Passive voice with ser + participio

What is the passive with ser + participio?

• In the passive, the subject receives the action.
• In Spanish passive with ser + participio you focus on the result and often on who does it.

Active (normal sentence): El museo organiza la exposición.
Passive: La exposición es organizada por el museo.

• Active: subject = el museo (does the action).
• Passive: subject = la exposición (receives the action).

Step 1 – The basic formula

Formula:

• ser (in the right tense and person) + participio (past participle)
• Optionally: + por + agente (who does the action)

Example in presente:

• El teatro organiza el concierto. → El concierto es organizado (por el teatro).
• Los estudiantes visitan la exposición. → La exposición es visitada (por los estudiantes).

Step 2 – Agreement of the participle

The participle in passive Spanish behaves like an adjective.

• It agrees with the subject of the passive, not with the agent after por.

Self-check:

• Find the subject of the passive (¿qué es presentado?).
• Is it masculine/feminine? Singular/plural?
• Adjust the participle ending accordingly.

Step 3 – How to change active → passive

1. Find the object of the active sentence (¿qué? / ¿a quién?). This becomes the subject in passive.
2. Conjugate ser in the same tense as the active verb.
3. Use the participle of the main verb with the correct ending (agreement).
4. Optionally add por + agente (who does the action).

Example 1

• Active: Los estudiantes visitan la exposición.
  – Object: la exposición → new subject.
  – Tense: presente → ser → es.
  – Participle: visitada (fem. sing.).

Passive: La exposición es visitada (por los estudiantes).

Example 2

• Active: El museo presenta una nueva exposición.
  – Object: una nueva exposición → new subject.
  – Tense: presente → es.
  – Participle: presentada (fem. sing.).

Passive: Una nueva exposición es presentada (por el museo).

Step 4 – When por is necessary… and when not

• Use por + agente when who does the action is important.

Examples:

• El concierto es organizado por la sala de música. (the organizer matters)
• La obra es explicada por la guía del museo. (who explains matters)

• Omit por when the agent is obvious, general or not important.

Examples:

• La exposición es presentada en el museo. (we do not care who exactly)
• Las entradas son vendidas en la taquilla. (obviously by staff)

Tip: If in English you would say “by people / by someone”, in Spanish you normally omit por….

Step 5 – ser or estar? A common doubt

Both can appear with a participle, but the idea is different:

• In this unit you practice the passive voice → ser + participio.
• In the exercises, if the sentence talks about who does the action, choose ser, not estar.

Wrong for this grammar point: El concierto está presentado por un famoso cantante.
Better: El concierto es presentado por un famoso cantante.

Step 6 – Check your sentences (mini checklist)

Before you confirm an answer, go through this quick list:

1. Do I have "ser"?
   es / son / fue / fueron… (in this unit mainly es, son).
2. Does the participle agree with the subject?
   – Feminine/masculine?
   – Singular/plural?
3. Is "por + agente" needed or can I omit it?
   – Important who does it? → add por.
   – General / obvious? → omit.
4. Am I really using the passive, not a simple active sentence?
   – Passive subject receives the action.

Example check:

• Sentence: Las invitaciones son enviadas por correo electrónico.
  1) son → verb ser ✔
  2) Subject = las invitaciones → plural feminine → enviadas ✔
  3) Agent = general (correo electrónico), OK without por alguien ✔

Step 7 – Compare with English to avoid literal mistakes

• English: is/are + past participle → looks similar.
• In Spanish you must also think about gender and number.

Examples:

• EN: The exhibition is visited by many people.
  ES: La exposición es visitada por muchas personas.
• EN: The works are explained by the guide.
  ES: Las obras son explicadas por la guía.

Typical error:

• Las obras son explicado por la guía. ✘ (no agreement)
• Las obras son explicadas por la guía. ✔

Quick self-test: can you do this?

• Take an active sentence you know, for example:
  El museo presenta una exposición de fotos.
• Form the passive in your head, step by step:

1. New subject: una exposición de fotos.
2. ser in presente, 3rd person singular: es.
3. Participio with agreement: presentada.
4. Optional agent: por el museo.

Result: Una exposición de fotos es presentada por el museo.

• If you can do this without help, you have understood the structure.
• If not, go back to Steps 2–4 and repeat with 2–3 more sentences.