Let’s learn how to form passive sentences in Japanese. By using the -rareru form, you can prove to your friends that your Japanese grammar has improved by a huge margin So let’s take a look at some of the passive words you often use in English conversation.

I was scolded by my teacher.

せんせい　に　しかられた、先生　に　叱られた

sensei ni shikarareta

せんせい、先生sensei means “teacher”

しかる、叱る shikaru means “to scold”

しかるshikaru becomes しかられるshikarareru　(scold by) and for past tense becomes しかられた、叱られた(scolded by)

Another example

I was bitten by a dog

いぬ　に　かまれた

inu ni kamareta

いむ、犬inu means “dog”

かむ、噛む means “to bite”

かむ becomes かまれる and in past tense becomes かまれた

So how do you identify the change? Think of the -nai　ない form before you change. So like say an example　のむ and when you think of the -nai form. You get のまない. Drop the -nai　ない form and add the -reru-れる behind you get のまれる. All verbs needs to be change to the -nai stem before you can add the -rareru. Take note that the “ra” in rareru is the “a” sounding where negative forms will be made. If its too confusing, take a look at the chart below for a better understanding.

Before you use this passive way of speaking, you need to remember to always add a に before it. All passive forms takes the に particle. So if you look at the examples, it all takes in the に particle.

いぬ　に かまれた – bitten by a dog

せんせい　に しかられた – scolded by teacher

おかあさん　に よばられた – called by my mother

What if you want to take a certain object and talk about it? Here is one example.

“The banana was eaten by the monkey”

バナナー　が　サル　に　食べられた

バナナー　 means banana

サル means monkey

If you are not sure why do I use “ga” and not “wa”. You might want to read more in my earlier post on the confusion between using ga and wa particles

Continue to enjoy learning Japanese!

Be Sociable, Share!

•