passive voice
I need help. I trying to use the passive voice to say, If one asked some people, they would say nothing. I have Si se les preguntara unas personas, no responderían.
9 Answers
James Santiago said:
The se form can be translated various ways in English:
Se sabe el motivo
The reason is known
You know the reason
They know the reason
People know the reason
One knows the reason
Add to your list:
He/she knows the reason (very well)
Yet another candidate post for the reference section.
James Santiago said:
*Si se le preguntara a unas personas = If some people were asked Si uno le preguntara a unas personas = If one were to ask some people
The first is passive; the second is not.*
This is correct, of course, but may be misleading. This use of "se" in Spanish has no direct equivalent in English. The Spanish parallel to the English passive is formed by ser + the past participle in Spanish.
Si se le preguntara a unas personas = If some people were asked
Si unas personas fueran preguntadas = If some people were asked
Although the above two Spanish phrases translate the same into English, they are not the same in Spanish. The former focuses on the asking, while the second focuses a bit more on the agent (the asker), and would often be followed by "por (alguien)."
Therefore, if you just want to create an passive sentence that deemphasizes the subject, use se + the verb in third-person form. If you want to emphasize the subject, use ser + participle.
El locutor dio los premios = The announcer gave out the prizes
Los premios fueron dados por el locutor = The prizes were given out by the announcer
Se dieron los premios = The prizes were given out
The se form can be translated various ways in English:
Se sabe el motivo
The reason is known
You know the reason
They know the reason
People know the reason
One knows the reason
>
*Si se le preguntara a unas personas = If some people were asked
Si uno le preguntara a unas personas = If one were to ask some people
The first is passive; the second is not.*
This is correct, of course, but may be misleading. This use of "se" in Spanish has no direct equivalent in English. The Spanish parallel to the English passive is formed by ser + the past participle in Spanish.
Si se le preguntara a unas personas = If some people were asked
Si unas personas fueran preguntadas = If some people were asked
Although the above two Spanish phrases translate the same into English, they are not the same in Spanish. The former focuses on the asking, while the second focuses a bit more on the agent (the asker), and would often be followed by "por (alguien)."
Therefore, if you just want to create an passive sentence that deemphasizes the subject, use se + the verb in third-person form. If you want to emphasize the subject, use ser + participle.
El locutor dio los premios = The announcer gave out the prizes
Los premios fueron dados por el locutor = The prizes were given out by the announcer
Se dieron los premios = The prizes were given out
The se form can be translated various ways in English:
Se sabe el motivo
The reason is known
You know the reason
They know the reason
People know the reason
One knows the reason
Since first reading your post and responding, I have begun my lesson on the passive voice - the last lesson in my book. Now that I have read that the passive is formed simply by using the correct form of the verb "ser" plus the participle, the participle in turn agreeing with the subject, I am not sure that it is the passive voice with which you are concerned for your sentences.
I am going to hazard a guess and suggest that what you want is the impersonal form. Someone will sustain or correct me if I am wrong. But I think that if we once know the correct grammar terminology for what we are looking for, it can be much easier to find the information and/or answer.
Now I see! Dallas changed the sentence to the passive with the "se"! and only lacked a bit to get it right, too. Bravo! and now I think I will be soon be ready for my exercises too. Thanks, Dallas for the question. Thanks, Lazarus for showing the contrasting voices in which to express this. I remember, by the way, from a much earlier lesson, that one always has to use that little "a" when people are the object of a verb.
lazarus1907 said:
Si se le preguntara a unas personas = If some people were askedSi uno le preguntara a unas personas = If one were to ask some peopleThe first is passive; the second is not.
>
Si se le preguntara a unas personas = If some people were asked
Si uno le preguntara a unas personas = If one were to ask some people
The first is passive; the second is not.
Ah, the Internet is just so terrific. Right after posting my response to your query, I found this: http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/passivevoice.html from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Actually there were a lot of entries (I searched with Google.)
I was drawn to read your post because I, too, am getting ready to learn the passive voice, having just completed exercises on the imperative. However, the English sounded a bit wrong to me. I would have written: "If one were to ask some people, they would say nothing." But then I paused again and asked myself yet another question -> "is this really an example of the passive voice'" Now I have to think a little more about this and perhaps re-examine the passive voice for myself.....and then I will post again. For the moment I am puzzled because I don't formally know that much about grammar, but sort of go "by feel."
Si se le pregunta a la gente, nadie te contesta.
si se le preguntara a la gente, esta no te respondería.
