-ся (пасив)
Reflexive Passive in -ся
The Reflexive Passive in -ся (рефлексивний пасив на -ся) turns a transitive verb into a passive one by adding the suffix -ся. It focuses on the process of the action rather than the result.
How It Works
The reflexive passive is a common way to express passivity in Ukrainian, especially in formal, academic, or technical contexts. However, it has specific rules for usage:
- Morphology: The postfix -ся/-сь is attached to the end of the verb. Generally, -ся is used after consonants and -сь after vowels. In the 3rd person, the verb ending -ть and the postfix -ся merge into the single spelling -ться (pronounced as a long soft [t͡sʲ:a]).
- Agreement: The verb must agree with the Nominative subject (the former object). This means the verb changes its ending based on number and, in the past tense, based on gender (e.g., дім будується vs. будинки будуються).
- Inanimate Subjects & 3rd Person: This construction is almost exclusively used with inanimate subjects (e.g., дім, книга, закон). Because of this, it is practically restricted to the 3rd person (він, вона, воно and вони).
- Restrictions: Verbs that are already inherently reflexive (e.g., дивитися, користуватися) cannot be used in this passive construction.
- Aspect: It is used with imperfective verbs to show an ongoing process. For a completed result, use impersonal -но/-то forms or passive participles (such as the -ний or -тий forms).
- The Agent: In modern Ukrainian, naming the agent in the Instrumental case with this construction is generally discouraged. If the agent is important, it is better to use an active sentence.
To become proficient in natural Ukrainian, try to replace these passive forms with active ones. For agentless sentences, the most natural equivalent is using verb endings without subject pronouns in the 3rd-person plural (e.g., Дім будують instead of Дім будується). If the agent is known, use a standard active sentence (e.g., Ми будуємо дім) to avoid a bureaucratic tone.
Examples (5)
- Будинок будується вже два роки.
The house has been under construction for two years already.
Word by Word: House builds-itself already two years.
Here, 'будується' shows an ongoing process. The house is the subject, but it is receiving the action.
- Цей журнал видається щомісяця.
This magazine is published monthly.
Word by Word: This magazine issues-itself every-month.
This example shows a habitual, repeated action in the passive voice.
- Як пишеться це слово?
How is this word spelled?
Word by Word: How writes-itself this word?
A very common everyday use of the reflexive passive to ask about spelling or writing conventions.
- Квитки продаються в касі.
Tickets are sold at the box office.
Word by Word: Tickets sell-themselves in box-office.
The focus is on the location of the ongoing availability/sale of the tickets.
- Закон приймається парламентом.
The law is being passed by the parliament.
Word by Word: Law accepts-itself [by] parliament.
The agent 'парламентом' is in the instrumental case. However, note that this is highly bureaucratic and often considered an unnatural calque. In modern Ukrainian, the active voice ('Парламент приймає закон') is vastly preferred.
Common Mistakes
Using a perfective verb to express a completed passive result.
Книга прочитається мною.Книгу прочитано. / Книга прочитана.Adding -ся to a perfective verb like 'прочитати' doesn't create a passive result; it sounds like the book will read itself. Use the -но/-то form or a passive participle (like the -ний form) for completed actions.
Using the passive voice with an expressed agent instead of the active voice.
Стаття пишеться журналістом.Журналіст пише статтю.Expressing the agent in a -ся passive (with the bare Instrumental or with prepositions like 'від') is discouraged, as it sounds unnatural and bureaucratic. It is much better to use the active voice.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the reflexive passive, you must first be comfortable with the suffix -ся and how it attaches to verbs. You also need to understand basic third-person verb conjugations and how the nominative case functions for subjects, as the object of the action shifts into the subject position in this pattern.
Related Patterns
- -но/-тоImpersonal Passive in -но and -то
The primary alternative for passive meanings, used specifically for completed results rather than ongoing processes.
Level 4 - Instrumental of Means
The case used to express the instrument or means of an action. While sometimes incorrectly used as a calque to express the agent in passive sentences, its true function is to show what tool or method was used.
Level 3 - Imperfective Aspect for Process and Repetition
The reflexive passive is almost exclusively restricted to imperfective verbs to denote process.
Level 3 - -ся (зворотне значення)Self-Directed -ся
Another function of the -ся suffix where the subject performs the action on themselves, which can be confused with the passive.
Level 2 - бути + Passive ParticiplePassive with Бути
A more formal, analytical passive construction that focuses on a state resulting from an action.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice -ся (пасив) in Bubblegum
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