Past Passive: is + ge-
The Past Passive: Is + Ge-
The past passive uses is, not word: Die huis is in 1990 gebou. (The house was built in 1990.)
How It Works
1. Word becomes is.
- Present: Die huis word gebou. (The house is being built.)
- Past: Die huis is gebou. (The house was built, or has been built.)
Afrikaans does not add geword here. The past of the passive is simply is + the ge- form.
2. Naming the doer. Use deur (by): Die boek is deur my ma geskryf. (The book was written by my mother.)
3. Word order. Is stands second in a main clause, and the ge- form goes to the end. In a subordinate clause, the ge- form comes first and is goes last: Ek weet dat die kar al verkoop is. (I know that the car has already been sold.)
4. Is or was? In careful Afrikaans, was + ge- means had been done, before another past moment: Die huis was al verkoop toe ons kom. (The house had already been sold when we came.) For a plain was done, use is. In speech, was is sometimes used with the same meaning as is.
5. Action or state? Some ge- forms can also describe a state. Die deur is gesluit can mean the door was locked (by someone) or the door is locked (it is shut now). The context tells you which. Is gebore (was born) follows the same pattern.
Examples (6)
- Die huis is in 1990 gebou.
The house was built in 1990.
Word by Word: The house is in 1990 built.
In 1990 shows a finished past action, so is is used, not word.
- Die boek is deur my ma geskryf.
The book was written by my mother.
Word by Word: The book is by my mom written.
- My fiets is gisteraand gesteel.
My bike was stolen last night.
Word by Word: My bike is last-night stolen.
- Is die rekening al betaal?
Has the bill been paid yet?
Word by Word: Is the bill already paid?
Betaal takes no ge-, in the past passive too.
- Ek weet dat die kar al verkoop is.
I know that the car has already been sold.
Word by Word: I know that the car already sold is.
In a subordinate clause, is goes after the ge- form.
- Die kinders is deur die dokter ondersoek.
The children were examined by the doctor.
Word by Word: The children are by the doctor examined.
Common Mistakes
Adding geword, as in the past of word (become).
Die huis het in 1990 gebou geword.Die huis is in 1990 gebou.The past passive is is + ge- form. Het ... geword is only the past of word meaning become.
Using word to say that something was done in the past.
Die huis word in 1990 gebou.Die huis is in 1990 gebou.To say that the house was built in 1990, use is. Word + ge- form describes something happening now or regularly.
Keeping is in second place after dat.
Ek weet dat die kar al is verkoop.Ek weet dat die kar al verkoop is.In a subordinate clause, both verbs go to the end, with is last.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The past passive uses is instead of word.
Related Patterns
- Passive: was + ge-Had Been Done: Was + Ge-
Was + ge- form for something that had been done earlier.
Level 4 - is geboreSaying Where You Were Born
Is gebore (was born) is a past passive of this kind.
Level 2 - Participles Before Nouns: gekookte, gesteelde
Ge- forms can also describe a state, as in die deur is gesluit.
Level 3 - Passive With a Modal
How the passive combines with moet, kan and moes.
Level 4 - Verb at the End in Subordinate Clauses
Why is goes last after dat, omdat and other conjunctions.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Past Passive: is + ge- in Bubblegum
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