Understanding the Passive Voice in Turkish for English Speakers

What is the Passive Voice?

In English, the passive voice is used to emphasize the action being done rather than who is doing it. This is done using a form of "to be" with the past participle of the verb. For instance, "The book was read by John." In Turkish, the passive voice has similar uses, focusing on the action instead of the actor.

Forming the Passive Voice in Turkish

Turkish forms the passive voice by removing the subject and adding specific suffixes to the verb based on the personal pronoun. The passive voice can be seen in sentences like "Kitap okundu" which translates to "The book was read." Here, the focus is on the action of reading, not on John who did the reading.

Suffixes Used in Turkish Passive Voice

The suffixes -il, -in, -n, and -nıl are often used in forming the passive voice. The choice of suffix depends on the verb root's last vowel and the harmony rules applicable in Turkish. For example, the verb yüzmek (to swim) turns into yüzülmek (to be swum), following vowel harmony.

Practical Examples and Usage

Using the passive voice in Turkish also conveys actions in a more formal or impartial context. Below are some examples in daily use: