Passive Voice Constructions
Chapter in 30 Seconds
Master the art of describing actions without mentioning the doer using the versatile -ся suffix.
- Identify reflexive verbs used in a passive sense.
- Construct sentences where the object becomes the subject.
- Distinguish between reflexive actions and passive states.
What You'll Learn
Understanding how to use the passive voice in Russian. Reflexive verbs as passive alternatives.
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Russian Passive Voice with -ся (The 'Automatic' Mode)Use reflexive suffixes with imperfective verbs to describe ongoing processes where the actor isn't the main focus.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
By the end you will be able to: describe processes and events in a formal context using reflexive passive constructions.
Key Examples (2)
Этот сериал сейчас смотрится миллионами людей.
This series is currently being watched by millions of people.
Russian Passive Voice with -ся (The 'Automatic' Mode)В нашем районе строится новый торговый центр.
A new shopping mall is being built in our neighborhood.
Russian Passive Voice with -ся (The 'Automatic' Mode)Tips & Tricks (1)
The 'Automatic' Rule
Key Vocabulary (5)
Real-World Preview
New Building Opening
Review Summary
- Object (Nom) + Verb + -ся
Common Mistakes
Reflexive passive is not for naming the actor. Use active voice if you must include the agent.
Check your spelling of the reflexive suffix carefully.
While 'обсуждают' is a valid impersonal construction, 'обсуждается' focuses more on the topic itself as the subject.
Rules in This Chapter (1)
Next Steps
You have completed the grammar core! Keep practicing these structures in your daily reading to see them in action.
Read a Russian news headline and identify passive constructions.
Quick Practice (3)
Find and fix the mistake:
Ваш файл загружается вами.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Russian Passive Voice with -ся (The 'Automatic' Mode)
Choose the best option:
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Russian Passive Voice with -ся (The 'Automatic' Mode)
В центре города сейчас ___ новая школа.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Russian Passive Voice with -ся (The 'Automatic' Mode)
Score: /3
Common Questions (2)
-ся after consonants (e.g., читается) and -сь after vowels (e.g., читались). It's all about making the word easier to pronounce.Я моюсь means 'I wash myself.' Passive reflexive usually applies to inanimate objects being acted upon by people.
