Understanding Korean Passive Verbs
In Korean, passive verbs are used when the subject of the sentence is receiving an action rather than doing it. This is different from active verbs, where the subject performs the action.
Important Points
- Passive verbs often use special verb endings.
- They can show that something happens on its own.
- They can show that something is done by someone else.
To make a verb passive in Korean, you often add endings like '-이', '-히', '-리', or '-기' to the verb stem. Sometimes, the verb changes form completely.
Examples
- 닫다 (to close) → 닫히다 (to be closed)
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹히다 (to be eaten)
- 열다 (to open) → 열리다 (to be opened)
When to Use Passive Verbs
Important Points
- When something happens by itself.
- When you want to focus on the action being done to the subject.
- When the doer of the action is unknown or not important.
Examples
- 문이 열렸다. (The door was opened.)
- 음식이 먹혔다. (The food was eaten.)
- 책이 읽혔다. (The book was read.)