Passive Construction
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The passive voice shifts focus from who does the action to what is happening, usually by adding '-s' to the verb.
- Add '-s' to the infinitive or present tense to form the S-passive: 'måla' becomes 'målas'.
- Use 'bli' + past participle for dynamic actions: 'Han blev biten' (He was bitten).
- Use 'vara' + past participle for states or results: 'Fönstret är krossat' (The window is broken).
Meanings
The passive voice is used when the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action rather than the performer. It is essential for formal writing, news reporting, and instructions.
S-passive (Process/General)
Formed by adding -s to the verb. Used for general truths, instructions, or formal reports.
“Huset målas varje år.”
“Dörren stängs klockan 22:00.”
Bli-passive (Dynamic/Event)
Formed with 'bli' (to become) + past participle. Focuses on a specific event or a change of state.
“Han blev rånad på väg hem.”
“Bilen blev reparerad igår.”
Vara-passive (Resultative/State)
Formed with 'vara' (to be) + past participle. Describes the state resulting from an action.
“Affären är stängd.”
“Maten är lagad.”
Indefinite 'Man' (Passive Alternative)
Using the pronoun 'man' (one/they) to avoid a passive construction while keeping the agent vague.
“Man säger att det ska regna.”
“Här pratar man svenska.”
S-Passive Formation by Verb Group
| Group | Infinitive | Present | Past (Preteritum) | Supine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (-ar) | målas | målas | målades | målats |
| Group 2a (-er) | läsas | läses | lästes | lästs |
| Group 2b (-er) | köpas | köpes | köptes | köpts |
| Group 3 (vowel) | sys | sys | syddes | sytts |
| Group 4 (irregular) | skrivas | skrivs | skrevs | skrivits |
Bli-Passive vs. Vara-Passive
| Type | Auxiliary | Participle Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic | bli | blev målad | Action/Event (was painted) |
| Resultative | vara | är målad | State/Result (is painted) |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative (S) | Subject + Verb-s | Bilen tvättas. |
| Negative (S) | Subject + Verb-s + inte | Bilen tvättas inte. |
| Question (S) | Verb-s + Subject? | Tvättas bilen? |
| Affirmative (Bli) | Subject + bli + Participle | Han blev biten. |
| Negative (Bli) | Subject + bli + inte + Participle | Han blev inte biten. |
| Question (Bli) | Blev + Subject + Participle? | Blev han biten? |
| With Agent | Passive Verb + av + Agent | Boken läses av mig. |
| Modal Passive | Modal + Infinitive-s | Det kan göras. |
Formalitätsspektrum
Dörren låses. (security)
Dörren blir låst. (security)
Man låser dörren. (security)
De bommar igen dörren. (security)
The Three Swedish Passives
S-Passiv
- målas is being painted (process)
Bli-Passiv
- blev målad was painted (event)
Vara-Passiv
- är målad is painted (state)
Active vs. Passive Focus
Which Passive to Use?
Is it a formal instruction or general rule?
Is it a specific event that happened?
Common Passive Contexts
News
- • Grips
- • Misstänks
- • Anses
Recipes
- • Blandas
- • Serveras
- • Kokas
Signs
- • Säljes
- • Uthyres
- • Stängs
Examples by Level
Huset är rött.
The house is red.
Affären är stängd.
The shop is closed.
Bilen säljes.
The car is for sale.
Här talar man svenska.
Swedish is spoken here.
Han blev arg.
He became angry.
Boken blev läst.
The book was read.
Huset byggdes 1990.
The house was built in 1990.
Maten lagas nu.
The food is being cooked now.
Beslutet fattas av chefen.
The decision is made by the boss.
Många tidningar läses på nätet.
Many newspapers are read online.
Han blev rånad på gatan.
He was robbed on the street.
Dörren måste låsas.
The door must be locked.
Förslaget har diskuterats flitigt.
The proposal has been discussed extensively.
Patienten blev opererad omedelbart.
The patient was operated on immediately.
Det sägs att han ska sluta.
It is said that he is going to quit.
Inga ändringar får göras.
No changes may be made.
Frågan bör belysas ur flera perspektiv.
The question ought to be highlighted from several perspectives.
Huset ansågs vara hemsökt.
The house was considered to be haunted.
Vidare bör noteras att...
Furthermore, it should be noted that...
Han kände sig förrådd.
He felt betrayed.
Lagen stadgar att så skall ske.
The law stipulates that such shall occur.
Det tåls att tänka på.
It's worth thinking about.
Härvidlag kan anföras att...
In this regard, it can be argued that...
Han blev sittande vid bordet.
He remained sitting at the table.
Easily Confused
Verbs like 'andas' (breathe) and 'hoppas' (hope) end in -s but are active. Learners think they are passive.
Verbs like 'ses' (see each other) or 'slåss' (fight each other) look passive.
Learners use 'är' when they should use 'blev' for an action.
Häufige Fehler
Bilen är säljer.
Bilen säljes.
Jag är född.
Jag föddes.
Dörren är stängs.
Dörren stängs.
Maten lagar.
Maten lagas.
Han blev bitit.
Han blev biten.
Man blir rånad.
Han blev rånad.
Huset målar av mig.
Huset målas av mig.
Svenska blir talat här.
Svenska talas här.
Jag hoppas det göras.
Jag hoppas det görs.
Vi ses av varandra.
Vi ses.
Det måste ha gjorts.
Det måste ha gjorts.
Sentence Patterns
Här ___ (språk) ___.
Boken ___ av ___.
Det ___ att ___.
___ måste ___ före kl 17.
Real World Usage
Bank rånades i morse.
Löken bryns i smör.
Hyran betalas i förskott.
Dörrarna stängs.
Vi söker en person som trivs med att utmanas.
Skruven dras åt medurs.
The 'By' Rule
Don't Double Up
The 'Man' Shortcut
Softening Requests
Smart Tips
Scan for 'jag' or 'man' and try to convert some sentences to S-passive to sound more professional.
Check if there is an object. If the 'object' is now the subject, it's passive. If not, it might be a deponent verb.
Use 'vara' + participle. It's much more common than the S-passive for states.
Use the passive to hide the agent. It's a great diplomatic tool!
Aussprache
The silent -r
In the present tense S-passive, the '-r' of the active form disappears. 'Målar' /måːlar/ becomes 'målas' /måːlas/.
The -s suffix
The '-s' is always voiceless, like the 's' in 'sit'. It does not become a 'z' sound.
Passive Stress
Huset MÅLas. ↘
Emphasis on the action being performed.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
S is for 'System' or 'Standard' (S-passive for rules/systems), B is for 'Boom!' (Bli-passive for sudden events).
Visual Association
Imagine a factory where things are 'målas' (S-passive) on a conveyor belt as a rule, but then a single car 'blir krockad' (Bli-passive) in a sudden crash.
Rhyme
When the doer is gone and the action is key, add an -s or use the verb 'bli'.
Story
A chef is writing a recipe. He writes 'Löken hackas' (The onion is chopped). Suddenly, he cuts his finger! He shouts 'Jag blev skuren!' (I was cut!). One is a rule, the other is a painful event.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look at three signs in a Swedish store or website. Identify if they use the S-passive (like 'Uthyres') and try to change them into the 'man' construction.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Swedish authorities love the S-passive. It sounds objective and impartial. If you receive a letter from Skatteverket, it will be full of 'beslutas' and 'beräknas'.
The 'man' construction is often preferred over the passive in modern Swedish to sound more inclusive and less 'stiff', reflecting Swedish egalitarian values.
Public service media (SVT/SR) use the passive to avoid taking sides or blaming individuals before a trial.
The Swedish S-passive evolved from the Old Norse reflexive pronoun 'sik' (modern Swedish 'sig').
Conversation Starters
Vad görs i din hemstad för att hjälpa miljön?
Har du någonsin blivit rånad eller tappat bort något?
Hur firas jul i ditt land?
Vilka språk talas i din familj?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Bilen ___.
A: Huset målades varje år. B: Huset blev målat igår.
Find and fix the mistake:
Han ___ i Stockholm.
Boken ___ av Zlatan.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Lagas, B: Hoppas, C: Skrivs
Mjölken ___ med mjölet.
___ att han är bäst.
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesBilen ___.
A: Huset målades varje år. B: Huset blev målat igår.
Find and fix the mistake:
Han ___ i Stockholm.
Boken ___ av Zlatan.
1. Ser, 2. Köpte, 3. Ska göra
A: Lagas, B: Hoppas, C: Skrivs
Mjölken ___ med mjölet.
___ att han är bäst.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
Use `bli` for specific, sudden events (e.g., 'He was hit'). Use `-s` for general rules, habits, or formal writing (e.g., 'Swedish is spoken here').
In spoken Swedish, yes, `man` is often more natural. But in formal writing or instructions, the S-passive is preferred.
A verb that ends in `-s` but is active, like `andas` (breathe) or `hoppas` (hope). They aren't passive!
Yes! 'Han blev biten av hunden' is perfectly correct.
Most transitive verbs (verbs that take an object) do. Intransitive verbs like 'sova' (sleep) usually don't.
It's a 'vara-passive', which describes a state (The shop is closed) rather than the action of closing.
The S-passive is `ses`. Note that `vi ses` usually means 'we'll see each other' (reciprocal).
To sound objective and formal. It removes the personal element from legal decisions.
In Other Languages
be + past participle
Swedish has a one-word passive (målas) which English lacks.
werden/sein + Partizip II
Swedish S-passive replaces many German 'man' or 'werden' constructions.
être + participe passé / se + verb
Swedish S-passive is a suffix, while French uses a separate pronoun 'se'.
ser + participio / se + verb
Spanish 'se' is a particle before the verb; Swedish '-s' is a suffix after the verb.
verb + (r)areru
Japanese passive changes the verb stem significantly; Swedish just adds -s.
Internal vowel change (Majhul)
Swedish is additive (adding -s), Arabic is transformative (changing vowels).
被 (bèi) + Agent + Verb
Swedish marks the passive on the verb itself; Chinese uses an external marker.
