Passive sentences play an important role in Japanese grammar and are commonly used in everyday conversations, written texts, and formal contexts. Understanding passive sentences is essential for mastering the Japanese language. In this explanation, we will provide a comprehensive introduction to Japanese passive sentences, including their structure, usage, and example sentences.
I. What are Passive Sentences?
Passive sentences are a grammatical construction in which the subject of a sentence undergoes the action of the verb, rather than performing the action itself. In Japanese, passive sentences are formed by using the passive voice, which changes the focus of the sentence from the doer (subject) to the receiver (object) of the action. This is in contrast to active sentences, where the subject directly performs the action.
II. Structure of Passive Sentences
In Japanese, passive sentences are formed by conjugating the verb in a specific way and adding a particle. The basic structure of a passive sentence is as follows:
[Receiver of the action (marked with “に/が”)] + [Verb in its passive form] + [Particle “に”] + [Doer of the action (marked with “に/は”)]
III. Usage of Passive Sentences
To emphasize the receiver of the action: Passive sentences are used when the focus is on the entity that receives the action, rather than the entity performing the action. This helps to highlight the importance or impact of the receiver.
Example:
Active: 彼が本を読みます (Kare ga hon o yomimasu)
Translation: He reads the book.
Passive: 本が彼に読まれます (Hon ga kare ni yomaremasu)
Translation: The book is read by him.
In the passive sentence, the emphasis is on the book (receiver of the action), rather than the person reading it.
To describe actions with unknown or unspecified agents: Passive sentences are used when the doer of the action is unknown, unimportant, or not worth mentioning. This allows for a more general or impersonal statement.
Example:
Active: 誰が窓を開けましたか？ (Dare ga mado o akemashita ka?)
Translation: Who opened the window?
Passive: 窓が開けられましたか？ (Mado ga akeraremashita ka?)
Translation: Was the window opened?
In the passive sentence, the focus is on the action of opening the window, rather than the specific individual who performed the action.
To show politeness or humility: Passive sentences are often used in formal or polite contexts to express humility or to avoid direct statements about one’s own actions. This is especially common in business, official documents, and customer service interactions.
Example:
Active: 私が報告書を書きました (Watashi ga hōkokusho o kakimashita)
Translation: I wrote the report.
Passive: 報告書が書かれました (Hōkokusho ga kakaremashita)
Translation: The report was written.
In the passive sentence, the focus is on the report being written, rather than the speaker who wrote it. This creates a more modest and polite tone.
IV. Examples of Passive Sentences
Simple Passive Sentences:
電車は深夜に運行されます。(Densha wa shinya ni unkō saremasu)
Translation: The train operates at midnight.
Passive Sentences with Unknown Agents:
お金が盗まれました。(Okane ga nusumaremashita)
Translation: Money was stolen.
Polite Passive Sentences:
部屋は掃除されました。(Heya wa sōji saremashita)
Translation: The room was cleaned.
Passive Sentences with Object Markers:
ケーキが彼女に作られました。(Kēki ga kanojo ni tsukuraremashita)
Translation: The cake was made by her.
V. Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding passive sentences is crucial for effective communication in Japanese. Passive constructions allow us to shift the focus from the subject to the object, emphasize the receiver of the action, and express politeness or humility. By mastering the structure and usage of passive sentences, learners can enhance their fluency and accuracy in Japanese language usage. Regular practice and exposure to different examples will help solidify the understanding and application of passive sentences in various contexts.
Quick quiz
Exercise 1:
Choose the correct passive sentence structure for the given English sentence:
English Sentence: “The cat was chased by the dog.”
A) 犬は猫を追いかけました。 (Inu wa neko o oikakemashita.)
B) 猫は犬に追われました。 (Neko wa inu ni owaremashita.)
C) 猫は犬を追いかけました。 (Neko wa inu o oikakemashita.)
D) 犬は猫に追われました。 (Inu wa neko ni owaremashita.)
Answer: B) 猫は犬に追われました。 (Neko wa inu ni owaremashita.)
Explanation: In this sentence, the cat (猫) is the receiver of the action (被動の受け手) and the dog (犬) is the doer of the action (被動の行為者). Therefore, the correct structure is “Subject (receiver) + は + Object (doer) + に + Verb in passive form (追われました).”
Example Sentence: 猫は犬に追われました。 (Neko wa inu ni owaremashita.)
Translation: The cat was chased by the dog.
Exercise 2:
Choose the appropriate passive sentence structure to match the given English sentence:
English Sentence: “The letter was written by him.”
A) 彼が手紙を書きました。 (Kare ga tegami o kakimashita.)
B) 手紙は彼に書かれました。 (Tegami wa kare ni kakaremashita.)
C) 手紙が彼に書かれました。 (Tegami ga kare ni kakaremashita.)
D) 彼が手紙に書かれました。 (Kare ga tegami ni kakaremashita.)
Answer: C) 手紙が彼に書かれました。 (Tegami ga kare ni kakaremashita.)
Explanation: In this sentence, the letter (手紙) is the receiver of the action, and he (彼) is the doer of the action. The correct structure is “Subject (receiver) + が + Object (doer) + に + Verb in passive form (書かれました).”
Example Sentence: 手紙が彼に書かれました。 (Tegami ga kare ni kakaremashita.)
Translation: The letter was written by him.
Exercise 3:
Select the appropriate passive sentence structure for the given English sentence:
English Sentence: “The movie will be released next week.”
A) 映画は来週公開されます。 (Eiga wa raishū kōkai sa remasu.)
B) 来週映画は公開されます。 (Raishū eiga wa kōkai sa remasu.)
C) 来週映画が公開されます。 (Raishū eiga ga kōkai sa remasu.)
D) 映画が来週公開されます。 (Eiga ga raishū kōkai sa remasu.)
Answer: D) 映画が来週公開されます。 (Eiga ga raishū kōkai sa remasu.)
Explanation: In this sentence, the movie (映画) is the receiver of the action, and the release (公開) is the action itself. The correct structure is “Subject (receiver) + が + Time expression (来週) + Verb in passive form (公開されます).”
Example Sentence: 映画が来週公開されます。 (Eiga ga raishū kōkai sa remasu.)
Translation: The movie will be released next week.
Exercise 4:
Choose the correct passive sentence structure for the given English sentence:
English Sentence: “The cake was made by my mother.”
A) ケーキは私の母に作られました。 (Kēki wa watashi no haha ni tsukuraremashita.)
B) 私の母はケーキを作りました。 (Watashi no haha wa kēki o tsukurimashita.)
C) ケーキは私の母を作りました。 (Kēki wa watashi no haha o tsukurimashita.)
D) 私の母がケーキに作られました。 (Watashi no haha ga kēki ni tsukuraremashita.)
Answer: A) ケーキは私の母に作られました。 (Kēki wa watashi no haha ni tsukuraremashita.)
Explanation: In this sentence, the cake (ケーキ) is the receiver of the action, and my mother (私の母) is the doer of the action. The correct structure is “Subject (receiver) + は + Object (doer) + に + Verb in passive form (作られました).”
Example Sentence: ケーキは私の母に作られました。 (Kēki wa watashi no haha ni tsukuraremashita.)
Translation: The cake was made by my mother.
Exercise 5:
Choose the appropriate passive sentence structure to match the given English sentence:
English Sentence: “The door will be repaired tomorrow.”
A) ドアは明日修理されます。 (Doa wa ashita shūri sa remasu.)
B) 明日ドアは修理されます。 (Ashita doa wa shūri sa remasu.)
C) 明日ドアが修理されます。 (Ashita doa ga shūri sa remasu.)
D) ドアが明日修理されます。 (Doa ga ashita shūri sa remasu.)
Answer: C) 明日ドアが修理されます。 (Ashita doa ga shūri sa remasu.)
Explanation: In this sentence, the door (ドア) is the receiver of the action, and the repair (修理) is the action itself. The correct structure is “Subject (receiver) + が + Time expression (明日) + Verb in passive form (修理されます).”
Example Sentence: 明日ドアが修理されます。 (Ashita doa ga shūri sa remasu.)
Translation: The door will be repaired tomorrow.
Exercise 6:
Select the appropriate passive sentence structure for the given English sentence:
English Sentence: “The book was borrowed by my friend.”
A) 本は私の友達を借りました。 (Hon wa watashi no tomodachi o karimashita.)
B) 私の友達は本を借りました。 (Watashi no tomodachi wa hon o karimashita.)
C) 本は私の友達に借りられました。 (Hon wa watashi no tomodachi ni kariraremashita.)
D) 私の友達が本に借りられました。 (Watashi no tomodachi ga hon ni kariraremashita.)
Answer: C) 本は私の友達に借りられました。 (Hon wa watashi no tomodachi ni kariraremashita.)
Explanation: In this sentence, the book (本) is the receiver of the action, and my friend (私の友達) is the doer of the action. The correct structure is “Subject (receiver) + は + Object (doer) + に + Verb in passive form (借りられました).”
Example Sentence: 本は私の友達に借りられました。 (Hon wa watashi no tomodachi ni kariraremashita.)
Translation: The book was borrowed by my friend.
Exercise 7:
Choose the correct passive sentence structure for the given English sentence:
English Sentence: “The car was driven by John.”
A) ジョンが車に運転されました。 (Jon ga kuruma ni unten sa remashita.)
B) 車がジョンに運転されました。 (Kuruma ga Jon ni unten sa remashita.)
C) ジョンが車を運転しました。 (Jon ga kuruma o unten shimashita.)
D) 車はジョンに運転されました。 (Kuruma wa Jon ni unten sa remashita.)
Answer: B) 車がジョンに運転されました。 (Kuruma ga Jon ni unten sa remashita.)
Explanation: In this sentence, the car (車) is the receiver of the action, and John (ジョン) is the doer of the action. The correct structure is “Subject (receiver) + が + Object (doer) + に + Verb in passive form (運転されました).”
Example Sentence: 車がジョンに運転されました。 (Kuruma ga Jon ni unten sa remashita.)
Translation: The car was driven by John.
Exercise 8:
Select the appropriate passive sentence structure to match the given English sentence:
English Sentence: “The project will be completed by the team.”
A) プロジェクトがチームに完成されます。 (Purojekuto ga chīmu ni kansei sa remasu.)
B) チームはプロジェクトを完成しました。 (Chīmu wa purojekuto o kansei shimashita.)
C) プロジェクトはチームを完成しました。 (Purojekuto wa chīmu o kansei shimashita.)
D) チームがプロジェクトに完成されます。 (Chīmu ga purojekuto ni kansei sa remasu.)
Answer: A) プロジェクトがチームに完成されます。 (Purojekuto ga chīmu ni kansei sa remasu.)
Explanation: In this sentence, the project (プロジェクト) is the receiver of the action, and the team (チーム) is the doer of the action. The correct structure is “Subject (receiver) + が + Object (doer) + に + Verb in passive form (完成されます).”
Example Sentence: プロジェクトがチームに完成されます。 (Purojekuto ga chīmu ni kansei sa remasu.)
Translation: The project will be completed by the team.
Exercise 9:
Choose the correct passive sentence structure for the given English sentence:
English Sentence: “The vase was broken by the child.”
A) 子供は花瓶を壊しました。 (Kodomo wa kabin o kowashimashita.)
B) 花瓶は子供に壊されました。 (Kabin wa kodomo ni kowasaremashita.)
C) 子供が花瓶に壊されました。 (Kodomo ga kabin ni kowasaremashita.)
D) 花瓶が子供に壊されました。 (Kabin ga kodomo ni kowasaremashita.)
Answer: D) 花瓶が子供に壊されました。 (Kabin ga kodomo ni kowasaremashita.)
Explanation: In this sentence, the vase (花瓶) is the receiver of the action, and the child (子供) is the doer of the action. The correct structure is “Subject (receiver) + が + Object (doer) + に + Verb in passive form (壊されました).”
Example Sentence: 花瓶が子供に壊されました。 (Kabin ga kodomo ni kowasaremashita.)
Translation: The vase was broken by the child.
Exercise 10:
Select the appropriate passive sentence structure to match the given English sentence:
English Sentence: “The computer will be fixed by the technician.”
A) テクニシャンがコンピュータに修理されます。 (Tekunishan ga konpyūta ni shūri sa remasu.)
B) コンピュータはテクニシャンに修理されます。 (Konpyūta wa tekunishan ni shūri sa remasu.)
C) テクニシャンはコンピュータを修理しました。 (Tekunishan wa konpyūta o shūri shimashita.)
D) コンピュータがテクニシャンに修理されます。 (Konpyūta ga tekunishan ni shūri sa remasu.)
Answer: B) コンピュータはテクニシャンに修理されます。 (Konpyūta wa tekunishan ni shūri sa remasu.)
Explanation: In this sentence, the computer (コンピュータ) is the receiver of the action, and the technician (テクニシャン) is the doer of the action. The correct structure is “Subject (receiver) + は + Object (doer) + に + Verb in passive form (修理されます).”
Example Sentence: コンピュータはテクニシャンに修理されます。 (Konpyūta wa tekunishan ni shūri sa remasu.)
Translation: The computer will be fixed by the technician.
In each exercise, the correct answer is indicated by the corresponding letter. The explanations provided highlight the key elements of the sentence and the specific structure used in passive sentences. The example sentences further illustrate the application of each passive sentence structure in context.
Originally posted 2023-07-20 04:57:58.