Let's speak using passive voice! / Japanese Learning Support LLC
Let's study passive sentences!
When you were a child, did your mother scold you a lot or praise you a lot?
Let's try answering in Japanese.
… My mother used to scold me a lot.
… My mother praised me a lot.
That's nice.
In these two sentences, "mother" is the subject.
So what happens if you use "I" as the subject?
Today's Menu
3. Let's look at more passive sentences!
What is passive?
Regarding the problem from earlier, if you use "I" as the subject, it becomes like this.
・My mother often scolded me.
I was often praised by my mother.
This is the grammar called passive voice.
It is used when talking about the actions of others towards me from my perspective.
Let's look at some other examples.
Sample1 My manager asked me to do some work.
Sample2 Someone stole my wallet.
Sample3 I was bitten on the hand by a dog.
Sample4 My mother threw away my magazines.
How to make passive form
To create the passive sentence shown above, we must use the passive form of the verb.
Let's learn together how to make passive forms.
There are three groups of Japanese verbs.
Let's start by looking at two groups of verbs.
2. Group Verbs
Tabemasu → Taberareru Tabemasu → Tabe + Mareru
I admire you → I am praised
Check → You can check
I will see → I can see
For group 2 verbs, take the masu form "masu" and add "rareru."
Next are group 3 verbs.
I will come → I will come
will → will be
There are only two verbs in group 3, so let's memorize them!
Finally, there are group 1 verbs.
It may look complicated, but once you learn the rules it's not that hard!
Iimasu → Iwaremasu i [i] → wa [a]
Call → be called
Throw away → Throw away
I will write → I can write
Step on → Be stepped on
Take → Taken
For verbs in group 1, the [i] before the "masu" in the "masu" form is changed to an [a] sound.
Then add "reru".
Now let's practice!
Change the verb into the passive form.
Take it → ?
Write → ?
Praise → ?
Are you coming →?
Press → ?
Step on it → ?
Do you → ?
Call → ?
The answers are written below, so please check them out once you have answered all the questions.
↓
↓
↓
↓
↓
【answer】
It will be taken, it will be drawn, it will be praised, it will come, it will be pushed, it will be stepped on, it will be called
Did you get all the answers right?
Next, let's practice using passive sentences!
The answer will be written at the bottom of this blog, so check it out!
Problem 1
Example: My mother scolded me.
→I was bullied by my mother.
(1) The manager praised me.
→
(2) The police warned me.
→
(3) The thief took my wallet.
→
(4) My sister threw away my manga.
→
(5) My child broke my computer.
→
Let's take a look at some more passive sentences!
Now let's take a look at other passive sentences!
Sample5 The meeting will be held in Kobe.
Sample6 The Olympics were held in Japan.
Sample7 This painting was painted 100 years ago.
Sample8 It seems that a large department store will be built there next month.
Sample9 This book has been translated into languages all over the world.
Sample 10 The wine here is said to be the best in Japan.
What do these five sentences mean?
If you look closely, you'll notice that these five sentences do not contain "who?" or "to whom?"
Yes, the passive voice can also be used when you don't know who took the action, or when the action is not important.
for example,
・The Olympics were held in Japan.
If you say this without using the passive voice, it would mean, "I hosted the Olympics in Japan."
But we are not a sponsor of the Olympics.
We won't have the Olympics.
Someone else will open it.
In this situation, use the passive voice.
・The Olympics were held in Japan.
We can say that.
Use the passive voice when you don't know whose action it is, or when you don't need to go into detail about whose action it is.
In Japanese, we don't often use the subject "I" or "ga."
So, if you say things like "I will open it," "I will do it," or "I will draw it" without using passive sentences, it will be thought that all of these actions are "my" actions, so be careful!
Now let's try practicing some more passive sentences!
The answer is at the bottom of this blog!
Example: This building was built a few years ago.
This building was built a few years ago.
(1) Instant ramen was invented in 1958
→
(2) That painting was painted in the Edo period
→
(3) The next Olympics will be held in the United States.
→
(4) Kanji is used in China and Japan.
→
(5) This product is made in Germany.
→
Well, today we introduced passive sentences.
This is a grammar that is often used in Japanese, so be sure to remember it and use it to improve your level to intermediate!
If you're having trouble remembering grammar, be sure to check out the Japanese reading material on our blog!
Reading out loud will help you improve your Japanese level!
That's all for today!
See you in the next blog!
Answers to Question 1: (1) I was praised by my boss. (2) I was warned by the police. (3) My wallet was stolen by a thief. (4) My sister threw away my manga. (5) My child broke my computer.
Answers to Question 2: (1) Instant ramen was invented in 1958. (2) That picture was drawn in the Edo period. (3) The next Olympics will be held in America. (4) Kanji characters are used in China and Japan. (5) This product is made in Germany.
