Practice: The passive voice (and its alternatives)

Translate each sentence into Spanish two ways: 1) using the passive voice (if possible) and 2) with an alternate method.

1. Lazarillo de Tormes was published in 1554. [A famous picaresque novel]

   
   

2. It has been called one of the world's best novels.

   
   

3. It was composed by an unknown author.

   
   

4. The main character¹ was born in the Tormes river.

   
   

5. His father [a miller] was exiled² for robbing his customers.

   
   

6. A blind man was given young Lazarillo as a guide³.

   
   

7. The boy was mistreated⁴ by the blind man.

   
   

8. He was then accepted as a helper by a [miserly] priest⁵.

   
   

9. Lazarillo was not given enough food by the priest...

   
   

10. ... so he was forced to steal bread out of an old chest⁶.

    
    

11. When he was kicked out⁷ by the priest, he was taken in by a poor squire⁸.

    
    

12. Both the master⁹ and the servant were saved by the food the boy begged¹⁰.

    
    

13. [The squire fled and] the boy was left alone.

    
    

14. [At the end of the novel] Lázaro was named the town cryer¹¹ and ...

    
    

15. ... he and the servant-girl of a priest were married.

    
    

16. It has been said that she was the priest's mistress¹².

    
    

¹ Main character = personaje principal.
² To exile = desterrar.
³ Guide = guía.
⁴ To mistreat = maltratar.
⁵ Priest = sacerdote (m.).
⁶ Chest = arcaz (m.).
⁷ To kick out = botar or despedir.
⁸ Squire = escudero.
⁹ Master = amo.
¹⁰ To beg = pedir or mendigar.
¹¹ Town cryer = pregonero.
¹² Mistress (o: lover) = amante (m./f.).

[Respuestas]

[S210 Main Page]

[The Passive Voice — And How to Avoid It]