Spanish · C2 · Family moment
Help on Your Terms in Spanish
Encourage your child's independence by reframing help as a tool for success rather than a sign of weakness. This guide focuses on using the passive voice from the recipient's perspective to show that one can receive support while remaining the lead architect of their own projects and hobbies.
What you'll learn
- Master the recipient passive construction to focus on the person receiving an action.
- Distinguish between formal and colloquial ways of expressing that something was done for someone.
- Encourage children to accept logistical support without losing ownership of their intellectual work.
Spanish phrases for help on your terms
Puedes pedir que te expliquen las instrucciones de nuevo sin que te hagan todo el proyecto.
You can have the instructions explained again without having the whole project done for you.
Uses 'pedir que' to mirror the idea of requesting the action (explanation).
Te prestarán el micrófono para tu entrevista, pero organizar la grabación sigue siendo tu responsabilidad.
You'll be lent the microphone for your interview, but arranging the recording is still your responsibility.
Translates the recipient passive into a standard future passive in Spanish.
Te entregaron los materiales para que pudieras concentrarte en construir el modelo.
You had the materials delivered, so you could concentrate on building the model.
Highlights the convenience of receiving support to focus on core tasks.
¿Te gustaría que te explicaran los términos desconocidos o prefieres buscarlos tú primero?
Would you like to have the unfamiliar terms explained, or would you rather look them up first?
A respectful way to offer help while respecting the child's autonomy.
Se te mostró el primer paso, no se te entregó una solución terminada.
You were shown the first step, not handed a finished solution.
Emphasizes the distinction between guidance and doing the work for them.
Hice que me explicaras la configuración de la aplicación; recibir ayuda no nos hace a ninguno de los dos menos capaces.
I had the app settings explained to me by you; receiving help doesn't make either of us less capable.
Models vulnerability by the parent to normalize receiving help.
Puedes mandar a reparar esa correa suelta y aun así responsabilizarte del cuidado de tu equipo.
You can have that loose strap repaired and still take responsibility for looking after your equipment.
Uses 'mandar a' to express the causative/recipient sense of having something done.
Si dejas que te lean los comentarios en voz alta, puede que notes puntos que eran más difíciles de seguir en el papel.
If you get the feedback read aloud to you, you may notice points that were harder to follow on the page.
Suggests a specific type of support for better clarity.
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
entregar
to deliver / to hand over
Commonly used in school contexts for handing in assignments or receiving materials.
responsabilizarse
to take responsibility
A reflexive verb that emphasizes the subject's active role.
capaz
capable
Refers to both skill and the empowerment to do something.
mandar a [infinitivo]
to have [something] done
A common way in Spanish to express that you arranged for someone else to perform a service.
Expressing the Recipient Passive in Spanish
While English uses 'get/have something done' or a recipient passive ('I was given'), Spanish often uses the indirect object pronoun (me, te, le, nos, les) with a third-person plural verb or the 'se' passive. This shifts the focus to the person affected by the action.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Recipient (Formal/General) | Se le + [verbo] | Se le entregó el premio (He/She was given the award). |
| Causative (Arranging Help) | Mandar/Hacer + [infinitivo] | Mandé arreglar mi bici (I had my bike fixed). |
| Direct Recipient (Informal) | [Pronombre OI] + [verbo] | Te explicaron el tema (You had the topic explained to you). |
More examples
Me trajeron el libro que necesitaba.
I had the book I needed brought to me.
Focuses on the speaker as the recipient of the book.
Le arreglaron el ordenador ayer.
He/She had the computer fixed yesterday.
Shows that the person received a service without necessarily doing the labor themselves.
Nos explicaron las reglas del juego.
We were explained the rules of the game.
Common conversational way to show receiving information.