Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): La carpa fue instalada por dos guías de la reserva. - The tent was set up by two guides from the reserve.

Because carpa is a feminine singular noun. In the passive with ser, the past participle works like an adjective and must agree with the subject: instalada. Examples:

La carpa fue instalada...
Las carpas fueron instaladas...
El toldo fue instalado... (masculine)

What grammar structure is “fue instalada”?

It’s the passive voice with ser in the preterite: ser (fue) + past participle. It presents a completed action in the past. The active equivalent is: Dos guías de la reserva instalaron la carpa.

Could I use “se” instead of the “ser” passive?

Yes, very common in Spanish (especially in Latin America): Se instaló la carpa. However, with the “se” passive (pasiva refleja) you normally don’t include the agent, so avoid adding por dos guías there. If you want to name the doer, use the ser passive or the active voice.

Why is it “por” and not “para” before “dos guías”?

In the passive voice, por introduces the agent (the doer): fue instalada por dos guías = “was installed by two guides.” Para would mean “for” (purpose/recipient): La carpa fue instalada para dos guías = “The tent was set up for two guides.”

Can I drop the “por…” phrase?

Yes. If the doer isn’t important or is unknown, Spanish often omits it: La carpa fue instalada. Even more natural is the “se” passive: Se instaló la carpa.

Why not “era instalada” instead of “fue instalada”?

Era instalada (imperfect) would suggest an ongoing or habitual action in the past (e.g., “It used to be installed…”), which is unusual here. Fue instalada (preterite) presents a specific, completed event.

Could I use “estar”: “La carpa estaba/estuvo instalada…”?

Yes, but it changes the meaning. Estar + participle describes the resulting state, not the event. La carpa estaba instalada = “The tent was set up (already).” You wouldn’t typically add the agent with estar.

What does “de la reserva” mean here?

It specifies which guides: dos guías de la reserva = “two guides from the reserve (park/nature reserve).” If it were a proper name, you’d capitalize it: de la Reserva Nacional X. Alone, reserva is lowercase.

Is “fue” ever written with an accent: “fué”?

No. The correct form is fue (no accent). The same goes for fui and dio.

Does “carpa” always mean “tent”?

In Latin America, carpa commonly means a tent (including large event tents/canopies). It can also mean the fish “carp,” but context prevents confusion here. In Spain, tienda de campaña is more common for a camping tent.

Is “instalar una carpa” the most natural phrasing?

It’s correct, especially for formal contexts or large setups (event tents). In everyday Latin American Spanish, you’ll also hear:

armar la carpa
montar la carpa All mean “to set up/pitch the tent.”

What’s up with the accent in “guías”?

The accent on í marks stress and shows a hiatus: gu-í-as. The u is silent in gui- (unlike güi-, where the u is pronounced). Pronunciation hints:

guías ≈ GEE-ahs
carpa ≈ KAR-pah
fue ≈ fweh
instalada ≈ een-stah-LAH-dah

Is “guía” masculine or feminine?

For a person, guía is a common-gender noun:

singular: el guía (male), la guía (female)
plural: los guías, las guías Without an article and with a numeral (dos guías), the gender is unspecified. To specify women, you can say dos guías mujeres (context permitting).

Why is there no article before “dos guías”?

Numerals don’t require an article. Por dos guías is normal and indefinite. If you mean two specific, previously known guides, you could say por los dos guías.

Can I front the agent phrase for emphasis?

Yes, though it’s more marked/formal: Por dos guías de la reserva fue instalada la carpa. Neutral Spanish prefers the original order or the active voice.

Are there synonyms for “guías de la reserva”?

Depending on the place, you might hear guardaparques, guardabosques, or rangers. Guías de la reserva highlights their role as guides rather than park wardens.