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Japanese Verb Conjugation: The Passive Form
The passive form 受身形 (うけみけい) is used to describe actions that happen to the subject, often beyond their control. In Japanese, it’s commonly used to:
– Indicate that someone or something is affected by an action.
– Describe events or situations where the actor is unspecified or not emphasized.
I: How to Form the Passive Form
Below are the steps for creating the passive form from both dictionary form and ます form for each verb group.
From the Dictionary Form:
Group 1 (U-Verbs):
Change the final “u” sound to its corresponding “a” sound and add れる.
Examples:
かく → かかれる (to be written)
はなす → はなされる (to be spoken)
よむ → よまれる (to be read)
Group 2 (RU-Verbs):
Simply replace る with られる.
Examples:
たべる → たべられる (to be eaten)
みる → みられる (to be seen)
Group 3 (Irregular Verbs):
する becomes される (to be done).
くる becomes こられる (to be brought).
From the ます Form:
Group 1 (U-Verbs):
Remove ます, then change the “i” sound before ます to its corresponding “a” sound and add れます.
Examples:
かきます → かかれます (to be written)
はなします → はなされます (to be spoken)
よみます → よまれます (to be read)
Group 2 (RU-Verbs):
Remove ます and add られます.
Examples:
たべます → たべられます (to be eaten)
みます → みられます (to be seen)
Group 3 (Irregular Verbs):
します becomes されます (to be done).
きます becomes こられる (to be brought).
=> Using both approaches (dictionary form and ます form) makes it easier for learners familiar with the polite form to grasp the passive conjugation.
II: Sample Sentences
Here are sample sentences demonstrating how the passive form can be used:
Group 1 (U-Verbs):
かかれる (to be read):
ともだちに ラブレターを よまれました。
(My love letter was read by my friend.)
Group 2 (RU-Verbs):
たべられる (to be eaten):
おとうとに ケーキを たべられました。
(My cake was eaten by my younger brother.)
みられる (to be seen):
この えいがは おおくの ひとに みられています。
(This movie is watched by many people.)
Group 3 (Irregular Verbs):
しょうたいされる(to be invited):
ともだちに パーティーに しょうたいされました。
(I was invited to a party by my friend.)
Related Post:
Japanese basic verbs: ますform → Dictionary form, Nai-form
Important Grammar Sample List
