Breakdown of Es peligroso que la alarma esté desactivada.
ser
to be
estar
to be (location/state)
peligroso
dangerous
que
that / than
la alarma
the alarm
desactivar
to deactivate
Questions & Answers about Es peligroso que la alarma esté desactivada.
Why do we use esté (from estar) here instead of sea (from ser) to form the passive?
This is the state passive. We use estar + past participle to focus on the result or state of an action. The sentence describes the condition the alarm is currently in (a deactivated state). If we used sea desactivada (true passive voice with ser), it would focus on the action itself: 'It is dangerous that the alarm is being deactivated (by someone).'
Why is esté in the subjunctive mood?
The phrase Es peligroso que (It is dangerous that) is an impersonal expression that states a judgment or emotional reaction. In Spanish, these expressions trigger the subjunctive in the following clause because they convey a subjective view rather than an objective declaration of a fact.
Why does desactivada end in -a?
When forming the state passive with estar, the past participle acts exactly like an adjective. This means it must agree in gender and number with the subject it describes. Since la alarma is a feminine singular noun, the participle desactivado changes to desactivada.
Could I say esté apagada instead of esté desactivada?
Yes, but there is a slight difference in nuance. Apagada generally means 'turned off' (like a light, a phone, or a screen). Desactivada specifically means 'deactivated' or 'disabled.' For a security system, alarm, or bomb, desactivada is the more precise and natural choice.
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