When to use (or not use) different passive formsI think I've managed to wrap my head around how the passive works in a basic sense, but I'm wondering if anyone can offer, or refer me to, any guidance on WHEN to use different passive/impersonal forms, or how the nuances change? I know this is a rather broad question, so I'll try to narrow it down to a couple examples:
When is it prefered to use the true passive versus the se refleja form? for example, I was reading an article that said "las piedras habían sido extraídas de rocas que se formaron hace miles de millones de años." Here we have two different forms used in the same sentence! Could the writer have instead said "las piedras se habían extraído de rocas que fueron formado"--or some other combination--and if so are there different nuances?! Is one simply more formal? Or is there another specific reason the se pasiva wasn't use for one but it was used for the other?
Also, I know this is a lot at once, but I'm struggling to grasp how the use of the passive with "se" differs from the use of the "ellos" impersonal construction. For example, if a house is under construction down the street, would you say "se construye una casa" or "construyen una casa" and if both are equally valid, how are the nuances different? And are there cases where one is possible but the other isn't? For instance, I've often noticed that when the object of an action is a person rather than a thing the action is often not expressed with se--the ellos form seems to be the choice in some cases like "le robaron" (but not "se robó"?). And yet... we do have "se buscan secretarias"? I can't quite see what is going on here...
Mil gracias in advance for any help on any of these questions...
No ________ todo el tiempo a nuestro hijo; necesita espacio.
We can't be watching our son all the time; he needs some space.
(HINT: use modal verb "poder" and the verb "vigilar" for to watch)
podemos estar vigilando
podemos estar vigilandolo
When you click on 'discuss this' the explanation talks about past in general vs. specific time in the past, not much of a help to understand the ongoing action bit. For me it sounds a lot like repeated action/habit anyway.
Cheers, ALEX
I think I've managed to wrap my head around how the passive works in a basic sense, but I'm wondering if anyone can offer, or refer me to, any guidance on WHEN to use different passive/impersonal forms, or how the nuances change? I know this is a rather broad question, so I'll try to narrow it down to a couple examples:
When is it prefered to use the true passive versus the se refleja form? for example, I was reading an article that said "las piedras habían sido extraídas de rocas que se formaron hace miles de millones de años." Here we have two different forms used in the same sentence! Could the writer have instead said "las piedras se habían extraído de rocas que fueron formado"--or some other combination--and if so are there different nuances?! Is one simply more formal? Or is there another specific reason the se pasiva wasn't use for one but it was used for the other?
Also, I know this is a lot at once, but I'm struggling to grasp how the use of the passive with "se" differs from the use of the "ellos" impersonal construction. For example, if a house is under construction down the street, would you say "se construye una casa" or "construyen una casa" and if both are equally valid, how are the nuances different? And are there cases where one is possible but the other isn't? For instance, I've often noticed that when the object of an action is a person rather than a thing the action is often not expressed with se--the ellos form seems to be the choice in some cases like "le robaron" (but not "se robó"?). And yet... we do have "se buscan secretarias"? I can't quite see what is going on here...
Mil gracias in advance for any help on any of these questions...
This one to me does not mean 'to want someone to', but 'to want something done'. So I think, 'Todos queremos el problema se resuelva pronto' is enough.
I used "Cuál" thinking that what's on television is a limited, although large, selection. Like the example: "Cuál es tu flor favorita".
Why is "Qué" used here?
why does it show the numbers instead of spelling out the numbers?
Why is the present subjunctive not more correct for the following sentence? The lesson says it should be the imperfect subjunctive...but I think this is incorrect; this would require it be "you have had" rather than "you have"
"Maybe you have lots of friends in England"
Well, I guess if that's how they speak in Argentina, I won't be visiing there soon, if ever. Apart from the yeismo, the speaker articulated more through her nose than through the mouth (French-style) making her words almost impossible to understand. Good, clear Spanish is my aim.
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