Language Passive Forms

Passive forms are also known as “passive voice” in English. It is translated as “being done”. This form cannot be combined with verbal adjectives. The passive form can be created by adding either れる (reru) or られる (rareru) to the mizenkei conjugation of respectively Group 4 (yodan katsuyou) and Group 2 (nidan katsuyou) verbs.

Though normally the mizenkei + れる (reru) is used with Group 4 (yodan katsuyou) verbs and the mizenkei + られる (rareru) is used with Group 2 (nidan katsuyou) verbs, in the spoken language you may encounter the mizenkei + れる (reru) sometimes being used with Group 2 (nidan katsuyou) verbs. This form is officially grammatically incorrect.

Irregular verbs

The passive form of 来る (kuru) is formed by placing られる (rareru) after the mizenkei. The passive form of する (suru) is formed by placing れる (reru) after さ (sa) or られる (rareru) after せ (se).


When adding (ら)れる [(ra)reru], which is a Group 2 verb, to the mizenkei conjugation, the resulting verb is also conjugated as a Group 2 verb. For the correct conjugations, please check the conjugations page.

ソニーのCDプレーヤーは中国で作られます。
Sonii no CD pureeyaa wa chuugoku de tsukuraremasu.
Sony CD-players are made in China.

蚊に刺された。
Ka ni sasareta.
I’ve been bitten by a mosquito.

The passive form has several functions. It can be used as a

• Passive form
• Passive form of inconvenience (迷惑の受身)
• Polite form
• Potential form

The Passive form

The passive form is used to describe that “A” is being done by “B”. “A” is followed by the subject particle が (ga), and “B” is followed by the particle に (ni).

手紙が田中さんに書かれました。
Tegami ga Tanaka-san ni kakaremashita.
The letter was written by Mr Tanaka.

田中さんが手紙を書きました。
Tanaka-san ga tegami wo kakimashita.
Mr Tanaka wrote the letter.

The Passive form of inconvenience (迷惑の受身 meiwaku no ukemi)

Like the passive form, the passive form of inconvenience is used to describe that “A” is being done by “B”, but with the connotation that what happened was unpleasant. In this form “A” is followed by the object particle を (wo), and “B” is followed by the particle に (ni). This form can often be translated without having the passive form in the English translation.

宿題を犬に食べられました。
Shukudai wo inu ni taberaremashita.
The dog ate my homework.

The Polite form

The polite form maintains the normal construction a normal sentence would. This form is used to heighten the politeness level towards the person you are talking to.

あなたがもう食事を食べられましたか。 (Anata ga mou shokuji wo taberaremashita ka.)
Have you had dinner yet?

明日、来られますか。
Ashita, koraremasu ka.
Will you come by tomorrow?

The Potential form

The potential form is constructed in the same way as the standard passive form, but the grammatical subject of the sentence is usually separated by the particle は (wa). This form is often used to create a potential form from group 2 (or nidan katsuyou) verbs.

彼は直美ちゃんのことが忘れられない。
Kare wa Naomi-chan no koto ga wasurerarenai.
He can’t stop thinking about Naomi.

Summary:

“A”が”B”にされます。
“A” ga “B” ni saremasu.
“A” is being done by “B”. Passive form

“A”を”B”にされます。
“A” wo “B” ni saremasu.
“B” does “A” (and I am suffering because of it). Passive form of inconvenience

“A”が”B”をされます。
“A” ga “B” wo saremasu.
“A” does “B”. Polite form

“A”は”B”がされます。
“A” wa “B” ga saremasu.
“A” can do “B”. Potential form