Kurdish Academy

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Dengê Nerînî (Passive Voice)

The Passive Voice in Kurdish is used when the focus is on the action or the object receiving the action, rather than who performs the action. Kurdish uses passive constructions less frequently than English.

Formation:

Past Passive: Past participle (xwendraye, kiriye, etc.)
Present Passive: tê + infinitive (tê xwendin, tê kirin, etc.)
Future Passive: dê + tê + infinitive (dê tê xwendin, dê tê kirin, etc.)

Examples:

Past: Pirtûk xwendraye (The book has been read)
Present: Pirtûk tê xwendin (The book is being read)
Future: Pirtûk dê tê xwendin (The book will be read)

Passive Forms for 7 Verbs

1. hatin (to come)
Form Passive Form English
Past Hatiye / Hatî Has come / Is come
Present Tê hatin Is being come
Future Dê tê hatin Will be come

Past:

Active: Ez hatim (I came)

Passive: Hatiye (Has come)

Present:

Active: Ez dihatim (I am coming)

Passive: Tê hatin (Is being come)

Future:

Active: Ez dê hêm (I will come)

Passive: Dê tê hatin (Will be come)

2. çûn (to go)
Form Passive Form English
Past Çûye / Çûyî Has gone / Is gone
Present Tê çûn Is being gone
Future Dê tê çûn Will be gone

Past:

Active: Ez çûm (I went)

Passive: Çûye (Has gone)

Present:

Active: Ez diçim (I am going)

Passive: Tê çûn (Is being gone)

Future:

Active: Ez dê çim (I will go)

Passive: Dê tê çûn (Will be gone)

3. xwarin (to eat)
Form Passive Form English
Past Xwariye / Xwarî Has been eaten
Present Tê xwarin Is being eaten
Future Dê tê xwarin Will be eaten

Past:

Active: Ez nan xwar (I ate bread)

Passive: Nan xwariye (Bread has been eaten)

Present:

Active: Ez nan dixwim (I eat bread)

Passive: Nan tê xwarin (Bread is being eaten)

Future:

Active: Ez dê nan bixwim (I will eat bread)

Passive: Nan dê tê xwarin (Bread will be eaten)

4. xwendin (to read / to study)
Form Passive Form English
Past Xwendraye / Xwendî Has been read
Present Tê xwendin Is being read
Future Dê tê xwendin Will be read

Past:

Active: Ez pirtûk xwend (I read a book)

Passive: Pirtûk xwendraye (The book has been read)

Present:

Active: Ez pirtûk dixwînim (I read a book)

Passive: Pirtûk tê xwendin (The book is being read)

Future:

Active: Ez dê pirtûk bixwînim (I will read a book)

Passive: Pirtûk dê tê xwendin (The book will be read)

5. kirin (to do / to make)
Form Passive Form English
Past Kiriye / Kirî Has been done
Present Tê kirin Is being done
Future Dê tê kirin Will be done

Past:

Active: Ez kar kir (I did work)

Passive: Kar kiriye (Work has been done)

Present:

Active: Ez kar dikim (I do work)

Passive: Kar tê kirin (Work is being done)

Future:

Active: Ez dê kar bikim (I will do work)

Passive: Kar dê tê kirin (Work will be done)

6. gotin / bêjan (to say / to tell)
Form Passive Form English
Past Gotiye / Gotî Has been said
Present Tê gotin Is being said
Future Dê tê gotin Will be said

Past:

Active: Ez rastî got (I told the truth)

Passive: Rastî gotiye (The truth has been told)

Present:

Active: Ez rastî dibêjim (I tell the truth)

Passive: Rastî tê gotin (The truth is being told)

Future:

Active: Ez dê rastî bêjim (I will tell the truth)

Passive: Rastî dê tê gotin (The truth will be told)

7. dîtin (to see)
Form Passive Form English
Past Dîtiye / Dîtî Has been seen
Present Tê dîtin Is being seen
Future Dê tê dîtin Will be seen

Past:

Active: Ez film dît (I saw a film)

Passive: Film dîtiye (The film has been seen)

Present:

Active: Ez film dibînim (I see/watch a film)

Passive: Film tê dîtin (The film is being seen)

Future:

Active: Ez dê film bibînim (I will see a film)

Passive: Film dê tê dîtin (The film will be seen)

⚠️ Note:

The passive voice is less commonly used in Kurdish than in English. Kurdish speakers often prefer active constructions. These forms should be verified with native speakers or authoritative sources for specific contexts.