How to Form and Use the Passive Voice in Croatian

Understanding the Passive Voice in Croatian

The passive voice in Croatian is used to emphasize the action or the recipient of the action rather than the doer. It is similar to English but has unique formation rules that learners should understand to use it correctly.

When to Use the Passive Voice in Croatian

In Croatian, the passive voice is commonly used when the focus is on the action itself or when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from context. It is often found in formal writing, news reports, and instructions.

Forming the Passive Voice with the Verb "Biti" (to be)

The most common way to form the passive voice in Croatian is by using the auxiliary verb biti (to be) combined with the past participle of the main verb. The past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject.

For example:

• Aktivni glas (Active voice): On piše pismo. (He writes a letter.)
• Pasivni glas (Passive voice): Pismo je napisano. (The letter is written.)

Past Participle Agreement in Passive Voice

The past participle used in the passive voice must agree with the subject in gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) and number (singular, plural).
Examples:

• Masculine singular: napisan
• Feminine singular: napisana
• Neuter singular: napisano
• Masculine plural: napisani
• Feminine plural: napisane
• Neuter plural: napisana

Examples of Passive Voice Sentences

Here are some examples showing the passive voice in different contexts:

• Knjiga je pročitana. (The book is read.)
• Vrata su zatvorena. (The doors are closed.)
• Članak je napisan jučer. (The article was written yesterday.)

Passive Voice with Reflexive Verb Form

Croatian also uses a reflexive form with the pronoun se to express passive meaning, especially in spoken language. This is called the "se" passive.
Example:

• Prodaju se kuće. (Houses are being sold.)

Differences Between "Biti" Passive and "Se" Passive

The "biti" passive is more formal and used in written language, while the "se" passive is more common in everyday speech. The "se" passive does not require agreement of the past participle.
Example:

• Kuća je sagrađena. (The house is built.) - "biti" passive
• Gradi se kuća. (A house is being built.) - "se" passive

Practice Tips for Learners

To master the passive voice in Croatian, practice forming sentences using both the "biti" + past participle construction and the "se" passive. Pay attention to agreement rules and context to choose the appropriate form.