Using 'se' in the passive voice

Question

Recently, in my more advanced classes of Spanish, I have noticed that se + verb is used in sentences using a passive voice. However, I am not always sure how to use it when writing.

Even examples of the present indicative seem awkward to me....for example. When I see this I see it as a reflexive form of the verb and it confuses.

Se representa....is represented.

Se dice...is said

Se habla...is spoken

Can the passive voice be used in the preterite, imperfect and future?

it was said...?

it was written....?

it was deduced that....?.

it will be deduced that....se deducirá

it will be said that...se hablará

it will be discovered that....se descubrirá que

Perhaps there is a more in-depth lession on the passive voice somewhere that someone can direct me to. ??

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

When we discussed this in class, our teacher pointed out that this form is for generalities.

In sentences where my instinct would have been to say, "Ellos dicen..." (they say...) I now know to say, "Se dicen..."

So when you are talking about the people in a broad sense doing something, go ahead and try this form. It is very freeing.

Answer 2

You're right. Passive voice does not change the tense; it simply removes the subject to make the phrase impersonal. It can be used in all tenses and does not alter their conjugations.

Answer 3

The "se" to form the passive has been around in Spanish longer than the longer English-style one, which is more recent. There are situations where the "longer" version would not be used in Spanish.

Regarding the tenses, of course you can use different tenses and moods (indicative/subjunctive):

• Se construyó un puente.
• Se construye un puente.
• Se está construyendo un puente.
• Se construirá un puente.
• Mientras se construían los puentes...
• Puede que se construya un puente.

Answer 4

---First of all, in Spanish is more common saying
(Juan won a trip to Spain) --Juan se ganó un viaje a España-- than --Juan ganó un viaje a España-- ----Second remember you can switch the parts of the phrase : --Se ganó Juan un viaje a España--. --Se ganó un viaje a España Juan.-- Or if you are already talking about Juan, you can say only --Se ganó un viaje a España. the word "se" indicates "per se" the person without "el" (he/she /it/ they). with "you" you have to use "te" --Te ganaste un viaje a España-- With "I" "you have to use "me" --Me gané un viaje a España.. With "We" you have to use "nos" --Nos ganamos un viaje a España.