"They were made" - translation please

Question

I don't know how to say this... How do you use verbs when you talk of the subject, not the object doing the verb? In context my sentence is about streets in my city center - they were made too small, so when the city grew the number of cars on the small roads create traffic jams

Thanks for your help ^^

Answer 1

Las hicieron muy pequeñas = (they made them too small)

Although I could have translated it using a passive (they were made), it is more common and more natural to write it like that.

Answer 2

What you are referring to is called passive construction ("they were made" instead of "they made"), but I have decided to give you a different construction which is more common and sounds more natural in this case.

Las hicieron muy pequeñas = (they made them too small)

The passive is not as common in Spanish as in English.

Answer 3

Las hicieron muy pequeñas = (they made them too small)

Although I could have translated it using a passive (they were made), it is more common and more natural to write it like that.