Japanese Verb Conjugation: Understanding the Passive Form（受身形）

1. What is the Passive Form?

The passive form（受身形うけみけい）i is used to describe actions that happen to the subject, often beyond their control. In Japanese, it’s commonly used to:

• Indicate that someone or something is affected by an action.
• Describe events or situations where the actor is unspecified or not emphasized.

2. How to Form the Passive Form

Below are the steps for creating the passive form from both dictionary form and ます form for each verb group.

From the Dictionary Form:

• Group 1 (U-Verbs):
  • Change the final "u" sound to its corresponding "a" sound and add れる.
  • Examples:
    • かく → かかれる (to be written)
    • はなす → はなされる (to be spoken)
    • よむ → よまれる (to be read)

• Group 2 (RU-Verbs):
  • Simply replace る with られる.
  • Examples:
    • たべる → たべられる (to be eaten)
    • みる → みられる (to be seen)

• Group 3 (Irregular Verbs):
  • する becomes される (to be done).
  • くる becomes こられる (to be brought).

From the ます Form:

• Group 1 (U-Verbs):
  • Remove ます, then change the "i" sound before ます to its corresponding "a" sound and add れます.
  • Examples:
    • かきます → かかれます (to be written)
    • はなします → はなされます (to be spoken)
    • よみます → よまれます (to be read)

• Group 2 (RU-Verbs):
  • Remove ます and add られます.
  • Examples:
    • たべます → たべられます (to be eaten)
    • みます → みられます (to be seen)

• Group 3 (Irregular Verbs):
  • します becomes されます (to be done).
  • きます becomes こられる (to be brought).

Using both approaches (dictionary form and ます form) makes it easier for learners familiar with the polite form to grasp the passive conjugation.

3. Sample Sentences

Here are sample sentences demonstrating how the passive form can be used:

• Group 1 (U-Verbs):
  • かかれる (to be read): ともだちに　ラブレターを　よまれました。
    (My love letter was read by my friend.)

• Group 2 (RU-Verbs):
  • たべられる (to be eaten): おとうとに　ケーキを　たべられました。
    (My cake was eaten by my younger brother.)
  • みられる (to be seen): この　えいがは　おおくの　ひとに　みられています。
    (This movie is watched by many people.)

• Group 3 (Irregular Verbs):
  • しょうたいされる(to be invited): ともだちに　パーティーに　しょうたいされました。
    (I was invited to a party by my friend.)