Lessons

B1.36 - Daily finances and taxes

The passive voice - review: se firmó, se pagan, se entregará...

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We use the passive voice to talk about actions without saying who does them.

What this structure does ("pasiva con se")

Spanish often avoids naming the agent (“who does it”) in formal, professional contexts.

  • Active: focuses on the actor. El banco verifica la transferencia.
  • Passive with se: focuses on the thing/action. La transferencia se verifica. (= “The transfer is verified.”)

It is especially common in:

  • banking and app messages
  • instructions and procedures
  • policies, reports, and official communication

How to build it (the reliable 3-step method)

  1. Choose the thing you want to highlight (the former object).
  2. Add se.
  3. Use the verb in 3rd person and make it agree with the thing (singular/plural).
Formula Result
cosa + se + verbo (3.ª persona) “The thing is done” (agent not mentioned)

Agreement: the #1 mistake to avoid

The verb must match the new subject (the “thing”).

  • Singular subject → singular verb
  • Plural subject → plural verb
Subject Correct Incorrect
El código Se envía por SMS. Se envían por SMS.
Los pagos Se gestionan manualmente. Se gestiona manualmente.

Keep the original tense (don’t change time)

When you convert active → passive with se, keep the same tense and the same time markers.

Tense Active Pasiva con se
Presente El banco verifica la transferencia hoy. La transferencia se verifica hoy.
Pretérito indefinido Aprobaron el préstamo la semana pasada. El préstamo se aprobó la semana pasada.
Pretérito imperfecto Gestionaban los pagos manualmente. Los pagos se gestionaban manualmente.
Futuro El banco revisará la hipoteca. La hipoteca se revisará.

What happens to “who did it” (the agent)?

Most of the time, you omit the agent because it’s obvious or irrelevant.

  • Se aprobó el préstamo. (We don’t say who.)

If you really need to say who, Spanish usually prefers an active sentence or another structure.

  • Active (clear and natural): El director aprobó el presupuesto.
  • Formal passive (less common in everyday use): El presupuesto fue aprobado por el director.

“Se” passive vs. “se” reflexive: quick test

Same word, different meaning. Use this quick check:

  • Passive with se: someone (unspecified) does it to the thing. Se bloqueó la tarjeta. (= The card was blocked.)
  • Reflexive/accidental: the subject “happens” to change state. La tarjeta se bloqueó. (= The card got blocked / became blocked.)

In banking contexts, both are possible, but meanings differ:

  • Se bloqueó la tarjeta por seguridad. → a policy/action by the bank (agent implied).
  • La tarjeta se bloqueó. → a result/event (often sounds like it happened).

Self-check before you move on

  1. Did I move the thing to the front as the subject?
  2. Did I add se right before the verb?
  3. Is the verb in 3rd person and does it agree (singular/plural)?
  4. Did I keep the same tense and the same complements (place, time, reason)?
  1. Active voice: person + verb + thing ⇒ Passive voice: thing + se + verb in the third person (singular or plural)
Tiempo verbalVoz activaVoz pasiva
PresenteEl banco verifica la transferencia hoy. (The bank checks the transfer today.)La transferencia se verifica hoy. (The transfer is checked today.)
Pretérito indefinidoEllos aprobaron el préstamo la semana pasada. (They approved the loan last week.)El préstamo se aprobó la semana pasada. (The loan was approved last week.)
Pretérito imperfectoEllas gestionaban los pagos manualmente. (They used to manage the payments manually.)Los pagos se gestionaban manualmente. (The payments used to be managed manually.)
Futuro simpleEl banco revisará la hipoteca. (The bank will review the mortgage.)La hipoteca se revisará. (The mortgage will be reviewed.)

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

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1. Por seguridad, el código de verificación ____ por SMS y caduca en 10 minutos. Por seguridad, el código de verificación se envía por SMS y caduca en 10 minutos.

For security reasons, the verification code ____ by SMS and expires in 10 minutes.

2. El préstamo personal ____ la semana pasada, pero todavía no aparece en el estado de cuenta. El préstamo personal se aprobó la semana pasada, pero todavía no aparece en el estado de cuenta.

The personal loan ____ last week, but it still doesn't show up on the account statement.

3. Antes, los pagos automáticos ____ manualmente en la sucursal. Antes, los pagos automáticos se gestionaban manualmente en la sucursal.

Before, automatic payments ____ manually at the branch.

4. La nueva clave de seguridad ____ en su domicilio en un plazo de 48 horas. La nueva clave de seguridad se entregará en su domicilio en un plazo de 48 horas.

The new security key ____ to your home within 48 hours.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Turn the active-voice sentences into passive voice with «se» (thing + se + verb in 3rd person), keeping the tense and complements. Example: El banco verifica la transferencia hoy. → La transferencia se verifica hoy.

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  1. El gestor revisa los documentos antes de firmar el contrato.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Los documentos se revisan antes de firmar el contrato.
    (The documents are reviewed before signing the contract.)
  2. Ayer el banco bloqueó mi tarjeta por seguridad.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Ayer mi tarjeta se bloqueó por seguridad.
    (Yesterday my card was blocked for security reasons.)
  3. Antes, los clientes entregaban los formularios en papel en la oficina.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Antes, los formularios se entregaban en papel en la oficina.
    (Before, the forms were submitted on paper at the office.)
  4. Mañana el asesor enviará la oferta de la hipoteca por correo.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Mañana la oferta de la hipoteca se enviará por correo.
    (Tomorrow the mortgage offer will be sent by mail.)

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence in the passive voice with se.

Fetching your corrections... Please don't close this page yet.

1.
Incorrect: 'el recibo' is singular, so 'se pagan' (plural) is not used; it must agree in the singular: 'se paga'.
2.
Incorrect: there is a mix of tenses; 'ayer' requires past ('se firmó'), not present ('se firma').
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Alessia Amoroso

Master of Languages, Cultures, Communication

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

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Last Updated:

Monday, 07/09/2026 13:20