per + Agent

Agent Complement with Per

Level 4

Per introduces the agent of a passive event: who or what performs the action.

How It Works

In a passive clause, the grammatical subject receives the action. The phrase introduced by per names its agent: la proposta és presentada per la directora. The participle agrees with the subject, not with the agent following per.

An agent is not a recipient. Per a introduces recipients and destinations in appropriate contexts, so changing per to per a changes the relation. Contract per with el and els: pel director, pels tècnics.

The agent can be omitted when it is unknown or unimportant. If identifying the actor is the main point, an active sentence is often clearer. A state with estar does not automatically describe the same event as a passive with ser.

Examples (3)

  1. El projecte va ser aprovat pel consell.

    The project was approved by the council.

  2. Les cartes són revisades per la secretària.

    The letters are reviewed by the secretary.

  3. La novel·la fou escrita per una autora jove.

    The novel was written by a young author.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

per + AgentLevel 4Agent Complement with Per

Learn This First

Form an agreeing participle before using it in a passive, state or absolute clause. Identify the relationship expressed by per before interpreting a passive agent.

Words in This Pattern