Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 5 - Intermediate Korean #2 (Lessons 121 to 150) ᚛ Lesson 132 - Using passive verbs in Korean

Using passive verbs in Korean

In the previous lesson, we learned how to create passive verbs from their base verbs. Let’s now see how to use them in sentences.

Using passive verbs

Passive verbs are used like any other verbs. However, it is necessary to understand well the grammatical function of the elements linked to these verbs.

Let’s go back to the first example of this lesson.

고양이가 쥐를 먹어요.
→ The cat eats the mouse. (active voice)

• "the cat" is the subject, so we attach the particle 이 / 가 to it
• "the mouse" is the direct object, so we attach the particle 을 / 를 to it
• we use the verb 먹다 (= to eat)

쥐가 고양이에게 먹혀요.
→ The mouse is eaten by the cat. (passive voice)

• "the mouse" becomes the subject, so we attach the particle 이 / 가 to it
• "the cat" indicates the source of an action, so we attach the particle 에게 / 한테 to it
• we use the verb 먹히다 (= to be eaten)

그 도둑은 경찰에게 잡혔다.
→ That thief was caught by the police.

발에 가시가 박혔어요.
→ A thorn got stuck in my foot.

문이 열리고 그가 들어왔습니다.
→ The door opened and he came in.

그는 천재소년이라고 불렸어요.
→ He was called "the boy genius".

깡패에게 돈을 빼앗겼어요.
→ He had his money taken by a thug.

엘리베이터에 있어서 전화가 끊겼네요.
→ Oh, the call got cut off because I was in the elevator.

The particularities of 보다 and 듣다

Exercises

Podcasts in Korean specially designed for beginners, to learn Korean by really listening to it from the very beginning.

You’re starting to learn Korean (or you already know the basics), but as soon as you listen to spoken Korean, everything suddenly feels too fast?
The words blend together, the pronunciation escapes you, and you feel like “real Korean” is very different from what you learned in textbooks.

That’s normal!
Listening comprehension is the most difficult part for all beginners.

Learn more

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