Verbs: Voice, Ser and Estar, and Verbal Constructions

Q: What is the difference between the active voice and the passive voice in Spanish?

In the active voice, the subject performs the action (e.g. El gobierno aprobó la ley ), whereas in the passive voice, the subject receives the action (e.g. La ley fue aprobada por el gobierno ).

Q: How is the true passive voice formed in Spanish, and what agreement rule applies to the past participle?

It is formed with Subject + conjugated ser + Past Participle + por + Agent , and the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.

Q: How is the passive se ( la pasiva refleja ) constructed in Spanish?

It is formed with se + 3rd person singular or plural verb + Object , matching the verb number to the noun being acted upon.

Q: What core aspects of meaning are expressed using the verb ser ?

Ser expresses identity, essence, inherent characteristics, occupations, time/dates, origin/material, relationships, and the location of events .

Q: What core aspects of meaning are expressed using the verb estar ?

Estar expresses temporary states, conditions resulting from change, physical locations/positions, emotions, and continuous progressive actions.

Q: What is the difference between ser + participle and estar + participle ?

Ser + participle describes a passive action taking place, while estar + participle describes a resultant state or condition.

Q: How does the meaning of adjectives like listo , bueno , and aburrido change between ser and estar ?

With ser they describe inherent qualities (e.g. ser listo = clever, ser aburrido = boring), whereas with estar they describe states or conditions (e.g. estar listo = ready, estar aburrido = bored).

Q: How do tener que , hay que , deber , and deber de differ in meaning?

Tener que expresses personal obligation, hay que expresses impersonal necessity, deber expresses moral duty, and deber de expresses probability or supposition.

Q: What meanings are conveyed by the infinitive periphrases acabar de , volver a , dejar de , and soler ?

Acabar de indicates immediate past ("just"), volver a indicates repetition ("again"), dejar de indicates cessation ("stop"), and soler indicates habit ("usually").

Spanish 5750 · CCEA A Level · 9 min read · Updated: Sep 3, 2026

Introduction to Voice, Ser & Estar, and Verbal Constructions

Mastering verbs is one of the most rewarding steps in your CCEA A Level Spanish journey. In the examination—particularly in Unit AS 2 Section C (Use of Language) and the extended writing tasks (AO3: Linguistic Competence)—examiners look for precision, grammatical range, and sophisticated sentence structures. This guide breaks down three foundational areas: forming the passive voice, choosing effortlessly between ser and estar, and utilizing high-impact verbal constructions (perífrasis verbales).

Don't worry if these structures feel complex at first. Once you understand the core patterns and logic behind them, they will become powerful tools to make your Spanish sound fluent, natural, and authentic.

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1. Voice: Active, Passive, and the Reflexive Alternative

What is Voice?

Voice describes the relationship between the subject of the sentence and the action of the verb:

• Active Voice: The subject performs the action. (El gobierno aprobó la ley – The government passed the law.)
• Passive Voice: The subject receives the action. (La ley fue aprobada por el gobierno – The law was passed by the government.)

The True Passive Voice: Ser + Past Participle

In Spanish, the true passive is formed using: Subject + conjugated form of ser + Past Participle + por (by) + Agent.

Crucial Rule for Agreement: When you use the past participle with ser, the ending must agree in gender and number with the grammatical subject receiving the action.

• Singular Masculine: El libro fue escrito por Cervantes. (The book was written by Cervantes.)
• Plural Feminine: Las cartas fueron enviadas ayer. (The letters were sent yesterday.)
• Plural Masculine: Los edificios serán construidos el próximo año. (The buildings will be built next year.)

The Natural Alternative: Passive Se (La Pasiva Refleja)

While the ser + participle construction is common in formal writing and journalism, Spanish speakers naturally avoid it in everyday contexts. Instead, they prefer the Passive Se.

Formula: Se + 3rd person singular OR plural verb + Object

• Singular: Se habla español aquí. (Spanish is spoken here.)
• Plural: Se venden coches de segunda mano. (Second-hand cars are sold.)

Quick Tip: Match the verb to what is being acted upon! If the noun that follows is plural, the verb must be in the 3rd person plural (se venden, se construyeron).

Impersonal Se

When there is no specific subject at all, and you want to say "one does", "people do", or "they do", use the Impersonal Se with a 3rd person singular verb only.

• Se vive bien en España. (One lives well in Spain / People live well in Spain.)
• Se dice que va a llover. (It is said that it will rain / They say it will rain.)

Key Takeaway: Voice

Use ser + participle + por for formal written translations where the agent performing the action is mentioned. Use pasiva refleja (se + verb) for natural, general passive statements.

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2. The Definitive Guide to Ser vs. Estar

Both verbs translate to "to be" in English, but they represent two distinct ways of viewing the world. Understanding their logic removes the guesswork completely.

When to Use Ser: Identity, Essence, and Inherent Traits

Use ser for fundamental characteristics, origins, time, and definitions that tell us what a thing or person is.

A helpful memory aid for SER is DOCTOR:
• Description: Ella es alta y generosa. (She is tall and generous.)
• Occupation: Mi madre es médica. (My mother is a doctor.)
• Characteristic: El hielo es frío. (Ice is cold – inherent nature.)
• Time / Date: Son las tres y media. / Hoy es lunes. (It is 3:30 / Today is Monday.)
• Origin / Material: Soy de Belfast. / La mesa es de madera. (I am from Belfast / The table is made of wood.)
• Relationship: Marcos es mi hermano. (Marcos is my brother.)

Important Exception: The location of events (parties, concerts, meetings) uses ser: El concierto es en el estadio. (The concert takes place in the stadium.)

When to Use Estar: State, Condition, and Location

Use estar for temporary states, conditions resulting from a change, physical locations, and continuous actions.

A helpful memory aid for ESTAR is PLACE:
• Position: El bolígrafo está sobre la mesa. (The pen is on the table.)
• Location: Madrid está en el centro de España. (Madrid is in the centre of Spain.)
• Action (Progressive): Estamos estudiando para el examen. (We are studying for the exam.)
• Condition: Mi abuelo está enfermo. (My grandfather is ill – a state, not his identity.)
• Emotion: Estoy muy contento hoy. (I am very happy today.)

Resultant State vs. Passive Action

Compare how ser and estar interact with past participles:
• La puerta es cerrada por Juan. (Passive action: The door is being closed by Juan.)
• La puerta está cerrada. (Resultant state: The door is closed.)

Adjectives that Change Meaning with Ser and Estar

Many adjectives change their entire meaning depending on whether you pair them with ser or estar. These are common in CCEA translation exercises:

• Ser bueno = to be good/kind (character) | Estar bueno = to taste good / to be attractive
• Ser malo = to be bad/evil | Estar malo = to be ill / to taste bad / to be spoiled
• Ser listo = to be clever | Estar listo = to be ready
• Ser aburrido = to be boring | Estar aburrido = to be bored
• Ser rico = to be wealthy | Estar rico = to be delicious (food)
• Ser verde = to be green (colour) | Estar verde = to be unripe / inexperienced
• Ser consciente = to be a conscious/aware person | Estar consciente = to be awake/not unconscious

Key Takeaway: Ser vs. Estar

Ask yourself: Am I defining what something is (ser), or describing how/where/in what condition something is (estar)?

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3. Essential Verbal Constructions (Perífrasis Verbales)

What is a Verbal Construction?

A verbal construction (or verbal periphrasis) consists of an auxiliary verb (which is conjugated) + an optional linking word (such as a, de, or que) + a non-finite verb (an infinitive, gerund, or past participle). These constructions add nuanced shades of meaning regarding time, obligation, probability, or progression.

A. Modal Constructions (Obligation, Necessity, and Probability)

These constructions show attitude, duty, or certainty towards an action:

• Tener que + Infinitive (Strong personal obligation: "to have to"):
Tengo que repasar la gramática. (I have to revise grammar.)

• Haber que + Infinitive (Impersonal necessity: "one must / it is necessary to" – only used in the 3rd person singular hay que, había que, habrá que):
Hay que proteger el medio ambiente. (One must protect the environment.)

• Deber + Infinitive (Moral obligation: "must / should"):
Debemos respetar las opiniones de los demás. (We must respect others' opinions.)

• Deber de + Infinitive (Supposition or probability: "must be / probably is"):
Son las once; debe de haber llegado ya. (It is eleven o'clock; he must have arrived by now.)

B. Aspectual Constructions (Time, Progression, and Repetition)

These constructions specify the stage of an action—whether it is just beginning, ongoing, repeating, or concluding.

1. Constructions with the Infinitive:
• Ir a + Infinitive (Near future / Intention: "going to"):
Voy a estudiar derecho el próximo año. (I am going to study law next year.)
• Acabar de + Infinitive (Immediate past: "to have just done something"):
Acabo de terminar mis deberes. (I have just finished my homework.)
• Volver a + Infinitive (Repetition: "to do something again"):
Volví a leer el artículo para entenderlo mejor. (I read the article again to understand it better.)
• Dejar de + Infinitive (Cessation: "to stop doing something"):
Ha dejado de fumar. (He has stopped smoking.)
• Soler + Infinitive (Habitual action: "to usually/normally do"):
Suelo levantarme temprano los fines de semana. (I usually get up early on weekends.)

2. Constructions with the Gerund (-ando / -iendo):
• Estar + Gerund (Continuous action in progress: "to be doing"):
Los jóvenes están buscando empleo. (Young people are looking for employment.)
• Llevar + Time + Gerund (Action that started in the past and continues to the present: "to have been doing for [time]"):
Llevo tres años estudiando español. (I have been studying Spanish for three years.)
(Caution: Do not use he estado estudiando por tres años—using llevar + gerund is far more natural and scores higher for AO3.)
• Seguir / Continuar + Gerund (Continuation: "to keep on / still doing"):
A pesar de las dificultades, sigue luchando. (Despite the difficulties, she keeps fighting.)
• Ir + Gerund (Gradual progression: "little by little / gradually doing"):
La situación va mejorando poco a poco. (The situation is gradually improving.)

Key Takeaway: Verbal Constructions

Using structures like llevar + gerund, soler + infinitive, and acabar de + infinitive instantly elevates your writing beyond basic tenses, directly demonstrating the variety and accuracy required at A Level.

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4. Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Exams

• The "By" Trap in the Passive Voice: Remember that in passive sentences (ser + participle), "by" is translated as por, never *para*.
Correct: El cuadro fue pintado por Picasso.

• Forgetting Agreement with Ser + Participle: Unlike compound tenses with haber (where the participle stays in -o), the participle with ser acts like an adjective.
Correct: Las leyes fueron aprobadas. (Not *aprobado*).

• Overusing Estar + Gerund: English uses the continuous tense far more than Spanish. In Spanish, use the present simple for general truths or habits, and reserve estar + gerund for actions actively happening at that exact moment.
Correct for a general fact: Trabajo en una tienda los sábados. (Not *estoy trabajando*).

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5. Quick Summary & Revision Checklist

Before sitting your assessments, make sure you can confidently:
1. Change an active sentence into both a ser + participle passive sentence and a pasiva refleja (se) sentence.
2. Explain why you use ser for time and origin, and estar for location and emotional states.
3. Translate nuanced adjectives like ser listo (to be smart) vs. estar listo (to be ready).
4. Express duration with llevar + [time] + gerund without slipping into English word-for-word structures.
5. Express habitual actions with soler + infinitive and recent actions with acabar de + infinitive.

Quick check

Can you answer these now?

Open each question to check the key ideas from this chapter.

What is the difference between the active voice and the passive voice in Spanish?

In the active voice, the subject performs the action (e.g. El gobierno aprobó la ley), whereas in the passive voice, the subject receives the action (e.g. La ley fue aprobada por el gobierno).

How is the true passive voice formed in Spanish, and what agreement rule applies to the past participle?

It is formed with Subject + conjugated ser + Past Participle + por + Agent, and the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.

How is the passive se (la pasiva refleja) constructed in Spanish?

It is formed with se + 3rd person singular or plural verb + Object, matching the verb number to the noun being acted upon.

How does the impersonal se differ from the passive se?

The impersonal se is used when there is no specific subject at all ("one/they/people"), and it is always conjugated in the 3rd person singular only.

What core aspects of meaning are expressed using the verb ser?

Ser expresses identity, essence, inherent characteristics, occupations, time/dates, origin/material, relationships, and the location of events.

What core aspects of meaning are expressed using the verb estar?

Estar expresses temporary states, conditions resulting from change, physical locations/positions, emotions, and continuous progressive actions.

What is the difference between ser + participle and estar + participle?

Ser + participle describes a passive action taking place, while estar + participle describes a resultant state or condition.

How does the meaning of adjectives like listo, bueno, and aburrido change between ser and estar?

With ser they describe inherent qualities (e.g. ser listo = clever, ser aburrido = boring), whereas with estar they describe states or conditions (e.g. estar listo = ready, estar aburrido = bored).

How do tener que, hay que, deber, and deber de differ in meaning?

Tener que expresses personal obligation, hay que expresses impersonal necessity, deber expresses moral duty, and deber de expresses probability or supposition.

What meanings are conveyed by the infinitive periphrases acabar de, volver a, dejar de, and soler?

Acabar de indicates immediate past ("just"), volver a indicates repetition ("again"), dejar de indicates cessation ("stop"), and soler indicates habit ("usually").

How is the construction llevar + [time] + gerund used in Spanish?

It expresses an action that began in the past and continues into the present ("to have been doing something for [time]").

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