B2 Spanish grammar
Passive Se in Spanish: Agreement and Word Order
Passive se is common when Spanish foregrounds a thing being sold, needed, offered, or completed without naming the actor. The affected noun is the grammatical subject, so it controls verbal agreement.
Passive se
se + verb agreeing with an inanimate/non-specific patient subject
The patient is the grammatical subject, so singular and plural subjects control verb agreement.
Agreement with passive se
| Tense | Singular subject | Plural subject |
|---|---|---|
| present | Se vende una casa. | Se venden dos casas. |
| preterite | Se publicó el resultado. | Se publicaron los resultados. |
| imperfect | Se alquilaba una habitación. | Se alquilaban habitaciones. |
Passive se normally omits a por-agent. Use the ser passive when naming the agent matters.
passive se Spanish agreement: Make the verb agree with the passive subject
Use a third-person singular verb with a singular subject and a third-person plural verb with a plural subject.
Se vende una casa. Se venden dos casas.Quick check
Tickets are sold online.
Preserve tense and aspect
Passive se is not limited to the present. Conjugate the verb for the required time while maintaining agreement with the passive subject.
Se publicaron los resultados ayer.Use natural word order and omit a por-agent
The passive subject often follows the verb, especially in notices. Passive se normally suppresses the agent; use an active sentence or ser passive when the agent must be named.
Se buscan traductores.Common mistakes
Se vende dos casas.
Se venden dos casas.
In passive se, the plural patient is a grammatical subject and requires plural agreement.
Se publicaba los resultados ayer.
Se publicaron los resultados ayer.
A completed event with a plural subject requires plural preterite here.
Se aprobaron las medidas por el comité.
Las medidas fueron aprobadas por el comité.
When a por-agent matters, the ser passive is the clearer standard structure.
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Passive se and agreement FAQ
What does passive se and agreement cover?
Passive se is common when Spanish foregrounds a thing being sold, needed, offered, or completed without naming the actor. The affected noun is the grammatical subject, so it controls verbal agreement.
What is the first rule to remember?
Use a third-person singular verb with a singular subject and a third-person plural verb with a plural subject.
What is another important B2 pattern?
Passive se is not limited to the present. Conjugate the verb for the required time while maintaining agreement with the passive subject.
How can I practise passive se Spanish agreement?
Complete the focused round, review each correction, and repeat the lesson when its skills become due again.