Swedish, a North Germanic language spoken by roughly 10 million people primarily in Sweden and parts of Finland, is known for its melodic intonation and relatively simple grammar. However, like any language, it has its complexities. One area that can be particularly challenging for learners is the passive voice. In this article, we will delve into the formation and use of the passive voice in Swedish to help you better understand and use this grammatical structure effectively.
Understanding the Passive Voice
The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence is the recipient of the action rather than the doer. For example, in the active voice, you might say, “The chef cooked the meal.” In the passive voice, this becomes, “The meal was cooked by the chef.” The focus shifts from the doer (the chef) to the recipient of the action (the meal).
In Swedish, the passive voice is used similarly to English, often to emphasize the action or the recipient rather than the doer. Understanding how to form and use the passive voice in Swedish will significantly enhance your fluency and comprehension.
Formation of the Passive Voice in Swedish
There are two primary ways to form the passive voice in Swedish: using the “s-passive” and the “bli-passive.”
The S-Passive
The “s-passive” is created by adding an “s” to the end of the verb. This form is quite common in written Swedish and in formal contexts. Here’s how it’s done:
1. **Present Tense**: Add “-s” to the infinitive form of the verb.
– Active: “Han målar huset.” (He paints the house.)
– Passive: “Huset målas.” (The house is painted.)
2. **Past Tense**: Add “-des” to the infinitive form of the verb.
– Active: “Han målade huset.” (He painted the house.)
– Passive: “Huset målades.” (The house was painted.)
3. **Future Tense**: Use “ska” followed by the infinitive + “-s.”
– Active: “Han ska måla huset.” (He will paint the house.)
– Passive: “Huset ska målas.” (The house will be painted.)
4. **Perfect Tense**: Use “har” followed by the supine form of the verb + “-s.”
– Active: “Han har målat huset.” (He has painted the house.)
– Passive: “Huset har målats.” (The house has been painted.)
The Bli-Passive
The “bli-passive” is formed using the verb “bli” (to become) followed by the past participle of the main verb. This form is more common in spoken Swedish and is often used to describe a change of state. Here’s how it’s done:
1. **Present Tense**: “Blir” + past participle.
– Active: “Han målar huset.” (He paints the house.)
– Passive: “Huset blir målat.” (The house is being painted.)
2. **Past Tense**: “Blev” + past participle.
– Active: “Han målade huset.” (He painted the house.)
– Passive: “Huset blev målat.” (The house was painted.)
3. **Future Tense**: “Kommer att bli” + past participle.
– Active: “Han ska måla huset.” (He will paint the house.)
– Passive: “Huset kommer att bli målat.” (The house will be painted.)
4. **Perfect Tense**: “Har blivit” + past participle.
– Active: “Han har målat huset.” (He has painted the house.)
– Passive: “Huset har blivit målat.” (The house has been painted.)
When to Use the Passive Voice in Swedish
Knowing how to form the passive voice is only half the battle. Understanding when to use it is equally important. Here are some common scenarios where the passive voice is appropriate:
Emphasizing the Action
The passive voice is often used to emphasize the action itself rather than the doer. This can be particularly useful in news reports, academic writing, and other formal contexts.
– Active: “Någon stängde dörren.” (Someone closed the door.)
– Passive: “Dörren stängdes.” (The door was closed.)
In the passive sentence, the focus is on the action of the door being closed, which might be more relevant than who actually closed it.
Unknown or Irrelevant Doer
If the doer of the action is unknown or irrelevant, the passive voice can be a useful way to construct the sentence.
– Active: “Någon stal min cykel.” (Someone stole my bike.)
– Passive: “Min cykel blev stulen.” (My bike was stolen.)
Here, the identity of the thief is unknown or unimportant, so the passive voice shifts the focus to the fact that the bike was stolen.
Formal Writing
The passive voice is often used in formal writing, such as academic papers, official reports, and news articles. It lends a certain level of objectivity and formality to the text.
– Active: “Vi genomförde experimentet.” (We conducted the experiment.)
– Passive: “Experimentet genomfördes.” (The experiment was conducted.)
In the passive sentence, the emphasis is on the experiment rather than the researchers, which is often preferable in formal contexts.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
While the passive voice can be a powerful tool, it’s important to use it correctly to avoid common pitfalls.
Overuse of the Passive Voice
One of the most common mistakes is overusing the passive voice, which can make your writing seem vague or impersonal. While the passive voice has its place, it’s often best to use the active voice when the doer of the action is known and relevant.
– Overuse: “Boken lästes av mig.” (The book was read by me.)
– Better: “Jag läste boken.” (I read the book.)
In this case, the active voice is clearer and more direct.
Incorrect Formation
Another common mistake is incorrect formation, particularly with the “s-passive.” Remember that the “s” is added to the infinitive form of the verb, not the conjugated form.
– Incorrect: “Huset målades av honom.” (The house was painted by him.)
– Correct: “Huset målades.” (The house was painted.)
In the correct sentence, the focus is on the action, and the “s” is correctly added to the infinitive form of the verb.
Mixing Tenses
It’s also important to ensure that the tense of the passive construction matches the intended meaning of the sentence. Mixing tenses can lead to confusion and miscommunication.
– Incorrect: “Huset ska bli målat igår.” (The house will be painted yesterday.)
– Correct: “Huset blev målat igår.” (The house was painted yesterday.)
In the correct sentence, the tense of the passive construction accurately reflects the time of the action.
Practical Exercises
To solidify your understanding of the passive voice in Swedish, try these practical exercises. Translate the following sentences from active to passive voice:
1. “Barnen leker i parken.” (The children are playing in the park.)
2. “Polisen arresterade tjuven.” (The police arrested the thief.)
3. “Hon kommer att skriva brevet.” (She will write the letter.)
4. “Vi har slutfört projektet.” (We have completed the project.)
Answers:
1. “Parken leks av barnen.” (The park is being played in by the children.)
2. “Tjuven arresterades av polisen.” (The thief was arrested by the police.)
3. “Brevet kommer att bli skrivet av henne.” (The letter will be written by her.)
4. “Projektet har slutförts.” (The project has been completed.)
Using the Passive Voice in Conversation
While the passive voice is more common in written Swedish, it does appear in conversation, especially in more formal or structured settings. Here are some examples of how you might hear or use the passive voice in spoken Swedish:
Giving Instructions
– “Fönstret ska tvättas varje vecka.” (The window should be cleaned every week.)
– “Mötet är flyttat till fredag.” (The meeting has been moved to Friday.)
Describing Processes
– “Maten tillagas i köket.” (The food is being prepared in the kitchen.)
– “Breven sorteras och delas ut varje morgon.” (The letters are sorted and distributed every morning.)
Reporting Information
– “Det sägs att han är mycket rik.” (It is said that he is very rich.)
– “Det rapporteras att vädret blir sämre.” (It is reported that the weather is getting worse.)
Conclusion
The passive voice is a versatile and useful grammatical structure in Swedish, just as it is in English. By understanding how to form and use the passive voice, you can add variety and nuance to your Swedish writing and speaking. Remember to use it appropriately, avoid common pitfalls, and practice regularly to gain confidence and proficiency.
Whether you’re writing a formal report, giving instructions, or simply describing a process, the passive voice can help you convey your message more effectively. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll find that using the passive voice in Swedish becomes second nature.
