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Norwegian · B1

Passiv (the passive)

Butikken åpnes klokka ni. Huset ble bygget i fjor.

12 minutes · A free lesson from B1: Selvstendig (independent) · Roman and Urdu pronunciation guides and English meanings are shown under each phrase

Norwegian has two passives:

Quick check: Which sentence is passive?

  1. Vi bygde huset i fjor.
  2. Huset ble bygget i fjor.
  3. Huset er stort.
Show the answer

B: Huset ble bygget i fjor.

The passive in notices, letters and job adverts

Døra holdes lukket.Say: doera holluhs lukuht.دوےرا ہوللَس لُکَت.Means: Keep the door closed.Keep the door closed.Døra holdes lukket på grunn av kulda.Say: doera holluhs lukuht poh grun av kulla.دوےرا ہوللَس لُکَت پو گرُن او کُللا.Means: The door is kept closed because of the cold.
Skjemaet sendes til kommunen.Say: shehmaat sehnnuhs teel kommoonuhn.شےمات سےننَس تیل کوممُونَن.Means: The form is sent to the municipality.The form is sent to the municipality.Skjemaet sendes til kommunen innen fredag.Say: shehmaat sehnnuhs teel kommoonuhn innuhn frehda.شےمات سےننَس تیل کوممُونَن اِننَن فرےدا.Means: The form is to be sent to the municipality by Friday.
Varene leveres innen fem dager.Say: varuhnuh lehvehruhs innuhn fehm daguhr.وارَنَ لےوےرَس اِننَن فےم داگَر.Means: The goods are delivered within five days.The goods are delivered within five days.
Det søkes etter en sykepleier.Say: deh soekuhs ehtuhr ehn suekuhplaiuhr.دے سوےکَس اےتَر اےن سیُکَپلائَر.Means: A nurse is wanted.A nurse is wanted (in a job advert).
Søknaden ble godkjent.Say: soeknaduhn bleh godshehnt.سوےکنادَن بلے گودشےنت.Means: The application was approved.The application was approved.Søknaden ble godkjent etter tre uker.Say: soeknaduhn bleh godshehnt ehtuhr treh ookuhr.سوےکنادَن بلے گودشےنت اےتَر ترے اُوکَر.Means: The application was approved after three weeks.

Lesson quiz

Check what you have learned. Choose an answer to see whether it is right, and why.

Quick check: Choose the s-passive: “Butikken ___ klokka ni.” (å åpne)

  1. åpnes
  2. åpner
  3. ble åpnet
Show the answer

A: åpnes — Rules, notices and the present take the s-passive.

Quick check: Choose the bli-passive: “Han ___ til intervju.” (å invitere)

  1. inviteres
  2. ble invitert
  3. inviterte
Show the answer

B: ble invitert — A single event in the past takes ble and the participle.

Quick check: What does “Skjemaet må fylles ut” mean?

  1. The form has been filled in.
  2. Fill in the form later.
  3. The form must be filled in.
Show the answer

C: The form must be filled in. — After a modal verb, the passive is the infinitive with -s: må fylles ut.

Practise: reported speech and hvis
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