Spanish · B2 · Family moment
Let Your Work Speak in Spanish
Helping your child navigate the vulnerability of sharing their creative work is a key parenting moment. This guide focuses on expressing expectations, hopes, and fears using passive structures in Spanish, specifically focusing on being the recipient of an action (being judged, chosen, or praised).
What you'll learn
- Express hopes and fears regarding external evaluation.
- Master the use of passive infinitives (ser + past participle) after verbs of emotion and expectation.
- Encourage confidence in child-led creative projects.
Spanish phrases for let your work speak
¿Esperas ser elegido para la ronda final?
Are you hoping to be chosen for the final round?
Uses 'ser elegido' as the passive infinitive complement for 'esperar'.
Puedes esperar ser juzgado por las mismas reglas que los demás.
You can expect to be judged by the same rules as everyone else.
'Ser juzgado' functions as the object of 'esperar' (to expect).
¿Tienes miedo de ser reconocido incluso sin tu nombre en la obra?
Are you afraid of being recognised even without your name on the entry?
'Miedo de' is followed by the passive infinitive 'ser reconocido'.
Mereces ser tomado en serio, sea cual sea tu edad.
You deserve to be taken seriously, whatever your age.
'Merecer' (to deserve) is a common verb used with passive infinitives.
Es comprensible esperar ser elogiado por algo en lo que trabajaste duro.
It is understandable to hope to be praised for something you worked hard on.
'Ser elogiado' means 'to be praised'.
No tienes por qué tener miedo de ser comparado con artistas más experimentados.
You do not need to be afraid of being compared with more experienced artists.
Uses 'tener miedo de ser comparado'.
¿Preferirías ser presentado por tu nombre de pila si ganas?
Would you prefer to be introduced by your first name if you win?
'Nombre de pila' is a natural way to say 'first name' in Spanish.
Puedes pedir ser informado del resultado en privado antes de que se anuncie.
You can ask to be told the result privately before it is announced.
'Pedir ser informado' uses the passive to focus on the recipient of the news.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
juzgar
to judge
Commonly used in creative or legal contexts.
elogiado
praised
Past participle of 'elogiar' (to praise/laud).
nombre de pila
first name
Literally 'baptismal name', used for one's given name.
obra
entry/work of art
Used to refer to the specific creative piece submitted.
Passive Infinitive Complements
In Spanish, to express 'to be [done]', we use the infinitive 'ser' plus the past participle. The participle must agree in gender and number with the subject it refers to. This structure is used after verbs like 'esperar' (to hope/expect), 'temer' (to fear), or 'merecer' (to deserve).
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| To be chosen (Masculine) | ser elegido | Espero ser elegido. |
| To be chosen (Feminine) | ser elegida | Ella espera ser elegida. |
| To be judged | ser juzgado/a | No temas ser juzgado. |
More examples
Ella no quiere ser vista todavía.
She doesn't want to be seen yet.
Note the feminine agreement 'vista' for a female subject.
Él merece ser escuchado.
He deserves to be heard.
A simple 'merecer + ser + participle' construction.