BackGrammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 3
Structure of れる・られる (Passive):
Examples:
［る1］Verb ￫ 見る + られる
［る⁵］Verb ￫ 座る + られる
［う］Verb ￫ 歌う + われる
［く］Verb ￫ 歩く + かれる
［す］Verb ￫ 話す + される
［つ］Verb ￫ 打つ + たれる
［ぬ］Verb ￫ 死ぬ + なれる
［ぶ］Verb ￫ 飛ぶ + ばれる
［む］Verb ￫ 休む + まれる
［ぐ］Verb ￫ 泳ぐ + がれる
Exceptions:
する→される
くる→こられる
Details about れる・られる (Passive):
In Japanese, there are several ways to express that something 'passively' happens. All of these are done with the auxiliary verbs れる and られる. Japanese verbs in the passive form behave in a slightly different way than they do in English, so we will examine this difference more closely later. For now, let's focus on れる, られる, and される (the form used with する verbs).
Passivity in Japanese means that the person (or thing) that is the target of the action will be the subject of the sentence, rather than the person that is 'doing' whatever verb is being used.
You can conjugate any Japanese verb into the passive form in the following way. For う-Verbs (godan verbs), simply replace the last kana with the equivalent あ sound kana from the same row (す becomes さ, つ becomes た, ぶ becomes ば, う becomes わ, like with ない, and so on), then add れる, or られる. For る-Verbs (ichidan verbs), just replace the る with られる.
Passivity in Japanese means that the person (or thing) that is the target of the action will be the subject of the sentence, rather than the person that is 'doing' whatever verb is being used.
You can conjugate any Japanese verb into the passive form in the following way. For う-Verbs (godan verbs), simply replace the last kana with the equivalent あ sound kana from the same row (す becomes さ, つ becomes た, ぶ becomes ば, う becomes わ, like with ない, and so on), then add れる, or られる. For る-Verbs (ichidan verbs), just replace the る with られる.
- 犬に噛まれるのが怖いから、犬には近づけない。Because I am afraid of getting bitten by a dog, I can't approach them.
- 私はいつも彼と比べられる。I always get compared to him.
- 知らない人からいたずらをされるのがきらい。I don't like being pranked by strangers.
- 急に義理の母に来られると困る。I feel troubled when my mother in law visits unannounced.
れる・られる (Passive)
Usage Notes for れる・られる (Passive):
られる can be used in several different situations. These are listed below.
Passive: 受け身 - Something happens to the subject as a result of an external force (sometimes sounds negative).
Possible: 可能 - There is the possibility for something to be done.
Spontaneous: 自発 - Something happens by itself, or 'without instigation'.
Respectful: 尊敬 - You are respecting someone by making them the subject of the sentence, despite someone else actually performing the verb.
Passive: 受け身 - Something happens to the subject as a result of an external force (sometimes sounds negative).
Possible: 可能 - There is the possibility for something to be done.
Spontaneous: 自発 - Something happens by itself, or 'without instigation'.
Respectful: 尊敬 - You are respecting someone by making them the subject of the sentence, despite someone else actually performing the verb.
But wait, what about れる with る-Verbs! Well, in Japanese, ら removal words 'ラ抜き言葉' are very common. These are words that are able to use れる, instead of られる. The original meaning of both of these auxiliary verbs is exactly the same, but there are cases where ら may not be removed. The standard rules are as follows.
ら may be removed - る-Verbs and くる, when the meaning is 'possible'.
ら may not be removed - る-Verbs and くる, when the meaning is 'passive', 'spontaneous', or 'respectful'.
ら may be removed - る-Verbs and くる, when the meaning is 'possible'.
ら may not be removed - る-Verbs and くる, when the meaning is 'passive', 'spontaneous', or 'respectful'.
- 私はどこでも寝れます。I can sleep anywhere. (I have the potential to sleep anywhere)
- 私はどこでも寝られる。I can sleep anywhere. (I have the potential to sleep anywhere)
Synonyms for れる・られる (Passive):
れる・られる (Potential)
To be able, Can (Potential)
Verb［せる・させる］
To make/let/have (somebody do something)
Causative-Passive
Verbs (Causative-passive voice), To be made to do something, To be forced to do
れる・られる + ままに
Do as (one is told or ordered…), In accordance with, In compliance with, Just like
Example of れる・られる (Passive)
私のアイスクリームを兄に食べられた。
My ice cream was eaten by my brother.
変な話を親に聞かれた。
My strange conversation was overheard by my parents.
私は部屋を綺麗にして、褒められた。
I was praised for cleaning my room.
宿題をしたけど、持って来るのを忘れた。何を言われるかな。
Even though I did my homework, I forgot to bring it with me. I wonder what will be said to me.
私はあいつらに何をされてもいいけど、あいつらには絶対に君の名前を教えない。
It doesn't matter what is done to me by them, but I won't give up your name to them.
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