Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the Present Simple Passive to focus on what happens to something, rather than who does it.
- Use 'am/is/are' plus the past participle (V3) of the main verb.
- The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
- Use 'by' only if the person doing the action is actually important to the story.
Overview
- 능동태:
The barista (주어) makes (동사) the coffee (목적어).(바리스타가 커피를 만든다.) - 수동태:
The coffee (주어) is made (동사) by the barista.(커피가 바리스타에 의해 만들어진다.)
be 동사가 명시되어야 합니다.My wallet was lost처럼 수동태를 쓰는 것이 더 객관적이고 자연스러울 때가 많습니다. 영어의 수동태는 단순히 '당하다'라는 부정적인 느낌뿐만 아니라, 정보의 초점을 조절하는 세련된 방식이라는 점을 기억하세요.be 동사의 현재형(am/is/are)과 과거분사(Past Participle, V3)입니다.am / is / are + Past Participle (V3)be 동사 | 과거분사 (V3) | 예시 문장 |I | am | chosen | I am chosen for the team. |He / She / It / 단수 명사 | is | cleaned | The office is cleaned every day. |You / We / They / 복수 명사 | are | served | Drinks are served with ice. |- 1주어(Subject): 능동태 문장에서 행위의 대상이었던 목적어가 이 자리로 옵니다. 주어의 수(단수/복수)에 따라
be동사를 결정해야 하므로 주의가 필요합니다. - 2
be동사 (am/is/are): 현재 시제의 수동태임을 나타내는 지표입니다. 한국인 학습자들이 가장 많이 실수하는 부분 중 하나가 이be동사를 빼먹는 것입니다. - 3과거분사 (V3): 동사의 세 번째 형태입니다.
- 규칙 동사:
clean -> cleaned,play -> played(과거형과 동일) - 불규칙 동사:
write -> written,make -> made,take -> taken(반드시 암기해야 합니다!)
- 부정문:
be동사 뒤에not을 붙입니다. The reports are not published yet.(보고서들은 아직 발행되지 않는다.)- 의문문:
be동사를 주어 앞으로 보냅니다. Is the mail delivered every morning?(우편물이 매일 아침 배달되나요?)
The trash is collected every Tuesday.(쓰레기는 매주 화요일에 수거됩니다.) -> 누가 수거하는지(환경미화원)는 굳이 말하지 않아도 다 알기 때문에 생략합니다.My bike is stolen!(내 자전거를 도둑맞았어!) -> 누가 훔쳐갔는지 모르기 때문에 수동태를 씁니다.
The results are shown in the graph.(결과는 그래프에 표시됩니다.) ->We show the results보다 훨씬 전문적으로 들립니다.English is spoken all over the world.(영어는 전 세계에서 사용됩니다.)
First, the order is placed through the app.(먼저, 앱을 통해 주문이 접수됩니다.)Then, the food is prepared in the kitchen.(그 다음, 주방에서 음식이 준비됩니다.)Finally, the delivery is made by a rider.(마지막으로, 라이더에 의해 배달이 이루어집니다.)
A mistake is made in this document.(이 문서에 실수가 있네요.) ->You made a mistake라고 하면 공격적으로 들릴 수 있지만, 수동태를 쓰면 '실수라는 상황'에만 집중하게 됩니다.
be 동사 생략 (The Missing 'be' Verb)be 동사를 빼먹고 과거분사만 쓰는 경우가 많습니다.- 잘못된 예:
*The coffee made here.(X) - 옳은 예:
The coffee is made here.(O) - 이유: 영어의 과거분사(
made)는 형용사 역할을 할 뿐, 그 자체로 동사가 될 수 없습니다. 반드시be동사가 다리 역할을 해주어야 문장이 완성됩니다.
happen(일어나다), appear(나타나다), disappear(사라지다), arrive(도착하다) 같은 동사들은 목적어가 필요 없는 '자동사'입니다. 수동태는 목적어를 주어로 가져오는 원리이므로, 애초에 목적어가 없는 자동사는 수동태로 만들 수 없습니다.- 잘못된 예:
*The accident was happened.(X) - 옳은 예:
The accident happened.(O) - 이유: 한국어로는 «사고가 발생되었다»라고 수동처럼 해석해도 자연스럽기 때문에 생기는 실수입니다. 영어에서
happen은 그 자체로 주어가 겪는 일을 나타냅니다.
by 구문의 남발 (Overusing 'by + agent')by ~를 붙이는 연습을 하다 보니, 실전에서도 굳이 필요 없는 행위자를 자꾸 언급하게 됩니다.- 부자연스러운 예:
The road is repaired by road workers.(X - 당연한 정보) - 자연스러운 예:
The road is repaired.(O) - 이유: 수동태를 쓰는 주된 이유 중 하나는 행위자가 중요하지 않기 때문입니다. 행위자가 정말 중요해서
by를 꼭 써야 한다면, 차라리 능동태 문장을 쓰는 것이 더 간결하고 명확합니다.
Subject + Verb + Object | Subject + be + V3 |They grow rice in Korea. | Rice is grown in Korea. |be 동사만 바꿔주면 됩니다. 현재 수동태는 '일반적인 사실, 반복되는 일'을 나타내고, 과거 수동태는 '이미 일어난 특정 사건'을 나타냅니다.- 현재 수동태:
The museum is visited by many people.(일반적으로 사람들이 많이 방문하는 곳이다.) - 과거 수동태:
The museum was built in 1990.(1990년에 지어졌다 - 특정 과거 시점의 사건)
have(가지다), resemble(닮다), fit(맞다) 같은 상태 동사들은 타동사임에도 불구하고 수동태로 쓰지 않는 것이 자연스럽습니다. (예: *A car is had by me (X))by 대신 다른 전치사를 쓰는 경우도 있나요?be interested in(~에 관심 있다)be covered with(~로 덮여 있다)be known for(~로 알려져 있다)
be + V3 공식을 기억하면서, 주변의 사물들이나 매일 반복되는 일상(카페의 커피, 배달 음식, 회사의 보고서 등)을 수동태 문장으로 만들어 보세요.Present Simple Passive Conjugation
| Subject | To Be (am/is/are) | Past Participle (V3) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
am
|
helped
|
I am helped by my team.
|
|
You
|
are
|
helped
|
You are helped by the guide.
|
|
He / She / It
|
is
|
helped
|
The car is helped by the mechanic.
|
|
We
|
are
|
helped
|
We are helped by the community.
|
|
They
|
are
|
helped
|
The students are helped by teachers.
|
|
The work (Singular)
|
is
|
done
|
The work is done.
|
|
The tasks (Plural)
|
are
|
done
|
The tasks are done.
|
Contractions in Passive Voice
| Full Form | Contraction | Negative Contraction |
|---|---|---|
|
I am watched
|
I'm watched
|
I'm not watched
|
|
It is watched
|
It's watched
|
It isn't watched
|
|
They are watched
|
They're watched
|
They aren't watched
|
Meanings
A grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is the person or thing that receives the action, rather than the one performing it.
Unknown or Unimportant Agent
Used when we don't know who does the action, or it doesn't matter.
“The trash is collected on Tuesdays.”
“Rice is grown in many parts of Asia.”
Scientific or Technical Processes
Used to describe how things work or how a process is completed step-by-step.
“The chemicals are mixed in a large vat.”
“The data is stored on a secure server.”
Formal Rules and Instructions
Used to state laws, rules, or general truths in a professional manner.
“Smoking is not permitted in this area.”
“Credit cards are accepted here.”
Reference Table
| 주어 | 'be' 동사 | 과거분사 (V3) | 예시 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
am
|
used
|
I am used to this.
|
|
He/She/It
|
is
|
cleaned
|
The room is cleaned daily.
|
|
Singular Noun
|
is
|
made
|
Coffee is made fresh.
|
|
We/You/They
|
are
|
given
|
You are given a task.
|
|
Plural Noun
|
are
|
spoken
|
Languages are spoken here.
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
The office is closed at 5:00 PM daily. (Business hours)
The office is shut at 5:00. (Business hours)
We're closed at 5:00. (Business hours)
We're done at 5:00. (Business hours)
수동태: 현재형 핵심
형성
- am/is/are 'be' 동사
- V3 과거분사
사용 시기
- Unknown agent 누가 했는지 모를 때
- Unimportant agent 누가 했는지 중요하지 않을 때
- Objective tone 객관적인 어조
핵심 아이디어
- Action focus 행동에 초점
- Object as subject 목적어가 주어됨
능동태 vs. 수동태 (현재형)
수동태 현재형을 사용해야 할까요?
행동의 '행위자'(doer)를 모르거나 중요하지 않은가요?
일반적인 사실, 일상적인 일, 또는 과정을 설명하고 있나요?
객관적이거나 격식 있는 어조를 원하나요?
수동태 현재형 사용 맥락
뉴스 및 공식
- • Reports are published.
- • Rules are enforced.
과정 및 지시
- • Ingredients are mixed.
- • Food is prepared fresh.
일반적인 사실
- • English is spoken here.
- • Taxes are paid annually.
비난 피하기
- • Mistakes are made.
- • The error is noted.
수준별 예문
The room is cleaned every day.
The room is cleaned every day.
Apples are grown in this garden.
Apples are grown in this garden.
The door is locked at night.
The door is locked at night.
English is spoken here.
English is spoken here.
The mail is delivered at 9 AM.
The mail is delivered at 9 AM.
Are these shoes made in Italy?
Are these shoes made in Italy?
The trash is not collected on Sundays.
The trash is not collected on Sundays.
Many movies are filmed in London.
Many movies are filmed in London.
The website is updated every hour with new news.
The website is updated every hour with new news.
Coffee is served with a small biscuit in this cafe.
Coffee is served with a small biscuit in this cafe.
The results are sent to your email automatically.
The results are sent to your email automatically.
Is the office cleaned by a professional company?
Is the office cleaned by a professional company?
The law is strictly enforced by the local authorities.
The law is strictly enforced by the local authorities.
Large amounts of data are processed by the algorithm.
Large amounts of data are processed by the algorithm.
The museum is visited by thousands of tourists annually.
The museum is visited by thousands of tourists annually.
Is it true that the budget is approved by the board?
Is it true that the budget is approved by the board?
The nuances of the language are often lost in translation.
The nuances of the language are often lost in translation.
The proposal is viewed as a significant step forward.
The proposal is viewed as a significant step forward.
Resources are allocated based on the project's priority.
Resources are allocated based on the project's priority.
The tradition is upheld by the younger generation.
The tradition is upheld by the younger generation.
The inherent complexity of the system is mitigated by several fail-safes.
The inherent complexity of the system is mitigated by several fail-safes.
It is widely conjectured that the treaty is flawed.
It is widely conjectured that the treaty is flawed.
The narrative is constructed through a series of flashbacks.
The narrative is constructed through a series of flashbacks.
The status quo is maintained through systemic inertia.
The status quo is maintained through systemic inertia.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners mix up 'is done' (routine) with 'is being done' (now).
Some words look like passives but are just adjectives (e.g., 'The door is broken').
Learners think every sentence with 'is' is passive.
자주 하는 실수
The car wash every day.
The car is washed every day.
I am call John.
I am called John.
The books is sold here.
The books are sold here.
The dinner is cook.
The dinner is cooked.
The letter is wrote.
The letter is written.
Is the homework do?
Is the homework done?
The house is cleaning.
The house is cleaned.
The coffee is make by me.
The coffee is made by me.
The news are reported.
The news is reported.
He is said that he is rich.
It is said that he is rich.
The problem is being solved every day.
The problem is solved every day.
The data is showed in the graph.
The data is shown in the graph.
The decision is took.
The decision is taken.
문장 패턴
The ___ is ___ every day.
___ are grown in ___.
It is said that ___.
The ___ is made of ___.
Real World Usage
Your post is shared by 50 people.
The successful candidate is notified by email.
All bags are screened before boarding.
Your order is prepared by the restaurant.
New law is passed by Parliament.
Is the party cancelled?
결과에 집중하기
'to be' 동사를 잊지 마세요
The door is opened(문이 열려 있다)처럼요.
과정 설명할 때 사용해보세요
The ingredients are mixed first.(재료들을 먼저 섞는다)
객관적인 보고
The incident is investigated.(사건이 조사 중이다)
Smart Tips
Use the passive to sound more professional and less demanding.
Check if it's an action or a description. If you can add 'by someone', it's an action.
Most verbs just need -ed. If it's a common verb like 'go' or 'write', it's probably irregular.
Start every sentence with the object to keep the focus consistent.
발음
The '-ed' ending
The past participle ending '-ed' can sound like /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/.
Linking 'is'
In natural speech, 'is' often links to the following vowel.
Emphasis on the Object
The ↗MEAL is served.
Highlights that the meal (not the drink) is ready.
암기하기
기억법
Remember 'BE + V3': The verb 'to BE' (am/is/are) plus the 'V3' (past participle) makes the passive for me!
시각적 연상
Imagine a factory conveyor belt. The objects (subjects) are moving along, and machines (actions) are happening to them. You don't see the workers, just the objects being transformed.
Rhyme
When the doer is unknown or out of sight, 'Is' plus 'Done' makes the sentence right!
Story
In a magical land, objects do nothing themselves. The bread is baked by fire, the water is drunk by the sun, and the songs are sung by the wind. Everything is a receiver of action.
Word Web
챌린지
Look around your room. Find 5 objects and say what is done to them every day (e.g., 'The bed is made', 'The window is opened').
문화 노트
The passive is very common in British English to sound polite and indirect, avoiding direct confrontation.
In universities worldwide, the passive voice is the standard for writing research papers to maintain objectivity.
Government documents use the passive to sound authoritative and impersonal.
The English passive voice evolved from Old English, where 'weorthan' (to become) was used alongside 'beon' (to be).
대화 시작하기
How is your favorite food made?
What languages are spoken in your country?
How is the president/leader chosen in your country?
What rules are strictly enforced at your workplace?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
French ___ in Quebec.
Find and fix the mistake:
The new rules announcing today.
Translate into English: 'Los pedidos se envían diariamente.'
Answer starts with: ["O...
Score: /3
연습 문제
8 exercisesThe office ___ (clean) every night.
Choose the correct option:
Find and fix the mistake:
Many cars are make in Japan.
Tea ___ in India.
We use 'by' in every passive sentence.
A: Is the mail here? B: Yes, it ___ (deliver) five minutes ago.
Select the irregular one:
Active: 'Farmers grow grapes.'
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesCoffee ___ at this exact time every morning.
올바른 문장을 고르세요:
Many languages speak in India.
Translate into English: 'Esta puerta se cierra automáticamente.'
단어들을 배열하여 문장을 만드세요:
주어와 올바른 형태를 짝지으세요:
Information ___ (share) via email.
어떤 문장이 올바른가요?
The news broadcast at 6 PM daily.
Translate into English: 'El inglés se enseña en nuestra escuela.'
단어들을 배열하여 문장을 만드세요:
동사와 과거분사를 짝지으세요:
Score: /12
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
No, you can only use it with 'transitive' verbs—verbs that take an object. You can't say 'The bed is slept' because 'sleep' doesn't have an object.
Not at all! It is very useful for formal writing and when the doer is unknown. Just don't use it for every single sentence.
Use `is made of` when you can still see the material (The table is made of wood). Use `is made from` when the material has changed (Paper is made from trees).
No. In fact, in about 80% of passive sentences, we don't use `by`. Only use it if the person's name is important information.
Just move 'am/is/are' to the front. `Is the room cleaned?` instead of `The room is cleaned.`
Yes! Just add 'not' after the verb to be. `The letters are not sent.`
It can be! If you mean someone broke it, it's passive. If you are just describing the window, 'broken' is an adjective.
Because in science, the experiment is more important than the scientist. It makes the results sound more objective.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Voz pasiva con 'ser' or 'Se' pasivo
English uses the passive voice much more frequently than Spanish in daily speech.
La voix passive
French participles change endings (e.g., mangé, mangée, mangés), while English ones don't.
Vorgangspassiv
German uses 'werden' for actions and 'sein' for states; English uses 'be' for both.
受動態 (Judōtai)
Japanese passive is often used to show that the subject is negatively affected by the action.
المبني للمجهول (Al-mabni lil-majhul)
There is no equivalent to the word 'is' or 'are' in the Arabic passive structure.
被字句 (Bèi zì jù)
The passive in Chinese often carries a negative connotation, though this is changing in modern usage.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
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### 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...
