Language/Danish/Grammar/Passive-Voice
Welcome to another exciting lesson in our "Complete 0 to A1 Danish Course"! Today, we’re diving into a fascinating aspect of the Danish language: the passive voice. Understanding the passive voice is crucial as it allows you to express actions where the focus is on the action itself rather than on who is performing it. This can be particularly useful in various contexts, such as storytelling, reporting, and even daily conversations.
In this lesson, we’ll explore how to form and use the passive voice in Danish. We’ll provide clear examples, exercises, and explanations that will help you grasp this concept effectively. By the end, you’ll be able to recognize and construct sentences in the passive voice, adding depth and versatility to your Danish language skills.
What is the Passive Voice?[edit | edit source]
The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb rather than performing the action. In English, you might say, "The cake was eaten by the children." Here, the focus is on the cake and the action of eating, rather than who did the eating.
In Danish, the concept is similar, but the formation of the passive voice has its own unique rules and structures.
Forming the Passive Voice in Danish[edit | edit source]
To form the passive voice in Danish, you typically use the verb "at blive" (to become) along with the past participle of the main verb. The structure looks like this:
[Subject] + bliver + [past participle]
For example:
- The book is read by the student.
Danish: Bogen bliver læst af eleven.
Here’s a breakdown of the structure:
- Bogen (the book) is the subject.
- bliver is the form of "to become" in the present tense.
- læst is the past participle of the verb "at læse" (to read).
- af eleven indicates who is performing the action (by the student).
Examples of Passive Voice[edit | edit source]
To make this clear, let’s look at some examples. Below is a table showcasing various sentences in the passive voice, highlighting their Danish forms, pronunciations, and English translations.
| Danish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Bogen bliver læst af eleven. | ˈboːən ˈblivɐ ˈleːst aːv ˈeləvən | The book is read by the student. |
| Maden bliver lavet af kokken. | ˈmɛːðən ˈblivɐ ˈlɛːʊ̯ð aːv ˈkʌkən | The food is made by the chef. |
| Brevet bliver sendt. | ˈbʁeːʊ̯ð ˈblivɐ ˈsɛnˀt | The letter is sent. |
| Husene bliver bygget af håndværkerne. | ˈhuːsənə ˈblivɐ ˈbygʊð aːv ˈhɔnˌvæʁkəʁnə | The houses are built by the craftsmen. |
| Filmen bliver set af mange mennesker. | ˈfilˀmən ˈblivɐ ˈseːd aːv ˈmɑŋə ˈmɛnəskaʁ | The movie is watched by many people. |
| Vinduet bliver åbnet. | ˈvɛnˀduːð ˈblivɐ ˈøːbn̩ | The window is opened. |
| Bilerne bliver repareret af mekanikeren. | ˈbiːlənə ˈblivɐ ˈʁɛpæˌʁæːʁet aːv ˈmeːkɑˌniːkʌʁn | The cars are repaired by the mechanic. |
| Opgaven bliver fuldført. | ˈɔbˌgɛːvən ˈblivɐ ˈfulˌføːʁt | The assignment is completed. |
| Tallerkenerne bliver vasket. | ˈtæˌlɛʁkənə ˈblivɐ ˈvaskəð | The plates are washed. |
| Bøgerne bliver deltaget i. | ˈbøːɡənə ˈblivɐ ˈdɛlˌtæːð i | The books are participated in. |
When to Use the Passive Voice[edit | edit source]
Understanding when to use the passive voice can be just as important as knowing how to form it. Here are some scenarios where the passive voice is particularly useful:
- Emphasizing the Action: When the action itself is more important than who performed it. For instance, in scientific writing, the focus is often on the results rather than the researcher.
- Unknown Actor: When the doer of the action is unknown or irrelevant. For example, "The window was broken" does not specify who broke it.
- Formal Contexts: Passive constructions can lend a more formal tone to your writing or speech.
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now that you have a solid understanding of the passive voice, let’s put your knowledge to the test! Below are some exercises designed to help you practice forming and using the passive voice in Danish.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]
Complete the sentences in passive voice using the correct form of "bliver" and the past participle of the verb in parentheses.
1. Bøgerne ______ (læse) af eleverne.
2. Maden ______ (lave) af kokken.
3. Brevet ______ (sende) i morgen.
4. Opgaven ______ (fuldføre) af læreren.
5. Vinduet ______ (åbne) af pigen.
Solutions:
1. Bøgerne bliver læst af eleverne.
2. Maden bliver lavet af kokken.
3. Brevet bliver sendt i morgen.
4. Opgaven bliver fuldført af læreren.
5. Vinduet bliver åbnet af pigen.
Exercise 2: Transform the Sentence[edit | edit source]
Transform the following active sentences into the passive voice.
1. Læreren underviser eleverne.
2. Kokke laver maden.
3. Børnene leger i parken.
4. Faderen vasker bilen.
5. Vennen hjælper mig.
Solutions:
1. Eleverne bliver undervist af læreren.
2. Maden bliver lavet af kokkene.
3. Parken bliver leget i af børnene.
4. Bilen bliver vasket af faderen.
5. Jeg bliver hjulpet af vennen.
Exercise 3: Identify the Passive Voice[edit | edit source]
Read the sentences below and identify which are in the passive voice.
1. Bogen bliver læst af mig.
2. Jeg læser bogen.
3. Maden bliver spist.
4. Eleverne studerer.
5. Brevet blev sendt.
Solutions:
- Passive: 1, 3, 5
- Active: 2, 4
Exercise 4: Create Your Own Sentences[edit | edit source]
Write five sentences in Danish using the passive voice. Focus on different verbs and subjects.
Example Answers:
1. Pigen bliver rost for sit arbejde. (The girl is praised for her work.)
2. Filmen bliver set af mange mennesker. (The movie is watched by many people.)
3. Bilen bliver repareret i morgen. (The car will be repaired tomorrow.)
4. Huset bliver malet af vennerne. (The house is painted by the friends.)
5. Bøgerne bliver bestilt online. (The books are ordered online.)
Exercise 5: Rewrite the Sentences[edit | edit source]
Rewrite the following sentences in passive voice.
1. De skriver bogen.
2. Han laver maden.
3. Børnene spiller fodbold.
4. De reparerer cyklen.
5. De sender brevet.
Solutions:
1. Bogen bliver skrevet af dem.
2. Maden bliver lavet af ham.
3. Fodbold bliver spillet af børnene.
4. Cyklen bliver repareret af dem.
5. Brevet bliver sendt af dem.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You’ve now explored the fascinating world of the passive voice in Danish. Understanding how to form and use the passive voice will not only enhance your grammatical skills but also empower you to express ideas more flexibly.
Keep practicing, and try to incorporate the passive voice into your conversations and writings. Remember, like any language skill, mastery comes with time and practice.
Happy learning, and see you in the next lesson!
Videos[edit | edit source]
Danish verbs: imperative and s-passive - Danske verber: imperativ ...[edit | edit source]
Sources[edit | edit source]
- The passive voice in Danish I reckon this doesn't warrant an ... - italki
- Danish grammar - Wikipedia
- Level 61 - Passive voice - Danish grammar - Memrise
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- The Genitive Case in Danish
- Cardinal Numbers in Danish
- Nouns
- Plurals
- Verbs in Danish
- Adjectives
- How to Use Have
- Word Order
- Prepositions
- Interrogative words in Danish