Japanese Language Stack Exchange
Japanese Language Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [passive-voice]

受動態. Verb forms with the affix -(r)are-. Besides the passive meaning, this morpheme also has spontaneous, honorific, and potential meanings.

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How to differentiate ～られる conjugation between passive form and potential form?

For verbs of group 2, whose ～ます form is formed by dropping the ending ～る from the plain form, both the passive and potential forms have the same conjugation: ～られる. Example: 食べられる 1. to be eaten 2. can eat / edible Other than looking at the…
Lukman
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Passive-transitive-verb vs. Intransitive-verb （他動詞の受け身 vs. 自動詞)

I think I know the answer to this, but it still creeps up in my mind all the time; something I'd like to research more. I want to know technical differences as well as common usage. When do you use the passive form of a transitive verb versus just…
istrasci
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Passive form - The exact difference between を and が

I've seen this question asked before, but i feel the answer didn't quite answer all my questions, so here goes. Now, I am rather sure that this: ケーキが食べられた Means: The cake was eaten. (by someone) Now, recently I've noticed a few cases where the…
Daniel Safari
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How to distinguish between passive and potential forms of the verb?

I've read that potential form of the ru-verb is formed by replacing る with られる, which is exactly the same for the passive form of ru-verbs. How can we tell the passive form and potential apart in this case?
minerals
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Meaning of volitional passive form

お姉ちゃんに何を言われようが、まる子はウキウキ気分なのであった。 What was said by her sister ???? but, Maruko felt cheerful. I can't think of any way in which something which is passive can also be volitional. How do I understand this construction?
user3856370
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How does one make potential passive in Japanese?

For ichidan verbs, potential form is made by changing the ru to rareru. The same is done to change them to passive. e.g taberu -> taberareru (can eat; also, be eaten) For godan verbs, potential is made by ending with eru and passive by areru. e.g…
quantum231
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Fun with synonyms - "to grab/catch/capture"

Here's a question for you experts. I've actually asked this to my Japanese friends, but I want to see how you guys answer too. Explain the differences in the following verbs and which one(s) appear more commonly in everyday…
istrasci
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Difference between passive form and てある

I'm confused about the difference between the passive form and the てある form. 飲み物はもう買ってあります。 The drinks have already been bought. 飲み物はもう買われました。 The drinks were already bought. Are my translations correct? Is it that verb-てある means 'verb has been…
user3856370
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How to interpret indirect passives?

While looking up some grammar points I stumbled across this paper which describes something that it calls "indirect passives". I can't think of anything similar in English, and I'm having trouble understanding how it works. It seems that this…
user5277
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Causative-Passive Verbs: Vせられる and Vされる

Looking at the answer to this question, it seems that both 行かせられる and 行かされる are valid forms of the causative-passive of 行く. I've only been taught the first usage, so I have a number of related questions regarding the difference between the two. Is…
ハイドン
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私に言われても versus 私が言われても

I am aware that "言われる" means "to be told". My impression would be that "私に言われても" means "Even if I told you..." while "私が言われても" means "Even if I am told...". But this site answer seems to suggest that another interpretation of "私に言われても" is "Even if I…
Denis Li
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Passive verb forms for intransitive verbs

Okay, so I'm confused about passive verbs. From how I understand it, the verb is performed on the subject. but how come you can say something like 明日の会議に行かれるんですか？ Are you going to tomorrow's meeting? why not something along the lines…
Mel
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発する, 罰する, 反する, etc. taking strange conjugation せられる for the passive form

I am sure this has been asked before, but due to this form's similarity to the causative-passive (e.g. 行かせられる), I simply cannot find anything except for some thick Japanese explanations complete with overly technical grammar terms. I do not…
Yeti Ape
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Likely Sentences (Nuance in use of 〜てもらう vs Passive form)

Our professor gave us some problems where you are suppose to circle which statement the person is more likely to say. Below is an example. おまわりさん よく道を聞かれます。 よく道を聞いてもらいます。 I think this means the following. Policeman I am asked for…
Snowy Coder Girl
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How to use the passive form to say "This flower was watered."

I would like to use the passive form in describing the fact that a flower has been watered. Is この花は水をやられた correct? What difference does この花は水がやられた make or would that be incorrect? A brief explanation of the use of が in passive phrases would also be…
ineedham
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