Passive Voice Conjugations in Norwegian and Icelandic Languages

Language learning is an exhilarating journey, filled with new vocabulary, grammar rules, and unique cultural insights. If you’ve decided to embark on the adventure of learning Norwegian (Nynorsk) or Icelandic, congratulations! You’ve chosen two fascinating North Germanic languages, each with its own rich history and linguistic charm. One aspect of these languages that can be challenging for learners is mastering the passive voice, an essential element for achieving fluency and effectively communicating your thoughts.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the intricacies of passive voice conjugations in both Nynorsk and Icelandic, providing you with a solid foundation for understanding their passive construction systems. We’ll dive deep into how these languages form passive sentences using auxiliary verbs, compare and contrast their usage of passive constructions with Swedish and Danish, and offer practical examples to help you master these concepts with ease.

By the end of this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle passive voice conjugations in Norwegian and Icelandic, making your language learning journey more enjoyable and rewarding. So, let’s dive in and uncover the linguistic intricacies of these two captivating languages!

Passive Voice in Norwegian (Nynorsk) and Icelandic – Overview

Before we delve into the specifics of passive voice conjugations in Nynorsk and Icelandic, it’s important to understand what passive voice is and how it compares to other North Germanic languages.

Passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the subject of a sentence is acted upon by the verb, rather than performing the action itself. This is in contrast to the active voice, where the subject of a sentence performs the action.

In North Germanic languages like Swedish and Danish, the passive voice is commonly formed by adding the passive suffix “-s” to the verb. However, Nynorsk and Icelandic have their own unique rules and nuances when it comes to passive constructions, as we’ll explore in the following sections.

I. Passive Voice in Norwegian (Nynorsk)

In Nynorsk, passive voice conjugations are typically formed using auxiliary verbs. There are two main auxiliary verbs used for this purpose: “å verte” (to become) and “å bli” (to be/get). These auxiliary verbs are followed by the past participle of the main verb to create a passive construction.

For example, consider the sentence “Boka vert lesi” (The book is read).

Here, “vert” is the auxiliary verb (a form of “å verte”), and “lesi” is the past participle of the verb “å lese” (to read). Together, they form the passive voice construction.

It’s worth noting that the usage of passive voice in Nynorsk is more restricted than in Swedish and Danish. In these languages, the passive voice can be formed without an auxiliary verb by simply adding the passive suffix “-s” to the verb, as in “Boken läses” (Swedish) or “Bogen læses” (Danish).

When learning passive voice conjugations in Nynorsk, it’s essential to practice with various verbs and auxiliary verb forms to develop a solid understanding of how these constructions work in different contexts.

Examples of Active and Passive Voice in Norwegian

Here are 10 examples of active and passive voice sentences in Norwegian (Nynorsk) along with their English translations:

Active: Han les boka. (He reads the book.)

Passive: Boka vert lest. (The book is read.)

Active: Ho skriv eit brev. (She writes a letter.)

Passive: Brevet vert skrive. (The letter is written.)

Active: Dei byggjer eit hus. (They build a house.)

Passive: Huset vert bygd. (The house is built.)

Active: Bilen køyrer raskt. (The car drives fast.)

Passive: Bilen vert køyrd raskt. (The car is driven fast.)

Active: Eg lagar middag. (I cook dinner.)

Passive: Middagen vert laga. (The dinner is cooked.)

Active: Han opnar døra. (He opens the door.)

Passive: Døra vert opna. (The door is opened.)

Active: Ho syng ein song. (She sings a song.)

Passive: Songen vert sunge. (The song is sung.)

Active: Dei plantar eit tre. (They plant a tree.)

Passive: Treet vert planta. (The tree is planted.)

Active: Han sel bilen. (He sells the car.)

Passive: Bilen vert seld. (The car is sold.)

Active: Ho vaskar golvet. (She cleans the floor.)

Passive: Golvet vert vaska. (The floor is cleaned.)

II. Passive Voice in Icelandic

Icelandic passive voice conjugations are formed using the auxiliary verbs “að verða” (to become) or “að vera” (to be), along with the past participle of the main verb.

For example, the sentence “Bókin er lesin” (The book is read) features the auxiliary verb “er” (a form of “að vera”) and the past participle “lesin” (from the verb “að lesa” – to read).

In addition to the standard passive voice, Icelandic also has a middle voice, which is often used for passive-like constructions. The middle voice is formed by adding the suffix “-st” to the verb.

For instance, consider the sentence “Bókin lesst” (The book reads itself / The book is being read). Here, the middle voice construction implies a passive meaning, even though it is not a true passive construction.

When learning passive voice conjugations in Icelandic, it’s important to familiarize yourself with both the standard passive voice using auxiliary verbs and the middle voice. Practicing these constructions with a variety of verbs will help you develop a strong grasp of how they are used in different contexts.

Examples of Active and Passive Voice in Icelandic

Here are 10 examples of active and passive voice sentences in Icelandic along with their English translations:

Active: Hann borðar eplið. (He eats the apple.)

Passive: Eplið er borðað. (The apple is eaten.)

Active: Hún kallar hann. (She calls him.)

Passive: Hann er kallaður. (He is called.)

Active: Þau kaupa húsið. (They buy the house.)

Passive: Húsið er keypt. (The house is bought.)

Active: Ég skrifaði bréfið. (I wrote the letter.)

Passive: Bréfið var skrifað. (The letter was written.)

Active: Hann malar myndina. (He paints the picture.)

Passive: Myndin er malað. (The picture is painted.)

Active: Hún fylgir hundinum. (She follows the dog.)

Passive: Hundurinn er fylgt. (The dog is followed.)

Active: Þau tjalda í skóginum. (They camp in the forest.)

Passive: Í skóginum er tjaldáð. (In the forest, it is camped.)

Active: Ég keypti bókina. (I bought the book.)

Passive: Bókin var keypt. (The book was bought.)

Active: Hún klipper grasið. (She cuts the grass.)

Passive: Grasið er klippt. (The grass is cut.)

Active: Hann kveikir á sjónvarpinu. (He turns on the television.)

Passive: Sjónvarpið er kveikt. (The television is turned on.)

Comparing and Contrasting Passive Constructions in Norwegian and Icelandic

Norwegian (Nynorsk) and Icelandic are both North Germanic languages and share some similarities in their grammar, including their use of passive constructions. However, there are differences in the way passive forms are used in these languages compared to other North Germanic languages, such as Swedish and Danish.

In Nynorsk, the passive voice is typically formed by using the auxiliary verb “å verte” (to become) or “å bli” (to be/get) followed by the past participle of the main verb. This is more restricted compared to Swedish and Danish, where the passive voice can be formed without the use of an auxiliary verb by adding the passive suffix “-s” to the verb.

In Icelandic, the passive voice is mainly formed using the auxiliary verbs “að verða” (to become) or “að vera” (to be) with the past participle of the main verb. Icelandic also has a middle voice, which is often used for passive-like constructions and formed by adding the suffix “-st” to the verb.

For example:

• Nynorsk: Boka vert lesi (The book is read)
• Icelandic: Bókin er lesin (The book is read)
• Swedish: Boken läses (The book is read)
• Danish: Bogen læses (The book is read)

Although the passive voice is used in all these languages, the specific ways it is formed and the extent of its usage can differ. It is important to note that these differences are not always absolute, and there may be some variation and overlap between the languages.

Understanding the similarities and differences between these languages can help you develop a deeper appreciation for their unique linguistic characteristics. Moreover, recognizing the variations and overlaps between Nynorsk and Icelandic, as well as Swedish and Danish, can provide valuable insights into the broader context of North Germanic languages and their shared linguistic roots.

Conclusion

In this guide, we’ve explored the captivating world of passive voice conjugations in Norwegian (Nynorsk) and Icelandic, providing you with a thorough understanding of their passive construction systems. By mastering these conjugations, you’ll be better equipped to express yourself in these languages and appreciate their unique linguistic nuances.

As you continue your language learning journey, remember that practice is key. Engaging with native speakers, participating in language learning communities, and immersing yourself in authentic materials will help you refine your skills and develop greater fluency in both passive and active voice constructions. So, keep exploring, practicing, and enjoying the rich linguistic tapestry of Norwegian and Icelandic!