Passive voice - When can I use it

Question

Hi,

So i asked my argentinian friend how she'd ask in a super market if "they add sugar to this coffee"

She answered that I can say:

> este café no tiene azúcar agregada, no?

However, that the following is incorrect

> "se agrega azúcar a este café ?"

Why is the second option incorrect, i would have assumed that since i'm using the passive voice/tense, it should be ok. Something along the lines of "se puede usar el baño", which is a general query.

I hope I have answered your question . - pacofinkler, Jan 12, 2014

Answer 1

The second option is asking more :

Do I need to sugar this coffee? Does this coffee need to have sugar added?

Oh, now when you say it make sense. Thanks ! - idanr84, Jan 12, 2014

Oh thanks! - annierats, Jan 12, 2014

Answer 2

This is surprisingly complicated. :( at least to me it is...

The question was why would the second sentence not be a correct way to ask if the coffee had sugar in it.

It could be the difference between asking if a particular cup of coffee had sugar in it, verses saying something like "is coffee sugared here" in general.

"se agrega azúcar a este café - impersonal voice "sugar is added" 'to this coffee" In general

or

"se agregan azúcar a este café - passive voice "do they add sugar to this coffee In general

este café no tiene azúcar agregada, no - (I think) this is the active voice "this coffee (this cup right here) has no sugar, right?"

Also interesting is "azúcar" is the noun meaning sugar and "azucar" (no tilde) is the verb "to sugar"

I would recommend reviewing the difference between the impersonal and passive voice to get a feel for when each one makes sense to use.

Answer 3

Interesting.

The phrase "¿se agrega azúcar a este café ?" means "one must add sugar to this coffee?" or "should sugar be added to this coffee?"

The phrase "¿este café no tiene azúcar agregada, no?" means " this coffee does not have sugar added, right?".

The second phrase gets a bit complicated. Here in Mexico we would say: "¿Este café tiene azúcar?" or "¿este café viene con azúcar?"

In the first option "does this coffee have sugar?

In the second option "does this coffee come with sugar?"

I cant speak as a grammarian however, when you say: "¿se puede usar el baño?" this is a future possibility as in " can the bathroom be used?". the same happens with the coffee when you say "¿ se agrega azúcar a este café?"

Answer 4

To me that option will be correct if you write:

Se le agrega azúcar a este café, whether it is a declaration or a question.

That "le" is important.

Or

Este café tiene azúcar agregada?