The passive form is used when the subject of a sentence is the receiver of an action, rather than the one performing the action. It's a way to shift the focus onto the person or thing affected by the action, rather than the person or thing doing the action.
The passive form is constructed by starting with a verb in the plain form, changing the ending u-sound into an a-sound, and then adding れる.
| The letter was sent. | 手紙 が 送られました。tegami ga okuraremashita. |
| The wallet was stolen. | 財布 が 盗まれました。saifu ga nusumaremashita. |
| The door was opened. | ドア が 開けられました。doa ga akeraremashita. |
| The email was seen. | メール が 見られました。meeru ga miraremashita. |
In a passive sentence, the receiver of the action becomes the subject, and the person or thing performing the action is marked by に.
| The student was praised by the teacher. | 学生 は 先生 に 褒められた。gakusei wa sensei ni homerareta. |
| That photo was seen by many people. | その 写真 は 多く の 人 に 見られました。sono shashin wa ooku no hito ni miraremashita. |
| She had her wallet stolen by a thief. | 彼女 は 泥棒 に 財布 を 盗まれた。kanojo wa dorobou ni saifu o nusumareta. |
| I was bitten on the hand by a dog. | 私 は 犬 に 手 を 噛まれました。watashi wa inu ni te o kamaremashita. |
As usual, する and 来る are exceptions. Their passive forms are される and 来られる respectively. 来られる is rarely used though, but here are some sentences using される.
| This work was done by the teacher. | この 仕事 は 先生 に されました。kono shigoto wa sensei ni saremashita. |
| The question was asked by the boss. | 質問 は 上司 に されました。shitsumon wa joushi ni saremashita. |
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