Passive: estas + -ata

Passive in Progress

Level 4

The thing that receives the action becomes the subject, and -ata shows the action is still going on.

How It Works

ActivePassive
Laboristoj konstruas la domon.La domo estas konstruata.
Oni ofte kantas tiun kanton.Tiu kanto estas ofte kantata.

The old object becomes the subject, so it loses its -n. The doer disappears, or comes back after de (see the entry on de for the doer).

The tense belongs to estas, estis or estos, and the participle stays -ata. Use -ata when the action goes on little by little or repeats: Dum ni ripozos, la manĝo estos kuirata.

If the action is finished and its result counts, use -ita instead.

Examples (4)

  1. La nova ponto estas konstruata nun.

    The new bridge is being built now.

    The building is going on at this moment.

  2. La letero estis skribata, kiam Kenji eniris.

    The letter was being written when Kenji came in.

    Estis skribata shows that the writing was in progress at that moment.

  3. Tiu kanto estas ofte kantata en la kongresoj.

    That song is often sung at the congresses.

    Ofte shows that the singing repeats, which suits -ata.

  4. Dum ni ripozos, la manĝo estos kuirata.

    While we rest, the meal will be cooking.

    Estos kuirata shows that the cooking will be in progress while we rest.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the -n on the new subject.

    La domon estas konstruata.
    La domo estas konstruata.

    In the passive the old object is the subject, so it has no -n.

  • Using -ata when the action is finished.

    La letero estas skribata; mi povas sendi ĝin nun.
    La letero estas skribita; mi povas sendi ĝin nun.

    Estas skribata says the writing is still going on, so the sentence contradicts itself. A finished letter is skribita.

How It Connects

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

Passive: estas + -ataLevel 4Passive in Progress

Learn This First

Estas with -ata makes a passive sentence in progress.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.