B2 Passive & Reported Speech 7 min read 어려움

Passive Voice Usage

Turn the focus to the object by adding '-s' or using 'bli' to describe what happens to it.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Swedish passives use an '-s' suffix or the verb 'bli' to focus on the action rather than the person doing it.

  • Add '-s' to the infinitive or present (remove -r) for formal/general actions: 'Huset målas'.
  • Use 'bli' + past participle for specific, sudden events: 'Han blev biten av en hund'.
  • Use 'sägs' or 'anses' for reported claims: 'Det sägs att han är rik'.
Object + Verb(-s) / bli + Participle (+ av + Agent)

Overview

## Overview of the Swedish Passive
In Swedish, the passive voice is a powerful tool used to de-emphasize the person performing an action and instead highlight the action itself or the object affected by it. Unlike English, which almost exclusively uses 'be + past participle', Swedish offers two main paths: the synthetic S-passiv and the analytic Bli-passiv.
The S-passiv is formed by adding an -s to the end of the verb. It is incredibly common in formal writing, news reports, and instructions. For example, in a recipe, you might see löken hackas (the onion is chopped). It feels objective and timeless.
The Bli-passiv, on the other hand, uses the auxiliary verb bli (to become) followed by the past participle. This form is more dynamic and is frequently used in spoken language to describe specific events that happened at a particular point in time, like han blev rånad (he was robbed).
At the B2 level, understanding the nuance between these two is crucial. While they can sometimes be interchangeable, choosing the wrong one can make your Swedish sound either too robotic or too informal. Additionally, we use the passive to report rumors or general opinions using verbs like sägs (is said) or anses (is considered), which allows for a sophisticated, academic tone.
## How to Form the Passive
Forming the S-passiv requires careful attention to the verb's conjugation group.
  1. 1Present Tense: For Group 1 verbs (ending in -ar), simply replace the -r with -s. Example: kallar becomes kallas. For Groups 2, 3, and 4 (ending in -er or -r), you generally remove the -er or -r and add -s or -es. Example: läser becomes läses; sytt becomes sys. Note that the -r of the present tense always disappears before the -s is added.
  1. 1Past Tense (Preteritum): Simply add -s to the past tense form. Example: kallade becomes kallades; läste becomes lästes.
  1. 1Perfect/Pluperfect (Supinum): Add -s to the supinum form. Example: har kallat becomes har kallats.
  1. 1Infinitive: Add -s to the infinitive. Example: att kalla becomes att kallas.
For the Bli-passiv, you conjugate bli in the appropriate tense and add the past participle of the main verb. Remember that the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.
  • En bil blev stulen (Common gender, singular)
  • Ett hus blev stulet (Neuter gender, singular)
  • Två bilar blev stulna (Plural)
Negative forms simply place inte after the first verb: Huset målas inte or Han blev inte biten.
## When to Use It
In the real world, you will encounter the passive voice in several distinct scenarios.
Formal Writing & News: Journalists use the S-passiv to maintain objectivity. Tre personer greps under natten (Three people were arrested during the night). It avoids the need to specify 'the police' if it's already obvious.
Instructions & Manuals: If you buy IKEA furniture, the instructions are filled with S-passives. Skruven dras åt (The screw is tightened). It's impersonal and direct.
Scientific & Academic Contexts: When describing an experiment, the focus is on the process. Lösningen värms upp till 100 grader (The solution is heated to 100 degrees).
Reported Speech & Gossip: To distance yourself from a statement or report a general belief, use sägs or lär. Det sägs att kungen ska besöka staden (It is said that the king will visit the city). This is very common in office environments or when discussing celebrities.
Social Media & Texting: While the passive is less common here, the Bli-passiv appears when something unexpected happens. Jag blev så sjukt taggad! (I got/was so incredibly hyped!).
## Common Mistakes
One of the most frequent errors for learners is keeping the -r in the present tense when adding -s. You must say det görs (it is done), NOT det görs (wait, 'görs' is correct, but learners often say 'göras' or 'görers'). Actually, the mistake is läsers instead of läses.
Another mistake is confusing bli-passiv with vara-passiv. If you say Dörren blev låst, you are describing the action of someone locking it. If you say Dörren var låst, you are describing the state of the door when you arrived.
Learners also struggle with the 'Agent'. In English, we use 'by' (The book was written by him). In Swedish, we use av. A common mistake is using vid or från instead of av.
Finally, don't forget that some verbs end in -s but are NOT passive. These are called deponent verbs, like andas (to breathe) or hoppas (to hope). They look passive but function as active verbs.
## S-passiv vs. Bli-passiv
The choice between S-passiv and Bli-passiv is often a matter of 'Process vs. Event'.
Imagine a house being painted. If you say Huset målas varje år, you are describing a recurring process or a general fact (S-passiv). If you say Huset blev målat i somras, you are pointing to a specific event that was completed (Bli-passiv).
Furthermore, the S-passiv can sometimes imply a sense of 'can' or 'possibility', especially in the negative. Det görs inte på en kaffekvart (It can't be done in a short coffee break).
Stylistically, the S-passiv is more 'Swedish'. English speakers tend to over-rely on the Bli-passiv because it mirrors the English 'be + participle' structure. To sound more native at the B2 level, try to incorporate more S-passiv into your formal writing.
## CEFR-Level Explanations
A1: In Swedish, we can say what happens to something without saying who does it. We often add an 's' to the end of the word. For example, 'Maten äts' means 'The food is eaten'. It is very simple. Just remember the 's' at the end of the action word.
A2: You can use the passive voice to talk about things that happen. You can use 'bli' (become) + a describing word. 'Han blev glad' (He became happy) or 'Han blev biten' (He was bitten).
You can also add 's' to verbs. 'Huset säljs' (The house is being sold). Use 'av' to say who did it: 'Boken läses av barnet'.
B1: At this level, you should distinguish between the S-passive and the Bli-passive. Use the S-passive for general rules and formal texts, like 'Rökning förbjuds'. Use the Bli-passive for specific events in the past, like 'Jag blev stoppad av polisen'.
Remember that the past participle after 'bli' must change to match the subject (en/ett/plural).
B2: B2 learners must master the 'reported passive' and the nuances of register. Verbs like 'anses', 'sägs', and 'påstås' are essential for academic writing. You should also understand the 'lär' construction for hearsay (e.g., 'Han lär vara i London').
Pay attention to the removal of the present tense '-r' in S-passives and the distinction between resultative 'vara' and dynamic 'bli'.
C1: Advanced learners should use the passive voice to control information flow and focus. The S-passive is preferred in technical documentation and legal Swedish to maintain a high level of abstraction. You should also be aware of archaic or highly formal passive constructions and the subtle pragmatic differences when choosing between a passive form and the generic 'man' (one) construction.
C2: Mastery involves using the passive voice with stylistic precision, including the use of 'få' as a passive auxiliary (e.g., 'få något gjort'). You should be able to navigate the complex interplay between deponent verbs, reciprocal S-verbs, and true passives. At this level, the choice of passive is not just grammatical but a tool for subtle rhetorical positioning in sophisticated discourse.

Meanings

The passive voice shifts the focus from the 'doer' (subject) to the 'receiver' of the action. In Swedish, this is primarily achieved through the S-passive (suffix) or the Bli-passive (auxiliary).

1

S-passiv (Process/General)

Used for general rules, instructions, or ongoing processes where the agent is often unknown or irrelevant.

“Maten serveras nu.”

“Boken läses av många.”

2

Bli-passiv (Event/Change)

Focuses on a specific event or a change of state, often emphasizing that something happened at a specific moment.

“Han blev vald till ordförande.”

“Fönstret blev krossat igår.”

3

Vara-passiv (Result/State)

Describes the state resulting from an action rather than the action itself.

“Dörren är låst.”

“Bordet är dukat.”

4

Rapporterad passiv (Reported/Rumor)

Used to report information, rumors, or general beliefs without naming a specific source.

“Han sägs vara miljonär.”

“Det anses vara viktigt.”

S-Passive Formation by Verb Group

Group Infinitive Present Active Present Passive Past Passive
Group 1 kalla kallar kallas kallades
Group 2a stänga stänger stängs stängdes
Group 2b läsa läser läses lästes
Group 3 sy syr sys syddes
Group 4 (Strong) skriva skriver skrivs skrevs
Group 4 (Strong) ge ger ges gavs

Bli-Passive Agreement

Subject Gender Auxiliary (Past) Past Participle Example
En-word blev stulen Bilen blev stulen
Ett-word blev stulet Passet blev stulet
Plural blev stulna Cyklarna blev stulna

Reference Table

Reference table for Passive Voice Usage
Form Structure Example
S-Passive (Present) Verb stem + (e)s Dörren låses.
S-Passive (Past) Preteritum + s Dörren låstes.
S-Passive (Perfect) Supinum + s Dörren har låsts.
Bli-Passive (Present) blir + past participle Han blir vald.
Bli-Passive (Past) blev + past participle Han blev vald.
Vara-Passive (State) är + past participle Dörren är låst.
Reported (Rumor) sägs + infinitive Han sägs vara rik.
Reported (Hearsay) lär + infinitive Det lär regna imorgon.

격식 수준 스펙트럼

격식체
Dörren stängs klockan 21.00.

Dörren stängs klockan 21.00. (Store closing times)

중립
Dörren stängs vid nio.

Dörren stängs vid nio. (Store closing times)

비격식체
De stänger dörren vid nio.

De stänger dörren vid nio. (Store closing times)

속어
De bommar igen vid nio.

De bommar igen vid nio. (Store closing times)

The Three Faces of the Swedish Passive

Passive Voice

S-Passiv

  • Process Focus on the action
  • Formell Formal register

Bli-Passiv

  • Händelse Focus on the event
  • Informell Informal/Spoken

Vara-Passiv

  • Tillstånd Focus on the state
  • Resultat Result of action

S-Passiv vs. Bli-Passiv

S-Passiv
Maten lagas The food is being cooked (general)
Huset säljs The house is for sale/being sold
Bli-Passiv
Maten blev lagad The food was cooked (specific event)
Huset blev sålt The house got sold (just now)
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Examples by Level

1

Maten lagas.

The food is being cooked.

2

Boken läses.

The book is being read.

3

Dörren stängs.

The door is being closed.

4

Huset säljs.

The house is being sold.

1

Han blev biten av en hund.

He was bitten by a dog.

2

Brevet skrevs igår.

The letter was written yesterday.

3

Vi blev bjudna på kaffe.

We were invited for coffee.

4

Maten serveras klockan tolv.

The food is served at twelve.

1

Bilen måste repareras snart.

The car must be repaired soon.

2

Han blev vald till kapten.

He was elected captain.

3

Beslutet fattades av styrelsen.

The decision was made by the board.

4

Huset har målats om.

The house has been repainted.

1

Han sägs ha flyttat utomlands.

He is said to have moved abroad.

2

Frågan anses vara mycket komplicerad.

The question is considered to be very complicated.

3

Det lär finnas guld i bergen.

There is said to be gold in the mountains.

4

Resultaten redovisas i tabellen nedan.

The results are presented in the table below.

1

Förslaget röstades ner med stor marginal.

The proposal was voted down by a large margin.

2

Hennes inflytande lär inte underskattas.

Her influence should not be underestimated.

3

Det förutsätts att alla deltagare är förberedda.

It is assumed that all participants are prepared.

4

Byggnaden uppfördes under 1700-talet.

The building was erected during the 18th century.

1

Vederbörande lär ha underrättats om beslutet.

The person in question is said to have been informed of the decision.

2

Det tåls att tänka på.

It is worth thinking about (It bears thinking about).

3

Frågan har stötts och blötts i media.

The question has been thoroughly discussed/debated in the media.

4

Han fick sina förhoppningar grusade.

He had his hopes dashed.

Easily Confused

Passive Voice Usage 대 Deponensverb (Deponent Verbs)

These verbs end in -s but are active in meaning. Learners think they are passive.

Passive Voice Usage 대 Reciproka verb (Reciprocal Verbs)

Verbs like 'ses' (see each other) or 'slåss' (fight each other) look passive.

Passive Voice Usage 대 Vara vs Bli Passive

Learners use 'är' when they should use 'blev' for actions.

자주 하는 실수

✗

Maten lagar s.

✓

Maten lagas.

Do not put a space before the 's'.
✗

Jag är biten av hund.

✓

Jag blev biten av en hund.

Use 'blev' for the action of being bitten, not 'är'.
✗

Boken läsers.

✓

Boken läses.

Remove the '-r' from the present tense before adding '-s'.
✗

Huset blev målad.

✓

Huset blev målat.

The participle must agree with the neuter noun 'hus'.
✗

Boken skrevs vid Strindberg.

✓

Boken skrevs av Strindberg.

The agent in a passive sentence is introduced by 'av', not 'vid'.
✗

Jag vill bli informeras.

✓

Jag vill bli informerad / Jag vill informeras.

Don't mix the two passive forms. Use either 'bli + participle' or 'infinitive + s'.
✗

Det lär att han är rik.

✓

Han lär vara rik.

'Lär' is followed directly by the infinitive, not a 'att'-clause.

Sentence Patterns

Det ___ att ___.

___ blev ___ av ___.

Här ___ man inte ___.

___ lär ha ___.

Real World Usage

News Headlines constant

Bank rånades i morse.

IKEA Instructions very common

Hyllan fästes i väggen.

Job Interviews common

Jag blev erbjuden en tjänst.

Texting Friends occasional

Jag blev så sjukt trött.

Scientific Papers constant

Data analyserades med SPSS.

Food Delivery Apps common

Maten förbereds.

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🎯

The 'R' Rule

Always remember: if you see an 'r' in the present tense, kill it before you add the 's'. 'Kör' becomes 'körs', but 'läser' becomes 'läses'.
⚠️

Avoid 'bli' in formal writing

If you are writing an essay, the S-passive makes you sound much more professional than the Bli-passive.
💡

The 'Av' Agent

Only use 'av' if you really need to mention who did it. The whole point of the passive is often to hide the doer!
💬

Hearsay with 'lär'

Use 'lär' when you want to sound like you're sharing a juicy rumor but don't want to be held responsible for its truth.

Smart Tips

Scan for 'man' and try to replace it with an S-passive to sound more objective.

Man måste skicka in blanketten senast fredag. → Blanketten ska skickas in senast fredag.

Switch to the S-passive! It doesn't require agreement with gender or number.

Bilen blev stulen / Passet blev stulet. → Bilen stals / Passet stals.

Use the S-passive in the present tense to sound like a native instructor.

Du hackar löken och sen steker du den. → Löken hackas och steks sedan.

Start your sentence with 'Det lär...' to show you're not the source of the gossip.

Jag tror att han ska sluta. → Han lär ska sluta.

발음

/s/

The '-s' suffix

The final '-s' in S-passives is always voiceless, like the 's' in 'sit'.

blev BÍT-en

Stress in Bli-passiv

In 'bli + participle', the stress usually falls on the participle's root syllable.

Formal S-passive

Beslutet fát-ta-des.

A flat, objective intonation used in news reading.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

S for 'System' and 'Static' (S-passive), B for 'Boom!' and 'Become' (Bli-passive).

Visual Association

Imagine a factory conveyor belt where things are 'målas' (S-passive) constantly, versus a single lightning strike where a tree 'blev träffat' (Bli-passive).

Rhyme

När något händer här och nu, använd 'bli' så blir det ju! Men för regler och för lag, lägg till ett 's' för varje dag.

Story

A chef is in a kitchen. Generally, 'maten lagas' (S-passive) in his kitchen. But yesterday, a specific 'tårta blev bakad' (Bli-passive) for a wedding. Now, the 'tårta är färdig' (Vara-passive).

Word Web

sägsanseslärblevmålasskrivsav

챌린지

Look at five items around you and describe them using the Vara-passive (e.g., 'Fönstret är stängt'). Then imagine how they got that way using the Bli-passive ('Fönstret blev stängt av mig').

문화 노트

The S-passive is the 'language of the state'. Using it makes your requests sound more formal and less like a personal attack.

Swedish news avoids 'man' (one) and prefers S-passive to sound neutral.

Using the passive can soften a command.

The Swedish S-passive evolved from the reflexive pronoun 'sik' (modern 'sig').

Conversation Starters

“

Vad sägs om det nya lagförslaget i nyheterna?

“

Har du någonsin blivit lurad?

“

Hur lagas din favoriträtt?

“

Vilka kändisar lär vara i stan just nu?

Journal Prompts

Skriv en kort nyhetsartikel om en fiktiv händelse i din stad. Använd minst fem S-passiva verb.
Beskriv en gång när du blev överraskad. Vad hände? Vem var där?
Skriv instruktioner för hur man använder en kaffemaskin.
Diskutera fördelarna och nackdelarna med passiv rökning. Använd 'anses' och 'sägs'.
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Test Yourself

Change the verb to the S-passive present tense.

Boken ___ (läsa) av många studenter.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: läses
For Group 2 verbs like 'läsa', we remove the '-er' and add '-es'.
Choose the correct Bli-passive form. 객관식

Huset ___ förra året.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blev målat
'Hus' is a neuter (ett) word, so the participle must end in '-t'.
Find the error in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Han sägs att vara en duktig läkare.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: att
Reporting verbs like 'sägs' are followed directly by the infinitive without 'att'.
Transform from active to S-passive: 'Polisen grep tjuven.' Sentence Transformation

Tjuven ___ av polisen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: greps
The past tense of 'gripa' is 'grep', so the passive is 'greps'.
Match the passive type to the sentence. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Dörren låses, 2-Han blev biten, 3-Dörren är låst
S-passiv uses -s, Bli-passiv uses bli, Vara-passiv uses är.
Is this statement true or false? True False Rule

The verb 'hoppas' (to hope) is a passive verb.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
'Hoppas' is a deponent verb; it ends in -s but has an active meaning.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Var är din cykel? B: Den ___ igår!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blev stulen
A specific event in the past uses the Bli-passive.
Which of these are reported passive constructions? Grammar Sorting

A. Det sägs... B. Han blev... C. Det anses... D. De lär...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A, C, D
'Blev' is a standard Bli-passive, not reported speech.

Score: /8

연습 문제

8 exercises
Change the verb to the S-passive present tense.

Boken ___ (läsa) av många studenter.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: läses
For Group 2 verbs like 'läsa', we remove the '-er' and add '-es'.
Choose the correct Bli-passive form. 객관식

Huset ___ förra året.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blev målat
'Hus' is a neuter (ett) word, so the participle must end in '-t'.
Find the error in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Han sägs att vara en duktig läkare.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: att
Reporting verbs like 'sägs' are followed directly by the infinitive without 'att'.
Transform from active to S-passive: 'Polisen grep tjuven.' Sentence Transformation

Tjuven ___ av polisen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: greps
The past tense of 'gripa' is 'grep', so the passive is 'greps'.
Match the passive type to the sentence. Match Pairs

1. S-passiv, 2. Bli-passiv, 3. Vara-passiv

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Dörren låses, 2-Han blev biten, 3-Dörren är låst
S-passiv uses -s, Bli-passiv uses bli, Vara-passiv uses är.
Is this statement true or false? True False Rule

The verb 'hoppas' (to hope) is a passive verb.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
'Hoppas' is a deponent verb; it ends in -s but has an active meaning.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Var är din cykel? B: Den ___ igår!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blev stulen
A specific event in the past uses the Bli-passive.
Which of these are reported passive constructions? Grammar Sorting

A. Det sägs... B. Han blev... C. Det anses... D. De lär...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A, C, D
'Blev' is a standard Bli-passive, not reported speech.

Score: /8

자주 묻는 질문 (8)

Use S-passive in formal writing or when the action is the focus. Use `man` in informal speech or when you want to include the listener in the action.

No, only transitive verbs (verbs that take an object) can be made passive. You cannot make 'go' or 'sleep' passive.

Both are formal, but `Han sägs vara...` is slightly more elegant and concise than `Det sägs att han är...`.

These are deponent verbs like `andas` or `hoppas`. They are historical remnants where the reflexive meaning became the only form.

No, it can be a force of nature or an object, e.g., `Huset förstördes av stormen`.

Yes, for specific events like `Han blev skjuten`, but S-passive is more common for general reports.

`Stängs` is the action of closing, while `är stängd` is the state of being closed.

No, `lär` implies hearsay or a strong assumption. If you are 100% sure, just use the active voice.

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In Other Languages

English moderate

be + past participle

Swedish uses the -s suffix which has no direct English equivalent.

German high

werden + Partizip II

German lacks the S-suffix passive.

Spanish moderate

se + verb / ser + participle

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

Japanese partial

reru / rareru

Japanese passive often carries a 'suffering' or 'adversative' nuance not present in Swedish.

Arabic low

Internal vowel change (Majhul)

Swedish uses external suffixes or auxiliaries rather than internal vowel shifts.

Chinese low

bèi (被)

Swedish passive is marked on the verb itself, whereas Chinese uses a preposition-like marker.

Previous
Passive Nuances

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