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Passive Voice

The passive voice in Spanish is similar to English.
What is the direct object in the active voice becomes
the subject in the passive voice.  See the example
below.

For Example:

Active voice....

El doctor opera al paciente.
The doctor operates on the patient.

Passive voice...

El paciente es operado por el doctor.
The patient is operated on by the doctor.

In this case the passive voice is formed by using...

present form of ser + past participle

The past participle must also agree with the number
and gender of the subject.

For Example:

Las pacientes son operadas por el doctor.
The patients are operated on by the doctor.

Note the change of "operado" to "operadas" to agree 
with "las pacientes"


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Passive voice in other tenses

The following sentences transform the sentence 

"We write cards." (active) to 
"The cards are written." (passive)

in each of the Spanish verb tenses.  

It is helpful to remember that the verb "sido" means "been"
and the verb "siendo" means being.

Verb Tense:	    Active form ................... Passive form

Presente:	    Escribimos cartas ............. Cartas son escritas.
Pretérito:          Escribimos cartas ............. Cartas fueron escritas.
Imperfecto:         Escribíamos cartas ............ Cartas eran escritas.
Futuro:		    Escribiremos cartas ........... Cartas serán escritas.
Presente continuo:  Estamos escribiendo cartas .... Cartas estan siendo escritas. 
Pasado continuo:    Estabamos escribiendo cartas .. Cartas estaban siendo escritas.
Futuro continuo:    Estaremos escribiendo cartas .. Cartas estarán siendo escritas.
Presente perfecto:  Hemos escrito cartas .......... Cartas han sido escritas.
Pasado perfecto:    Habíamos escrito cartas ....... Cartas habían sido escritas.


Phew if you can master these in English you are already
one step ahead of the game!

Try the flashcards.

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