Spanish · B1 · Family moment
Having a say about school photos in Spanish
Help your child navigate school photo privacy by learning how to discuss rules, permissions, and rights using the passive voice combined with modal verbs in Spanish.
What you'll learn
- Express school policies using the passive voice with modal verbs.
- Learn vocabulary related to privacy, consent, and photography.
- Master subject-participle agreement in passive constructions.
Spanish phrases for having a say about school photos
¿Puede esta foto ser mostrada en el sitio web de la escuela?
Can this photo be shown on the school website?
Notice 'mostrada' ends in -a to match the feminine subject 'foto'.
Tu foto no debe ser compartida sin permiso.
Your picture must not be shared without permission.
Uses 'debe ser' to express obligation/prohibition.
El formulario debe ser firmado por un padre.
The form must be signed by a parent.
Passive voice highlights the action performed on the form.
¿Puede mi nombre ser omitido?
Can my name be left out?
'Omitido' is the past participle of 'omitir'.
Esta foto solo puede ser usada para el álbum de la clase.
This photo may only be used for the class album.
Use 'puede ser' for permission or possibility.
La imagen puede ser eliminada si cambias de opinión.
The picture can be removed if you change your mind.
'Cambiar de opinión' is a common idiom for changing one's mind.
¿Debe cada niño ser fotografiado hoy?
Must every child be photographed today?
'Niño' acts as the subject here in the passive question.
Tu elección debe ser respetada por todos.
Your choice must be respected by everyone.
'Elección' is feminine, so the participle 'respetada' matches it.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
El permiso
Permission
A key noun for discussing consent.
Compartir
To share
Used for both physical sharing and sharing on social media.
Firmar
To sign
The related noun is 'la firma' (the signature).
La imagen
The image/picture
Feminine noun ending in -n.
Passive Voice with Modal Verbs
To form the passive voice with a modal verb (like 'poder' or 'deber'), use the conjugated modal + the infinitive 'ser' + the past participle. The participle must match the subject in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | [Modal] + ser + [Participio] | La foto debe ser borrada. |
| Poder (Can/May) | Puede ser / Pueden ser | Las fotos pueden ser vistas. |
| Deber (Must/Should) | Debe ser / Deben ser | El documento debe ser firmado. |
More examples
El archivo puede ser borrado si ya no lo quieres.
The file can be deleted if you no longer want it.
Passive construction focus on 'the file'.
Estas reglas deben ser seguidas por los fotógrafos.
These rules must be followed by the photographers.
'Seguidas' matches the feminine plural 'reglas'.