Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Nuestra lavadora fue reparada por la técnica ayer. - Our washing machine was repaired by the technician yesterday.

It’s the passive voice with ser: ser (preterite fue) + past participle (reparada). It highlights the object (Nuestra lavadora) rather than the doer. In everyday Latin American Spanish, the active voice or the “se” passive is often preferred in speech, but this sentence is perfectly correct.

Why is it fue (preterite) and not era (imperfect)?

Because it refers to a single, completed event that happened yesterday. Era reparada would suggest an ongoing or habitual situation (e.g., “it used to be repaired regularly”), not a one-time repair.

What’s the difference between fue reparada and está reparada?

Fue reparada = the action of repairing happened (true passive, event-focused).
Está reparada = the washer is in a repaired state now (result state, with estar). You could say: Ayer fue reparada; hoy está reparada.

Why is the participle reparada feminine?

In the passive with ser, the past participle agrees with the subject. Lavadora is feminine singular, so the participle is reparada (not reparado).

Why is it nuestra and not nuestro?

Possessive adjectives agree with the noun possessed, not with the owner. Since lavadora is feminine, it’s nuestra lavadora.

Can I say this in the active voice instead?

Yes. The active version is more common in conversation: La técnica reparó nuestra lavadora ayer.

Can I leave out the agent phrase por la técnica?

Yes. If the agent is unknown or not important, just say: Nuestra lavadora fue reparada ayer.

Why is it por and not para before the agent?

In the passive voice, the agent is introduced with por: reparada por la técnica. Para expresses purpose or destination, not the doer.

Can I use the “se” construction instead of the ser passive?

Yes, and it’s very common in speech: Ayer se reparó nuestra lavadora. You can’t add the agent with this structure; if you want to name the agent, use ser passive or the active voice.

Where can I put ayer in the sentence?

Common options:

Ayer, nuestra lavadora fue reparada por la técnica.
Nuestra lavadora fue reparada ayer por la técnica.
Nuestra lavadora fue reparada por la técnica ayer. All are correct; placement slightly affects emphasis (beginning = stronger focus on time).

Does la técnica mean “the technique” or “the technician (female)”?

Here it means “the technician (female).” Context and the article help: la técnica (person) vs. la técnica de X (the technique of X). If the person were male, it would be el técnico.

Why la técnica and not una técnica?

La técnica implies a specific, known technician (previously identified or understood from context). Una técnica would mean “a technician” (unspecified).

Could I use arreglar instead of reparar?

Yes. Arreglar is more colloquial; reparar is a bit more formal/technical. Examples:

Nuestra lavadora fue arreglada por la técnica ayer.
La técnica arregló nuestra lavadora ayer.

Is fue here the verb ser or ir?

Ser. When fue is followed by a past participle (reparada), it’s the passive with ser. With ir, you’d see a place or verb of motion after it (e.g., fue al taller).

Is the passive voice natural in Latin American Spanish?

It’s common in writing and formal contexts. In everyday speech, people more often use the active voice (La técnica reparó…) or the “se” passive (Se reparó…).

Are there regional alternatives to lavadora?

Yes. Lavadora is widely understood across Latin America. In the Southern Cone (e.g., Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay), you’ll also hear lavarropas. Avoid mixing it up with lavaplatos/lavavajillas (dishwasher).

Can I use a direct object pronoun in the active version?

Yes: La técnica la reparó ayer (where la stands for la lavadora). If you front the object for emphasis, you typically add the clitic: Nuestra lavadora, la reparó la técnica ayer.

How would the sentence change in the plural?

Make everything agree:

Passive: Nuestras lavadoras fueron reparadas por la técnica ayer.
Active: La técnica reparó nuestras lavadoras ayer.