Cjelina 8: Odnosi u društvu
🔗 8 | 1 | Gramatika: Pasiv, 2. dio
Passive voice
It can only be created from intransitive verbs (i.e., verbs that take the Accusative case). The passive voice is created by using the verb biti (to be) in its present tense form and the passive form of the main verb. The passive form of the verb is usually created from the infinitive form, and reflects grammatical information, like gender (masculine, neuter, feminine) and number (singular and plural) because it needs to agree with the subject of the sentence.
Note: The passive voice can also be formed using other tenses, but we’ll explore that once you reach more advanced language levels.
How to form the Passive Voice?
☰ Verbs that end in –ati
Most of the verbs that end in –ati will have the following structure.
Example: Verb DIZAJNIRA-TI (to design)
| Number | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | dizajnira-n | dizajnira-na | dizajnira-no |
| plural | dizajnira-ni | dizajnira-ne | dizajnira-na |
☰ Verbs that end in –iti
The verbs that end in –iti can take two different sets of endings for the passive construction.
Set #1: Ending -en
Example: Verb OTVOR-ITI (to open)
Sentence : Butik je otvoren davne 1959. godine. (The boutique was opened in 1959.)
| Number | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | otvor-en | otvor-ena | otvor-eno |
| plural | otvor-eni | otvor-ene | otvor-ena |
Set #2: Ending -jen
Verbs that take the suffix -jen can be divided into several subgroups because they undergo certain sound changes, so it’s important to learn the rules that govern them.
Group one: Jotacija – a phonological process where a consonant changes when followed by the “j” sound (like the English y in yes).
- d + j = đ : GRAD-ITI (to built) > GRAD+JEN > GRAĐEN
- Kuća je građena godinama. (The house was built for years.)
- z + j = ž : OPAZ-ITI (to observe / to notice) > OPAZ+JEN > OPAŽEN
- Opažen je kako šeta oko njene kuće. (He was spotted walking around her house.)
- s + j = š : NOS-ITI (to carry / to wear) > NOS+JEN > NOŠEN
- Kaput je nošen i ne možeš ga vratiti. (The coat has been worn and you can’t return it.)
- t + j = ć : ISPLAT-ITI (to pay out) > ISPLAT+JEN > ISPLAĆEN
- Plaće su isplaćene radnicima. (The salaries have been paid to the workers.)
- l + j = lj : HVAL-ITI (to praise) > HVAL+JEN > HVALJEN
- Često je hvaljen zbog svog humanitarnog rada. (He is often praised for his humanitarian work.)
- n + j = nj : GON-ITI (to chase) > GON+JEN >GONJEN
- Stoka je gonjena po polju. (The cattle were driven across the field.)
Example: Verb NOS-ITI (to carry / to wear)
| Number | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | noš-en | noš-ena | noš-eno |
| plural | noš-eni | noš-ene | noš-ena |
Group two: Jotacija also refers to a slightly different phenomenon, where the consonants b, p, m, v are followed by the sound j. The consonant l is inserted between them, which then merges with the sound j to form “lj.”
- b + j > b +lj > blj : POLJUB-ITI (to kiss) > POLJUB+JEN > POLJUB-L-JEN > POLJUB-LJ-EN
- On je puljubljen i ostavljen na oltaru. (He was kissed and left at the altar.)
- p + j > p + lj > plj : KUP-ITI (to buy) > KUP+JEN > KUP-L–JEN > KUP-LJ-EN
- Knjiga je kupljena, ali još uvijek stoji na stolu. Nije ju ni pogledao. (The book was bought, but it’s still on the table. He hasn’t even looked at it.)
- m + j > m + lj > mlj : IZUM-ITI (to invent) > IZUM+JEN > IZUM+L+JEN > IZUM-LJ-EN
- Telefon je izumljen u 19. stoljeću. (The telephone was invented in the 19th century.)
- v + j > v + lj > vlj : LOV-ITI (to hunt) > LOV + JEN > LOV-L–JEN > LOV-LJ-EN
- Divljač je lovljena po šumi. (The game was hunted in the forest.)
Example: Verb IZUM-ITI (to invent)
| Number | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | izum-lj-en | izum-lj-ena | izum-lj-eno |
| plural | izum-lj-eni | izum-lj-ene | izum-lj-ena |
Group three: Assimilation – a consonant changes to become more similar to other nearby sounds.
- s > š : OSMI-S-L-ITI (to come up with) > OSMISL+JEN > OSMIS-LJEN > OSMI-Š-LJEN
- Novi plan je dobro osmišljen. (The new plan has been thought through).
- z > ž : KA-Z-N-ITI (to punis) > KAZN+JEN > KAZ-NJEN > KA-Ž-NJEN
- Učenik je kažnjen jer je došao u kratkim hlačama. (The student has been punished because he came in shorts).
Example: Verb OSMI-S-L-ITI (to come up with).
When forming the passive voice of the verb osmisliti, a series of phonetic changes occur due to the interaction of sounds. The base of the verb is osmisl-, to which we add the passive participle suffix -jen. However, this process involves several sound transformations.
First, when -jen is attached to the root, the sequence l + j appears, which merges into lj (osmisl+jen → osmisljen). Next, the combination of s and lj results in a transformation where s changes into š due to the influence of the palatal –lj-. As a result, osmisljen becomes osmišljen.
| Number | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | osmi-š–lj-en | osmi-š–lj-ena | osmi-š–lj-eno |
| plural | osmi-š–lj-eni | osmi-š–lj-ene | osmi-š–lj-ena |
Example: Verb KA-Z-N-ITI (to punish)
When forming the passive voice of the verb kazniti, a series of phonetic changes occur due to the interaction of sounds. The base of the verb is kazn-, to which we add the passive participle suffix -jen. However, this process involves several sound transformations.
First, when -jen is attached to the root, the sequence n + j appears, which merges into nj (kazn+jen → kaznjen). Next, the combination of z and nj results in a transformation where s changes into ž due to the influence of the palatal –nj-. As a result, kaznjen becomes kažnjen.
| Number | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| singular | ka-ž–nj-en | ka-ž–nj-ena | ka-ž–nj-eno |
| plural | ka-ž–nj-eni | ka-ž–nj-ene | ka-ž–nj-ena |
👩🏻💻 Practice
What did we learn…
8.1 Zadatak 1: O pasivu
Complete the sentences by using the passive form of the verbs listed below. One verb will repeat twice.
- predstaviti, uvesti, dizajnirati, osmisliti, kreirati
8.1 Zadatak 2: Još o pasivu
Complete the sentences by using the passive form of the verbs listed below.
- predstaviti, osmisliti, izumiti, završiti
Media Attributions
- U8_L1_Grammar_passive
