In passive sentences, the subject receives the action of the verb. In active sentences, the subject does the action. However, the meaning of both sentences is the same. The passive voice in Spanish is formed with a tense of ser and a past participle. Ser should be in the same tense as the verb in its corresponding active sentence. The agent is expressed by por if the action is physical; and by de if mental. The past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject. If you use estar instead of ser, the past participle is called the predicate adjective and it is not a passive sentence.
| Active |
El viento destrue la casa. |
The wind destroys the house. |
| Passive |
La casa fue destruida por el viento. |
The house was destroyed by the wind. |
| Predicate Adjective |
Cuando la vi, la casa estaba destruida. |
When I saw it, the house was destroyed. |
El nino fue castigado por su padre. The boy was punished by his father.
Rosa es amada de todos. Rose is loved by everyone.
Uses of the Infinitive
The infinitive is translated as a gerund (the -ing form of the verb) after these words: el, al, a preposition, ver or oír.
El correr es buen ejercicio. Running is good exercise.
Partío sin hablar. He left without speaking.
Oigo cantar a Maria. I hear Maria singing.
Infinitives followed by Prepositions
The following verbs require a, de, en or con when followed by another infinitive, although the preposition is not always translated into English.
| Verb + a + another infinitive |
|
Verb + de + another infinitive |
acostumbrarse
aprender
atreverse
ayudar
comenzar
convidar
decidirse
dedicarse
empezar
enseñar
invitar
ir
negarse
persuadir
principiar
rehusar
resignarse
resistirse
resolverse
venir
volver |
to become used to
to learn to
to dare to
to help
to begin to
to invite to
to decide to
to devote oneself to
to begin to
to teach to
to invite
to go to
to refuse to
to persuade to
to begin to
to refuse to
to resign oneself to
to resist
to resolve to
to come to
to return to |
|
acabar
acordarse
alegrarse
aprovecharse
arrepentirse
cansarse
cesar
dejar
encargarse
gozar
jactarse
olvidarse
tratar
|
to have just
to remember
to be glad to
to profit by
to repent
to tire of
to cease
to cease
to take charge of
to take pleasure in
to boast of
to forget to
to try to
|
Verb + en + another infinitive |
|
Verb + con + another infinitive |
consentir
consistir
divertirse
empeñarse
esforzarse
insistir
ocuparse
pensar
persistir
tardar |
to consent to
to consist
to amuse oneself
to insist on
to endeavor to
to insist on
to busy oneself
to think of
to persist in
to delay in |
|
contar
contentarse
soñar
|
to count on
to content oneself with
to dream of
|
Spanish - Adverbs, Passive Voice, Uses of the Infinitive, Infinitives followed by Prepositions
