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Lesson 8

Intermediate: Lesson 8

overview:

In this lesson, we will learn how to construct passive sentences in Japanese.

In the Japanese language, the passive form is often used to express the feeling on being at the receiving end of something bad.

Lesson overview
How to make passive form?
General sentence structure

How to make passive form

breakdown

For Group 1 verbs, change the dictionary form from u to a + れる at the end.
For Group 2 verbs, add られる to the verb.

structure: GROUP 1 VERBS
書く -> 書かれる
読む -> 読まれる
待つ -> 待たれる
貸す -> 貸される
structure: GROUP 2 VERBS
食べる -> 食べられる
借りる -> 借りられる
起きる -> 起きられる
見る -> 見られる
structure: group 3 verbs
する -> される
洗濯する -> 洗濯される
来る -> こられる
持って来る -> 持って来られる

General sentence structure

passive SENTENCE STRUCTURE

If we were to say:
The teacher praised me.

It would look something like this:

先生 は 私 を ほめました。


However, in a passive sentence, you would say something like:
I was praised by the teacher.

In Japanese, it would look something like this:

私 は 先生 に ほめられました。


You will realised that the teacher and student is now flipped in this sentence structure. Furthermore, the particle has been changed from を to に.

examples
1. The manager made Kimura work overtime.
1. 木村さんは部長に残業されました。
残業　・ ざんぎょう　・　Overtime

Part of body

passive SENTENCE STRUCTURE

Similarly, if we were to say:
He stepped on my foot.

It would look something like this:

彼 は 私 を 踏みました。
踏む　・ ふむ　・　To step


However, in a passive sentence, you would say something like:
My feet was stepped on by him.
This is a passive sentence with a hint being a victim of something that happened.

In Japanese, it would look something like this:

私 は 彼 に [私の] あしが 踏まれました。


Similarly, the subjects in the sentence were flipped. The particle has been changed from を to に as well.
Also, 私の can be omitted because it is understandable without it.

Using passive form in which the source of action is not important

SENTENCE STRUCTURE

That hotel was built 10 years ago.

あのホテル は １０年前 に 建てられました。
建てる　・ たてる　・　To build

That machine is exported to Indonesia

その機械 は インドネシア へ 輸出されました。
輸出する　・ ゆしゅつする　・　To export

Giving/receiving things and passive form


あげます is not used in passive form. もらいます is used instead.
‍

SENTENCE STRUCTURE

I was given the cigarettes by him.

私 は 彼に タバコ を もらいました。
Things to note:
  • もらいます is already the passive form.

Passive sentences with intransitive verbs

SENTENCE STRUCTURE


Using passive form with intransitive verbs can help bring out emotions in sentences.

For example, the sentence below only stated a fact:

It rained yesterday.

昨日 雨 が 降りました。


However, by changing the verb to passive form, it can be implied that you were the victim of the rain.

For example:

I got caught in the rain yesterday.

昨日 私 は 雨 に 降られました。

Passive て form + emotional verb

SENTENCE STRUCTURE


You can use passive form + て as a reason to express emotions. The ending verb must show emotions.
‍

I was worried as my son came home late last night.

昨日の晩 息子 に 遅く 帰られて 心配します。
息子　・ むすこ　・　Son

I was troubled last night as the child cried.

昨日の晩 赤ちゃん に 泣かれて 困りました。
泣く　・ なく　・　To cry
困る　・ こまる　・　To be troubled
Things to note:
  • Using passive form with intransitive verbs often implies danger or trouble in most situations.
  • You can only use passive て form followed by a verb that expresses emotion.

Using passive form to describe art, science, discovery etc.

SENTENCE STRUCTURE


We can attribute art work, discoveries etc. using passive form as well.

So, instead of saying:

Da Vinci painted Mona Lisa.

ダ・ヴィンチはモナリザを描きました。


Turn it into a passive sentence by:

Mona Lisa was painted by Da Vinci.

ダ・ヴィンチ は モナリザ に よって 描かれた。
more examples:
1. America was discovered by Columbus.
1. コロンバス は アメリカ を よって 発見されました。
発見する　・ はっけんする　・　To discover
2. The light bulb was invented by Edison.
2. エジソン は 電球 を よって 発明されました。
発明する　・ はつめいする　・　To invent
3. E.T was directed by Steven Spielberg.
3. スティーブン・スピルバーグ は「E.t」を よって 監督されました。
監督する　・ かんとくする　・　To direct
Things to note:
  • You can think of よって as by.