受動態（受け身）The passive voice

基本の説明Overview

「〜する」という形を能動態、「〜される」という形を受動態（受け身）といいます。「だれがしたか」よりも、「何が（だれが）されたか」を中心に伝えたいときに、動作を受ける側を主語にして使います。The “does something” form is the active voice, and the “has something done to it” form is the passive voice. Use the passive when you want to focus on what was done (or to whom) rather than who did it, by making the receiver of the action the subject.

受動態は〈be動詞 + 過去分詞〉で作ります。動作をした人（行為者）を示したいときは、あとに by 〜（〜によって）を加えます。能動態から受動態への書きかえは、次の3つの手順で行います。The passive is formed with a be-verb + a past participle. If you want to name the doer, add by ~ at the end. To change an active sentence into a passive one, follow these three steps.

by 〜 は、行為者が「人々一般」「だれかわからない」「言う必要がない」ときによく省略されます。たとえば English is spoken in many countries. では、だれが話しているかは言わなくてもわかるので by 〜 をつけません。by ~ is often left out when the doer is people in general, unknown, or obvious. In English is spoken in many countries., there is no need to say who speaks it, so by ~ is dropped.

なお、目的語をとらない動詞（happen, arrive, die など）は、主語にできる目的語がないので受動態にできません。また、by 以外の前置詞を使う決まった言い方もあります（be made of 〜、be covered with 〜、be known to 〜 など）。Note that verbs that take no object (happen, arrive, die, etc.) cannot be made passive, because there is no object to turn into the subject. Also, some fixed expressions use prepositions other than by (be made of ~, be covered with ~, be known to ~, etc.).

例文で確認Example sentences

① 現在の受動態（〜される・〜されている）1. Present passive

② 過去の受動態（〜された）2. Past passive

③ 疑問文・否定文3. Questions and negatives

④ 助動詞・未来・現在完了の受動態4. Passive with will, can, must and the present perfect

⑤ by 以外の前置詞を使う表現5. Expressions with prepositions other than by

確認クイズQuick check

空所に入る語を答えましょう。( ) の動詞は適切な形に直します。1問だけ、受動態にならない文があります。Fill in each blank, changing the verb in ( ) into the correct form. One sentence cannot be made passive.

1. English ___ (speak) in Canada.
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   is spoken — 現在の受動態は am / is / are + 過去分詞。speak - spoke - spoken。Present passive: am / is / are + past participle. speak - spoke - spoken.
2. This temple ___ (build) three hundred years ago.
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   was built — ago があるので過去。was + 過去分詞。build - built - built。ago shows the past: was + past participle. build - built - built.
3. These pictures ___ (take) by my father last year.
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   were taken — 主語 These pictures は複数で過去なので were。take - took - taken。These pictures is plural and past, so were. take - took - taken.
4. Everyone loves this song. → This song ___ by everyone.
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   is loved — 目的語（this song）を主語にして is loved + by 〜 に。Make the object (this song) the subject: is loved + by ~.
5. The meeting will ___ next week. (hold)
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   be held — will のあとは be + 過去分詞。hold - held - held。After will: be + past participle. hold - held - held.
6. A big earthquake ___ (happen) last year.
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   happened — happen は目的語をとらない動詞なので受動態にできない。過去形 happened が正解。happen takes no object, so it can't be passive. The correct form is the past tense happened.

おさえておきたいポイントKey points

• 受動態の形は〈be動詞 + 過去分詞〉。時制は be動詞で表すThe passive is a be-verb + a past participle; the tense is shown by the be-verb
• 能動態の目的語が受動態の主語になる。元の主語は by 〜 で表すThe object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive; the old subject appears as by ~
• 行為者が一般の人・不明・自明のときは by 〜 を省略するDrop by ~ when the doer is people in general, unknown or obvious
• 疑問文は be動詞を主語の前に出し、否定文は be動詞のあとに not を置くFor a question, put the be-verb before the subject; for a negative, put not after the be-verb
• will / can / must のあとは be + 過去分詞、現在完了は have[has] been + 過去分詞After will / can / must use be + past participle; the present perfect is have[has] been + past participle
• 目的語をとらない動詞（happen, arrive, die など）は受動態にできない。be made of / be covered with / be known to など by 以外を使う表現もあるVerbs without an object (happen, arrive, die…) can't be passive. Some expressions use other prepositions: be made of / be covered with / be known to