A2 Passive & Reported Speech 5 min read Fácil

Passive Usage

Use the passive when the action matters more than who did it.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The passive voice shifts focus from the doer to the action, using either '-s' at the end of verbs or 'bli' + participle.

  • Add -s to the present tense: 'Boken läses' (The book is read).
  • Use 'bli' + past participle for actions: 'Boken blev läst' (The book was read).
  • The passive is used when the actor is unknown or unimportant.
Action + -s OR Bli + Participle

Overview

## Overview
In Swedish, the passive voice allows you to talk about actions without needing to specify who performed them. This is incredibly useful in news reports, scientific writing, and formal instructions. You will often see it on signs or in manuals.
There are two main ways to form the passive: the s-passive (adding an -s to the verb) and the bli-passive (using the auxiliary verb 'bli' + the past participle). The s-passive is generally used for habitual actions or general truths, while the bli-passive focuses on a specific event that happened to someone or something. Mastering this will make your Swedish sound much more professional and native-like, especially in written contexts.
## How to Form It
To form the s-passive in the present tense, simply take the active present tense verb and add an '-s'. Example: 'läser' (reads) becomes 'läses' (is read). For the bli-passive, you use the verb 'bli' (to become) followed by the past participle of the main verb.
For example: 'Boken blev skriven' (The book was written). In the negative form, you simply add 'inte' after the verb or the auxiliary. Questions are formed by inverting the verb and the subject, just like in the active voice.
Remember that the past participle must agree with the noun in gender and number if it acts as an adjective, but in the passive construction, it remains in the neuter form if it's part of the 'bli' structure.
## When to Use It
Use the passive when the actor is unknown, irrelevant, or when you want to be polite and avoid blaming someone. It is standard in job interviews when discussing past achievements ('Jag blev anställd' - I was hired). In travel, you will see it on signs like 'Här rökas inte' (Smoking is not allowed here).
On social media, it is used to report news or events objectively. When ordering food or services, you might hear 'Beställningen görs online' (The order is made online). It is a versatile tool that helps you sound more objective and detached when necessary.
## Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using the s-passive for past events where bli-passive is required. Another error is forgetting that the s-passive cannot be used in all tenses; it is primarily for the present. Learners also often confuse the reflexive '-s' (like 'ses' - we see each other) with the passive '-s'.
Always check if the action is being done *to* the subject or if it is a reciprocal action. Finally, avoid overusing the passive; in casual conversation, active voice is usually preferred for clarity and warmth.
## How It's Different From...
The passive voice is often confused with the active voice. In the active voice, the subject performs the action ('Kocken lagar mat'). In the passive, the object becomes the subject ('Maten lagas av kocken').
The main difference is the focus. The passive is also distinct from the 'deponent' verbs in Swedish, which end in '-s' but are active in meaning (like 'hoppas' - to hope). These verbs are always active and never have an active form without the '-s'.
## CEFR-Level Explanations
A1: The passive voice is a way to talk about things happening without saying who did them. We use it when the action is more important than the person. For example, if a door is locked, we say 'Dörren låses'. It is very useful for signs and rules.
A2: At this level, you learn to use the passive to describe events. You can use the '-s' ending for general facts and 'bli' + participle for things that happened in the past. It helps you describe processes or news.
B1: The passive voice in Swedish is a key tool for formal communication. You should distinguish between the 's-passive' for general, ongoing processes and the 'bli-passive' for specific, completed events. Understanding this distinction allows you to write clearer reports and understand formal instructions.
B2: Advanced learners should note that the passive voice is essential for maintaining an objective tone in academic and professional writing. You must be careful to distinguish between passive '-s' and reciprocal '-s'. Furthermore, the use of the 'bli-passive' allows for more precise temporal framing compared to the 's-passive'.
C1: At the C1 level, you should master the nuances of passive constructions, including the use of 'få' as a passive auxiliary to express a sense of benefit or receipt. You should also be aware of the stylistic implications of passive voice in Swedish journalism and literature, where it is often used to create distance.
C2: Near-native mastery involves understanding the historical development of the s-passive from reflexive pronouns and its integration into the Swedish verb system. You should be able to navigate the subtle register differences between 'bli-passive', 's-passive', and periphrastic passive constructions, choosing the most appropriate form for specific rhetorical effects.

Meanings

The passive voice is used to emphasize the object of an action rather than the subject performing it. It is essential for formal writing and objective reporting.

1

S-passive (Present)

General facts or ongoing processes.

“Dörren låses klockan nio.”

“Här talas svenska.”

2

Bli-passive

Focus on the specific event or change of state.

“Han blev vald till ordförande.”

“Fönstret blev krossat.”

Passive Formation

Tense S-Passive Bli-Passive
Present Verb + s Bli + Participle
Past N/A Blev + Participle
Perfect N/A Har blivit + Participle
Future Kommer att + s Kommer att bli + Participle

Reference Table

Reference table for Passive Usage
Form Structure Example
Affirmative Verb + s Dörren låses.
Negative Verb + s + inte Dörren låses inte.
Question Verb + s + subject? Låses dörren?
Past Affirmative Blev + Participle Dörren blev låst.
Past Negative Blev + inte + Participle Dörren blev inte låst.
Past Question Blev + subject + Participle? Blev dörren låst?
Future Passive Kommer att + s Det kommer att göras.
Perfect Passive Har blivit + Participle Det har blivit gjort.

Espectro de formalidad

Formal
Dörren låses.

Dörren låses. (General)

Neutral
Dörren låses.

Dörren låses. (General)

Informal
Man låser dörren.

Man låser dörren. (General)

Jerga
Dörren är låst.

Dörren är låst. (General)

Passive Voice Overview

Passive Voice

S-Passive

  • läses is read

Bli-Passive

  • blev läst was read
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Examples by Level

1

Här talas svenska.

Swedish is spoken here.

2

Boken läses.

The book is read.

3

Mat säljs här.

Food is sold here.

4

Dörren låses.

The door is locked.

1

Huset blev byggt 1990.

The house was built in 1990.

2

Vi blev inbjudna.

We were invited.

3

Fönstret blev krossat.

The window was broken.

4

Han blev vald.

He was elected.

1

Beslutet fattas av styrelsen.

The decision is made by the board.

2

Många misstag begås varje dag.

Many mistakes are made every day.

3

Projektet blev färdigställt i tid.

The project was completed on time.

4

Reglerna måste följas.

The rules must be followed.

1

Det antas att vädret blir bättre.

It is assumed that the weather will improve.

2

Han blev tilldelad ett pris.

He was awarded a prize.

3

Detta kan inte accepteras.

This cannot be accepted.

4

Informationen har blivit spridd.

The information has been spread.

1

Det har länge debatterats huruvida...

It has long been debated whether...

2

Man bör undvika att bli sedd.

One should avoid being seen.

3

Det blev konstaterat att felet var kritiskt.

It was established that the error was critical.

4

Det anses vara en stor ära.

It is considered a great honor.

1

Det må anses kontroversiellt, men...

It may be considered controversial, but...

2

Det blev sedermera bekräftat.

It was subsequently confirmed.

3

Det torde vara uppenbart för alla.

It should be obvious to everyone.

4

Det blev vederbörligen noterat.

It was duly noted.

Easily Confused

Passive Usage vs Passive -s vs Reciprocal -s

Both end in -s, but one means 'is done' and the other means 'each other'.

Passive Usage vs Bli-passive vs Vara-passive

Bli focuses on the action, Vara focuses on the state.

Passive Usage vs S-passive vs Active

Learners often use active when passive is more appropriate for formal tone.

Errores comunes

✗

Boken läser av mig.

✓

Boken läses av mig.

The book doesn't read; it is read.
✗

Huset bygger 1990.

✓

Huset byggdes 1990.

The house was built, not building.
✗

Mat säljer här.

✓

Mat säljs här.

Food is sold, not selling.
✗

Dörren låser.

✓

Dörren låses.

The door is locked.
✗

Jag blev läser boken.

✓

Boken blev läst.

Bli-passive requires the past participle.
✗

Vi ses på festen.

✓

Vi blev inbjudna till festen.

Ses is reciprocal, not passive.
✗

Det blev göras.

✓

Det blev gjort.

Use past participle after bli.
✗

Det anses som bra.

✓

Det anses vara bra.

Anses requires an infinitive complement.
✗

Reglerna följer.

✓

Reglerna följs.

The rules are followed.
✗

Det har blivit gjorts.

✓

Det har blivit gjort.

Participle should not have -s.
✗

Det blev blivit gjort.

✓

Det har blivit gjort.

Incorrect auxiliary tense.
✗

Man hoppas att det görs.

✓

Det hoppas att det görs.

Passive 'hoppas' is not standard.
✗

Det blev sagt av honom.

✓

Det sades av honom.

Sades is preferred for simple reporting.
✗

Det anses för att vara.

✓

Det anses vara.

No 'för att' needed.

Sentence Patterns

Här ___ ___.

Boken blev ___ av författaren.

Det ___ att vädret blir bra.

Projektet ___ ___ i tid.

Real World Usage

News Report constant

Det rapporteras om stora framsteg.

Instruction Manual very common

Knappen trycks in.

Job Interview common

Jag blev anställd förra året.

Social Media occasional

Det sägs att han kommer.

Food Delivery App common

Beställningen görs klar.

Travel Signage very common

Här rökas inte.

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💡

Check for 'by'

If you can add 'by someone' in English, it's likely a passive construction in Swedish.
⚠️

Don't over-passive

Too much passive makes your writing sound cold and distant. Use active voice for personal stories.
🎯

S-passive for habits

Use -s for things that happen regularly. It's the most natural way to express general rules.
💬

Polite distance

Use the passive to avoid pointing fingers. It's a very Swedish way to handle delicate situations.

Smart Tips

Use the s-passive instead of 'man'.

Man gör det här. → Det görs här.

Use 'blev' + participle.

Huset byggde 1990. → Huset blev byggt 1990.

Check if it's passive or reciprocal.

Vi ses (passive). → Vi ses (reciprocal).

Use the passive to keep it objective.

Du trycker på knappen. → Knappen trycks in.

Pronunciación

/lɔːsɛs/

The -s ending

The -s is pronounced as a soft /s/ sound, not a /sh/ sound.

Falling

Dörren låses↘

Statement of fact.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

S is for Simple, Bli is for Been. Use -s for the general present, use Bli for what has been.

Visual Association

Imagine a book floating in the air. If it's being read by everyone, it has an 'S' on its cover. If it was finished yesterday, it has a 'Bli' sticker on it.

Rhyme

For facts that are true, add an S to the view. For things that have been, use Bli for the scene.

Story

The castle was built (blev byggt) by kings long ago. Today, it is visited (besöks) by tourists. They are told (blir berättade) stories about the past. The history is kept (bevaras) for everyone.

Word Web

läsesbyggsblevblivitsäljsgörs

Desafío

Find 5 signs in Swedish (online or in a book) that use the passive voice and write them down.

Notas culturales

The passive is used to maintain a flat hierarchy and avoid personal blame.

Passive is the standard for official documents to sound neutral.

Journalists use passive to report news without taking a side.

The s-passive originated from the reflexive pronoun 'sik' (self) which merged with the verb.

Conversation Starters

“

Vad görs i din stad på helgerna?

“

Hur blev du anställd på ditt jobb?

“

Vad anses vara viktigt i Sverige?

“

Har du någonsin blivit överraskad?

Journal Prompts

Describe a process in your house using the passive voice.
Write about a historical event using the passive voice.
Discuss a controversial topic objectively.
Reflect on your career path.
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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct passive form.

Huset ___ (bygga) 1990.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blev byggt
Past event requires bli-passive.
Choose the correct passive sentence. Opción múltiple

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Boken läses av mig.
S-passive is correct for present.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Dörren låser av mig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dörren låses av mig.
Passive -s is needed.
Transform to passive. Sentence Transformation

Kocken lagar maten.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Maten lagas av kocken.
Object becomes subject.
Is this true? True False Rule

S-passive is used for past events.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
S-passive is for present/general.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Varför är dörren stängd? B: Den ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blev stängd
Past event.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

svenska / talas / här

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Här talas svenska.
Standard word order.
Sort the verbs. Grammar Sorting

Which are passive?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: läses, blev byggd
These are passive forms.

Score: /8

Ejercicios de practica

8 exercises
Fill in the correct passive form.

Huset ___ (bygga) 1990.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blev byggt
Past event requires bli-passive.
Choose the correct passive sentence. Opción múltiple

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Boken läses av mig.
S-passive is correct for present.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Dörren låser av mig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dörren låses av mig.
Passive -s is needed.
Transform to passive. Sentence Transformation

Kocken lagar maten.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Maten lagas av kocken.
Object becomes subject.
Is this true? True False Rule

S-passive is used for past events.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
S-passive is for present/general.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Varför är dörren stängd? B: Den ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blev stängd
Past event.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

svenska / talas / här

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Här talas svenska.
Standard word order.
Sort the verbs. Grammar Sorting

Which are passive?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: läses, blev byggd
These are passive forms.

Score: /8

Preguntas frecuentes (8)

The s-passive is mostly for present. For other tenses, use the bli-passive.

No. Passive -s means the action is done to the subject. Reflexive -s means the subject does it to themselves or each other.

Avoid it when you want to be personal, warm, or clear about who did what.

Because the verb ends with the letter 's'.

Yes, it is generally considered more formal than the active voice.

Yes, 'blir' + participle works for present passive.

Using the passive when the active voice is needed, or confusing the -s ending.

Yes, there is also the 'få-passive' which implies receiving something.

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Se + verb

Spanish 'se' is a separate word, while Swedish -s is a suffix.

French moderate

On + verb

French 'on' is a pronoun, not a passive voice construction.

German high

Werden + Partizip II

German has a more complex passive system with different auxiliaries.

Japanese high

Passive suffix -reru/-rareru

Japanese passive often implies suffering or inconvenience.

Arabic low

Internal vowel change

Arabic does not use auxiliary verbs or suffixes for passive.

Chinese low

Bei + subject

Chinese 'bei' is a prepositional marker, not a verb conjugation.

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