to be done (passive)

The passive makes the receiver of an action the subject. Ru-verbs replace る with られる (食べられる), u-verbs change the final sound to the a-row plus れる (読まれる), and する becomes される. The doer is marked with に.

Examples

• この本ほんは多おおくの人ひとに読よまれています。

  Kono hon wa ooku no hito ni yomarete imasu.

  This book is read by many people.

• 私わたしは先生せんせいに褒ほめられました。

  Watashi wa sensei ni homeraremashita.

  I was praised by my teacher.

Vocabulary in these examples

• この this (+ noun)
• 本 book
• 人 person
• 読む to read
• いる to exist (animate); to be
• 私 I; me

Related patterns · Passive

• 迷惑の受身 indirect passive (something bad happened to me)