B1 Passive & Reported Speech 6 min read 보통

Passive in Tenses

Shift focus from the 'doer' to the 'done-to' by adding an -s or using 'bli'.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use the passive to focus on the action or the object rather than who is doing it by adding '-s' to verbs.

  • Add '-s' to the end of the verb in any tense (e.g., 'målas', 'målades').
  • Use 'bli' + past participle for dynamic actions (e.g., 'blev biten').
  • Use 'vara' + past participle for finished states (e.g., 'är stängd').
Object + Verb + -s (+ av + Agent)

Overview

## Overview of the Swedish Passive
In Swedish, the passive voice is a powerful tool used to shift the focus of a sentence. While the active voice says 'The chef cooks the food' (Kocken lagar maten), the passive voice allows us to say 'The food is cooked' (Maten lagas). This is particularly useful in formal contexts, scientific reports, or when you simply don't know who performed the action.
Swedish is unique among Germanic languages because it has a morphological passive—the s-passiv. This means we can change the voice of a verb just by adding a suffix, rather than always needing an auxiliary verb like 'to be' in English. However, Swedish also uses 'periphrastic' passives with bli and vara.
Understanding when to use the -s form versus the bli form is a key milestone for B1 learners. Generally, the -s form is more formal and used for habits or general rules, while the bli form is more common in speech for specific, one-time events.
## How to Form the S-Passive
Forming the s-passiv depends on the verb group and the tense.
  1. 1Presens (Present): For Group 1 verbs (ending in -ar), replace the -r with -s (e.g., målar → målas). For Group 2 and 4 verbs (ending in -er), replace the -er with -as (e.g., läser → läsas, skriver → skrivas).
  1. 1Preteritum (Past): Simply add -s to the past tense form (e.g., målade → målades, läste → lästes, skrev → skrevs).
  1. 1Perfekt/Pluskvamperfekt: Add -s to the supinum form (e.g., har målat → har målats, hade skrivit → hade skrivits).
Negative Form: Place inte after the verb in simple tenses (Huset målades inte) or after the first auxiliary verb in compound tenses (Huset har inte målats).
Question Form: Invert the subject and the passive verb (Målas huset?).
## When to Use It in Real Life
You will encounter the passive voice everywhere in Sweden.
  • Public Transport: 'Dörrarna stängs' (The doors are closing).
  • News & Media: 'En man greps i natt' (A man was arrested last night).
  • Recipes & Manuals: 'Löken hackas fint' (The onion is chopped finely).
  • Job Interviews: You might describe your responsibilities: 'Projektet leddes av mig' (The project was led by me).
  • Formal Emails: 'Frågan kommer att diskuteras' (The question will be discussed).
In casual texting, you might prefer the bli-passiv for dynamic actions: 'Jag blev rånad!' (I was robbed!) sounds more natural than 'Jag rånades', which sounds like a police report.
## Common Pitfalls
The most frequent mistake is confusing passive verbs with 'deponent' verbs. Deponent verbs like andas (breathe), hoppas (hope), and trivas (thrive) end in -s but are active in meaning. You cannot remove the -s to make them 'more active'.
Another mistake is overusing the bli-passiv because it mirrors the English 'to be' passive. While 'Bilen blev lagad' is correct, 'Bilen lagades' is often more elegant in writing.
Finally, remember the 'av' (by) agent. In English we say 'by', in Swedish we use av: 'Boken skrevs av Astrid Lindgren'. Avoid using 'från' or 'med' here.
## S-Passiv vs. Bli-Passiv
The choice between s-passiv and bli-passiv is often stylistic, but there are nuances. The s-passiv is 'static' or 'generic'. It describes a rule or a state of affairs: 'Här säljs tidningar' (Newspapers are sold here - as a general fact).
The bli-passiv is 'event-oriented'. It describes something happening at a specific moment: 'Han blev påkörd' (He was hit by a car - a specific event). If you use the s-passive 'Han påkördes', it sounds like a formal entry in a medical or legal document.
Think of s-passiv as the 'Written/Formal' choice and bli-passiv as the 'Spoken/Action' choice.
## CEFR-Level Explanations
A1: In Swedish, we can say 'The car is washed' instead of 'I wash the car'. We do this by adding an 's' to the end of the verb. For example, 'tvättar' becomes 'tvättas'.
We use this when we don't want to say who is doing the work. It is common on signs and in simple instructions. You might also see 'är' with a word like 'stängd' (closed) to show a result.
A2: At this level, you start using the passive to describe things happening to you or others. You can use 'bli' (become) + a past participle. For example, 'Jag blev glad' (I became happy) or 'Han blev biten av en hund' (He was bitten by a dog).
You also learn that the 's' ending can be used in the past tense: 'Huset byggdes 1990'. This is very common when talking about history or facts.
B1: As an intermediate learner, you must distinguish between the s-passive, the bli-passive, and the vara-passive. The s-passive is preferred in formal writing and for general rules (e.g., 'Rökning förbjuds'). The bli-passive is dynamic and used for specific events in speech (e.g., 'Han blev vald').
You also need to be careful with deponent verbs—verbs that look passive but are active, like 'hoppas' (hope) and 'minnas' (remember).
B2: At the B2 level, you should use the passive voice to maintain a formal register in essays and reports. You understand that the s-passive in the present tense for Group 2 verbs requires the '-as' suffix (e.g., 'stängas' not 'stänges', though 'stänges' exists in archaic/formal signs). You can also use the passive with modal verbs: 'Det måste göras' (It must be done).
You are aware of the subtle stylistic difference between 'Han dödades' (formal report) and 'Han blev dödad' (narrative).
C1: Advanced learners use the passive to control the flow of information (theme/rheme). You can use the passive to avoid naming an agent for diplomatic reasons or to emphasize the result of a complex process. You are comfortable with the 'infinitivpassiv' after verbs like 'låta' (e.g., 'Han lät sig övertalas').
You also recognize archaic s-forms in legal texts and can distinguish them from modern usage.
C2: Near-native mastery involves using the passive voice with absolute precision to match the required genre. You can navigate the nuances between the resultative 'vara-passive' and the process-oriented 's-passive' in complex legal or academic arguments. You understand the historical development of the -s suffix from the reflexive 'sik' and how this influences modern deponent and reciprocal verbs.
Your use of the passive is indistinguishable from a native speaker's in both high-level academic prose and nuanced literary contexts.

S-Passive Conjugation by Verb Group

Verb Group Infinitive Present Past (Preteritum) Supine (Perfekt)
Group 1 (-ar)
målas
målas
målades
målats
Group 2a (-er)
byggas
byggs/byggas
byggdes
byggts
Group 2b (-er)
läsas
läses/läsas
lästes
lästs
Group 3 (Short)
syas
sys
syddes
sytts
Group 4 (Strong)
skrivas
skrivs/skrivas
skrevs
skrivits
Irregular
göras
görs
gjordes
gjorts

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, and instructions.

1

S-passive (The standard form)

Formed by adding -s to the verb. Used for general truths, formal instructions, and when the agent is unknown or unimportant.

“Dörren låses klockan 22:00.”

“Huset målades förra året.”

2

Bli-passive (The dynamic form)

Formed with the auxiliary verb 'bli' (become) + past participle. Emphasizes a change or a specific event happening.

“Han blev vald till ordförande.”

“Hunden blir borstad varje dag.”

3

Vara-passive (The resultative form)

Formed with 'vara' (to be) + past participle. Describes the state resulting from an action.

“Affären är stängd.”

“Fönstret var krossat.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Passive in Tenses
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + Verb-s
Boken läses.
Negative
Subject + Verb-s + inte
Boken läses inte.
Question
Verb-s + Subject?
Läses boken?
With Modal
Modal + Infinitive-s
Boken kan läsas.
Bli-Passive
bli + Past Participle
Han blev biten.
Vara-Passive
vara + Past Participle
Dörren är låst.
Perfect Tense
har + Supine-s
Huset har sålts.
Past Perfect
hade + Supine-s
Huset hade sålts.

격식 수준 스펙트럼

격식체
Dörren stänges.

Dörren stänges. (Security/Daily life)

중립
Dörren stängs.

Dörren stängs. (Security/Daily life)

비격식체
Dörren är stängd.

Dörren är stängd. (Security/Daily life)

속어
Dörren e låst, mannen.

Dörren e låst, mannen. (Security/Daily life)

The Three Faces of the Swedish Passive

Passiv

S-Passiv

  • målas is being painted (general)

Bli-Passiv

  • blir målad is being painted (action)

Vara-Passiv

  • är målad is painted (state)

Active vs. Passive Focus

Aktiv (Focus on Doer)
Katten jagar musen The cat chases the mouse
Passiv (Focus on Object)
Musen jagas av katten The mouse is chased by the cat

Which Passive Should I Use?

1

Is it a finished state?

YES
Use 'vara' + participle
NO
Go to next
2

Is it a specific action in speech?

YES
Use 'bli' + participle
NO
Use S-passiv

Common Passive Contexts

⚖️

Formal

  • • Lagar (Laws)
  • • Rapporter
  • • Beslut
🏠

Everyday

  • • Skyltar (Signs)
  • • Recept
  • • Nyheter

수준별 예문

1

Bilen tvättas.

The car is being washed.

2

Dörren är stängd.

The door is closed.

3

Maten lagas nu.

The food is being cooked now.

4

Huset säljs.

The house is being sold.

1

Han blev biten av en hund.

He was bitten by a dog.

2

Huset byggdes 1950.

The house was built in 1950.

3

Brevet skickades igår.

The letter was sent yesterday.

4

Vi blev bjudna på fest.

We were invited to a party.

1

Beslutet fattades av styrelsen.

The decision was made by the board.

2

Många böcker har skrivits om ämnet.

Many books have been written about the subject.

3

Frågan måste diskuteras mer.

The question must be discussed more.

4

Han blev vald till president.

He was elected president.

1

Det anses vara en stor framgång.

It is considered to be a great success.

2

Förslaget kommer att behandlas nästa vecka.

The proposal will be processed next week.

3

Inga ändringar har gjorts i texten.

No changes have been made to the text.

4

Han lät sig inte påverkas.

He did not let himself be influenced.

1

Det förutsätts att alla deltagare är förberedda.

It is assumed that all participants are prepared.

2

Rättvisa skipades till slut.

Justice was finally served.

3

Huset sägs vara hemsökt.

The house is said to be haunted.

4

Metoden har kommit att kritiseras hårt.

The method has come to be criticized harshly.

1

Det åligger varje medborgare att informeras.

It is incumbent upon every citizen to be informed.

2

Härmed tillkännages att valet är avslutat.

It is hereby announced that the election is closed.

3

Verket har tillskrivits en anonym författare.

The work has been attributed to an anonymous author.

4

Frågan har stötts och blötts i decennier.

The question has been tossed and turned (thoroughly discussed) for decades.

혼동하기 쉬운

Passive in Tenses 대 Deponent Verbs

Learners see the -s and think the verb is passive, but it's actually active. You can't say 'Jag blir hoppad' for 'I hope'.

Passive in Tenses 대 Reciprocal Verbs

Verbs like 'ses' or 'kramas' mean 'each other'.

Passive in Tenses 대 Bli vs. Vara

Using 'är' (state) when you mean 'blev' (action).

자주 하는 실수

✗

Bilen tvätta s.

✓

Bilen tvättas.

Do not put a space before the -s.
✗

Jag är biten av en hund.

✓

Jag blev biten av en hund.

Use 'blev' for the action of being bitten, 'är' only for the state afterwards.
✗

Maten lagar.

✓

Maten lagas.

Without the -s, the food is doing the cooking!
✗

Huset var byggt från min far.

✓

Huset byggdes av min far.

Use 'av' for the agent, not 'från'.
✗

Dörren stänges.

✓

Dörren stängs.

In modern Swedish, Group 2 verbs use -s or -as, but -es is archaic (though seen on old signs).
✗

Jag blev hoppas.

✓

Jag hoppades.

'Hoppas' is a deponent verb; it doesn't use 'bli'.
✗

Boken har skrivas.

✓

Boken har skrivits.

Use the supinum form + s for the perfect tense.
✗

Han andas av maskinen.

✓

Han får hjälp att andas av maskinen.

'Andas' is deponent (active); you can't make it passive because it already ends in -s.
✗

Det säljs många bilar här.

✓

Här säljs många bilar.

Word order: place the adverbial first for better flow in passive sentences.
✗

Maten lagas av mig igår.

✓

Maten lagades av mig igår.

Forgetting to put the passive verb in the past tense.
✗

Beslutet blev fattat.

✓

Beslutet fattades.

In formal writing, the s-passive is much more appropriate than the bli-passive.

문장 패턴

___ ___as av ___.

Det ___ att ___.

Jag blev ___ av ___.

Frågan har ___s i ___.

Real World Usage

News Headlines constant

Statsministern kritiseras för nya förslaget.

Public Announcements very common

Tåget beräknas ankomma spår 4.

Cooking Recipes common

Grädden vispas hårt.

Instruction Manuals very common

Skruven dras åt medsols.

Academic Writing constant

Resultaten analyserades med statistiska metoder.

Police Reports occasional

Den misstänkte hördes under eftermiddagen.

💡

The 'Av' Rule

Whenever you want to say WHO did the action in a passive sentence, always use 'av'. Example: 'Boken lästes av barnet'.
⚠️

Watch for Deponents

Don't try to 'activate' verbs like 'andas' or 'hoppas' by removing the -s. They need it to exist!
🎯

Writing vs. Speaking

In your B1 essays, use the s-passive. In your B1 speaking tests, use the bli-passive for actions. It sounds more natural.
💬

Politeness

Use the passive to avoid blaming people. Instead of 'You broke the vase', say 'Vasen råkade gå sönder' or 'Vasen krossades'.
💡

Present Tense Trap

Remember: Group 2 verbs like 'läser' become 'läsas' or 'läses' in the present passive, not 'läsers'.

Smart Tips

Use the s-passive to sound more objective and professional.

Vi fattade beslutet igår. → Beslutet fattades igår.

Check if it's a deponent verb (like 'andas') before assuming it's passive.

Han blev andas. (Wrong) → Han andades. (Correct)

Use the bli-passive to emphasize the shock or the action.

Jag rånades. → Jag blev rånad!

Always use the infinitive s-form (e.g., 'göras', 'skrivas').

Det måste görs. → Det måste göras.

발음

/mɔːlas/

The -s suffix

The final -s is always voiceless, like the 's' in 'sit'. It does not change the stress of the verb.

/jœːʂ/

Retroflexion

If the verb ends in 'r' (like 'gör'), the 'r' and 's' merge into a retroflex 'sh' sound in many dialects.

Passive Statement

Bilen målas. ↘

A neutral statement of fact.

암기하기

기억법

The 'S' in Passive stands for 'Switch'—you switch the focus and add an 'S'!

시각적 연상

Imagine a factory conveyor belt. We don't see the workers (the agents), we only see the products (the objects) being 'processed-s', 'boxed-s', and 'shipped-s'.

Rhyme

When the doer is out of sight, add an -S to make it right!

Story

A ghost lives in a house. No one sees him, but the 'fönster stängs' (windows are closed) and the 'ljus tänds' (lights are lit). Because the ghost is invisible, we use the -s passive to describe what happens without naming him.

Word Web

målasskrivsbyggdesstängsfattasblevgjorts

챌린지

Look at 5 items around your room and describe them using the vara-passive (e.g., 'Fönstret är öppet', 'Lampan är tänd'). Then, write one sentence about how they were made using the s-passive (e.g., 'Den tillverkades i Kina').

문화 노트

Swedes use the passive voice frequently in public spaces to sound objective and polite. Instead of 'You must not smoke', you see 'Rökning förbjuden' or 'Rökning undanbedes' (Smoking is declined/requested against).

The 's-passiv' is the hallmark of 'myndighetssvenska' (official Swedish). It removes the individual from the action, making the state seem like a neutral machine.

Swedish news headlines often use the s-passive in the past tense to report crimes or events where the perpetrator is unknown.

The Swedish -s passive evolved from the Old Norse reflexive pronoun 'sik' (himself/herself/itself).

대화 시작하기

“

Vad gjordes på ditt jobb förra veckan?

“

Har du någonsin blivit överraskad?

“

Vilka lagar borde ändras i ditt land?

“

Berätta om en känd bok. När skrevs den?

일기 주제

Beskriv hur en vanlig dag ser ut på ditt kontor utan att använda 'jag' eller 'vi'.
Skriv en kort nyhetsartikel om en fiktiv händelse i din stad.
Beskriv en historisk händelse.
Vad har gjorts för att förbättra miljön där du bor?

자주 하는 실수

Incorrect

정답

Incorrect

정답

Incorrect

정답

Incorrect

정답

Test Yourself

Change the verb in brackets to the present s-passive.

Maten ___ (lagar) av kocken varje dag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lagas
The present passive of 'lagar' is 'lagas'.
Which sentence is a correct bli-passive? 객관식

How do you say 'He was bitten'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Han blev biten.
Bli + past participle describes the action of being bitten.
Find the error: 'Huset byggdes från min far.' Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Huset byggdes från min far.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: från -> av
The agent in a passive sentence is introduced by 'av'.
Change to passive: 'De stängde dörren.' Sentence Transformation

De stängde dörren.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dörren stängdes.
The past tense 'stängde' becomes 'stängdes' in the s-passive.
Match the active and passive forms. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Skrivs, 2-Skrevs, 3-Har skrivits
These are the correct tense matches for the verb 'skriva'.
Which verb is NOT passive, but deponent? 객관식

Identify the active verb ending in -s.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Hoppas
'Hoppas' is a deponent verb, meaning it is active despite the -s ending.
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'bli'.

I går ___ jag rånad på tunnelbanan.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blev
The past tense of 'bli' is 'blev'.
Choose the best formal passive for a report. 객관식

The decision was made.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Beslutet fattades.
The s-passive is the standard choice for formal reports.

Score: /8

연습 문제

8 exercises
Change the verb in brackets to the present s-passive.

Maten ___ (lagar) av kocken varje dag.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lagas
The present passive of 'lagar' is 'lagas'.
Which sentence is a correct bli-passive? 객관식

How do you say 'He was bitten'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Han blev biten.
Bli + past participle describes the action of being bitten.
Find the error: 'Huset byggdes från min far.' Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Huset byggdes från min far.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: från -> av
The agent in a passive sentence is introduced by 'av'.
Change to passive: 'De stängde dörren.' Sentence Transformation

De stängde dörren.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dörren stängdes.
The past tense 'stängde' becomes 'stängdes' in the s-passive.
Match the active and passive forms. Match Pairs

Match: 1. Skriver, 2. Skrev, 3. Har skrivit

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Skrivs, 2-Skrevs, 3-Har skrivits
These are the correct tense matches for the verb 'skriva'.
Which verb is NOT passive, but deponent? 객관식

Identify the active verb ending in -s.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Hoppas
'Hoppas' is a deponent verb, meaning it is active despite the -s ending.
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'bli'.

I går ___ jag rånad på tunnelbanan.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blev
The past tense of 'bli' is 'blev'.
Choose the best formal passive for a report. 객관식

The decision was made.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Beslutet fattades.
The s-passive is the standard choice for formal reports.

Score: /8

자주 묻는 질문 (8)

The 's-passiv' is more formal and used for general facts or habits. The 'bli-passiv' is more common in speech and describes a specific event or change.

Yes, 'av' is used to introduce the agent (the person doing the action) in both s-passive and bli-passive sentences.

Verbs in Group 2, 3, and 4 (like 'läser' or 'skriver') often take the '-as' or '-s' ending in the present passive to distinguish them from the active form.

No, 'hoppas' is a deponent verb. It looks passive because of the -s, but its meaning is active ('to hope').

Use 'vara' + past participle when you want to describe a state that resulted from an action, like 'Dörren är låst' (The door is locked).

It is less common than in writing, but you will hear it in formal announcements, news, and certain set phrases.

Just like in active sentences, you invert the subject and the verb. 'Målas huset?' (Is the house being painted?)

Only transitive verbs (verbs that take an object) can be made passive. You cannot make 'springa' (run) passive.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

English moderate

be + past participle

Swedish has a one-word passive (målas), English always needs two (is painted).

Spanish moderate

se + verb / ser + participle

Swedish -s is attached to the verb; Spanish 'se' is a separate word.

German high

werden + participle

Swedish has the s-passive for formal/general contexts which German lacks.

Japanese high

reru / rareru suffix

Japanese 'adversative passive' can imply the subject is bothered by the action, which Swedish doesn't necessarily do.

Arabic low

Internal vowel change (Majhul)

Swedish uses external markers (-s, bli), Arabic uses internal vowel shifts.

Chinese low

bèi (被)

Swedish conjugates for tense in the passive; Chinese uses a static marker.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Bli vs S-passive
Next
Passive Construction

Related Grammar Rules

B1

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