bëhet

Impersonal 'Bëhet'

Level 3

Bëhet is the impersonal 3rd person singular of the mediopassive verb bëhem. It translates to 'it becomes,' 'it gets,' or 'it is done,' focusing on a process or state rather than an actor.

How It Works

The verb bëhet functions as a 'middle voice' in Albanian, sitting between active and passive. It is used in several distinct ways:

  • Process and Change: It describes a transition. While është vonë means 'it is late,' bëhet vonë means 'it is getting late.'
  • Weather and Environment: It indicates a shift in conditions, often used with the progressive particle po (e.g., po bëhet ftohtë - it is getting cold).
  • Possibility: In the negative, nuk bëhet often means 'it can't be done' or 'it's not possible.'
  • Subject Matter: The phrase bëhet fjalë për... is the standard way to identify the topic of a book, movie, or conversation.

In the past tense, this impersonal form requires the non-active particle u, becoming u bë (it became/it was made).

Examples (4)

  1. Po bëhet vonë, duhet të nisemi.

    It is getting late; we must leave.

    Word by Word: Progressive-particle it-becomes late, must that we-leave.

    Here, 'bëhet' shows a change in state (getting late) rather than a static time.

  2. Në këtë libër bëhet fjalë për historinë.

    In this book, it is about history.

    Word by Word: In this book it-becomes word for history-the.

    This is a fixed idiomatic expression meaning 'the subject is' or 'it concerns'.

  3. Kjo punë nuk bëhet dot pa ndihmë.

    This job simply cannot be done without help.

    Word by Word: This work not becomes [particle for potential] without help.

    In this context, 'bëhet' expresses the feasibility or possibility of the action.

  4. Më bëhet qejfi që erdhe.

    I am glad that you came.

    Word by Word: To-me becomes joy-the that you-came.

    Using a dative clitic with 'bëhet' expresses how a situation affects someone's state of mind.

Common Mistakes

  • Both are correct, but they say different things.

    Different MeaningËshtë ftohtë tani.
    Po bëhet ftohtë tani.

    'Është ftohtë' means it is already cold. To say it is getting cold, use 'bëhet': 'Po bëhet ftohtë'.

  • Omitting the 'u' in the past tense.

    Dje bë vonë.
    Dje u bë vonë.

    Because 'bëhet' is a non-active form, it requires the particle 'u' in the aorist tense.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

bëhetLevel 3Impersonal 'Bëhet'

Learn This First

To understand the impersonal 'bëhet', learners must first be familiar with the base verb 'bëj' (to do/make) and the non-active verb conjugation system, specifically the 3rd person singular ending. It is also helpful to have experience with other impersonal constructions like 'duhet' to understand how Albanian expresses general occurrences or processes without a specific subject.

Words in This Pattern

bëhem