Understanding the Passive Voice in Icelandic
The passive voice in Icelandic is a way to talk about actions where the focus is on what is happening, rather than who is doing it. For example, instead of saying 'The cat chased the mouse,' you might say 'The mouse was chased by the cat.'
Important Points
- The passive voice often uses a form of the verb 'vera' (to be) or 'verða' (to become) plus the past participle of the main verb.
- In Icelandic, the past participle often ends in -inn, -aður, or -dur, depending on the verb.
- The passive voice can also be formed using the -st suffix, which is added to the verb.
- The subject of the sentence in passive voice is the receiver of the action, not the doer.
Examples
- Bókin var lesin af kennaranum.
- Húsið var málað í sumar.
- Hundurinn varð bitinn af snáknum.
In the examples above, notice how the action is emphasized. The book is being read, the house is being painted, and the dog is being bitten. The doer of the action is either mentioned at the end or not at all.
Important Points
- Use passive voice when you want to emphasize the action or the object receiving the action.
- Remember that the verb form changes to show the passive voice.
- In Icelandic, passive voice can make sentences sound more formal or objective.