B1 Passive & Reported Speech 5 min read Médio

Bli-passive

When the action matters more than the actor, use 'bli' plus the past participle.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'bli' + past participle to describe an action happening to someone or something, focusing on the result or process.

  • Use 'bli' + past participle for dynamic actions: 'Huset blir målat' (The house is being painted).
  • The past participle must agree with the subject in gender and number: 'Boken blir läst' (The book is read).
  • Use 'av' to introduce the agent: 'Boken blir läst av mig' (The book is read by me).
Subject + blir + Past Participle (+ av + Agent)

Overview

## Overview
In Swedish, the passive voice is a crucial tool for shifting focus from the 'doer' of an action to the 'receiver'. While the 's-passive' (e.g., 'målas') is often used for general statements or habits, the 'bli-passive' is specifically used for dynamic, ongoing actions. Think of it as the Swedish equivalent of 'is being done'.
It is essential for formal writing, news reports, and describing processes where the identity of the person performing the action is secondary to the action itself. By using bli (to become) followed by the past participle of the main verb, you create a structure that highlights the transformation or the event. It is a very versatile construction that allows you to sound more professional and objective in your communication.
## How to Form It
Forming the bli-passive is straightforward. You take the auxiliary verb bli and conjugate it according to the tense, followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Present: blir + participle (e.g., 'Huset blir målat')
Past: blev + participle (e.g., 'Huset blev målat')
Perfect: har blivit + participle (e.g., 'Huset har blivit målat')
Remember that the past participle must agree with the subject. If the subject is neuter, add a 't' to the participle. If it is plural, add an 'a'.
## When to Use It
You will encounter the bli-passive in various real-world scenarios. In news reports, it describes events: 'Vägen blev avstängd' (The road was closed). In professional emails, it helps maintain a neutral tone: 'Ditt ärende blir behandlat' (Your case is being processed).
It is also common in technical manuals or recipes: 'Ingredienserna blir blandade' (The ingredients are mixed). Using this structure helps you avoid naming the subject when it is unknown or irrelevant.
## Common Mistakes
The most common mistake is forgetting to match the past participle with the subject. For example, saying 'Boken blir läst' is correct, but 'Boken blir lästa' is wrong because 'boken' is singular. Another mistake is using the bli-passive for states that aren't actions; for states, use 'vara' (to be).
Finally, learners often overuse the agent 'av' when it isn't necessary. Keep it simple!
## How It's Different From...
The main confusion lies between the 'bli-passive' and the 's-passive'. The 's-passive' (e.g., 'målas') is often used for general truths, habits, or when the action is timeless. The 'bli-passive' is strictly for dynamic, specific actions.
If you can replace 'bli' with 'blir' (becomes), you are likely on the right track for a dynamic passive.
## CEFR-Level Explanations
A1: In Swedish, we use 'bli' to say something is happening. If you want to say 'The book is read', you say 'Boken blir läst'. It is like saying 'The book becomes read'. Just remember that 'bli' changes if you talk about the past. It is very useful for describing things that happen to objects.
A2: The bli-passive is used when the action is more important than the person doing it. You conjugate 'bli' in the present or past tense and add the past participle. For example, 'Matchen blir spelad' (The match is being played).
Remember that the participle must match the noun. If the noun is neuter, add a 't'. If it is plural, add an 'a'.
B1: At the B1 level, you should distinguish between the dynamic 'bli-passive' and the 's-passive'. The 'bli-passive' emphasizes the process or the change of state. It is highly effective in formal contexts where you need to report on events or processes without focusing on the agent.
Note that the agent can be included using 'av', but it is often omitted to maintain a detached, objective tone. Always ensure correct participle agreement, as this is a hallmark of intermediate proficiency.
B2: The 'bli-passive' serves as a primary mechanism for creating objective, process-oriented discourse. Unlike the 's-passive', which often conveys a sense of habituality or timelessness, the 'bli-passive' is inherently dynamic. It is frequently employed in journalistic and administrative Swedish to describe the progression of events.
Mastery involves not only correct conjugation and agreement but also the pragmatic decision of when to include the agent via 'av'. Over-reliance on the agent can undermine the passive's purpose, which is to depersonalize the action.
C1: The 'bli-passive' is a sophisticated tool for managing information structure in Swedish. By utilizing this construction, the speaker can manipulate the thematic focus of a sentence, placing the patient in the subject position. This is particularly prevalent in academic and formal registers where objectivity is paramount.
One must be sensitive to the subtle distinction between the 'bli-passive' and the 'vara-passive' (stative), where the latter describes a resulting state rather than the process itself. Advanced learners should focus on the stylistic implications of choosing one over the other.
C2: The 'bli-passive' represents a core component of the Swedish passive system, reflecting a complex interplay between aspect and voice. While the 's-passive' has historical roots in reflexive constructions, the 'bli-passive' is a later development that provides a clearer distinction between dynamic and stative meanings. In near-native usage, the choice between these forms is often dictated by register, genre, and the desired degree of agency.
A deep understanding of this construction allows for nuanced control over the narrative perspective, enabling the speaker to navigate between impersonal reporting and descriptive process-oriented accounts with ease.

Meanings

The 'bli-passive' is used to describe an action being performed on a subject, emphasizing the process or the state resulting from an action.

1

Dynamic Passive

Focuses on the ongoing action or the change of state.

“Fönstret blir tvättat.”

“Brevet blir skrivet.”

Bli-passive Conjugation

Tense Auxiliary Participle Example
Present blir målad Huset blir målat
Past blev målad Huset blev målat
Perfect har blivit målad Huset har blivit målat
Pluperfect hade blivit målad Huset hade blivit målat
Future kommer att bli målad Huset kommer att bli målat
Infinitive bli målad Huset kan bli målat

Reference Table

Reference table for Bli-passive
Form Structure Example
Affirmative Subj + blir + Participle Boken blir läst
Negative Subj + blir + inte + Participle Boken blir inte läst
Question Blir + Subj + Participle? Blir boken läst?
Past Subj + blev + Participle Boken blev läst
Perfect Subj + har blivit + Participle Boken har blivit läst
Agent Subj + blir + Participle + av + Agent Boken blir läst av mig

Espectro de formalidade

Formal
Rapporten blir skriven av kommittén.

Rapporten blir skriven av kommittén. (Work)

Neutro
Rapporten skrivs nu.

Rapporten skrivs nu. (Work)

Informal
De skriver rapporten nu.

De skriver rapporten nu. (Work)

Gíria
Rapporten fixas.

Rapporten fixas. (Work)

Passive Voice Components

Bli-passive

Auxiliary

  • blir becomes

Main Verb

  • participle past participle

Agent

  • av by
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Examples by Level

1

Boken blir läst.

The book is being read.

2

Huset blir målat.

The house is being painted.

3

Mat blir serverad.

Food is being served.

4

Brevet blir skrivet.

The letter is being written.

1

Dörren blev låst av honom.

The door was locked by him.

2

Fönstren blir tvättade.

The windows are being washed.

3

Middagen blev lagad.

The dinner was cooked.

4

Frågan blir besvarad.

The question is being answered.

1

Beslutet har blivit fattat av styrelsen.

The decision has been made by the board.

2

Alla biljetter blev sålda på en timme.

All tickets were sold in one hour.

3

Projektet blir utvärderat just nu.

The project is being evaluated right now.

4

Vägen blev avstängd på grund av olyckan.

The road was closed due to the accident.

1

Resultaten blir noggrant analyserade av forskarna.

The results are being carefully analyzed by the researchers.

2

Lagförslaget har blivit debatterat i riksdagen.

The bill has been debated in the parliament.

3

Datorerna blir uppdaterade under natten.

The computers are being updated during the night.

4

Många misstag blev begångna under processen.

Many mistakes were committed during the process.

1

Dessa riktlinjer har blivit implementerade för att öka effektiviteten.

These guidelines have been implemented to increase efficiency.

2

Detta fenomen har blivit observerat i flera studier.

This phenomenon has been observed in several studies.

3

Avtalet blev undertecknat under stor press.

The agreement was signed under great pressure.

4

Strukturen blir gradvis förändrad genom yttre påverkan.

The structure is being gradually changed by external influence.

1

Detta paradigm har blivit utmanat av samtida tänkare.

This paradigm has been challenged by contemporary thinkers.

2

Historien blir ständigt omskriven av nya generationer.

History is constantly being rewritten by new generations.

3

Dessa nyanser har blivit ignorerade i tidigare analyser.

These nuances have been ignored in previous analyses.

4

Detta beslut blev fattat i en tid av stor osäkerhet.

This decision was made in a time of great uncertainty.

Easily Confused

Bli-passive vs S-passive

Learners mix up 'blir målad' and 'målas'.

Bli-passive vs Vara-passive

Learners use 'är' instead of 'blir'.

Bli-passive vs Active voice

Learners use passive when active is more natural.

Erros comuns

✗

Boken blir lästa

✓

Boken blir läst

Boken is singular, so the participle must be singular.
✗

Huset blir måla

✓

Huset blir målat

Participle must match the neuter noun.
✗

Det blir av mig gjort

✓

Det blir gjort av mig

Word order: 'av' + agent comes after the participle.
✗

Han blir äter

✓

Han blir riven/matad

Bli-passive requires the past participle, not the present verb.
✗

Bilen blev köpt av han

✓

Bilen blev köpt av honom

Use the object pronoun after 'av'.
✗

Matchen blir spelas

✓

Matchen blir spelad

Don't mix s-passive and bli-passive.
✗

Det har blivit gjord

✓

Det har blivit gjort

Agreement with 'det' (neuter).
✗

Dörren blir låst av polisen

✓

Dörren blev låst av polisen

If the action is finished, use the past tense 'blev'.
✗

Stolen blir suttit på

✓

Stolen blir använd

Some verbs don't work well in passive.
✗

Det blir regnat

✓

Det regnar

Weather verbs don't use passive.
✗

Det har blivit blivit gjort

✓

Det har blivit gjort

Don't double the auxiliary.
✗

Han blev blivit slagen

✓

Han blev slagen

Blev is the past tense of bli.

Sentence Patterns

___ blir ___ av ___.

Har ___ blivit ___?

___ blev ___ i går.

___ kommer att bli ___.

Real World Usage

News Report very common

Vägen blev avstängd.

Work Email common

Ditt ärende blir behandlat.

Technical Manual common

Knappen blir tryckt.

Social Media occasional

Bilden blev tagen av mig.

Food Delivery App common

Din mat blir tillagad.

Job Interview occasional

Projektet blev lett av mig.

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💡

Check the tense

Ensure 'bli' is in the correct tense (blir, blev, har blivit).
⚠️

Avoid overusing the agent

Only use 'av' if the agent is important.
🎯

Gender agreement

Always check if the subject is neuter (add -t) or plural (add -a).
💬

Be objective

Use the passive to sound more professional and objective.

Smart Tips

Use 'bli' to emphasize the change.

De målar huset. → Huset blir målat.

Drop the agent entirely.

Huset blir målat av någon. → Huset blir målat.

Look at the subject first.

Boken blir målat. → Boken blir målad.

Use 'har blivit' + participle.

Huset har blivit måla. → Huset har blivit målat.

Pronúncia

/bliː/

Bli

The 'i' is long, and the 'bl' cluster is pronounced clearly.

Statement

Huset blir målat ↘

Falling intonation for a neutral statement.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Bli' as a 'Becoming' bridge: the subject is 'becoming' the action.

Visual Association

Imagine a blank canvas. A brush appears and paint starts covering it. The canvas is 'becoming painted' (blir målad).

Rhyme

When the actor is out of sight, use 'bli' to make it right.

Story

The chef is busy. The soup is being cooked. The bread is being baked. Everything is becoming something else in the kitchen.

Word Web

blirblevblivitavparticiplepassiv

Desafio

Describe your morning routine using the passive voice for 5 minutes.

Notas culturais

Passive voice is preferred to maintain a professional, non-confrontational tone.

Journalists use the passive to report events objectively.

Passive voice is standard in research papers to focus on findings.

The 'bli' verb comes from Old Norse 'blífa', meaning to remain or become.

Conversation Starters

“

Vad blir gjort på ditt jobb just nu?

“

Har något blivit ändrat i din lägenhet nyligen?

“

Blir maten lagad av dig eller någon annan?

“

Tror du att historien blir omskriven i framtiden?

Journal Prompts

Describe a project you are working on using the passive voice.
Write about a local event using the passive voice.
Reflect on a change in your life using the passive voice.
Discuss a historical event using the passive voice.
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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form of 'bli'.

Huset ___ målat i går.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blev
The action happened in the past.
Choose the correct participle. Múltipla escolha

Boken blir ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: läst
Boken is singular.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Huset blir måla.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Huset blir målat
Neuter agreement.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Boken blir läst av mig
Standard word order.
Translate to Swedish. Tradução

The dinner is being cooked.

Answer starts with: Mid...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Middagen blir lagad
Present dynamic passive.
Match the tense. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Present
Blir is present tense.
Choose the correct agent. Múltipla escolha

Boken blir läst ___ mig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: av
Use 'av' for the agent.
Fill in the correct form.

Projektet har ___ avslutat.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blivit
Perfect tense uses 'blivit'.

Score: /8

Exercicios praticos

8 exercises
Fill in the correct form of 'bli'.

Huset ___ målat i går.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blev
The action happened in the past.
Choose the correct participle. Múltipla escolha

Boken blir ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: läst
Boken is singular.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Huset blir måla.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Huset blir målat
Neuter agreement.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

blir / boken / läst / av / mig

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Boken blir läst av mig
Standard word order.
Translate to Swedish. Tradução

The dinner is being cooked.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Middagen blir lagad
Present dynamic passive.
Match the tense. Match Pairs

Match 'blir' with its tense.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Present
Blir is present tense.
Choose the correct agent. Múltipla escolha

Boken blir läst ___ mig.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: av
Use 'av' for the agent.
Fill in the correct form.

Projektet har ___ avslutat.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: blivit
Perfect tense uses 'blivit'.

Score: /8

Perguntas frequentes (8)

Use 'bli' for specific, dynamic actions. Use 's' for general or timeless statements.

No, only include 'av' if the agent is important to the meaning.

Add 'inte' after 'blir'. Example: 'Huset blir inte målat'.

It is neutral to formal. It is common in both news and business.

Most transitive verbs work, but some don't. Stick to common ones first.

The participle must end in -a. Example: 'Husen blir målade'.

No, 'vara' describes a state, 'bli' describes the process.

Yes, use 'kommer att bli' + participle.

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In Other Languages

German high

werden + Partizip II

German has more complex case endings.

French moderate

être + participe passé

Swedish has a specific verb for the process.

Spanish moderate

ser + participio

Spanish uses 'ser' for both state and process.

Japanese low

reru/rareru suffix

Swedish uses an auxiliary verb.

Arabic low

passive verb form

Arabic uses internal vowel changes.

Chinese moderate

bei (被) construction

Chinese uses a particle, not a conjugated verb.

Next
Bli vs S-passive

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