La voz pasiva – Passive voice
The passive voice is formed with the verb ser and the past participle, which must agree with the subject in gender and number.
In the passive voice, the subject is acted upon: El libro fue escrito por Cervantes. (The book was written by Cervantes.)
The person who does the action is introduced by por. Este cuadro ha sido pintado por Dalí. (This picture has been painted by Dalí.)
If the past participle expresses a feeling or an emotion rather than an action, por is replaced by de. El maestro es admirado de todos. (The teacher is admired by all.)
If the subject is a thing, or the person who does the action is not mentioned or implied the reflexive construction is used with the subject following the verb. Se habla español.
(Spanish is spoken here.)
Se is also used as an indefinite subject and it is used only with the third person singular.
Se dice que Chaz era mujer. Se cree que ella murió joven. Se sabe que son hipócritas.
(It is said that Chaz was a woman.) (It is believed that she died young.) (It is known that they’re hypocrites.)
Dicen, creen, and saben are also often used with indefinite subjects.
Dicen que Chaz era mujer. Creen que ella murió joven. Saben que son hipócritas.
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