The negotiation has taken three months. You have built confianza with Doctor Ospina over six meetings, two lunches, and a dozen carefully worded emails. Now you are sitting in a lawyer's office in Bogota, and the abogado slides a 20-page document across the table: "Este es el borrador del contrato de prestación de servicios. Le solicito que lo revise con su equipo jurídico. Las cláusulas de terminación y las condiciones de pago se encuentran a partir de la página ocho."
You look at the first paragraph: "Se acuerda que los servicios serán prestados conforme a las condiciones establecidas en el presente documento..." The language is dense, impersonal, and full of structures you have not encountered in conversation: passive voice (serán prestados), impersonal se (se acuerda), formal conditional clauses (en caso de que se incumplan las condiciones...). This is legal register - the highest formality level of Spanish.
You do not need to be a lawyer. But you DO need to understand the grammar that contracts use, because in Colombian business, you will read, discuss, and negotiate these documents. Un contrato que no entiende es un contrato que no debería firmar. (A contract you do not understand is a contract you should not sign.)
B2 Language Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Recognize and construct passive voice - El contrato fue firmado por ambas partes
Use impersonal se - Se establece que, Se acuerda que, Se requiere que
Form formal conditional clauses - En caso de que, siempre y cuando, a menos que + subjunctive
Navigate negotiation language - offering, counter-offering, and closing in Colombian business register
1. Passive Voice: The Language of Contracts
Contracts avoid naming specific people as actors. Instead of "Usted pagará el 50%" (direct, personal), contracts say "El 50% será pagado por el contratante" (passive - formal, impersonal). This grammatical depersonalization is a key feature of legal register.
Formation:ser (conjugated) + past participle (agrees in gender/number)
Active Voice
Passive Voice
Change
La empresa firmó el contrato.
El contrato fue firmado por la empresa.
Subject and object swap; ser + participle
El abogado revisará las cláusulas.
Las cláusulas serán revisadas por el abogado.
Future passive
Las partes han acordado los términos.
Los términos han sido acordados por las partes.
Present perfect passive
Key rules:
The past participle AGREES with the new subject: El contrato fue firmado (masculine) / La cláusula fue firmada (feminine) / Los documentos fueron firmados (plural)
Por introduces the agent (who did it), but it is often omitted in contracts
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'Los servicios serán prestados conforme a las condiciones establecidas.' - Why is 'prestados' masculine plural?
Tap to reveal
'Prestados' agrees with 'los servicios' - masculine plural. In passive voice, the past participle functions like an adjective and MUST agree in gender and number with the subject. 'La factura será enviada' (feminine singular). 'Las condiciones serán establecidas' (feminine plural). 'El pago será realizado' (masculine singular). This agreement is mandatory and a common error point for B2 learners.
Tap to flip back
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Why do contracts prefer passive voice over active voice?
Tap to reveal
Three reasons: (1) OBJECTIVITY - passive voice removes the personal element, making the document feel neutral and institutional rather than directed at one person. (2) FOCUS - it puts the important information (the action or object) first: 'El pago será realizado' focuses on the payment, not who pays. (3) LEGAL TRADITION - Spanish legal language has used passive constructions for centuries. Understanding this is essential for reading any Colombian contract.
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Quick Check-in
2. Impersonal Se: The Invisible Actor
Even more common than passive voice in Colombian contracts is the impersonal se - a construction where no agent is named at all. The action simply "happens."
Patterns:
Pattern
Example
Function
Se + 3rd person verb + que
Se establece que el contratista cumplirá...
Establishing terms
Se + 3rd person verb + noun
Se requiere la aprobación del comité.
Requirements
Se + 3rd person verb
Se procederá según lo acordado.
Actions without named agents
Common impersonal se phrases in contracts:
Se acuerda que... - It is agreed that...
Se establece que... - It is established that...
Se requiere que... - It is required that... (triggers subjunctive!)
Se prohíbe que... - It is prohibited that... (triggers subjunctive!)
Se entiende que... - It is understood that...
Se compromete a... - [The party] commits to...
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'Se requiere que el contratista presente informes mensuales.' - Why is 'presente' in the subjunctive?
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'Se requiere que' (it is required that) is an impersonal expression of NECESSITY - and necessity triggers the subjunctive in the subordinate clause. The pattern: impersonal expression of obligation/necessity + que + subjunctive. Same with: 'Se prohíbe que copien el material' (subjunctive after prohibition), 'Se exige que cumplan los plazos' (subjunctive after demand). The subjunctive marks the required action as something that SHOULD happen, not something that IS happening.
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What is the difference between 'se firmó el contrato' and 'el contrato fue firmado'?
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Both express the same event, but with different grammar: 'Se firmó el contrato' = impersonal se + active verb (the contract was signed - no agent named). 'El contrato fue firmado' = passive voice with ser + participle (the contract was signed - agent can be added with 'por'). In Colombian legal Spanish, impersonal 'se' is MORE COMMON than ser-passive. In everyday business, 'se firmó el contrato' sounds natural; 'el contrato fue firmado' sounds more legal/formal.
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Scenario: Reading a Contract Clause
Context: Your lawyer is explaining key clauses in a service contract you are about to sign.
Lawyer:"Mire, en la cláusula tercera se establece que los servicios serán prestados por un periodo de doce meses. Se acuerda que el pago se realizará en cuotas mensuales dentro de los primeros cinco días hábiles de cada mes.
En la cláusula quinta, se requiere que usted presente un informe de avance cada trimestre. Y en la cláusula séptima, se prohíbe que cualquiera de las partes ceda los derechos del contrato a terceros sin autorización escrita."
Notice: se establece, se acuerda, se realizará, se requiere que + subjunctive (presente), se prohíbe que + subjunctive (ceda). Every clause uses impersonal constructions - no one is personally named as the authority imposing these terms.
Knowledge Check
In the contract clause 'Se prohíbe que cualquiera de las partes ceda los derechos,' why is 'ceda' in the subjunctive?
Reflection
3. Formal Conditional Clauses: If-Situations in Contracts
Contracts are full of contingencies: If this happens, then that follows. Legal Spanish uses specific conditional connectors that are more formal than simple si.
En caso de que se incumplan las condiciones, se procederá a la terminación.
Siempre y cuando
As long as / provided that
El contrato será renovado siempre y cuando ambas partes estén de acuerdo.
A menos que
Unless
Se aplicará la penalidad a menos que se justifique el retraso.
Con la condición de que
On the condition that
Se aprobará el presupuesto con la condición de que se reduzcan los costos.
A no ser que
Unless (formal variant)
El acuerdo se mantendrá a no ser que una de las partes notifique su retiro.
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Why do ALL formal conditional connectors trigger the subjunctive?
Tap to reveal
These connectors introduce conditions that MAY OR MAY NOT be met - they describe hypothetical situations, not facts. 'En caso de que se incumplan' = in the event that [the conditions] are violated (maybe they will, maybe they won't). The subjunctive marks this uncertainty. Compare with simple 'si' + indicative for real conditions: 'Si llueve, no vamos' (if it rains - real possibility). Formal conditional connectors ALWAYS use subjunctive because they frame legal contingencies.
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'En caso de que' vs. 'Si' - When do you use each?
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'Si' = general conditional, can be real or hypothetical. Used in conversation and informal writing. 'En caso de que' = formal contingency, emphasizes the EVENT happening. Used in contracts, formal proposals, and official communications. In legal language, 'en caso de que' is strongly preferred because it sounds more official and precise. Compare: 'Si el cliente no paga...' (conversational) vs. 'En caso de que el cliente no cumpla con el pago...' (contractual).
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Scenario: Negotiating Contract Terms
Context: You are negotiating payment terms with a Colombian client. You need to propose conditions.
You:"Doctor Ospina, nuestra propuesta de condiciones de pago sería la siguiente: el pago se realizaría en tres cuotas - 30% al inicio, 40% al completar la primera fase, y 30% a la entrega final.
Siempre y cuando los pagos se realicen dentro de los plazos acordados, mantendríamos los precios originales. Sin embargo, en caso de que hubiera un retraso superior a treinta días, se aplicaría un interés de mora del 1.5% mensual.
A menos que usted prefiera otro esquema, esta sería nuestra propuesta base."
Notice: siempre y cuando + subjunctive (se realicen), en caso de que + subjunctive (hubiera), a menos que + subjunctive (prefiera). Every formal conditional uses subjunctive. The conditional tense (sería, realizaría, mantendríamos, aplicaría) throughout signals that these are proposed terms, not demands.
Knowledge Check
In the negotiation, why does the speaker use conditional tense ('sería la siguiente,' 'se realizaría') instead of future ('será,' 'se realizará')?
Nuestra propuesta sería... - Our proposal would be...
Le planteamos la siguiente alternativa... - We propose the following alternative...
Nos gustaría ofrecerles... - We would like to offer you...
Counter-offering:
Entendemos su posición. Sin embargo, desde nuestra perspectiva... - We understand your position. However, from our perspective...
¿Sería posible que consideraran...? - Would it be possible for you to consider...?
Quizás podríamos encontrar un punto medio... - Perhaps we could find a middle ground...
Closing the deal:
Estamos de acuerdo con los términos propuestos. - We agree with the proposed terms.
Procedamos con la elaboración del contrato. - Let's proceed with drafting the contract.
Queda acordado que... - It is agreed that...
The Colombian Negotiation Arc
Small talk and confianza (15-30 minutes)
Never skip this. Build rapport before discussing terms. Ask about family, travel, business in general.
Present your position with hedging
Use conditional: "Nuestra propuesta sería..." Never use commands or ultimatums.
Listen and acknowledge their position
"Entendemos su perspectiva. Es un punto muy válido." Validate before counter-offering.
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What does 'Queda acordado que...' communicate at the end of a Colombian negotiation?
Tap to reveal
'Queda acordado que...' (It remains agreed that...) is the formal closing formula that signals both parties have reached consensus. 'Quedar' here means 'to remain/stand as' - the agreement now stands as fact. After this phrase, the terms are considered settled. Similar expressions: 'Queda establecido que...' (It is established that...), 'Se deja constancia de que...' (A record is left that...). These phrases often appear in the acta de reunión (meeting minutes).
Tap to flip back
Contract & Negotiation Practice
Write a 5-7 sentence negotiation proposal for this scenario:
You want to hire a Colombian software development firm for a 6-month project. Your budget is 300 million pesos, but the firm quoted 400 million.
Requirements:
Open with a relationship-acknowledging phrase
Use conditional for your proposal (nuestra propuesta sería)
Include one formal conditional clause (en caso de que, siempre y cuando, a menos que + subjunctive)
Use at least one impersonal se construction
Close with a collaborative invitation to discuss
Key Takeaways
Passive voice (ser + participle with agreement) depersonalizes contract language: El contrato fue firmado
Impersonal se is the most common construction in Colombian contracts: se establece, se acuerda, se requiere
Se requiere que / se prohíbe que trigger subjunctive - obligation and prohibition require non-factual mood
Formal conditional connectors (en caso de que, siempre y cuando, a menos que) ALL trigger subjunctive
Conditional tense in negotiations signals proposals, not demands - essential for maintaining confianza
Summary Checklist
I can form passive voice with correct participle agreement
I can use impersonal se for legal and contractual language
I know that se requiere que and se prohíbe que trigger subjunctive
I can use formal conditional connectors (en caso de que, siempre y cuando, a menos que) + subjunctive
I can frame negotiation proposals using conditional tense to maintain Colombian business confianza
I can recognize and understand basic Colombian contract vocabulary
Course Completion
Congratulations! You have completed Course 1: Professional & Business Spanish. You now have the grammar and discourse tools to operate in Colombian business environments - from writing formal emails with subjunctive courtesy, to presenting proposals with cause-and-effect structure, to reading contracts with passive voice and impersonal se. The skills in this course build the foundation for professional communication at the B2 level and beyond.
Counter-offer with collaborative framing
"¿Sería posible que...? Quizás podríamos..." Frame adjustments as mutual benefit.
Summarize agreements with impersonal language
"Queda acordado que se realizará el pago en tres cuotas." Depersonalize the agreement.