수동태 (기초)
실용적인 예문으로 어휘를 늘리세요
The passive moves the focus from who does the action to what happens. Form the present simple passive with is/are + past participle: 'Cheese is made from milk.'
We use it when the action matters more than the doer, or the doer is obvious or unknown. Compare active 'They make cheese from milk' with passive 'Cheese is made from milk'.
예문
Cheese is made from milk.
is + past participle 'made'.
English is spoken in many countries.
Focus on the language, not the speakers.
These cars are produced in Germany.
are + past participle for plural subjects.
is made
/ɪz meɪd/
Cheese is made from milk.
are sold
/ɑːr soʊld/
Tickets are sold at the entrance.
is spoken
/ɪz ˈspoʊkən/
English is spoken in many countries.
are produced
/ɑːr prəˈdjuːst/
These cars are produced in Germany.
Choose the present passive: Cheese ___ from milk.
Passive of 'speak': English ___ spoken in many countries. (is/are)
Form the past simple passive with was/were + past participle: 'The book was written by Orwell.'
Use 'was' for singular subjects and 'were' for plural. This is very common when talking about history, processes and discoveries.
예문
The book was written by Orwell.
was + past participle 'written'.
This house was built in 1890.
Past passive for historical facts.
We were invited to the wedding.
were + past participle for plural subject.
was written
/wəz ˈrɪtən/
The book was written by Orwell.
was built
/wəz bɪlt/
This house was built in 1890.
were invited
/wər ɪnˈvaɪtɪd/
We were invited to the wedding.
was discovered
/wəz dɪsˈkʌvərd/
Penicillin was discovered by accident.
Choose the past passive: This house ___ in 1890.
Passive of 'invite' for 'we': We ___ invited to the wedding. (was/were)
When you do want to mention who or what did the action, add 'by + agent' at the end: 'Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.'
Only include the agent if it adds useful information. We often leave it out when the doer is unknown or unimportant.
예문
Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.
'by' + the important agent.
These bags are made by hand.
'by hand' explains how, not who.
He was stopped by the police.
Agent worth mentioning → by the police.
by Shakespeare
/baɪ ˈʃeɪkspɪər/
Hamlet was written by Shakespeare.
by hand
/baɪ hænd/
These bags are made by hand.
by the police
/baɪ ðə pəˈliːs/
He was stopped by the police.
Choose the word that introduces the agent: Hamlet was written ___ Shakespeare.
Add the agent: He was stopped ___ the police.
Choose the passive when the doer is unknown ('My phone was stolen'), obvious ('He was arrested' — by the police, clearly), or simply less important than the action ('The road is being repaired').
If the doer is interesting or important, the active voice is usually clearer. The passive is a tool for shifting focus, not a 'better' way to write.
예문
My phone was stolen yesterday.
Unknown doer → passive.
He was arrested last night.
Obvious doer (the police) → passive.
The road is being repaired this week.
Focus on the process, not the workers.
was stolen
/wəz ˈstoʊlən/
My phone was stolen yesterday.
was arrested
/wəz əˈrestɪd/
He was arrested last night.
is being repaired
/ɪz ˈbiːɪŋ rɪˈpeərd/
The road is being repaired this week.
When is the passive the natural choice?
Passive of 'steal': My phone ___ stolen yesterday. (was/were)
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