сум + Verbal Adjective + од

The Passive with Од

Level 4Sounds Like pasiv: sum + glagolska pridavka + od

Сум + verbal adjective makes a passive, and од names the doer: Книгата е напишана од познат автор. (The book was written by a famous author.)

How It Works

In a passive sentence, the thing that is acted on becomes the subject. Macedonian forms one kind of passive with сум and a verbal adjective (see глаголска придавка: -н; -т).

Agreement: the verbal adjective agrees with the subject like any adjective:

  • Мостот е изграден. — masculine
  • Книгата е напишана. — feminine
  • Писмото е потпишано. — neuter
  • Билетите се продадени. — plural

Tense: сум carries the tense: е изграден (has been built, is built), беше изграден (was built), ќе биде изграден (will be built).

Naming the doer with од: add од and the person or thing that did the action:

  • Книгата е напишана од познат автор. — The book was written by a famous author.
  • Тој беше разбуден од бучавата. — He was woken by the noise.

Official texts also use the longer од страна на: одобрено од страна на министерството (approved by the ministry). In everyday language, plain од is enough.

A state or an action: without од, the same form often just describes a state (see сум + глаголска придавка): Продавницата е затворена. (The shop is closed.) With од or a time phrase, it reports an action: Мостот беше изграден пред сто години.

Other passives: when the doer does not matter at all, Macedonian often uses се instead (see се за пасив: се продава): Се продава стан. Everyday speech also often keeps the active sentence and moves the object forward: Книгата ја напиша познат автор. (see предмет пред глаголот со удвојување). Official language favours passives (see административен пасив: се врши; е извршено).

Examples (6)

  1. Книгата е напишана од познат автор.

    The book was written by a famous author.

    Word by Word: Book-the is written by famous author.

  2. Мостот беше изграден пред сто години.

    The bridge was built a hundred years ago.

    Word by Word: Bridge-the was built before hundred years.

  3. Писмото е потпишано од директорот.

    The letter is signed by the director.

    Word by Word: Letter-the is signed by director-the.

  4. Тој беше разбуден од бучавата.

    He was woken by the noise.

    Word by Word: He was woken by noise-the.

  5. Сите билети се продадени.

    All the tickets are sold.

    Word by Word: All tickets are sold.

    Продадени is plural to agree with билети.

  6. Новиот пат ќе биде отворен следната година.

    The new road will be opened next year.

    Word by Word: New-the road will be opened next-the year.

Common Mistakes

  • Not matching the verbal adjective to the subject.

    Книгата е напишано од познат автор.
    Книгата е напишана од познат автор.

    Книгата is feminine, so the verbal adjective takes the feminine ending: напишана.

  • Using со to name the doer.

    Писмото е потпишано со директорот.
    Писмото е потпишано од директорот.

    Со means "with" or "together with". The person who did the action is introduced with од.

  • Using the l-form instead of the verbal adjective.

    Мостот беше изградил пред сто години.
    Мостот беше изграден пред сто години.

    Беше изградил is an active past perfect (it had built). The passive needs the verbal adjective in -н or -т: изграден.

How It Connects

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

сум + Verbal Adjective + одLevel 4The Passive with Од

Learn This First

The passive with од builds on states with сум.

Words in This Pattern