ser + Participle

Periphrastic Passive with Ser

Level 4

Build an event passive with ser plus a participle agreeing with the subject.

How It Works

In la proposta és aprovada, the proposal is the subject and receives the action. Ser carries the tense and the participle agrees with the subject: les propostes són aprovades. An optional per phrase identifies the agent.

Past and future passives retain the same structure: va ser aprovada, serà aprovada. Do not use haver as a substitute for the passive auxiliary; haver plus a participle normally creates a perfect active form.

An estar phrase presents a state rather than necessarily asserting the event that caused it. Formal documents use passives when the patient or procedure matters more than the actor, but an active clause can be clearer when the actor should remain prominent.

Examples (3)

  1. La proposta va ser aprovada ahir.

    The proposal was approved yesterday.

  2. Les cartes seran enviades demà.

    The letters will be sent tomorrow.

  3. Els resultats són revisats per dues expertes.

    The results are reviewed by two experts.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving a passive participle singular after a plural subject.

    Les cartes van ser enviat ahir.
    Les cartes van ser enviades ahir.

    The passive participle agrees in feminine plural with les cartes, independently of the agent.

How It Connects

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

ser + ParticipleLevel 4Periphrastic Passive with Ser

Learn This First

Form an agreeing participle before using it in a passive, state or absolute clause. Recognize the forms of ser before building a passive auxiliary.

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