Instrumental agent with the passive
In Russian passive constructions, the person or force performing the action is placed in the instrumental case without any preposition. This shifts the focus from the 'who' to the 'what' or the result.
How It Works
The instrumental of the agent (творительный действующего лица) is a hallmark of formal, academic, and legal Russian. It allows the speaker to emphasize the object or the result while still identifying who performed the action.
1. Usage with Participles:
This is the most common use, typically with perfective short-form participles to show a completed result.
Example: Книга написана автором (The book was written by the author).
2. Usage with Reflexive Verbs:
Used with imperfective verbs ending in -ся to describe ongoing or regular processes.
Example: Закон принимается парламентом (The law is being passed by parliament).
3. Agent vs. Instrument:
Both use the instrumental case, but the agent is the conscious 'doer' or a natural force, while the instrument is the tool used. You can have both in one sentence:
Письмо написано директором (agent) ручкой (instrument).
4. Stylistic Note:
In casual speech, Russians prefer the active voice. Using the passive with an agent sounds very 'official' (канцелярит). Use it in essays, reports, or formal presentations to sound more objective.
Examples (4)
- Решение было принято большинством голосов.
The decision was made by a majority of votes.
Word by Word: Decision was taken [by] majority [of] votes.
Here, 'большинством' is the agent in the instrumental case, acting on the subject 'решение'.
- Этот проект поддерживается многими экспертами.
This project is supported by many experts.
Word by Word: This project is-supported [by] many experts.
A reflexive passive construction where 'экспертами' (instrumental plural) is the agent.
- Город был разрушен сильным землетрясением.
The city was destroyed by a powerful earthquake.
Word by Word: City was destroyed [by] powerful earthquake.
Natural forces like 'землетрясением' function as agents in the instrumental case.
- Статья написана молодым журналистом.
The article was written by a young journalist.
Word by Word: Article [is] written [by] young journalist.
A classic example using a short-form passive participle with an animate agent.
Common Mistakes
Using the preposition 'от' or 'с' to mean 'by'.
Книга написана от автора.Книга написана автором.English speakers often try to translate 'by' literally. In Russian, the agentive instrumental must be 'bare' (no preposition).
Incorrect agreement of the participle.
Статья был написан автором.Статья была написана автором.The participle must agree with the nominative subject (Статья - fem.), not the instrumental agent (автором - masc.).
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the instrumental agent in passive constructions, a learner must first be familiar with the passive voice itself (both short participles and reflexive forms) and the basic declension and usage of the instrumental case.
- Short passive participles
The passive construction in Russian typically uses short passive participles as the predicate.
Level 4 - Instrumental of means
Understanding the basic instrumental case endings and its use for means/instruments is necessary before applying it to agents.
Level 2 - -ся (пассив)Reflexive Passive with -ся
The instrumental agent is also used with reflexive passive verbs, another common way to express the passive voice.
Level 4
Related Patterns
- быть + Short Passive ParticiplePassive Tense with Быть and a Short Participle
This construction forms the past and future passive tenses where the agent is often specified.
Level 4 - Full passive participle with agent
The long-form version of the participle also uses the instrumental case to identify the agent in a modifier phrase.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Instrumental agent with the passive in Bubblegum
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