Passive Voice

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B1Passive formed with ser + past participle (agrees with subject). Agent introduced by por. Often replaced by passive se (se habla español) or active voice in Spanish.

프랑스어Voix Passive

B1Passive formed with être + past participle (agrees with subject). Agent introduced by par. Le livre est lu par les étudiants. Can be avoided with on.

독일어Passiv im Präsens

B1Passive voice formed with werden + past participle. Agent with von + dative.

이탈리아어Forma Passiva

B2Passive formed with essere + past participle (agreeing with subject). Agent introduced by da. Alternative with venire (action) or andare (obligation). All tenses possible.

포르투갈어Voz Passiva

B1Passive formed with ser + past participle (agrees with subject). Agent introduced by por. Also passive se construction: fala-se português.

일본어受身形

B1Passive formation: godan changes -u to -a + れる, ichidan adds -られる. Used for actions received, often with nuance of being affected (adversely). Agent marked by に.

중국어被字句

A2Passive with 被: subject + 被 (+ agent) + verb. Often implies negative outcome. Agent optional. 叫/让 also used for passive/causative.

한국어피동

B1Passive formation: suffix -이/히/리/기 or -아/어지다. Not all verbs have passive forms. Agent marked with 에게/한테 (by). Focus on result/state.

아랍어المبني للمجهول

B1Internal passive formed by vowel changes: فُعِلَ (past), يُفْعَلُ (present). Agent is not mentioned. Subject becomes grammatical subject in nominative.

힌디어कर्मवाच्य

B1Passive formed with verb stem + आ/ई/ए जाना. Agent marked with से/द्वारा/के द्वारा. Often used for impersonal statements.

러시아어Страдательный залог

B1Passive constructions: reflexive verbs (-ся), short passive participles (построен, написан). Agent marked with instrumental. Imperfective vs. perfective passive.

네덜란드어Lijdende Vorm

B1Passive formed with 'worden' (action) or 'zijn' (state/result) + past participle. Agent introduced by 'door'. Word order: subject + worden/zijn + other elements + participle.

튀르키예어Edilgen Çatı

B1Passive formed with -il/-ıl/-ul/-ül (after consonants) or -n (after vowels). Used more than in English, especially for impersonal statements.

폴란드어Strona Bierna

B1Passive with być + passive participle (-ny/-ty/-ony). Impersonal passive with -no/-to for unspecified agent.

핀란드어Passiivi

B1Impersonal passive (-taan/-tään): puhutaan (one speaks/is spoken). Very common in Finnish, used for general statements and 'we'.

그리스어Παθητική Φωνή

B1Passive/mediopassive endings: -μαι, -σαι, -ται, -μαστε, -στε, -νται. Many verbs are deponent (passive form, active meaning).

체코어Trpný Rod

B1Passive with být + passive participle (-n/-t). Reflexive passive with 'se' for general statements.

루마니아어Diateza Pasivă

B1Passive with 'a fi' + past participle or reflexive passive with 'se'. Agent introduced with 'de (către)'.

히브리어סביל

B1Passive expressed through Nif'al and Pu'al patterns. Also analytical passive with auxiliary: הספר נכתב / הספר היה כתוב.

태국어กรรมวาจก

B1Passive with ถูก [thùuk] (for adverse events) or โดน [doon] (colloquial). ได้รับ [dâi ráp] for positive/neutral passive.

베트남어Bị Động

B1Passive with bị (for adverse events) or được (positive/neutral). bị đánh (was hit), được chọn (was selected).

우크라이나어Пасивний Стан

B1Passive with бути + passive participle (-ний/-тий). Impersonal passive with -но/-то for unspecified agent.

스와힐리어Kauli ya Kutendwa

B1Passive formed by adding -w- before the final vowel: penda → pendwa (be loved), soma → somwa (be read). Bantu vowel harmony applies: -iw-/-ew-/-liw-/-lew-.

페르시아어فعل مجهول

B2Formed with past participle + شدن shodan (to become) conjugated for tense. ساخته شد sākhte shod (was built). Agent optionally marked with توسط tavasot-e (by). Less common than active in speech.

우르두어مجہول

B2Formed with verb stem + ا/ی/ے + جانا (to go) conjugated for tense. Agent marked with سے se or کے ذریعے ke zarī'e (by means of). Passive often implies inability or adversity.

요루바어Ìṣe Aìníṣe (Ní...sí)

B1Yoruba does not have a morphological passive voice like European languages. Passive-like meaning is achieved through focus constructions, impersonal subjects, or using wọ́n (they/one) as an indefinite agent.

웨일스어Y Goddefol

B2Full passive constructions using 'cael' (to get/receive): Ces i fy ngweld (I was seen, lit. 'I got my seeing'). Combines 'cael' conjugated + possessive + verb-noun.

마오리어Hanga Whakaheke

B1Passive is very important in Māori, often preferred over active. Formed by adding suffixes to the verb: -tia, -a, -hia, -ina, -na, -ria. Agent marked with 'e': 'I patua te kurī e Hēmi.'

광둥어俾字句

A2俾 bei2 has multiple functions: 'give' as main verb, passive marker (被 in written Chinese), and causative. Passive: Subject + 俾 + agent + verb. Often carries negative connotation.

카탈로니아어Veu Passiva

B2Passive with ser + past participle (agreeing): El llibre va ser escrit per ella. Also impersonal constructions with 'es/hom': Es parla català aquí. Reflexive passive: Es venen pisos.

영어Passive Voice

B1Be + past participle. Focus on action/recipient, not doer. Agent with 'by' (often omitted). All tenses possible: is made, was made, will be made, has been made.

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