The dynamic passive voice
In Polish, the passive voice for completed actions uses the auxiliary verb zostać (to become/to be) combined with a passive participle.
While using być (to be) with a participle describes a resulting state, using zostać emphasizes the action or event itself taking place.
| The thief was detained and arrested. | Złodziej został zatrzymany i aresztowany. |
| The suspect was interrogated and accused. | Podejrzany został przesłuchany i oskarżony. |
Past tense agreement
Both the auxiliary verb zostać and the passive participle must agree with the subject in gender and number. For masculine singular subjects (like a thief or a suspect), use został followed by a participle ending in -y.
| This man was sentenced to prison. | Ten człowiek został skazany na więzienie. |
When the subject is masculine personal plural (such as men or witnesses), the auxiliary verb takes the form zostali. The participle also changes to its virile plural form, typically ending in -i.
| Yesterday these witnesses were detained and interrogated. | Wczoraj ci świadkowie zostali zatrzymani i przesłuchani. |
| These men were arrested because they stole a car. | Ci mężczyźni zostali aresztowani, dlatego że ukradli samochód. |
| Detective, why were these young men detained? | Panie detektywie, dlaczego ci młodzi mężczyźni zostali zatrzymani? |
Active and passive perspectives
In legal and police contexts, the passive voice is frequently used to focus on what happens to a suspect. However, when the actor performing the action—such as a court (sąd) or a judge (sędzia)—is the focus, standard active sentences are used.
| He was accused and sentenced to ten years in prison. | On został oskarżony i skazany na dziesięć lat więzienia. |
| The court sentenced these two men. | Sąd skazał tych dwóch mężczyzn. |
| The judge and the lawyer did not see this evidence. | Sędzia i adwokat nie widzieli tego dowodu. |
