byť + Passive Participle

The Passive with Byť

Level 4

The passive puts the thing affected by the action in the subject: Most bol postavený (The bridge was built). Use byť in the right tense plus a passive participle.

How It Works

How to build it. Take byť in any tense and add a passive participle:

  • present: Obchod je zatvorený. (The shop is closed.)
  • past: Most bol postavený v roku 1920. (The bridge was built in 1920.)
  • future: Zmluva bude podpísaná zajtra. (The contract will be signed tomorrow.)

Agreement. Both the past form of byť and the participle agree with the subject: most bol postavený, škola bola postavená, mesto bolo postavené, domy boli postavené. For groups with men, the participle ends in -ní / -tí: Hostia boli pozvaní.

The present often shows a result. With a perfective participle, the present describes a state: Dvere sú zatvorené. (The door is closed.) For an action in progress, Slovak normally uses the reflexive passive: Dom sa stavia. (The house is being built.)

The doer. Usually the doer is not mentioned. When it is, it goes in the instrumental, without a preposition: Kniha bola napísaná známym autorom. See the doer in a passive sentence.

Register. This passive is typical of news, instructions and formal writing. In conversation, Slovaks usually say the same thing with an active verb and an unnamed "they": Most postavili v roku 1920.

Examples (6)

  1. Most bol postavený v roku 1920.

    The bridge was built in 1920.

    Word by Word: Bridge was built in year 1920.

  2. Obchod je dnes zatvorený.

    The shop is closed today.

    Word by Word: Shop is today closed.

    A present-tense result: the shop is in a closed state.

  3. Kniha bola preložená do mnohých jazykov.

    The book was translated into many languages.

    Word by Word: Book was translated into many languages.

    Feminine subject: bola preložená.

  4. Všetci hostia boli pozvaní na večeru.

    All the guests were invited to dinner.

    Word by Word: All guests were invited to dinner.

  5. Zmluva bude podpísaná zajtra.

    The contract will be signed tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Contract will-be signed tomorrow.

  6. Bol som veľmi prekvapený.

    I was very surprised.

    Word by Word: I-was very surprised.

Common Mistakes

  • Not making the participle agree with the subject.

    Kniha bola napísaný v roku 1950.
    Kniha bola napísaná v roku 1950.

    Kniha is feminine, so both bola and the participle take feminine endings: bola napísaná.

  • Marking the doer with od.

    Kniha bola napísaná od známeho autora.
    Kniha bola napísaná známym autorom.

    Standard Slovak puts the doer of a passive in the instrumental without a preposition. When the doer matters, an active sentence often sounds better: Knihu napísal známy autor.

  • Using a short Czech-style participle.

    Most bol postaven v roku 1920.
    Most bol postavený v roku 1920.

    Slovak uses only the long form of the participle: postavený, postavená, postavené.

How It Connects

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byť + Passive ParticipleLevel 4The Passive with Byť

Learn This First

Before The Passive With byť, learn Passive Participles. The passive uses byť plus a passive participle.

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