A1 · 초급 챕터 22

Focusing on the Action: The Passive Voice

6 총 규칙
60 예문
6 분
이 챕터의 규칙 빠른 연습

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of focusing on the action itself by learning to hide the doer in Arabic.

  • Identify the passive voice in Arabic news and speech.
  • Apply the U-I-A vowel pattern to past tense verbs.
  • Construct present tense passive sentences using the Yu- ... -a- pattern.
Focus on the action, not the actor!

배울 내용

Ready for a cool trick in Arabic? This chapter is all about shifting your focus from *who* did an action to *what* happened! You're going to master the passive voice, called Al-Majhul in Arabic, which lets you describe events when the doer is either unknown, unimportant, or you just don't want to mention them. Imagine you're walking past a construction site and want to say,

The building *is being constructed*.
Or you hear some news and want to report,
The decision *was made*,
without knowing or caring who made it. This skill is gold for understanding everyday conversations, news, and even casual reports where the action itself is the star! Here's the cool part: Arabic makes this super intuitive! You'll learn specific, simple vowel pattern changes – like a secret code – that transform active verbs into passive ones. We'll start with past actions, where you'll see how changing vowels to a u-i sound (like turning 'fa'ala' into 'fu'ila') instantly makes the verb passive. Then we'll move to present actions, where a «yu-...-a-» pattern works its magic. Don't worry about complex grammar terms; it's all about recognizing and applying these easy-to-learn sound melodies. Even for longer, derived verbs, you'll discover simple tricks to shift the focus. By the end of this chapter, you won't just understand passive sentences; you'll be able to confidently form your own! You'll sound more natural, understand more news and conversations, and feel like a true Arabic speaker. This isn't just a grammar lesson; it's a superpower for expressing yourself more flexibly. You've got this!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Transform a simple active sentence into a passive one using correct vowel patterns.

챕터 가이드

Overview

Welcome to an exciting chapter in your A1 Arabic grammar journey! Today, we're diving into the fascinating world of the passive voice, known in Arabic as المبني للمجهول (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul), which literally translates to
the built for the unknown.
This powerful grammatical tool allows you to shift the focus of your sentences from *who* performed an action to *what* happened, making your Arabic sound more natural and sophisticated. Mastering the Arabic passive voice is crucial for understanding everyday conversations, news headlines, and formal reports, where the doer of an action might be unknown, unimportant, or deliberately left unmentioned.
Imagine you want to say
The door was opened
without knowing or caring who opened it. Or perhaps you're reporting
The decision was made
– the action itself is the star! This skill is a game-changer for your comprehension and expression in A1 Arabic.
The beauty of Al-Majhul lies in its intuitive system of vowel changes, which act like a secret code to transform active verbs into passive ones. You'll learn simple, consistent patterns that apply across different verb types, making this seemingly complex topic surprisingly accessible. Get ready to add a new superpower to your Arabic communication!

How This Grammar Works

The core idea behind Arabic Passive Voice: 'It Was Done' (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul) is to highlight the action and its recipient, rather than the actor. When a verb is made passive, the original subject (the doer) is either omitted or becomes less prominent, and the original direct object steps in to become the new subject, called the نائب الفاعل (Na'ib al-Fa'il), meaning
deputy of the doer.
This new subject will always be in the nominative case (ending in a dhamma or equivalent).
Let's break down
The Art of Hiding the Doer: Passive Voice (Majhul)
into its key patterns.
For past actions, we use the Past Passive: The It was done Pattern (U-I-A). This involves a simple vowel change for most three-letter (Form I) verbs:
  1. 1The first letter takes a dhamma (u-sound).
  2. 2The second-to-last letter takes a kasra (i-sound).
  3. 3The last letter retains its original vowel (usually a fatha for past tense).
Example:

Active: كَتَبَ (kataba - he wrote)

Passive: كُتِبَ (kutiba - it was written)

Sentence: كُتِبَ الدَّرْسُ (kutiba ad-darsu - The lesson was written). Here, الدَّرْسُ (ad-darsu) is the Na'ib al-Fa'il.

For present or future actions, we use the Arabic Passive Present: The 'Yu- ... -a-' Pattern. This also follows a consistent vowel change:
  1. 1The prefix (like يَ- or تَ-) takes a dhamma (u-sound).
  2. 2The second-to-last letter takes a fatha (a-sound).
  3. 3The last letter retains its original vowel (usually a dhamma for present tense).
Example:

Active: يَكتُبُ (yaktubu - he writes)

Passive: يُكتَبُ (yuktabu - it is written)

Sentence: يُكتَبُ الدَّرْسُ الآنَ (yuktabu ad-darsu al-'aana - The lesson is being written now).

Even for longer, derived verbs (Forms II-X), the principle remains similar, forming the Passive of Derived Arabic Verbs (Forms II-X). Generally, past passive forms will incorporate more 'u' and 'i' sounds, while present passive forms will have a 'u' prefix and an 'a' sound before the last consonant. For instance, from عَلَّمَ (ʿallama - he taught, Form II), the passive past is عُلِّمَ (ʿullima - he was taught), and the passive present is يُعَلَّمُ (yuʿallamu - he is taught).
Don't worry about memorizing all forms at A1; recognizing the 'u-i' and 'yu-...-a' patterns is your first big step!

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: كَتَبَ الدَّرْسُ (kataba ad-darsu) (He wrote the lesson.) - *Intended: The lesson was written.*
✓ Correct: كُتِبَ الدَّرْسُ (kutiba ad-darsu) (The lesson was written.)
*Explanation:* To make the verb passive, the first letter must take a dhamma (كُ) and the second-to-last letter must take a kasra (تِ). The original subject is removed, and the direct object becomes the nominative Na'ib al-Fa'il.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: يُكتِبُ الرِّسَالَةُ (yukribu ar-risalatu) (The letter is written.) - *Incorrect vowel on the second-to-last letter.*
✓ Correct: يُكتَبُ الرِّسَالَةُ (yuktabu ar-risalatu) (The letter is written.)
*Explanation:* For the present passive, the second-to-last letter must take a fatha (تَ), not a kasra (تِ). The prefix (يُ-) is correct, but the internal vowel was wrong.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: فُتِحَ البَابَ (futiha al-baaba) (The door was opened.) - *Incorrect case for the Na'ib al-Fa'il.*
✓ Correct: فُتِحَ البَابُ (futiha al-baabu) (The door was opened.)
*Explanation:* The Na'ib al-Fa'il (البَابُ) must always be in the nominative case, indicated by a dhamma (ـُ) at the end, not the accusative case (ـَ).

Real Conversations

A

A

مَاذَا حَدَثَ لِلْبَابِ؟ (Maadha hadatha lil-baab?) (What happened to the door?)
B

B

فُتِحَ البَابُ مُنْذُ قَلِيلٍ. (Futiha al-baabu mundhu qaliilin.) (The door was opened a little while ago.)
A

A

هَلْ يُقْرَأُ الْكِتَابُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ؟ (Hal yuqra'u al-kitaabu kulla yawmin?) (Is the book read every day?)
B

B

نَعَم، يُقْرَأُ الْكِتَابُ فِي الصَّبَاحِ. (Na'am, yuqra'u al-kitaabu fi as-sabaah.) (Yes, the book is read in the morning.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What is the main difference between active and passive voice in A1 Arabic grammar?

The main difference is the focus. Active voice emphasizes the *doer* of the action (e.g.,

Ahmed wrote the letter
). Passive voice, or Al-Majhul, emphasizes the *action itself* and its recipient, often omitting or downplaying the doer (e.g.,
The letter was written
).

Q

Do all Arabic verbs have a passive form?

Most transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) can be made passive. Intransitive verbs (verbs that don't take a direct object, like he slept) generally do not have a passive form, as there's no object to become the Na'ib al-Fa'il.

Q

How do I know when to use the passive voice in Arabic?

You should use the passive voice Arabic when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or you want to deliberately hide their identity. It's very common in news reports, formal announcements, and when discussing general truths where the actor is irrelevant.

Q

What happens to the direct object in a passive sentence?

In a passive sentence, the original direct object of the active sentence becomes the new subject, called the نائب الفاعل (Na'ib al-Fa'il). It takes the nominative case (marked by a dhamma or equivalent) and dictates the gender and number agreement for the passive verb.

Cultural Context

The Arabic passive voice (Al-Majhul) is very prevalent in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), especially in formal contexts like news reports, academic texts, and official statements. It allows speakers and writers to maintain objectivity or to politely avoid assigning blame or credit. While less frequent in very casual spoken dialects compared to MSA, understanding it is still essential for comprehending media and more formal conversations.
It’s also deeply rooted in classical Arabic, making it a fundamental aspect of the language's structure.

주요 예문 (8)

1

Suriqat maḥfaẓatī fī as-sūq.

시장에서 제 지갑이 도난당했어요.

범인 숨기기의 기술: 수동태 (Majhul)
2

Yu'rafu hādhā al-maṭ'am bi-l-pītzā.

이 식당은 피자로 유명해요.

범인 숨기기의 기술: 수동태 (Majhul)
3

كُتِبَ الدَّرْسُ في الدَّفْتَرِ.

수업이 공책에 쓰여졌어요.

아랍어 수동태: '~해졌다' (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul)
4

يُفْتَحُ البابُ كُلَّ صَباحٍ.

문은 매일 아침 열려요.

아랍어 수동태: '~해졌다' (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul)
5

Wulidtu fi al-tis'inat.

저는 90년대에 태어났어요.

과거 수동태: "그것은 행해졌다" 패턴 (U-I-A)
6

Suriqa hatifi.

제 휴대폰을 도난당했어요.

과거 수동태: "그것은 행해졌다" 패턴 (U-I-A)
7

Yushrabu al-qahwatu kulla ṣabāḥ.

커피는 매일 아침 마셔져요.

아랍어 수동태 현재형: 'Yu- ... -a-' 패턴
8

Tuftaḥu al-abwābu ūtūmātīkiyyan.

문들이 자동으로 열려요.

아랍어 수동태 현재형: 'Yu- ... -a-' 패턴

팁과 요령 (4)

💡

시작은 '우' 소리!

동사가 '우' (Damma) 소리로 시작하면, '아! 이거 수동태인가?' 하고 의심해 보세요. 가장 큰 힌트예요! «أُكِلَت التُّفَّاحَة»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 범인 숨기기의 기술: 수동태 (Majhul)
💡

'~에 의해' 함정

수동태 문장에서 '~에 의해 (by [사람])'를 번역하려고 하지 마세요. 누가 했는지 안다면 능동태를 쓰는 것이 아랍어에서 더 자연스럽고 우아해요. «كَتَبَ أَحْمَد الكِتابَ» (아흐마드가 그 책을 썼다).
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 수동태: 행위자 숨기기 (Majhul)
🎯

'우' 규칙

아랍어 동사가 '우' 소리(Damma)로 시작하면, 99% 확률로 수동태거나 복잡한 동사 형태일 거예요. 두 번째-마지막 모음을 꼭 확인해서 확실히 하세요! «كُتِبَ» (쓰여졌다)처럼요.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 아랍어 수동태: '~해졌다' (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul)
🎯

'태어났다'는 특별해요!

가장 많이 쓰게 될 수동태 동사는 '태어났다'예요. '나는 1990년에 태어났어'라고 말할 때 이렇게 써요: "Wulidtu fi al-tis'inat."
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 수동태: "그것은 행해졌다" 패턴 (U-I-A)

핵심 어휘 (5)

مَجْهول (Majhul) Unknown/Passive كُتِبَ (Kutiba) It was written يُكْتَبُ (Yuktabu) It is being written فِعْل (Fi'l) Verb/Action بُني (Buniya) It was built

Real-World Preview

building

At the Construction Site

Review Summary

  • Fu'ila (u-i-a)
  • Yu- ... -a-

자주 하는 실수

Students often forget to change the vowels, keeping the active voice. Remember to shift to the U-I-A pattern.

Wrong: Kataba al-kitab (He wrote the book - active)
정답: Kutiba al-kitab (The book was written - passive)

Ensure the first letter has a 'u' sound (Yu) and the middle has an 'a' sound.

Wrong: Yaktubu al-kitab (He writes the book)
정답: Yuktabu al-kitab (The book is being written)

Sometimes learners overthink derived verbs. Stick to the simple vowel shift rules taught.

Wrong: Buniya al-bayt (The house was built - wait, this is correct)
정답: Buniya al-bayt

이 챕터의 규칙 (6)

1

범인 숨기기의 기술: 수동태 (Majhul)

A1
누가 했는지 중요하지 않거나 모를 때, 모음을 바꿔서 문장의 초점을 '행위자'에서 '대상'으로 바꿔주는 마법의 방법이에요. 과거형은 u-i, 현재형은 u-a 기억하세요!
Suriqat maḥfaẓatī fī as-sūq.
10 예문
2

수동태: 행위자 숨기기 (Majhul)

A1
행동의 주체를 숨기고 싶을 때는 동사의 모음을 과거형은 u-i로, 현재형은 u-a로 바꿔주세요.
Suriqa hātifī fī al-maṭār.
10 예문
3

아랍어 수동태: '~해졌다' (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul)

A1
아랍어 수동태 (Al-Majhul)는 특별한 '모음 변화'를 써서 누가 했는지보다 '행동' 자체에 집중하게 해주는 마법 같은 문법이에요. '행동 강조', '행위자 숨기기'를 기억하세요!
كُتِبَ الدَّرْسُ في الدَّفْتَرِ.
10 예문
4

과거 수동태: "그것은 행해졌다" 패턴 (U-I-A)

B1
과거 동사를 수동태로 만들 때는 'U-I-A' 모음 패턴을 기억하세요. 'fa'ala'가 'fu'ila'로 변하는 마법이에요.
Wulidtu fi al-tis'inat.
10 예문
5

아랍어 수동태 현재형: 'Yu- ... -a-' 패턴

B1
현재형 동사를 수동태로 만들려면, 첫 소리는 u로, 마지막 글자 앞 소리는 a로 바꾸면 돼요.
Yushrabu al-qahwatu kulla ṣabāḥ.
10 예문
6

파생 아랍어 동사의 수동태 (형태 II-X)

B2
아랍어 파생 동사 수동태는 능동태의 모음을 'u' 소리로 바꿔서, 누가 행동했는지보다 '행동 자체'에 집중하게 해줘요. 마치 '주인공'이 바뀌는 마법 같아요! 핵심은 «모음 변화», «행동 집중»이에요.
Ursilat al-risalatu 'abra al-whatsapp.
10 예문

Next Steps

You have mastered a key Arabic secret! Keep practicing those vowel melodies and you'll sound like a native in no time.

Listen to a news clip and identify one passive verb.

Continue to: The Foundation of Arabic Verbs

빠른 연습 (10)

'이 앱은 사용됩니다'를 올바르게 표현한 문장은 무엇인가요?

수동태 현재형을 고르세요:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: يُسْتَخْدَمُ هَذَا التَّطْبِيقُ
10형 동사 현재 수동태는 'u'로 시작하고 끝에서 두 번째 어근에 'a'가 와요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 파생 아랍어 동사의 수동태 (형태 II-X)

'카타바'(그가 썼다)를 과거 수동태로 바꾸세요.

____ الدَّرْسُ. (수업이 쓰여졌다.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: كُتِبَ
'쿠티바'는 첫 글자에 담마, 두 번째-마지막 글자에 카스라가 오는 과거 수동태 패턴을 따릅니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 아랍어 수동태: '~해졌다' (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul)

'문이 열려요'에 대한 올바른 수동태 문장은 무엇인가요?

올바른 수동태 문장을 고르세요:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: يُفْتَحُ البابُ
'유프타후'는 현재 수동태 형태(우-아 패턴)이고, '알-바부'는 담마가 붙어 주어가 됩니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 아랍어 수동태: '~해졌다' (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul)

'그것은 마셔진다'에 대한 올바른 수동태 형태는 무엇인가요?

올바른 현재 수동태 형태를 고르세요:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Yushrabu
현재 수동태는 u-a 패턴 (yu-shra-bu)을 사용해요. Yashrabu는 능동태 '그는 마신다'예요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 수동태: 행위자 숨기기 (Majhul)

행위자를 숨기는 문장을 고르세요.

You want to say 'The apple was eaten' without saying who did it.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ukilat at-tuffāḥa (أُكِلَت التُّفَّاحَة)
2번 선택지는 수동태 패턴 'Ukila' (여성형 사과에 맞춰 't'가 붙음)를 사용했어요. 1번은 소년(행위자)을 언급하는 능동태이고, 3번은 '그녀가 먹는다'는 능동태예요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 범인 숨기기의 기술: 수동태 (Majhul)

'Kutiba'의 올바른 번역은 무엇인가요?

다음의 의미를 선택하세요: `كُتِبَ`

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 그것이 쓰여졌다
첫 글자의 담마(u) 소리는 수동태임을 알려줘요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 수동태: "그것은 행해졌다" 패턴 (U-I-A)

수동태 동사의 성별을 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

كُتِبَ الرِّسالَةُ. (편지가 쓰여졌다.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: كُتِبَت الرِّسالَةُ
'알-리살라'(편지)가 여성 명사이므로, 동사도 여성형인 '쿠티바트'가 되어야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 아랍어 수동태: '~해졌다' (Al-Mabni lil-Majhul)

올바른 수동태 형태를 고르세요.

Which word means 'It is eaten'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: yu'kalu (يُؤكَلُ)
첫 소리는 'Yu-'로, 마지막 글자 앞은 '-a-'로 바뀌어야 해요. 'Ya'kulu'는 능동태(그는 먹는다)예요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 아랍어 수동태 현재형: 'Yu- ... -a-' 패턴

'가르쳐졌다'의 과거 수동태 형태에서 틀린 부분을 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

دَرَّسَ العَرَبِيَّةُ (Darrasa al-arabiyya) - 아랍어는 가르쳐졌다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: دُرِّسَتِ العَرَبِيَّةُ
2형 동사의 과거 수동태는 'u-i' 형태('durrisa')예요. '아랍어'가 여성형이므로 'durrisat'이 되어야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 파생 아랍어 동사의 수동태 (형태 II-X)

이 수동태 문장의 오류를 수정하세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Kutiba ad-darsu min qibal al-ustādh. (The lesson was written by the teacher).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kataba al-ustādh ad-darsa. (كَتَبَ الأُسْتَاذُ الدَّرْسَ)
아랍어 수동태에서는 행위자를 지칭하는 '~에 의해' (min qibal)를 쓸 수 없어요. 선생님을 언급하고 싶다면 능동태로 바꿔야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 범인 숨기기의 기술: 수동태 (Majhul)

Score: /10

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

목적어가 '주인공 대리' (Na'ib Fa'il)로 승격해요! Fatha (a) 대신 Damma (u)로 끝나는 주격 형태를 취하죠. Kutiba al-darsu (darsa가 아니라 darsu예요).
네, 쓰여요. 모음이 방언(이집트, 레반트 등)에 따라 조금 달라질 수 있지만, 개념은 똑같아요.
'알려지지 않은'이라는 뜻이에요. 문법 용어 Al-Mabni li-l-Majhul은 문자 그대로 '미지의 것을 위한 구조'를 의미하는데, 행위자가 미스터리이기 때문이죠. «لا يُعرَفُ السَبَب» (원인은 알려지지 않았다.)
대부분 타동사(목적어를 취하는 동사)만 가능해요. '그는 앉았다'는 전치사를 추가하지 않으면 수동태로 만들기 어려운데, 이건 좀 더 고급 문법이에요. «جُلِسَ عَلَى الكُرْسِي» (의자에 앉아졌다).
동사가 의미를 완성하기 위해 '마프울 비히'(목적어)를 필요로 한다는 뜻이에요. 예를 들어, '때리다'(daraba)는 맞는 사람이나 사물이 필요하죠. 이런 동사들만 수동태가 될 수 있어요.
전통 문법에서는 안 돼요. 그냥 '쿠티바 알-키타브'(책이 쓰여졌다)라고 말해요. 알리를 언급하고 싶으면 능동태로 '카타바 알리 알-키타브'라고 해야 해요.
이전 챕터
Linking Sentences Together
다음 챕터
The Foundation of Arabic Verbs
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