Spanish grammar
The ser passive in any tense: ha sido / había sido / va a ser / puede ser + participle
Understand and use the ser passive in any tense: ha sido, había sido, va a ser, puede ser + participle.
From the scene Ha sido vendido (It has been sold)
In short
The ser passive works in every tense: put ser in the tense you need and make the participle agree.
- has been acquired ha sido adquirida
- had been sold había sido vendida
- is going to be renovated va a ser reformado
- may be converted pueden ser convertidos
- has already been informed ya ha sido informada
Your turn
Which one goes with had been sold?
Options: había sido vendida · ha sido adquirida · va a ser reformado
Show answer
had been sold → había sido vendida
How it works
You have already seen es, será and fue + participle.
Good to know
The same passive works in every tense: put ser in the tense you need and keep the participle agreeing with the subject (la mitad ha sido adquirida, los pisos pueden ser convertidos).
Good to know
It sounds formal and is typical of letters and the news; in conversation people prefer the active or se.
has been acquired ha sido adquirida
Ramón
"La mitad del edificio ha sido adquirida por Inversiones Pez Dorado."
"Half of the building has been acquired by Pez Dorado Investments."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"La mitad del edificio (blank) por Inversiones Pez Dorado."
Options: había sido vendida · va a ser reformado · ha sido adquirida
Show answer
Ramón
"La mitad del edificio ha sido adquirida por Inversiones Pez Dorado."
"Half of the building has been acquired by Pez Dorado Investments."
had been sold había sido vendida
Ramón
"La propiedad había sido vendida antes de Navidad."
"The property had been sold before Christmas."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"La propiedad (blank) antes de Navidad."
Options: ha sido adquirida · va a ser reformado · había sido vendida
Show answer
Ramón
"La propiedad había sido vendida antes de Navidad."
"The property had been sold before Christmas."
is going to be renovated va a ser reformado
Ramón
"El edificio va a ser reformado por un inversor extranjero."
"The building is going to be renovated by a foreign investor."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"El edificio (blank) por un inversor extranjero."
Options: va a ser reformado · ha sido adquirida · había sido vendida
Show answer
Ramón
"El edificio va a ser reformado por un inversor extranjero."
"The building is going to be renovated by a foreign investor."
may be converted pueden ser convertidos
Ramón
"Los pisos pueden ser convertidos en apartamentos turísticos."
"The flats may be converted into tourist apartments."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"Los pisos (blank) en apartamentos turísticos."
Options: pueden ser convertidos · ha sido adquirida · había sido vendida
Show answer
Ramón
"Los pisos pueden ser convertidos en apartamentos turísticos."
"The flats may be converted into tourist apartments."
has already been informed ya ha sido informada
Javi
Porque Doña Elena ya ha sido informada.
Because Doña Elena has already been informed.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Porque Doña Elena (blank).
Options: había sido vendida · ya ha sido informada · ha sido adquirida
Show answer
Javi
Porque Doña Elena ya ha sido informada.
Because Doña Elena has already been informed.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| has been acquired | ha sido adquirida |
|---|---|
| had been sold | había sido vendida |
| is going to be renovated | va a ser reformado |
| may be converted | pueden ser convertidos |
| has already been informed | ya ha sido informada |
More lines from the story
- Javi¿Adquirida? O sea, comprada.Acquired? In other words, bought.