La voz pasiva: enfoque en las acciones (pasiva en presente simple)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the Present Simple Passive to focus on what happens to something, rather than who does it.
- Use 'am/is/are' plus the past participle (V3) of the main verb.
- The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
- Use 'by' only if the person doing the action is actually important to the story.
Overview
se), mientras que el inglés es mucho más estructurado y directo en este sentido. Sin embargo, una vez que entiendes que el inglés simplemente utiliza una fórmula de ser + participio, verás que es incluso más sencilla que muchas de nuestras estructuras en español.The chef prepares the food (El chef prepara la comida). Aquí, el foco está en the chef.the food) pasa a ser el sujeto de la oración pasiva. El verbo cambia su forma para incluir el verbo to be, y el sujeto original (the chef) pasa a un segundo plano o desaparece por completo.The food is prepared by the chef (La comida es preparada por el chef).- 1La pasiva perifrástica:
La comida es preparada
. Esta es idéntica a la estructura inglesa. - 2La pasiva refleja:
Se prepara la comida
. Esta es la que más usamos en español diario, pero no tiene una traducción literal en inglés con la palabrase.
se hace, se vende o se dice, en inglés casi siempre deberás usar la voz pasiva (It is made, It is sold, It is said). No intentes buscar un equivalente para ese se; el verbo to be ya está haciendo ese trabajo por ti.to be en presente y el participio pasado del verbo principal.Sujeto (receptor) + am / is / are + Past Participle (V3)to be según el nuevo sujeto. Recuerda que ahora el sujeto es lo que antes era el objeto:to be | Ejemplo |I | am | I am chosen for the team. |He / She / It | is | The report is sent every Monday. |You / We / They | are | The windows are cleaned once a month. |- Para los verbos regulares, simplemente añadimos
-ed(igual que el pasado simple):play -> played,cook -> cooked,deliver -> delivered. - Para los verbos irregulares, debes usar la tercera columna de tu lista de verbos:
write -> written,make -> made,speak -> spoken,take -> taken.
by.The emails are answered by the assistant.- Afirmativa:
Coffee is grown in Colombia.(El café se cultiva en Colombia). - Negativa:
Plastic bottles are not (aren't) recycled here.(Las botellas de plástico no se reciclan aquí). - Interrogativa:
Is English spoken in this hotel?(¿Se habla inglés en este hotel?).
- Cuando no sabemos quién hace la acción:
My desk is cleaned every night. No importa la persona, importa que el escritorio está limpio.- Cuando el autor de la acción es obvio:
The thief is arrested, no necesitas decir by the police, porque es obvio quién arresta a los ladrones. Usar la pasiva hace que la frase sea más directa y menos redundante.- En procesos y manuales de instrucciones:
First, the app is downloaded. Then, the phone number is verified.- Para ser más formal u objetivo:
Nosotros cometimos un error(
We made a mistake), que suena muy personal, puedes decir A mistake is made o Errors are found in the report. Esto suaviza la responsabilidad y suena más profesional.- Hechos generales y verdades universales:
Millions of photos are uploaded to Instagram every day.The Earth is protected by the atmosphere.to beEl coche reparado como una descripción, pero en inglés pasivo, el verbo to be es obligatorio para que sea una acción.- *Incorrecto:*
*The car repaired every year. - *Correcto:*
The car is repaired every year.
Se repara el coche) y no sentimos la necesidad de usar el verbo
ser.- *Incorrecto:*
*The letter is wrote. - *Correcto:*
The letter is written.
se de la pasiva reflejaself o cosas raras para intentar traducir oraciones como Se venden libros.- *Incorrecto:*
*Books sell themselves here.(Esto significaría que los libros tienen vida y se venden a sí mismos). - *Correcto:*
Books are sold here.
I am fired, significa que a ti te han despedido. Si dices I fire, tú estás despidiendo a alguien. ¡Es una diferencia vital para tu carrera profesional!Google stores data. | Data is stored by Google. |Se*Speaks Spanish.* | Spanish is spoken. |*The packages send.* | The packages are sent. |*Serves breakfast at 8.* | Breakfast is served at 8. |make, buy, send). Verbos como go, sit, happen o arrive no tienen pasiva porque no puedes ser ido o ser llegado.by?The song is sung by Shakira. Si no es relevante, es mejor omitirlo para mantener la elegancia de la frase.I am tasked with...) o hablando de cómo se celebra una festividad en tu país (Traditions are kept alive by...), suena muy natural y demuestra un gran dominio del idioma.Present Simple Passive Conjugation
| Subject | To Be (am/is/are) | Past Participle (V3) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
am
|
helped
|
I am helped by my team.
|
|
You
|
are
|
helped
|
You are helped by the guide.
|
|
He / She / It
|
is
|
helped
|
The car is helped by the mechanic.
|
|
We
|
are
|
helped
|
We are helped by the community.
|
|
They
|
are
|
helped
|
The students are helped by teachers.
|
|
The work (Singular)
|
is
|
done
|
The work is done.
|
|
The tasks (Plural)
|
are
|
done
|
The tasks are done.
|
Contractions in Passive Voice
| Full Form | Contraction | Negative Contraction |
|---|---|---|
|
I am watched
|
I'm watched
|
I'm not watched
|
|
It is watched
|
It's watched
|
It isn't watched
|
|
They are watched
|
They're watched
|
They aren't watched
|
Meanings
A grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is the person or thing that receives the action, rather than the one performing it.
Unknown or Unimportant Agent
Used when we don't know who does the action, or it doesn't matter.
“The trash is collected on Tuesdays.”
“Rice is grown in many parts of Asia.”
Scientific or Technical Processes
Used to describe how things work or how a process is completed step-by-step.
“The chemicals are mixed in a large vat.”
“The data is stored on a secure server.”
Formal Rules and Instructions
Used to state laws, rules, or general truths in a professional manner.
“Smoking is not permitted in this area.”
“Credit cards are accepted here.”
Reference Table
| Sujeto | Verbo 'to be' | Participio Pasado | Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
am
|
used
|
I am used to this.
|
|
He/She/It
|
is
|
cleaned
|
The room is cleaned daily.
|
|
Singular Noun
|
is
|
made
|
Coffee is made fresh.
|
|
We/You/They
|
are
|
given
|
You are given a task.
|
|
Plural Noun
|
are
|
spoken
|
Languages are spoken here.
|
Espectro de formalidad
The office is closed at 5:00 PM daily. (Business hours)
The office is shut at 5:00. (Business hours)
We're closed at 5:00. (Business hours)
We're done at 5:00. (Business hours)
Voz Pasiva: Núcleo del Presente Simple
Formación
- am/is/are Verbo 'to be'
- V3 Participio Pasado
Cuándo usarla
- Unknown agent No se sabe quién lo hizo
- Unimportant agent No importa quién lo hizo
- Objective tone Comunicación formal, objetiva
Idea Clave
- Action focus Énfasis en el evento
- Object as subject La cosa sobre la que se actúa se convierte en el sujeto
Activa vs. Pasiva (Presente Simple)
¿Debo usar Voz Pasiva en Presente Simple?
¿El 'agente' (quién hace la acción) es desconocido o poco importante?
¿Estás describiendo una verdad general, una rutina o un proceso?
¿Quieres un tono objetivo o formal?
Contextos de Voz Pasiva en Presente Simple
Noticias y Formal
- • Reports are published.
- • Rules are enforced.
Procesos e Instrucciones
- • Ingredients are mixed.
- • Food is prepared fresh.
Hechos Generales
- • English is spoken here.
- • Taxes are paid annually.
Evitar Culpar
- • Mistakes are made.
- • The error is noted.
Ejemplos por nivel
The room is cleaned every day.
The room is cleaned every day.
Apples are grown in this garden.
Apples are grown in this garden.
The door is locked at night.
The door is locked at night.
English is spoken here.
English is spoken here.
The mail is delivered at 9 AM.
The mail is delivered at 9 AM.
Are these shoes made in Italy?
Are these shoes made in Italy?
The trash is not collected on Sundays.
The trash is not collected on Sundays.
Many movies are filmed in London.
Many movies are filmed in London.
The website is updated every hour with new news.
The website is updated every hour with new news.
Coffee is served with a small biscuit in this cafe.
Coffee is served with a small biscuit in this cafe.
The results are sent to your email automatically.
The results are sent to your email automatically.
Is the office cleaned by a professional company?
Is the office cleaned by a professional company?
The law is strictly enforced by the local authorities.
The law is strictly enforced by the local authorities.
Large amounts of data are processed by the algorithm.
Large amounts of data are processed by the algorithm.
The museum is visited by thousands of tourists annually.
The museum is visited by thousands of tourists annually.
Is it true that the budget is approved by the board?
Is it true that the budget is approved by the board?
The nuances of the language are often lost in translation.
The nuances of the language are often lost in translation.
The proposal is viewed as a significant step forward.
The proposal is viewed as a significant step forward.
Resources are allocated based on the project's priority.
Resources are allocated based on the project's priority.
The tradition is upheld by the younger generation.
The tradition is upheld by the younger generation.
The inherent complexity of the system is mitigated by several fail-safes.
The inherent complexity of the system is mitigated by several fail-safes.
It is widely conjectured that the treaty is flawed.
It is widely conjectured that the treaty is flawed.
The narrative is constructed through a series of flashbacks.
The narrative is constructed through a series of flashbacks.
The status quo is maintained through systemic inertia.
The status quo is maintained through systemic inertia.
Fácil de confundir
Learners mix up 'is done' (routine) with 'is being done' (now).
Some words look like passives but are just adjectives (e.g., 'The door is broken').
Learners think every sentence with 'is' is passive.
Errores comunes
The car wash every day.
The car is washed every day.
I am call John.
I am called John.
The books is sold here.
The books are sold here.
The dinner is cook.
The dinner is cooked.
The letter is wrote.
The letter is written.
Is the homework do?
Is the homework done?
The house is cleaning.
The house is cleaned.
The coffee is make by me.
The coffee is made by me.
The news are reported.
The news is reported.
He is said that he is rich.
It is said that he is rich.
The problem is being solved every day.
The problem is solved every day.
The data is showed in the graph.
The data is shown in the graph.
The decision is took.
The decision is taken.
Patrones de oraciones
The ___ is ___ every day.
___ are grown in ___.
It is said that ___.
The ___ is made of ___.
Real World Usage
Your post is shared by 50 people.
The successful candidate is notified by email.
All bags are screened before boarding.
Your order is prepared by the restaurant.
New law is passed by Parliament.
Is the party cancelled?
Concéntrate en el resultado
The decision is made.
¡No olvides 'to be'!
The door is opened(correcto) vs.
The door opened (voz activa, pasado).Piensa en descripciones de procesos
The ingredients are mixed.
Reportajes objetivos
New policies are implemented.
Smart Tips
Use the passive to sound more professional and less demanding.
Check if it's an action or a description. If you can add 'by someone', it's an action.
Most verbs just need -ed. If it's a common verb like 'go' or 'write', it's probably irregular.
Start every sentence with the object to keep the focus consistent.
Pronunciación
The '-ed' ending
The past participle ending '-ed' can sound like /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/.
Linking 'is'
In natural speech, 'is' often links to the following vowel.
Emphasis on the Object
The ↗MEAL is served.
Highlights that the meal (not the drink) is ready.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Remember 'BE + V3': The verb 'to BE' (am/is/are) plus the 'V3' (past participle) makes the passive for me!
Asociación visual
Imagine a factory conveyor belt. The objects (subjects) are moving along, and machines (actions) are happening to them. You don't see the workers, just the objects being transformed.
Rhyme
When the doer is unknown or out of sight, 'Is' plus 'Done' makes the sentence right!
Story
In a magical land, objects do nothing themselves. The bread is baked by fire, the water is drunk by the sun, and the songs are sung by the wind. Everything is a receiver of action.
Word Web
Desafío
Look around your room. Find 5 objects and say what is done to them every day (e.g., 'The bed is made', 'The window is opened').
Notas culturales
The passive is very common in British English to sound polite and indirect, avoiding direct confrontation.
In universities worldwide, the passive voice is the standard for writing research papers to maintain objectivity.
Government documents use the passive to sound authoritative and impersonal.
The English passive voice evolved from Old English, where 'weorthan' (to become) was used alongside 'beon' (to be).
Inicios de conversación
How is your favorite food made?
What languages are spoken in your country?
How is the president/leader chosen in your country?
What rules are strictly enforced at your workplace?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
French ___ in Quebec.
French es singular, así que usamos is. El participio pasado de speak es spoken.Find and fix the mistake:
The new rules announcing today.
rules es plural, así que necesita are. El participio pasado de announce es announced.Translate into English: 'Los pedidos se envían diariamente.'
Answer starts with: ["O...
Orders es plural, así que usamos are. El participio pasado de send es sent.Score: /3
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesThe office ___ (clean) every night.
Choose the correct option:
Find and fix the mistake:
Many cars are make in Japan.
Tea ___ in India.
We use 'by' in every passive sentence.
A: Is the mail here? B: Yes, it ___ (deliver) five minutes ago.
Select the irregular one:
Active: 'Farmers grow grapes.'
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesCoffee ___ at this exact time every morning.
Choose the correct sentence:
Many languages speak in India.
Translate into English: 'Esta puerta se cierra automáticamente.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the subjects with the correct form:
Information ___ (share) via email.
Which sentence is correct?
The news broadcast at 6 PM daily.
Translate into English: 'El inglés se enseña en nuestra escuela.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the verbs with their past participles:
Score: /12
Preguntas frecuentes (8)
No, you can only use it with 'transitive' verbs—verbs that take an object. You can't say 'The bed is slept' because 'sleep' doesn't have an object.
Not at all! It is very useful for formal writing and when the doer is unknown. Just don't use it for every single sentence.
Use `is made of` when you can still see the material (The table is made of wood). Use `is made from` when the material has changed (Paper is made from trees).
No. In fact, in about 80% of passive sentences, we don't use `by`. Only use it if the person's name is important information.
Just move 'am/is/are' to the front. `Is the room cleaned?` instead of `The room is cleaned.`
Yes! Just add 'not' after the verb to be. `The letters are not sent.`
It can be! If you mean someone broke it, it's passive. If you are just describing the window, 'broken' is an adjective.
Because in science, the experiment is more important than the scientist. It makes the results sound more objective.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Voz pasiva con 'ser' or 'Se' pasivo
English uses the passive voice much more frequently than Spanish in daily speech.
La voix passive
French participles change endings (e.g., mangé, mangée, mangés), while English ones don't.
Vorgangspassiv
German uses 'werden' for actions and 'sein' for states; English uses 'be' for both.
受動態 (Judōtai)
Japanese passive is often used to show that the subject is negatively affected by the action.
المبني للمجهول (Al-mabni lil-majhul)
There is no equivalent to the word 'is' or 'are' in the Arabic passive structure.
被字句 (Bèi zì jù)
The passive in Chinese often carries a negative connotation, though this is changing in modern usage.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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