passive
voice is not quite as detailed or precise, it speaks in
generalities and doesnt concern itself so much over WHO does
something, as much as it cares that the action is done. Ej: Se
habla espaol
3. La voz pasiva con se Use passive voice when you want to
emphasize that something is done, but you dont care by whom. Look
at how we can impersonalize the following samples: Ellos venden
billetes de lotera > Se venden billetes de lotera (we dont care
who sells them we just want them!) El camarero sirve tacos y
tortillas > se sirven tacos y tortillas en ese restaurant
mexicano. (again, who cares who serves? I just want to eat
them!)
4. Construccin de voz pasiva con se To impersonalize your
expression, or to utilize the voz pasiva, simply: Cut out your
subject (dont worry about who) Use the reflexive pronoun se Use the
3rd person singular OR plural of the verb Modelos: Se alquilan
botes de vela al lago (sailboats are rented at the lake) Se
construyen edificios altos en la ciudad (tall buildings are built
in the city) Se habla espaol en Quito (Spanish is spoken in
Quito)