StudyNorwegian•Ko-fiGrammar / Your Norwegian journey
B2Verbs and tenses

Passive voice

Focus on the event rather than its agent with the passive.

Bokmål · nb-NO
GRAMMATIKK · BOKMÅL

Passive voice

Passive forms may end in -s, such as fordeles, or use bli plus a past participle, such as blir sendt. Blir synlig describes a change of state, not a passive.

The rule, step by step

  1. In the passive, the affected item becomes the focus: De sender brevet becomes Brevet blir sendt.
  2. The bli-passive uses blir or ble with a past participle. The agent may follow av.
  3. The -s passive is common in instructions and with some modals: Må fylles ut. Not every verb ending in s is passive.

Sentence pattern

blir + sendt · skal + sendes

Compare forms and usage
BokmålMeaning or use
blir sendtis sent
ble sendtwas sent
skal sendeswill be sent
sendes av kontoretis sent by the office

Everyday examples

Example 1

Brevet blir sendt i dag.

The letter is being sent today.

Example 2

Søknaden skal sendes innen fredag.

The application must be sent by Friday.

Example 3

Søknaden blir behandlet av kommunen.

The application is processed by the municipality.

A common error or a difference in meaning

Form to review

Brevet blir sende i dag.

Correct form for the intended meaning

Brevet blir sendt i dag.

This bli-passive needs the participle sendt after blir, not the infinitive sende.

Put the rule into practice

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VELG

Choose the form that fits the rule and meaning explained in this lesson.

FYLL INN

Complete the gap using the appropriate form of the given word.

Given word: sende

Brevet blir _____ i morgen.

SETT I REKKEFØLGE

Rebuild the example, starting with “Brevet”: The letter is being sent today.

…

Continue with the same subject

Present tense A1Past tense A2Plans with skal A2Irregular past tense A2

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