"fue construido" y "se construyó"

Question

Hi

I know that the meaning is "was built", but can anyone please explain me the difference Between these two options?

Gracias

Welcome to the forum, :) - 00494d19, Aug 8, 2011

Answer 1

I think their meanings are the same, both use the passive voice and thus don't make any mention of who did the action, although "fue construido" is traditionally called "true" passive, and the other one is the passive "se" (Although Lazarus could say that the se construction is the true passive, since historically it preceded the one that uses the to be + participle format.)

However, there are lots of cases where these two constructions are not interchangeable. For example:

You can say: "Se habla español aquí", but you can't say "Español es hablado aquí."

"Se vende coche", but not "coche es vendido".

Espero que te sirva.

buena respuesta - 00494d19, Aug 8, 2011

The 'true passive' was originally constructed with a complex conjugation system, not with auxiliary verbs. The periphrasitic construction with "ser/to be" plus past participle is a relatively modern invention, while the 'se' is somewhere in between. - lazarus1907, Aug 8, 2011

Answer 2

You cannot name the agent who did the building in the se construyó way, but you can in the fue construido way.

El puente fue construido = The bridge was built (True passive)

El puente fue construido por los trabajadores = The bridge was built by the workers

El puente se construyó = The bridge was built (Passive SE)

El puente se construyó por los trabajadores (Incorrect!)

.

Also, as a general rule, true passive (ser + past participle) sounds more literary. Passive SE is more conversational.

Good explanation :D - bafalck, Aug 8, 2011