grammar.verbs.passive-se-vs-ser
Se vende vs fue vendido: choosing a passive
The se passive (se venden casas) hides the agent and rules conversation, signs, and instructions; the ser passive allows naming the agent and suits formal writing.
grammarB2v0.1.0
Explicación
Se + third-person verb agreeing with the thing: se vende esta casa, se necesitan empleados, aquí se habla español. No agent can be expressed — that's the point.
Choose ser + participle when you must say who did it (fue comprada por un fondo) or in journalistic/legal style. In speech, se wins by a wide margin.
Ejemplos
Se alquilan departamentos amoblados.
Furnished apartments for rent.
Furnished apartments for rent.
Región: global
La empresa fue adquirida por un grupo chileno.
The company was acquired by a Chilean group.
The company was acquired by a Chilean group.
Región: global