Ser and Estar in the Passive

Question

Hi guys.

In lesson 4.1, there's this sentence 'Había estado rescatado'. In the recognize section, it's translated into ' I had been rescued'.

I thought Ser is used to make passive voice. I mean why not 'Había sido rescatado'?

Thanks

Answer 1

What Lazarus said is even more confusing!

When you use estar, rescatado is an adjective that describes your state.

When you use ser, rescatado is a past participle that describes an action.

The second one uses passive voice, the first does not.

The use of rescued to describe your state is somewhat unusual.

So it should be Ser?? - SpanishPal, Jul 19, 2011

What is suggested is that ser would be more usual, but technically speaking you can use estar. - Jeremias, Jul 19, 2011

If it is passive voice, meaning that he was rescued by someone, then you should use "ser". If you are using "rescued" as an adjective describing his state of being, then use "estar". - gintar77, Jul 19, 2011

Answer 2

The use of rescued to describe your state is somewhat unusual.

Yes, the difference is easier to see with certain verbs.

The guests were seated during the opening music, but stood for the prayer.

Seated here is an adjective (describing a condition...not a past action)

The guests were seated (taken to their seats) by three ushers related to the groom.

This is the past tense action of a verb, not an adjective.

The first sentence uses Estar + adjective (may or may not be a past participle) while the 2nd uses Ser+past participle and usually (por + agente).

The confusion arises because in English we don't have two different verbs for to be so we use the same wording for either situation. Spanish, however, has two different verbs for to be and uses one for one construction and the other for the second construction. It is difficult for English students to recognize the two different usages since they translate the same into English.

Part of the reason why the thread Lazarus spoke to is so confusing is that everyone kept trying to somehow throw the progressive tense into the mix. As I mentioned in that thread the progressive tense employs the gerundio. The estuviste rescatado and fuiste rescatado examples in that thread have nothing to do with progressive tenses as the author of that thread tried to imply.

Great explanation! - gintar77, Jul 19, 2011

So 'Había estado rescatado' I had been a rescued person, and 'Había sido rescatado' I had been rescued? - SpanishPal, Jul 19, 2011

I had been rescued like in "I had been seated (was sitting then)" rather than someone had seated me. a rescued person is a noun, so not quite, but you are understanding the difference in meaning. - 0074b507, Jul 19, 2011

Answer 3

read what lazarus said about this

What Lazarus said is even more confusing! - SpanishPal, Jul 19, 2011