Language/Modern-greek-1453/Grammar/Passive-voice

Modern Greek (1453-) → Grammar → Passive voice

As an intermediate student in Modern Greek (1453-), learning the passive voice is a crucial step towards fluency. In this lesson, we will explore the basics of the passive voice in Greek, its formation, and its usage.

Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Declension patterns for Greek nouns & The conjugations in Greek.

What is the Passive voice?

In grammar, the passive voice is used to express an action done by someone or something else to the subject of the sentence. In other words, instead of the subject doing the action, the subject is acted upon.

For example, in English, "The book was written by John" is in the passive voice, whereas "John wrote the book" is in the active voice.

In Greek, the passive voice is expressed by changing the verb form and usually adding the auxiliary verb "είμαι" (eimai) in the appropriate tense.

Formation of the Passive voice

To form the passive voice in Greek, follow these steps:

1. Start with the appropriate tense of the auxiliary verb "είμαι" (eimai):

• Present tense: είμαι (eimai)
• Future tense: θα είμαι (tha eimai)
• Imperfect tense: ήμουν (imoun)
• Future perfect tense: θα έχω είναι (tha echo eimai)

2. Add the participle of the main verb. For regular verbs, the participle is formed as follows:

• For verbs ending in "-ω" (o): replace the "-ω" (o) with "-μαι" (me):

 Example: Γράφω (graffo, "I write") → Παθητικός: Γράφομαι (grafome, "I am written").
 

• For verbs ending in "-άω" (ao): replace "-άω" (ao) with "-άμαι" (ame).

 Example: Μιλάω (milao, "I speak") → Παθητικός: Μιλιέμαι (mileme, "I am spoken (to)").

• For verbs ending in "-ώ" (o) with vowel change or "-ώ" (o)

 Example: Φέρνω (fernō, "I bring") → Παθητικός: Φέρνομαι (fernome, "I am brought").

• For verbs ending in "-ώ" (o) with consonant change

 Example: Πηγαίνω and πάω (pigenw and pao, "I go": only active voice) → Παθητική: είμαι πηγεμένος (Present Perfect / ime pigemenos, "I am gone")and ήμουν πηγεμένος / imoun pigemenos (Pluperfect p.v : i was gone )
 

• irregular verbs need to be learned by heart

The participle agrees with the number and gender of the subject in the sentence:

• For a singular subject, use the participle ending "-μαι" (mai) for masculine and neutral subjects and "-μαι" (mae) for feminine subjects.

• For a plural subject, use the participle ending "-νται" (ndai) for masculine and neuter subjects and "-νται" (nte) for feminine subjects.

Examples of the Passive Voice

Here are some examples of the passive voice in Modern Greek (1453-) using different tenses:

Modern Greek (1453-)	Pronunciation	English
Γράφομαι (grafome)	[ˈɣɾafome]	I am written (present tense)
Γραφτώ (grafto)	[ˈɣrafto]	I will be written (subjunctive past tense :p.v)
Παραλαμβάνομαι (paralamvanome)	[paɾalaɱˈvanome]	I am being picked up (present tense)
Παραλήφθηκα (paraliftheika)	[paɾaliˈfθici.ka]	I was picked up (simple past)
Παραδόθηκε (paradothike)	[paɾaˈðoθike]	He/She was delivered (simple past)

Usage of the Passive Voice

In Modern Greek (1453-), the passive voice is used in similar ways as in English. Here are some examples:

• To emphasize the object of the sentence:

 Example: Η μητέρα μου έκανε την τούρτα. (I my mother made the cake.)
 Passive form: Η τούρτα φτιάχτηκε από τη μητέρα μου. (The cake was made by my mother.)

• When the subject is unknown:

 Example: Κάποιος έκλεψε το ρολόι μου (My watch was stolen.)
 Passive form: Το ρολόι μου κλάπηκε από κάποιον* (The watch was stolen.)

*Aoriste β' in passive voice of the verb: κλέβομαι / κλέπτομαι : I am stolen

• To sound more formal:

 Example: Οι φίλοι μου χτύπησαν την πόρτα. (My friends knocked on the door.)
 Passive form: Η πόρτα χτυπήθηκε από τους φίλους μου. (The door was knocked by my friends)

Conclusion

Learning the passive voice is an important step towards gaining proficiency in Modern Greek (1453-). It allows us to express ideas that would otherwise be difficult with just the active voice. With practice, using the passive voice will become more natural and help add variety and nuance to your speech and writing.

Sources

• Modern-greek-1453 Grammar - Active and passive verbs
• Modern-greek-1453 Grammar - Greek voices verbs Φωνή και ...

• Modern Greek/Passive voice Wikibooks

Now that you've completed this lesson, don't stop learning! Check out these related topics: Diphthongs and Special Combinations & Les numéraux ordinaux cardinaux.

Other Lessons

• Past Tense
• Accentuation
• Synonyms Antonyms
• Augment in modern Greek
• Pronouns and verbs
• Verbs Conjugation Groups
• Contract Verbs
• Direct and indirect speech
• Conditional and subjunctive mood
• Paronyms and Homonyms