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...
The European pronunciation is really weird-sounding. "Z" pronounced as "f," "c" pronounced as "th," and "vodka" sounded like "votha." And this is the first time I heard a "g" pronounced as it was in "ginebra." I guess I need to do more of these listening exercises! Or is it too much trouble to include a Latin American version?
I'm pretty good with language, am a C1 in French, but I don't understand what is the question is asking about. Are you trying to teach the gender of the letters? Strange.........
Hi, when will these exercises be fixed? It has been several days now. Thanks for a great app.
please could you tell me the trigger for using subjunctive here.Será mejor que aparques lejos del centro.It'd be better if you park far from the town centre. [you=tú]
is the above translation correct?
Será - it will beor Sería - it would be
many thanks in advance
i
I've read so many times about the difference between these tenses but It's like banging my head against a wall. "el taxi LLEGÓ veinte minutos tarde y el taxista ERA muy antipático. The taxi driver was unfriendly in the imperfect tense in the same taxi that arrived late in the preterite tense. This is so difficult.
Hello,
In this workout there is a sentence - 'I have a new couch' the spanish translation in the answer and the complete text at the end it 'tengo sofá nuevo', should it be 'tengo un sofá nuevo'? I did notice that the lessons recommended for this section did include the lesson for indefinite articles.
Thanks, but now my wife wants a new sofa :-(
Dicha ejemplo, eso es, " Nos costo mucho" = It was difficult, la significa del verbo COSTARSE en este contexto = i find it hard to/ difficult to in the sense of speaking to someone...... Esta razon.
BARRY.
Hello,
Re: These two sentences: "los profesores, los estudiantes, and: los niños y los jubilados"
In this exercise I noticed the repetitive use of “los” in the above sentences, and I would tend not to repeat these. i.e. just say: los profesores y estudiantes.
Is there something I’m missing? Thank you, Nicole
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...
I have noticed in general that spanish speakers have different intonations at the end of sentences or part of sentences which confuse the listener and in dictations result in incorrect punctuation.
Find your Spanish level for FREE
And get your personalised Study Plan to improve it
Find your Spanish level