Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Shift the focus from 'who did it' to 'what happened' using 'was' or 'were' plus the third verb form.
- Use 'was' for singular subjects and 'were' for plural subjects. Example: 'The car was fixed.'
- Always use the Past Participle (V3) of the main verb. Example: 'The letters were written.'
- Add 'by' only if the person who did the action is actually important. Example: 'It was painted by Da Vinci.'
Overview
Your milk was stolen (우유가 도난당했다는 것)입니다.The evidence was discovered in a dumpster(증거가 쓰레기통에서 발견되었습니다)라고 말하는 걸 본 적 있다면, 이미 이 규칙이 자연스럽게 쓰이는 걸 들어보신 셈이에요. 이건 형사들만을 위한 게 아니에요.
Overview
Elon Musk bought Twitter.(일론 머스크가 트위터를 샀다). 이게 능동태죠.
Twitter was bought by Elon Musk.(트위터는 일론 머스크에 의해 구매되었다)라고 말하고 싶은 거죠. 이게 바로 Passive Voice(수동태)입니다.
The vase was broken(꽃병이 깨졌어)가
I broke the vase(내가 꽃병을 깼어)보다 훨씬 덜 죄책감이 느껴지잖아요? (프로 팁: 부모님께 혼나는 상황을 모면하려고 쓰지는 마세요.
How This Grammar Works
The chef cooked the meal.수동태로 만들려면, Object가 운전석으로 뛰어들어 새로운 Subject가 됩니다.
by로 시작하면서) 아예 버스에서 내리게 되죠. 동사는 과거형 'to be' 동사와 'past participle'(과거 분사, 동사 리스트의 3번째 열에 있는 거죠)을 사용해서 새 단장을 하게 됩니다. 마치 화학 반응 같아요: Object + was/were + V3.This hidden gem was found in London이라는 제목의 게시물을 본다면, 크리에이터는 수동태를 쓰고 있는 거예요.
Formation Pattern
pizza, email, stolen heart).
was, 복수 주어(you, we, they)에는 were를 쓰세요.
Eaten, broken, written, sent.
Conjugation Table
| Form | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | --- |
| Singular (I/He/She/It) | The photo was posted. |
그 사진은 게시되었어요. |
| Plural (You/We/They) | The tickets were sold. |
그 티켓들은 판매되었어요. |
| Negative | The app was not updated. |
그 앱은 업데이트되지 않았어요. |
| Question | Was the car fixed? |
그 차는 수리되었나요? |
When To Use It
- The Mystery Man: 누군지 전혀 감이 안 잡힐 때.
My bike
(누가 그랬는지 알면 수동태를 쓰는 게 아니라 그 사람 집에 찾아갔겠죠).was stolen. - Captain Obvious: 누가 했는지 너무 뻔해서 말하는 게 중복일 때.
The thief
(랜덤한 바리스타가 아니라 경찰이 체포했겠죠).was arrested. - The Wallflower: 행위자가 중요하지 않을 때.
The road
(어떤 공사 팀이 했는지는 중요하지 않고, 도로가 매끄러워졌다는 게 중요하니까요).was pavedlast year. - The Professional: 격식 있는 글이나 뉴스에서.
The law
이건 아주 '어른스러운' 객관적인 거리감을 더해줘요.was passedby parliament.
This title was added recently, 아마존 계정의 Your package was delivered. 짝사랑하는 사람의 인스타 스토리의 This moment was captured by a friend까지요. 결과와 상태 업데이트의 언어죠.
Common Mistakes
- The Missing 'To Be': 사람들이 종종
The letter written yesterday
라고 해요. 안 돼요!was가 필요해요.The letter
waswritten yesterday. - Wrong Participle: 분사 대신 단순 과거형을 쓰는 경우.
The cake was
(윽).ate.The cake was
이어야 해요.eaten - Subject-Verb Disagreement: 복수에
was쓰기.The files
땡.wasdeleted.The files
weredeleted. - Overusing It: 모든 것에 수동태를 쓰면 로봇이나 아주 지루한 교과서처럼 들릴 거예요.
The coffee was drunk by me
는 이상해요. 그냥I drank the coffee
라고 하세요. - Confusing 'By' and 'With': 사람/행위자에는
by, 도구에는with를 쓰세요.The window was broken
bya thiefwitha brick.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Past Simple Passive를 사촌들과 헷갈리지 마세요:
The cat caught the mouse.(고양이의 사냥 실력에 집중).
The mouse was caught by the cat. (쥐의 불운에 집중).The mail is delivered every day. (습관이나 일반적인 사실).The house was being painted when I arrived. (진행 중이던 행동).Past Simple Passive를 완성된 폴라로이드 사진이라고 생각하세요. 일어났고 완전히 끝난 일의 스냅샷이죠. 닫힌 챕터예요.
The email was sent. 끝. 더 이상 스트레스 받을 필요 없어요.
Quick FAQ
Can I use the passive with any verb?
아뇨! 목적어를 취하는 타동사(transitive verbs)만 수동태가 될 수 있어요. I was slept라고는 못 해요.
Is it rude to use the passive voice?
전혀요. 하지만 '회피하는' 느낌을 줄 순 있어요. 정치인들이
I made a mistake(내가 실수했다)라고 말하는 걸 피하려고
Mistakes were made(실수가 발생했다)라고 말하는 걸 좋아하죠.
How do I know if it's V3 or just the past tense?
규칙 동사는 똑같아요 (played/played). 불규칙 동사는 달라요 (saw/seen). 그냥 외워야 해요! 미안하지만 지름길은 없어요.
Does every passive sentence need 'by'?
아뇨! 사실 대부분의 수동태 문장은 '누가'가 포인트가 아니기 때문에 생략해요.
Memory Trick
W.W.P. 규칙을 생각하세요: Was/Were + Participle. 아무것도 하기 귀찮아서 그냥 무슨 일이 *일어나는* Passive Panda (수동적인 판다)를 상상해보세요.
The bamboo was eaten by the panda. 판다는 '행동'하지 않았어요; 그냥 결과를 즐겼을 뿐!
Real Conversations
Alex: "Dude, where's your car?"
Sam:
It was towed this morning. I parked in a loading zone by mistake.
Alex:
Oh man, that sucks.Wasa finegivento you too?
Sarah:
I love your new profile picture!
Maya:
Thanks! It was taken by my sister during our trip to Bali.
Sarah:
The lighting is amazing.Wasiteditedwith an app?
Maya:
Just a little bit!
Progressive Practice
간단하게 시작하기:
I wrote the text를
The text was written으로 바꾸세요.
행위자 추가하기:
The movie was directed by Spielberg.
부정문 만들기:
The invite was not sent.
질문하기:
Werethe resultspublished?
섞어보기: 불규칙 동사 thrown, caught, brought를 사용해서 엉망진창이었던 야구 경기에 대한 이야기를 만들어보세요.
Past Simple Passive Formation
| Subject | Auxiliary (to be) | Past Participle (V3) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I / He / She / It
|
was
|
cleaned
|
It was cleaned.
|
|
You / We / They
|
were
|
cleaned
|
They were cleaned.
|
|
I / He / She / It (Neg)
|
wasn't
|
cleaned
|
She wasn't cleaned.
|
|
You / We / They (Neg)
|
weren't
|
cleaned
|
We weren't cleaned.
|
|
Question (Singular)
|
Was [subject]
|
cleaned?
|
Was it cleaned?
|
|
Question (Plural)
|
Were [subject]
|
cleaned?
|
Were they cleaned?
|
Contractions in the Past Passive
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage |
|---|---|---|
|
was not
|
wasn't
|
Common in speech/informal writing
|
|
were not
|
weren't
|
Common in speech/informal writing
|
Meanings
A grammatical construction used to describe an action that happened in the past where the receiver of the action becomes the subject of the sentence.
Unknown or Unimportant Actor
Used when we don't know who performed the action or it doesn't matter.
“My bike was stolen yesterday.”
“The windows were cleaned last week.”
Formal or Academic Reporting
Used in news reports, history books, or scientific papers to sound objective.
“The treaty was signed by both leaders.”
“The experiment was conducted under strict conditions.”
Emphasizing the Result
Used when the result of the action is the most interesting part of the story.
“The gold medal was won by a teenager.”
“The cake was eaten before the party even started!”
Reference Table
| 능동태 | 수동태 | 초점 |
|---|---|---|
|
They built it.
|
It was built.
|
행동
|
|
Someone broke the window.
|
The window was broken.
|
결과
|
|
The company made mistakes.
|
Mistakes were made.
|
객관성
|
|
She interviewed him.
|
He was interviewed by her.
|
대상
|
|
Kids ate the cookies.
|
The cookies were eaten.
|
영향받은 항목
|
|
The staff cleaned the room.
|
The room was cleaned.
|
상태
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
The bicycle was forcibly removed from the premises. (Reporting a theft)
My bike was stolen. (Reporting a theft)
My bike got nicked. (Reporting a theft)
My whip was boosted. (Reporting a theft)
과거 단순 수동태: 핵심 개념 지도
형태
- Was/Were 조동사
- Past Participle 본동사 (V3)
주요 사용
- Unknown Agent 행위자를 모를 때
- Unimportant Agent 행위자가 중요하지 않을 때
- Focus on Action 행동 자체를 강조할 때
- Formal Context 뉴스, 보고서 등 격식적인 상황
능동태 vs. 수동태 (과거 단순)
과거 단순 수동태를 사용해야 할까요?
과거에 행동이 일어났나요?
문장의 주어가 행동을 하는 것이 아니라 받고 있나요?
행위자가 (주체) 알려지지 않았거나, 중요하지 않거나, 명확한가요?
과거 단순 수동태: 언제 사용하나요
알려지지 않은 행위자
- • My keys were found.
- • The window was broken.
중요하지 않은 행위자
- • The new road was opened.
- • Mistakes were made.
격식 있는 보고
- • The decision was announced.
- • Research was conducted.
결과에 초점
- • The project was completed.
- • My phone was fixed.
수준별 예문
The door was closed.
The door was closed.
The car was washed.
The car was washed.
The apples were eaten.
The apples were eaten.
The book was lost.
The book was lost.
The letter was sent yesterday.
The letter was sent yesterday.
The windows were not cleaned.
The windows were not cleaned.
Was the pizza delivered?
Was the pizza delivered?
The toys were broken by the kids.
The toys were broken by the kids.
The bridge was built in 1850.
The bridge was built in 1850.
My phone was stolen while I was on the bus.
My phone was stolen while I was on the bus.
The results were published in a medical journal.
The results were published in a medical journal.
Were you told about the meeting change?
Were you told about the meeting change?
The suspect was seen leaving the building at midnight.
The suspect was seen leaving the building at midnight.
The law was passed despite heavy opposition.
The law was passed despite heavy opposition.
The data was analyzed using a new software tool.
The data was analyzed using a new software tool.
The employees were given a bonus for their hard work.
The employees were given a bonus for their hard work.
The city was utterly devastated by the earthquake.
The city was utterly devastated by the earthquake.
It was widely believed that the king had been poisoned.
It was widely believed that the king had been poisoned.
The proposal was rejected on the grounds of being too costly.
The proposal was rejected on the grounds of being too costly.
No fewer than ten houses were destroyed in the blaze.
No fewer than ten houses were destroyed in the blaze.
The manuscript was painstakingly restored over several decades.
The manuscript was painstakingly restored over several decades.
The initiative was all but forgotten until the recent discovery of the files.
The initiative was all but forgotten until the recent discovery of the files.
The decision was reached after exhaustive deliberation by the board.
The decision was reached after exhaustive deliberation by the board.
The landscape was transformed beyond recognition by the industrial revolution.
The landscape was transformed beyond recognition by the industrial revolution.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners often use the active voice when they don't know the subject, leading to vague sentences.
Learners mix up 'was built' (finished) with 'was being built' (in progress).
Confusing a state (adjective) with an action (passive).
자주 하는 실수
The car fixed yesterday.
The car was fixed yesterday.
The windows were clean.
The windows were cleaned.
I was eat the cake.
The cake was eaten.
They was invited.
They were invited.
The book was wrote by him.
The book was written by him.
Was the letters sent?
Were the letters sent?
The house was build in 1990.
The house was built in 1990.
The thief was arrested from the police.
The thief was arrested by the police.
It was happened last night.
It happened last night.
The dinner was being cooked when I arrived.
The dinner was cooked.
The bed was not slept in it.
The bed was not slept in.
문장 패턴
The ___ was ___ in ___.
I was ___ to ___ by ___.
___ were not ___ until ___.
Was the ___ ___ by ___?
Real World Usage
Local shop was robbed last night.
I was promoted after six months.
I was stuck in traffic, sorry!
The war was ended by a treaty.
Was this dish made with nuts?
This photo was taken in Bali.
'Was/Were'를 찾아보세요
The door was opened.처럼요.
과거분사(V3)에 주의하세요
The glass was broke라고 하면 안 되고,
The glass was broken이라고 해야 자연스러워요.
행동을 '받는' 대상에 집중하세요
The letter was delivered.
격식 vs. 비격식
My wallet was found!처럼 편하게 사용해보세요!
행위자는 선택 사항이에요
The painting was painted by a famous artist.처럼요.
Smart Tips
Switch to the passive voice to make your writing sound more professional and varied.
Check the V3 form. Many learners accidentally use the V2 form (e.g., 'was took' instead of 'was taken').
Use the passive voice to focus on the mistake rather than the person who made it.
Use the passive to keep the focus on the product.
발음
Weak form of 'was'
In the passive voice, 'was' is usually unstressed and sounds like /wəz/.
Linking 'were'
If the next word starts with a vowel, the 'r' in 'were' is pronounced.
Focus on the Participle
The cake was EATEN.
Emphasizes the action itself.
암기하기
기억법
W.W.P: Was/Were + Participle. Think of it as 'What Was Performed'.
시각적 연상
Imagine a crime scene where the criminal is invisible. You can only see the broken window and the stolen jewelry. You describe what you see: 'The window was broken,' 'The jewelry was stolen.'
Rhyme
If the doer is unknown or you just don't care, use 'was' or 'were' with a V3 pair!
Story
A famous painting was stolen from a museum. The guards were questioned, the tapes were watched, but the thief was never found. Every sentence focuses on the mystery, not the person.
Word Web
챌린지
Look around your room. Find three things and say when they were made or bought using the passive voice. (e.g., 'This lamp was bought in 2021.')
문화 노트
The 'get-passive' (e.g., 'I got sacked') is extremely common in informal British English to describe negative events.
In scientific English, the passive is used to maintain 'objectivity', though modern journals are starting to allow 'we' more often.
Passive voice is used in legal contexts to focus on the crime or the law rather than the individual.
The English passive voice evolved from Old English, which used the verbs 'weorthan' (to become) and 'beon' (to be) with a past participle.
대화 시작하기
Tell me about a time something of yours was stolen or lost.
What is a famous building in your city? When was it built?
Think of your favorite movie. Where was it filmed?
Were you ever given a very special gift?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
The old house ___ last year.
The books was read by many students.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Score: /3
연습 문제
8 exercisesThe letter ___ (write) by my grandfather in 1945.
Select the correct passive sentence.
Find and fix the mistake:
The windows was cleaned yesterday.
The police arrested the thief.
1. He found the keys. 2. They built the bridge.
You can use the passive voice with the verb 'to arrive'.
A: Why are you late? B: My car ___ (hit) by another driver.
Sort: Build, Clean, Write, Play
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesThe bridge ___ in the storm last night.
The old car ___ (repair) by the mechanic yesterday.
Important historical documents ___ (safeguard) in the museum vault.
The new rules was announced to everyone.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'El edificio fue construido en 1900.'
Translate into English: 'Ella fue vista en la cafetería anoche.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Arrange these words into a sentence:
주어와 올바른 형태를 연결하세요:
Score: /10
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
Use `by` only if the person who did the action is important or surprising. For example, 'The book was written by a 10-year-old.' If it's obvious, like 'The thief was arrested by the police,' you can leave it out.
No! Overusing the passive voice can make your writing sound boring or evasive. Use it only when the object is truly more important than the subject.
`Was broken` is neutral and standard. `Got broken` is informal and often used for accidents or negative events in spoken English.
Not always. It can be an adjective describing the state of the window. If you mean 'Someone broke it,' it's passive. If you mean 'It was in a broken state,' it's an adjective.
Because in science, the experiment is what matters, not the scientist. 'The chemicals were mixed' sounds more objective than 'I mixed the chemicals.'
Put `was` or `were` at the beginning. 'Was the email sent?' or 'Were the cookies eaten?'
Common ones include: `done`, `seen`, `made`, `built`, `written`, `broken`, `stolen`, and `taken`.
No, 'they' is plural and always requires `were`. 'They were found,' never 'They was found.'
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Voz pasiva (ser + participio) or Pasiva refleja (se)
English uses the passive voice much more frequently than the formal Spanish 'ser' passive.
La voix passive (être + participe passé)
French participles must agree in gender and number with the subject, unlike English.
Vorgangspassiv (werden + Partizip II)
The auxiliary verb is different ('become' vs 'be').
受身 (ukemi)
English passive is a sentence structure; Japanese passive is a verb conjugation.
المبني للمجهول (al-mabni lil-majhul)
Arabic does not use an auxiliary verb like 'was' or 'were'.
被字句 (bèi zì jù)
Chinese verbs don't change form (no V3), and the passive often implies a negative result.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
관련 동영상
06:16 How Kodak invented the “snapshot”
06:27 Was Alexander the Great really that great? - Stephanie Honchell Smith
05:40 Japan's most famous ghost story - Jeffrey Angles
PASSIVE VOICE - English Grammar step-by-step
Arnel's Everyday English
Passive Voice | English Grammar Lessons For Beginners | Spoken English For Beginners
WOW English
Related Grammar Rules
객관성을 위한 수동태: '...라고 한다'
Overview 뉴스 리포터들이 왜 그렇게 진지하게 들리는지 궁금한 적이 있나요? 그들은 "내 생각에 이런 일이 일어난 것 같다"라고...
조동사 및 수동태 보고 화법 (C1)
### Overview 영어를 학습하면서 B2 수준을 넘어 C1(Advanced) 단계에 도달한다는 것은 단순히 문장을 정확하게 만드는 것을 넘...
보고 동사: 누가 무엇을 말했는가?
### Overview 여러분, 안녕하세요! 오늘은 영어의 'Reporting Verbs'에 대해 알아볼 거예요. 이 표현들은 다른 사람이 말하거나...
수동태를 사용하는 시점 (뉴스 및 소문 보도)
### 개요 수동태는 영어에서 행위의 주체(agent)가 알려지지 않았거나, 중요하지 않거나, 혹은 의도적으로 생략될 때 사용되는...
수동형 보도 구조 (그는 ~라고 합니다...)
### Overview 영어에서 `He is said to be...`와 같은 수동태 전달 구문(Passive Reporting Structures)은 정보, 의견, 또는 믿...
