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.
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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.
A practical rule of thumb: if you would name the agent, reach for ser + participle + por; if the agent is irrelevant or unknown, use se. The se passive also handles things the ser passive can't, such as generic statements and instructions (se ruega no fumar, se sirve frío), which is why it dominates signage and recipes.
Ejemplos
Furnished apartments for rent.
Región: global
The company was acquired by a Chilean group.
Región: global
Houses are built here; this one was built by a local cooperative.
Región: global