B1 · Intermediate Chapter 73

Passive and Reported

3 Total Rules
36 examples
1 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

What You'll Learn

Advanced passive and indirect speech. Mastering complex reporting verbs.

  • Indirect Speech
    When reporting speech, use 'att' and adjust your pronouns to match who is talking about whom.
  • Reporting Verbs
    It's the Swedish way to say 'they say' or 'it is rumored' using a single passive verb.
  • Passive and Reported
    Turn actions around with '-s' and move 'inte' forward when reporting what someone said.

Key Examples (6)

1

Han sa att han var trött igår.

He said that he was tired yesterday.

Indirect Speech
2

Hon frågade om jag hade sett filmen.

She asked if I had seen the movie.

Indirect Speech
3

Han sägs vara en mycket skicklig läkare.

He is said to be a very skilled doctor.

Reporting Verbs
4

Det påstås att företaget ska säljas.

It is claimed that the company will be sold.

Reporting Verbs
5

Han sa att han inte ville äta.

He said that he didn't want to eat.

Passive and Reported
6

Maten lagas i köket.

The food is being cooked in the kitchen.

Passive and Reported

Tips & Tricks (3)

💡

Pronoun Check

Always pause and check if the 'I' in the original quote should be 'He' or 'She' in your report.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirect Speech
🎯

The 'Ha' Trick

When reporting something that happened in the past using the personal construction, always use 'ha' + supine. 'Han sägs ha varit' (He is said to have been).
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Verbs
💡

The BIFF Trick

If you are unsure where 'inte' goes in reported speech, just remember it always wants to be close to the person (subject) and before the action (verb).
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive and Reported

Quick Practice (10)

Fill in the blank.

Han sa ___ han är glad.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: att
Use 'att' for statements.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirect Speech

Report the question: 'Var bor du?'

Han frågar ___ ___ ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: var jag bor
Reported questions use the question word followed by subject-verb order.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive and Reported

Find the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Hon sa att hon ska inte äta.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: inte ska
The adverb 'inte' must come before the finite verb 'ska'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive and Reported

Which verb is a deponent verb (active meaning, passive form)?

Vilket verb är deponent?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: andas
'Andas' (breathe) always ends in -s but the subject is active.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive and Reported

Change the active verb to s-passive.

Boken ___ (läser) av många barn.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: läses
Remove the -r from 'läser' and add -s.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive and Reported

Choose the correct form of the verb 'säga' for reporting.

Det ___ att det ska bli snö imorgon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sägs
We need the passive present form '-s' for a general report.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Reporting Verbs

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Han sa 'jag är trött'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Han sa att han är trött.
Indirect speech needs 'att' and pronoun shift.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirect Speech

Choose the correct reported speech word order.

Han säger att han ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: inte kommer
According to the BIFF rule, 'inte' comes before the verb in a subordinate clause.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive and Reported

Which passive form is best for a sudden accident?

Jag ___ av en cykel.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blev påkörd
Bli-passive is preferred for sudden, dynamic events happening to a person.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Passive and Reported

Choose the correct option.

Han frågade ___ jag är trött.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: om
Use 'om' for questions.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Indirect Speech

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

Yes, in informal speech, it is common to drop 'att'.
Use 'om' only for yes/no questions.
Sägs is the present tense (is said), while sägas is the infinitive (to be said). You use sägs in most sentences: Det sägs att....
Yes! Han lär vara rik means the same as Han sägs vara rik. Lär is very common in spoken Swedish and acts like a reporting particle.
It stands for 'I Bisats kommer Inte Före det Finita verbet'. It means in subordinate clauses (like reported speech), 'inte' comes before the verb.
Use s-passiv for formal processes, general truths, and written instructions. Use bli-passiv for specific events, especially those involving people.
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Complex Tenses
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Subjunctive Mood
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