Grammar / Passive Voice
Passive Voice
Grammar
Passiv · Passive Voice
Danish has two passive constructions — the -s passive and the blive passive — and choosing the right one (plus forming the -s ending correctly) is one of the most commonly tested points on PD2/PD3 writing and reading.
1. Two forms of passive · -s passive vs. blive passive
| Active | -s passive | blive passive |
|---|---|---|
| bygger (builds) | bygges | bliver bygget |
| byggede (built) | byggedes (rare, literary) | blev bygget |
In the past tense, the -s form (byggedes) is rare and mostly literary — in practice, past passive almost always means blev + past participle.
2. Forming the -s passive · swap the final -r for -s
Danish present-tense verbs already end in -r (læser, skriver, bygger, sælger, spiser). To make the -s passive, replace that final -r with -s.
Active
Han bygger huset.
He builds the house.
-s passive
Huset bygges.
The house is (being) built.
Common mistake: keeping the -er ending and just adding -s (byggers). Drop the -r first: bygger → bygges, not byggers.
3. Forming the blive passive · bliver / blev + past participle
bliver (present) or blev (past) + the past participle of the main verb.
Huset bliver bygget. · Huset blev bygget sidste år.
The house is being built. / The house was built last year.
4. When to use which · general/written vs. specific/spoken
| -s passive | blive passive |
|---|---|
| General, habitual, rules, instructions | A specific, one-time event |
| Written/formal register, signs | Everyday spoken Danish |
| No agent, or the agent doesn't matter | Action clearly in progress or completed |
Habitual → -s
Butikken åbnes klokken ni hver dag.
The shop opens at nine every day.
Specific → blive
Butikken bliver åbnet lige nu.
The shop is being opened right now.
5. Modal verbs + passive · skal/kan/bør/må + -s infinitive
After a modal verb, Danish almost always uses the bare -s infinitive, not blive — "skal blive afleveret" sounds unnatural to a native ear.
Opgaven skal afleveres i morgen. · Vinduerne bør lukkes om aftenen.
The assignment must be handed in tomorrow. / The windows should be closed in the evening.
6. Watch out — lexicalised -s verbs that aren't passive · mødes, ses, findes, lykkes...
Some verbs only exist in the -s form and have no active counterpart with the same meaning. They're reciprocal or deponent verbs, not the passive of anything — don't try to "undo" them into a blive passive.
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| mødes | to meet (each other) |
| ses | to see each other |
| skændes | to quarrel |
| findes | to exist, to be found |
| synes | to think, to seem |
| lykkes | to succeed |
Reciprocal (not passive)
Vi ses i morgen!
See you tomorrow!
True passive
Filmen ses af mange.
The film is watched by many.
✏️ Comprehensive exercises · 20 questions
| # | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Group A – Form the -s passive present (1–5) | ||
| 1 | Han skriver brevet. → Brevet ___. | skrives |
| 2 | Hun sælger huset. → Huset ___. | sælges |
| 3 | De bygger en bro. → En bro ___. | bygges |
| 4 | Vi spiser kagen. → Kagen ___. | spises |
| 5 | Læreren retter opgaverne. → Opgaverne ___. | rettes |
| Group B – -s or blive passive? (6–10) | ||
| 6 | Loven ___ hvert år. (ændres / blev ændret) | ændres |
| 7 | Bilen ___ i går. (repareres / blev repareret) | blev repareret |
| 8 | Butikken ___ klokken ni hver morgen. (åbnes / blev åbnet) | åbnes |
| 9 | Han ___ til festen i sidste uge. (inviteres / blev inviteret) | blev inviteret |
| 10 | Der ___ ikke i bygningen. (ryges / bliver røget) | ryges |
| Group C – Modal + passive (11–15) | ||
| 11 | Opgaven skal ___ i morgen. (afleveres / bliver afleveret) | afleveres |
| 12 | Vinduerne bør ___ om aftenen. (lukkes / bliver lukket) | lukkes |
| 13 | Denne bog kan ___ på en dag. (læses / bliver læst) | læses |
| 14 | Reglerne skal ___ af alle. (følges / bliver fulgt) | følges |
| 15 | Maden må ikke ___ før klokken tolv. (spises / bliver spist) | spises |
| Group D – True passive or lexicalised -s verb? (16–20) | ||
| 16 | "Vi ses i morgen!" means: | See you tomorrow (reciprocal, not passive) |
| 17 | "Filmen ses af mange." means: | The film is watched by many (true passive) |
| 18 | "De mødes hver fredag." — mødes here is: | a reciprocal verb, not passive |
| 19 | "Løsningen findes i bogen." — findes means: | exists / can be found (lexicalised, not passive) |
| 20 | "Det lykkedes ham at bestå eksamen." — lykkedes is: | a deponent verb, only exists in -s form |
Master when to reach for -s and when to reach for blive, and your written Danish will sound noticeably more native — this is a favourite trap in PD2/PD3 writing tasks.