Active and Passive Voice

Based on the textbook and workbook pages you uploaded, your class is focusing on the two distinct ways to form the passive voice in Norwegian: the Bli-Passive and the S-Passive.

Here is an in-depth summary of how they work, using the specific examples from your class materials.

1. What is the Passive Voice?

In an Active sentence, the Subject does the action.

  • Active: Jeg betaler husleia. (I pay the rent.)

In a Passive sentence, the Action happens to the Subject. Who did it is either unknown or not important.

  • Passive: Husleia blir betalt. (The rent is paid.)

2. Method A: The "Bli-Passive" (The Flexible Way)

This is the most common way to make a passive sentence, especially in spoken Norwegian. You act like you are using the verb "to be" (å bli) + the Past Participle (perfektum partisipp).

Formula:

bli (conjugated) + verb (ending in -t / -dd)

You can use this in almost any tense by just changing the word bli:

Tense

Active Example

Passive Example

Source

Presens (Present)

De deler bildene.

Bildene blir delt.

Preteritum (Past)

De dømte henne.

Hun ble dømt.

Perfektum (Perfect)

De har låst døra.

Døra har blitt låst.

Key Takeaway: If you want to talk about something that happened in the past (was done), you almost always use ble + verb (e.g., Regningene ble betalt - The bills were paid).

3. Method B: The "S-Passive" (The Formal/Modal Way)

This is a shorter, slightly more formal way to make a passive verb. You simply take the infinitive verb and add an -s to the end.

Formula:

Infinitive + -s

According to your textbook, this is used in two specific situations:

A. With Modal Verbs (The "Big 4")

This is the most important rule for your current chapter. When using kan, skal, må, or bør, you attach the main verb with an -s.

  • Active: Vi må beskytte barna. (We must protect the children.)

  • Passive: Barna må beskyttes. (The children must be protected.)

  • Active: Hvor kan jeg bestille den? (Where can I order it?)

  • Passive: Hvor kan den bestilles? (Where can it be ordered?)

B. For Rules and Instructions

You will often see the S-passive alone in present tense instructions or general truths.

  • Active: Vi låser døra klokka ni.

  • Passive: Døra låses klokka ni. (The door locks/is locked at nine.)

4. The Agent (Who did it?)

If you use the passive voice but still want to mention who did the action, you use the preposition av (by).

  • Passive: Oppgavene blir rettet av læreren.

  • Translation: The assignments are corrected by the teacher.

Summary Cheat Sheet

  1. Past Tense? Use ble + verb (Bilen ble vasket).

  2. Modal Verb (kan/skal/må)? Add -s (Bilen må vaskes).

  3. General/Present? Use blir + verb (Bilen blir vasket).