Unit 6 - Section 3: 〜ば
Passive Form (Be + Past Participle)
Learn to express passive voice in Japanese. Use these patterns to describe what is done to someone or something, and to express formal or polite speech.
Passive Formation
Ichidan: Remove る, add られる
- 食べる → 食べられる (be eaten)
- 見る → 見られる (be seen)
Godan: Change -u to -a + れる
- 書く → 書かれる (be written)
- 飲む → 飲まれる (be drunk)
- 読む → 読まれる (be read)
Irregular:
- する → される
- 来る → 来られる (korareru)
Passive Voice Uses
1. Direct Passive (Focus on object):
Active: 猫は魚を食べた。(The cat ate the fish.)
Passive: 魚は猫に食べられた。(The fish was eaten by the cat.)
2. Affected Passive (Often with negative meaning):
Someone is affected by someone else's action
- 昨夜、泥棒に家を壊された。 - "My house was broken into by a thief last night." (I was negatively affected)
- 友達に笑われた。 - "I was laughed at by my friend." (negative implication)
Passive with Particles
| Particle | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| に | By (agent) | 先生に褒められた | Was praised by the teacher |
| から | From (source) | 友達から誘われた | Was invited by my friend |
| で | By (instrument) | ペンで書かれた | Written with a pen |
Example Sentences
この建物は1950年に建てられました。
[Kono tatemono wa 1950-nen ni taterara mashita]
Translation: This building was built in 1950.
彼は警察に逮捕された。
[Kare wa keisatsu ni taiho sareta]
Translation: He was arrested by the police.
私は友達に誘われて、映画に行った。
[Watashi wa tomodachi ni sasowarete, eiga ni itta]
Translation: I was invited by my friend and went to the movies.
Study Tips
Master Passive Voice:
- Formation: Ichidan adds られる, Godan changes -u to -a + れる
- Particle に: Most common for agent in passive sentences
- Affected passive: Often used with negative implications in Japanese
- Formal speech: Passive is common in newspapers and formal writing
- Compare active/passive: Practice converting between voices
Course Navigation
Study Tips
- Read each example carefully
- Practice pronunciation aloud
- Create your own sentences to reinforce memory
- Finish the section quiz