Passive Form (~rareru)
〜られる
The passive form expresses actions done to the subject by someone else, or spontaneous/suffering nuance.
Pattern
U-verb: ~う → ~あれる | Ru-verb: ~る → ~られる | する → される | くる → こられる
Explanation
The passive form in Japanese is created by changing the verb ending. For u-verbs (godan), change the final -u to -areru. For ru-verbs (ichidan), replace -ru with -rareru. The irregular verbs する becomes される and くる becomes こられる.
The passive is used in three main ways: direct passive (the subject receives the action), indirect passive (the subject is affected by someone else's action, often negatively — called the 'suffering passive'), and to express respect. The indirect passive is unique to Japanese and has no direct English equivalent.
In passive sentences, the doer of the action is marked with に. The thing acted upon becomes the subject marked with は or が. This is the reverse of active sentences.
Examples
弟に漫画を読まれた。
おとうとにまんがをよまれた。
otouto ni manga wo yomareta.
My younger brother read my manga (and I'm annoyed about it).
先生に褒められました。
せんせいにほめられました。
sensei ni homeraremashita.
I was praised by the teacher.
電車で足を踏まれた。
でんしゃであしをふまれた。
densha de ashi wo fumareta.
Someone stepped on my foot on the train.
この本は多くの人に読まれている。
このほんはおおくのひとによまれている。
kono hon wa ooku no hito ni yomarete iru.
This book is read by many people.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
友達が私を呼ばれた。
Correct
私は友達に呼ばれた。
In passive sentences, the receiver of the action becomes the subject (marked with は), and the doer is marked with に.
Wrong
雨が降られた。
Correct
雨に降られた。
The indirect (suffering) passive requires に to mark the cause of the inconvenience.
Wrong
食べるを食べられるにする → 食べあれる
Correct
食べられる
For ru-verbs, simply replace る with られる. Do not add あれる.
Related Grammar Points
Vocabulary in Examples
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