What Is the Passive Voice?
The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb. In other words, the focus shifts from who is performing the action to who is receiving the action. In English, an example of passive voice is: “The book was read by Ana.” In Serbian, forming the passive voice is slightly different but follows clear patterns.
When to Use the Passive Voice in Serbian
Passive constructions in Serbian are used less frequently than in English, but they are still important for formal writing, academic texts, news reports, and when the agent (the doer of the action) is unknown or unimportant. Understanding when and how to use the passive voice will help you sound more natural and sophisticated in Serbian.
How to Form the Passive Voice in Serbian
There are two primary ways to form the passive voice in Serbian:
- Using passive participles
- Using the reflexive pronoun “se”
1. Using Passive Participles
This construction is more formal and often appears in written Serbian. You need:
- The verb “biti” (to be) conjugated in the desired tense
- The passive participle of the main verb
- Optionally, the agent introduced by “od” (by)
Example:
- Active: Ana piše pismo. (Ana is writing a letter.)
- Passive: Pismo je napisano (od Ane). (The letter is written (by Ana).)
How to form the passive participle:
Most Serbian verbs have a passive participle, usually ending in -n, -en, or -t, depending on the verb. For example:
- napisati (to write) → napisan
- pročitati (to read) → pročitan
- otvoriti (to open) → otvoren
Make sure the participle agrees in gender and number with the subject:
- knjiga je pročitana (feminine singular)
- pisma su napisana (neuter plural)
2. Using the Reflexive Pronoun “Se”
This is the most common way to express passive meaning in everyday Serbian, especially in spoken language. It is often called the “impersonal” or “mediopassive” construction.
The structure is:
- Verb in the third person + “se”
Example:
- Ovde se govori srpski. (Serbian is spoken here.)
- Knjige se prodaju u knjižari. (Books are sold in the bookstore.)
This construction does not specify the agent and is perfect for general statements.
Tips for Mastering the Passive Voice in Serbian
- Practice with real examples: Read Serbian news articles or books and underline passive sentences. Try to rewrite active sentences in the passive voice.
- Pay attention to agreement: The passive participle must match the gender and number of the subject.
- Use Talkpal or language exchange partners: Practice transforming active sentences to passive and vice versa. Get feedback on your usage in context.
- Don’t overuse the passive: Remember, passive constructions are less common in conversational Serbian. Use them primarily in formal or written contexts.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the passive voice with verbs that don’t have a passive participle.
- Forgetting to adjust the participle for gender and number.
- Mixing up the “se” construction with true passive forms.
Practice Exercises
Try converting these active sentences into passive voice:
- Marko jede jabuku. (Marko is eating an apple.)
- Profesor objašnjava lekciju. (The professor explains the lesson.)
- Deca prave sneška belića. (The children are making a snowman.)
Answers:
- Jabuka se jede (od Marka). / Jabuka je pojedena.
- Lekcija se objašnjava (od profesora). / Lekcija je objašnjena.
- Sneško belić se pravi (od dece). / Sneško belić je napravljen.
Conclusion
Mastering the passive voice in Serbian will enrich your language skills and comprehension. Focus on both the participle construction for formal writing and the “se” construction for everyday communication. For more practice and personalized feedback, explore interactive exercises and AI-powered conversation with Talkpal. As you continue your journey in learning Serbian, understanding the passive voice will help you express yourself with greater depth and accuracy.
