Episode 23 — 수동태: 당하는 입장에서 말할 때

MisoEnglish Grammar Series

Episode 23 — 수동태

당하는 입장에서 말할 때

"문법을 외우지 말고, 느껴라" Don't memorize grammar. Feel it.

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🧭 들어가며 | Introduction

같은 사건을 두 가지 방식으로 말할 수 있다.

The same event can be described in two ways.

능동태: The dog bit the man. 개가 남자를 물었다.
수동태: The man was bitten by the dog. 남자가 개에게 물렸다.

능동태는 "누가 했는가" 에 초점을 맞춘다.

수동태는 "무엇이 일어났는가" 에 초점을 맞춘다.

Active voice focuses on who did it.

Passive voice focuses on what happened.

영어는 이 두 가지 시각을 자유롭게 오간다.

수동태를 언제, 왜, 어떻게 쓰는지 이번 편에서 완전히 정리한다.

English moves freely between both perspectives.

This episode maps out when, why, and how to use the passive.

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1. 수동태의 구조 | The Structure of Passive Voice

be동사 + 과거분사 (p.p.)
be verb + past participle

능동태 문장을 수동태로 바꾸는 3단계:

Three steps to turn an active sentence into a passive one:

① 능동태의 목적어 → 수동태의 주어
   Active object → Passive subject

② be동사 추가 (시제에 맞게)
   Add be verb (in the correct tense)

③ 동사 → 과거분사 (p.p.)
   Verb → past participle

④ 능동태의 주어 → by + 행위자 (필요할 때만)
   Active subject → by + agent (only when needed)

예시:

능동: They built this bridge in 1990. 그들은 1990년에 이 다리를 지었다.

수동: This bridge was built (by them) in 1990. 이 다리는 1990년에 지어졌다.

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2. 시제별 수동태 | Passive Voice Across Tenses

시제 구조 예문

현재	am/is/are + p.p.	English is spoken worldwide.
과거	was/were + p.p.	The window was broken.
미래	will be + p.p.	The report will be sent tomorrow.
현재완료	have/has been + p.p.	The letter has been written.
과거완료	had been + p.p.	The work had been finished.
현재진행	am/is/are being + p.p.	The road is being repaired.
조동사	modal + be + p.p.	The problem must be solved.

예문으로 보기:

This book is read by millions. 이 책은 수백만 명이 읽는다.
The cake was eaten by the kids. 케이크는 아이들이 먹었다.
The project will be completed next week. 프로젝트는 다음 주에 완료될 것이다.
The door has been painted. 문이 칠해졌다.
The building is being demolished. 건물이 철거되고 있다.
This must be done immediately. 이것은 즉시 해야 한다.

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3. 수동태를 쓰는 이유 | Why Use Passive Voice?

수동태는 단순히 능동태의 변형이 아니다. 쓰는 데는 이유가 있다.

Passive voice isn't just a variation of active. There's always a reason to use it.

① 행위자가 모르거나 중요하지 않을 때 | Agent Unknown or Unimportant

My car was stolen.
내 차가 도난당했다. (누가 훔쳤는지 모름)
English is spoken in many countries.
영어는 많은 나라에서 쓰인다. (누가 쓰는지 중요하지 않음)
The ancient temple was built over 1,000 years ago.
그 고대 사원은 1,000년 전에 지어졌다. (건설자 불명)

② 결과나 상태에 집중할 때 | Focusing on the Result

The window was broken. 창문이 깨졌다. (상태 강조)
The meeting has been cancelled. 회의가 취소됐다. (결과 강조)

③ 주어를 모호하게 하려 할 때 | When the Agent Is Deliberately Vague

공식 문서, 뉴스, 학술 문장에서 자주 쓰인다.

Common in official documents, news, and academic writing.

Mistakes were made. 실수가 있었다. (누가 했는지 밝히지 않음)
The decision has been made. 결정이 내려졌다.
It has been reported that... ~라고 보도됐다.

④ 중요한 것을 문장 앞으로 | Moving the Important Thing First

The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
모나리자는 레오나르도 다빈치가 그렸다. → 모나리자(주제)가 먼저, 화가는 나중

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4. by 이외의 전치사 | Prepositions Other Than "by"

수동태에서 행위자를 나타낼 때 항상 by를 쓰는 것은 아니다.

In passive constructions, the agent isn't always introduced with "by."

She is interested in music. 그녀는 음악에 관심이 있다.
He is satisfied with the result. 그는 결과에 만족한다.
I am surprised at/by the news. 나는 그 소식에 놀랐다.
She is worried about the exam. 그녀는 시험에 대해 걱정한다.
He is known for his kindness. 그는 친절함으로 알려져 있다.
She is married to a doctor. 그녀는 의사와 결혼했다.
I am tired of waiting. 나는 기다리는 것이 지겹다.

이런 표현들은 덩어리째 익히는 것이 가장 효과적이다.

These are best learned as whole chunks.

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5. 4형식·5형식의 수동태 | Passive of Pattern 4 and 5

4형식 수동태 (S + V + IO + DO)

4형식 문장은 두 가지 방식으로 수동태를 만들 수 있다.

Pattern 4 sentences can be made passive in two ways.

능동: He gave her a gift.
수동 ①: She was given a gift. ← 간접목적어가 주어
수동 ②: A gift was given to her. ← 직접목적어가 주어

5형식 수동태 (S + V + O + OC)

목적격 보어는 수동태에서도 그대로 남는다.

The object complement remains in the passive.

능동: They called him a genius.
수동: He was called a genius.

능동: She made me happy.
수동: I was made happy.

능동: They elected her president.
수동: She was elected president.

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6. 수동태로 쓸 수 없는 경우 | When Passive Is Not Possible

모든 동사가 수동태를 만들 수 있는 건 아니다.

**자동사(목적어가 없는 동사)**는 수동태가 불가능하다.

Not all verbs can form the passive.

Intransitive verbs (no object) cannot be made passive.

~~The accident was happened.~~ ❌ (happen = 자동사)
The accident happened. ✅

~~He was arrived late.~~ ❌ (arrive = 자동사)
He arrived late. ✅

~~She was died.~~ ❌ (die = 자동사)
She died. ✅

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7. 능동 vs 수동 — 언제 어떤 걸? | Active vs Passive — When to Choose?

행위자가 중요하고 알려져 있다 → 능동태
Agent is important and known → Active

행위자가 모르거나 중요하지 않다 → 수동태
Agent unknown or unimportant → Passive

결과·상태에 집중 → 수동태
Focusing on result or state → Passive

공식적·학술적 문체 → 수동태 선호
Formal / academic writing → Passive preferred

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📌 이번 편 요약 | Episode Summary

1. 수동태 = be + p.p. — 시제는 be동사가 담당 Passive = be + p.p. — tense is carried by the be verb.
2. 수동태를 쓰는 이유 — 행위자 불명·중요하지 않음 / 결과 강조 / 공식 문체 Why passive — unknown/unimportant agent / emphasizing result / formal style.
3. by 이외의 전치사 — interested in, satisfied with, known for 등 Prepositions other than by — interested in, satisfied with, known for.
4. 4형식 수동태 2가지 — 간접목적어 또는 직접목적어가 주어로 Pattern 4 passive has two forms — IO or DO becomes subject.
5. 5형식 수동태 — 목적격 보어는 그대로 유지 Pattern 5 passive — object complement stays.
6. 자동사는 수동태 불가 — happen, arrive, die 등 Intransitive verbs can't be passive — happen, arrive, die.

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🔜 다음 편 예고 | Coming Up Next

Episode 24 — to부정사 : 동사를 명사·형용사·부사로 만드는 법 Infinitives: Turning Verbs into Nouns, Adjectives, and Adverbs

to + 동사원형 — 이 단순한 구조가 문장 안에서 명사, 형용사, 부사 역할을 동시에 할 수 있다.
to부정사의 세 가지 얼굴을 파헤친다.

to + base verb — this simple structure can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb within the same sentence. We dissect the three faces of the infinitive.

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© MisoEnglish Grammar Series | Level 4 — Episode 23 "문법을 외우지 말고, 느껴라" | "Don't memorize grammar. Feel it."

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Passive Voice: Speaking from the Receiving End

When What Happened Matters More Than Who Did It

MisoEnglish Grammar Series — Episode 23

"Don't memorize grammar. Feel it."

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Introduction

Every event has two perspectives. Someone does something — and something gets done.

Active: The dog bit the man.
Passive: The man was bitten by the dog.

Same event. Different focus. Active voice asks: who acted? Passive voice asks: what happened?

Knowing when and why to use the passive — not just how to form it — is what this episode is about.

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1. The Structure

be verb + past participle (p.p.)

Three steps to turn an active sentence passive:

① Active object → Passive subject
② Add be verb (in the correct tense)
③ Verb → past participle
④ Active subject → by + agent (only when needed)

Active: They built this bridge in 1990.
Passive: This bridge was built (by them) in 1990.

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2. Passive Across Tenses

Tense Structure Example

Present	am/is/are + p.p.	English is spoken worldwide.
Past	was/were + p.p.	The window was broken.
Future	will be + p.p.	The report will be sent tomorrow.
Present Perfect	have/has been + p.p.	The letter has been written.
Past Perfect	had been + p.p.	The work had been finished.
Present Progressive	am/is/are being + p.p.	The road is being repaired.
Modal	modal + be + p.p.	The problem must be solved.

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3. Why Use Passive Voice?

Agent unknown or unimportant

My car was stolen. (we don't know who)
English is spoken in many countries. (who speaks it doesn't matter)
The temple was built over 1,000 years ago. (builders unknown)

Focusing on result or state

The window was broken. (the state matters)
The meeting has been cancelled. (the outcome matters)

Deliberately vague — formal, official, academic writing

Mistakes were made. (without naming who made them)
The decision has been made. It has been reported that...

Moving the important element to the front

The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
(The subject — Mona Lisa — comes first; the agent is secondary.)

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4. Prepositions Other Than "by"

Many passive expressions use prepositions other than "by" — learn these as fixed phrases.

She is interested in music.
He is satisfied with the result.
I am surprised at/by the news.
She is worried about the exam.
He is known for his kindness.
She is married to a doctor.
I am tired of waiting.

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5. Passive of Patterns 4 and 5

Pattern 4 — two passive options

Active: He gave her a gift.
Passive ①: She was given a gift. ← indirect object becomes subject
Passive ②: A gift was given to her. ← direct object becomes subject

Pattern 5 — object complement stays

Active: They called him a genius.
Passive: He was called a genius.

Active: She made me happy.
Passive: I was made happy.

Active: They elected her president.
Passive: She was elected president.

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6. When Passive Is Not Possible

Intransitive verbs — verbs with no object — cannot be made passive.

~~The accident was happened.~~ ❌
→ The accident happened. ✅
~~He was arrived late.~~ ❌
→ He arrived late. ✅
~~She was died.~~ ❌
→ She died. ✅

If there's no object in the active sentence, there's nothing to become the passive subject.

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7. Active vs. Passive — When to Choose?

Agent is known and important → Active
Agent is unknown or irrelevant → Passive
Focusing on result or state → Passive
Formal / academic / news writing → Passive preferred

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Episode Summary

1. Passive = be + p.p. — tense is carried by the be verb.
2. Why passive — unknown/unimportant agent, result focus, formal style.
3. Prepositions other than by — interested in, satisfied with, known for.
4. Pattern 4 passive — two options: IO or DO as subject.
5. Pattern 5 passive — object complement stays in place.
6. Intransitive verbs can't be passive — happen, arrive, die.

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Coming Up Next

Episode 24 — Infinitives: Turning Verbs into Nouns, Adjectives, and Adverbs

to + base verb — this simple structure can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb within the same sentence. We dissect all three faces of the infinitive.

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© MisoEnglish Grammar Series | Level 4 — Episode 23 "Don't memorize grammar. Feel it."

 

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