Three ways to say “was built”
All three sentences below describe the same bridge. They differ in what they emphasise and where you would hear them. The passive form is red throughout this page; tap any sentence to hear it.
Forming the short participle
A participle is a verb form that works like an adjective. The short passive participle is made from perfective verbs (the aspect for completed actions; see verb aspect) and has three possible endings, chosen by the infinitive. It agrees with the subject in gender and number, like a short adjective.
| Infinitive | Ending | Masc. | Fem. | Neut. | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| написа́тьto write | -ан | ||||
| прочита́тьto read | -ан | ||||
| потеря́тьto lose | -ян | ||||
| постро́итьto build | -ен | ||||
| реши́тьto solve, decide | -ён | ||||
| пригласи́тьto invite | -ён | ||||
| закры́тьto close | -т | ||||
| нача́тьto begin | -т |
-ан / -ян for verbs in -ать and -ять. The stress usually moves back one syllable: написа́ть → напи́сан.
-ен / -ён for verbs in -ить and -ти. The last consonant often changes, as in the “I” form: пригласи́ть → приглашу́ → приглашён; купи́ть → ку́плен.
-т for short verbs in -ыть, -уть, -ереть and some in -ять: закры́ть → закры́т, нача́ть → на́чат. Learn these individually.
The participle describes a state that results from the action. To place it in time, add быть (to be): nothing in the present, бы́л/была́/бы́ло/бы́ли in the past, бу́дет/бу́дут in the future. Both words agree with the subject.
“By”: the doer in the instrumental
Russian has no separate word for “by” here. The person or organisation that did the action simply goes into the instrumental case, the case of means and agents.
-ся verbs: processes, habits and rules
Add -ся to an imperfective verb (the aspect for ongoing or repeated actions) and it can become passive: стро́ить (to build) → стро́иться (to be built). Use it for something in progress, something that happens regularly, or how things are done. It is neutral to formal, and very common in instructions and descriptions.
The spoken passive: a “they” verb with no “they”
In conversation, Russians rarely use the participle. Instead they use the verb in the “they” form with no subject at all, which leaves the doer unnamed. Grammarians call these indefinite-personal sentences. Putting the object first makes it feel just like an English passive. You already know one: Меня́ зову́т…, “My name is…”, literally “(they) call me…”.
Passive words on signs
Many everyday signs are short participles in the neuter form, ending in -о, because they describe a situation rather than a particular noun. Recognise the verb inside, and you can read signs you have never seen.
Which one to use
Native speakers choose by situation and by register (how formal the setting is). This table is the quick decision guide.
| Situation | Best choice | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday speech; the doer is anyone or no one in particular | “They” verb | |
| News, reports, a finished result | Short participle | |
| Rules, routines, processes; neutral to formal | -ся verb | |
| You want to name who did it | Participle + instrumental |
Long forms: participles as adjectives
Each short participle has a long partner, with -нн- (or -т-) and full adjective endings. The short form makes a statement (“the book is read”); the long form describes a noun (“a read book”) and changes for all six cases. More in participles.
Check yourself
Make the sentence passive using the hint in brackets. Say the answer out loud, then reveal it.