Synthesizing Influence: Passive/Causative Drills

🔊

🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use

Korean Helper Widgets as your tiny pronunciation lab. Type any Korean sentence from this lesson into the widget to hear how the rhythm changes when the focus moves from 담당자가 문서를 수정했어요 (the person in charge revised the document) to 문서가 수정됐어요 (the document was revised). 🎧

🌈 The Big Picture

• 담당자가 문서를 수정했어요. — The person in charge revised the document. 📝

• 문서가 수정됐어요. — The document was revised. 📄

• 팀장이 담당자에게 문서를 수정하게 했어요. — The team lead made the person in charge revise the document. 👔

🎨 The Core Perspective-Switching Family

1. Active: doer + object + action 🧑‍💻

• 직원이 문을 닫았어요. — The staff member closed the door. 🚪

• 팀이 문제를 풀었어요. — The team solved the problem. 🧩

• 작성자가 보고서를 수정했어요. — The writer revised the report. 📑

2. Passive: affected thing + passive verb 🧲

• 문이 닫혔어요. — The door got closed. 🚪

• 문제가 풀렸어요. — The problem was solved. 🧩

• 보고서가 수정됐어요. — The report was revised. 📑

• 닫다 → 닫히다 — to close → to be closed

• 열다 → 열리다 — to open → to be opened / to open

• 팔다 → 팔리다 — to sell → to be sold

• 풀다 → 풀리다 — to solve/untie → to be solved/untied

• 끊다 → 끊기다 — to cut off → to be cut off/disconnected

• 수정하다 → 수정되다 — to revise → to be revised

• 공개하다 → 공개되다 — to make public → to be made public

• 취소하다 → 취소되다 — to cancel → to be canceled

3. Causative: causer + causee + caused action 🛠️

• 팀장이 담당자에게 문서를 수정하게 했어요. — The team lead made the person in charge revise the document. 👔

• 선생님이 학생에게 문장을 읽혔어요. — The teacher made the student read the sentence. 📖

• 관리자가 직원을 회의실에 앉혔어요. — The manager seated the employee in the meeting room. 🪑

• 읽다 → 읽히다 — to read → to make someone read

• 앉다 → 앉히다 — to sit → to seat someone

• 알다 → 알리다 — to know → to inform

• 웃다 → 웃기다 — to laugh → to make someone laugh / to be funny

• 자다 → 재우다 — to sleep → to put someone to sleep

• 낮다 → 낮추다 — to be low → to lower

• -게 하다 — to make/let/have someone do something

4. Same-looking forms: context is the compass 🧭

• 이 책은 많이 읽혀요. — This book is read a lot. 📚 (passive)

• 선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽혀요. — The teacher makes the student read a book. 📖 (causative)

🛠️ How They Work in a Sentence

• 직원이 표를 모두 팔았어요. — The staff member sold all the tickets. 🎟️

• 표가 모두 팔렸어요. — All the tickets were sold. 🎟️
• 표 = ticket, 팔다 = to sell, 팔리다 = to be sold.

• 담당자가 문서를 수정했어요. — The person in charge revised the document. 📝

• 팀장이 담당자에게 문서를 수정하게 했어요. — The team lead made the person in charge revise the document. 👔
• 담당자 = person in charge, 문서 = document, 수정하다 = to revise.

• 팀장이 담당자에게 자료를 공개하게 했어요. — The team lead made the person in charge make the materials public. 📄

• 자료가 공개됐어요. — The materials were made public. 📄
• The first sentence names the causer. The second sentence reports only the result.

🧩 General Formation Rule

1. Who acts? If the doer matters, use active: 직원이 문을 닫았어요. — The staff member closed the door.

2. What is affected? If the affected thing matters, use passive/passive-style: 문이 닫혔어요. — The door was closed.

3. Who causes it? If someone makes/lets/has someone do it, use causative: 관리자가 직원에게 문을 닫게 했어요. — The manager had the employee close the door.

• Active: doer이/가 + object을/를 + active verb

• Passive: affected thing이/가 + passive verb

• Causative with suffix: causer이/가 + causee에게/을/를 + causative verb

• Causative with -게 하다: causer이/가 + causee에게/이/가 + verb게 하다

📚 Cross-check note

🪞 Synonym Alert

• 피동 — passive: the subject is affected by another force.

• 사동 — causative: the subject causes another person/thing to act or change.

• 능동 — active: the subject performs the action directly.

• -게 하다 — flexible causative: make/let/have someone do something.

• -되다 passive-style verbs — common in reports: 취소되다, 수정되다, 공개되다, 해결되다.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

• ❌ 문을 닫혔어요 → ✅ 문이 닫혔어요 (passive affected thing uses 이/가).

• ❌ 학생이 선생님에게 책을 읽혔어요 → ✅ 선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽혔어요 (the teacher is the causer).

• ❌ Treating every -히- form as passive → ✅ check roles: 읽히다 can be passive or causative.

• ❌ Using passive to hide responsibility when the doer matters → ✅ use active or causative if accountability is important.

• ❌ Translating every English “was done” mechanically → ✅ Korean may prefer active, passive, or -되다 depending on style and context.

📦

🎯 Practice Hub — Synthesizing Influence: Passive/Causative Drills

 

Welcome to the perspective-switching gym. 🧭 You’ll practice active responsibility, passive affectedness, causative control, and same-form role traps. The goal is to make your sentence camera obey you instead of wandering into a grammar forest with no snacks. 🌲

 

🔊 Audio reminder: Use

Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear a full prompt or answer aloud.

 

📝 Instructions: Fill in each blank or choose the natural sentence. Before opening the Answer toggle, label the role in your head: active doer, passive affected thing, causer, or causee.

 

Exercise 1 — Active vs Passive Spotlight 🧲

A. 직원이 문을 ＿＿＿＿.

The staff member closed the door. 🚪

Answer

닫았어요 — active action: 직원 is the doer.

B. 문이 갑자기 ＿＿＿＿.

The door suddenly got closed. 🚪

Answer

닫혔어요 — passive: 문 is affected.

C. 관리자가 가게를 아침에 ＿＿＿＿.

The manager opened the store in the morning. 🏪

Answer

열었어요 — active: the manager opened it.

D. 가게가 아침에 ＿＿＿＿.

The store opened in the morning. 🏪

Answer

열렸어요 — passive/intransitive: 가게 is the focus.

E. 직원이 표를 모두 ＿＿＿＿.

The staff member sold all the tickets. 🎟️

Answer

팔았어요 — active: 직원 sold them.

F. 표가 모두 ＿＿＿＿.

All the tickets were sold. 🎟️

Answer

팔렸어요 — passive: 표 is affected.

G. 팀이 문제를 빨리 ＿＿＿＿.

The team solved the problem quickly. 🧩

Answer

풀었어요 — active: the team solved it.

H. 문제가 빨리 ＿＿＿＿.

The problem was solved quickly. 🧩

Answer

풀렸어요 — passive/intransitive result.

I. 상대방이 전화를 먼저 ＿＿＿＿.

The other person hung up the call first. ☎️

Answer

끊었어요 — active: the other person cut off the call.

J. 전화가 중간에 ＿＿＿＿.

The call got disconnected midway. 📵

Answer

끊겼어요 — passive/intransitive: the call was disconnected.

🧲

Vocabulary Box

• 직원 → staff member

• 문 → door

• 닫다 → to close

• 닫히다 → to be closed

• 관리자 → manager

• 가게 → store

• 열다 → to open

• 열리다 → to be opened / to open

• 표 → ticket

• 팔다 → to sell

• 팔리다 → to be sold

• 팀 → team

• 문제 → problem

• 풀다 → to solve

• 풀리다 → to be solved

• 상대방 → the other person

• 전화 → phone call

• 끊다 → to hang up / cut off

• 끊기다 → to be disconnected

Tip 💡 Active names the doer; passive names the affected thing.

 

Exercise 2 — Causative Control Room 🛠️

A. 선생님이 학생에게 책을 ＿＿＿＿.

The teacher makes the student read a book. 📖

Answer

읽혀요 — causative: 선생님 causes 학생 to read.

B. 관리자가 직원을 회의실에 ＿＿＿＿.

The manager seats the employee in the meeting room. 🪑

Answer

앉혀요 — causative: 앉다 → 앉히다.

C. 회사가 사람들에게 소식을 ＿＿＿＿.

The company informs people of the news. 📢

Answer

알려요 — causative-style verb: 알다 → 알리다.

D. 친구가 저를 ＿＿＿＿.

My friend makes me laugh. 😂

Answer

웃겨요 — 웃기다 = to make laugh / be funny.

E. 부모님이 아이를 ＿＿＿＿.

The parents put the child to sleep. 😴

Answer

재워요 — 자다 → 재우다.

F. 제가 소리를 조금 ＿＿＿＿.

I lower the sound a little. 🔉

Answer

낮춰요 — 낮다 → 낮추다.

G. 팀장이 담당자에게 문서를 수정하게 ＿＿＿＿.

The team lead makes the person in charge revise the document. 👔

Answer

했어요 — causative with -게 하다.

H. 관리자가 직원에게 회의실을 정리하게 ＿＿＿＿.

The manager has the staff member organize the meeting room. 🧹

Answer

했어요 — flexible causative with -게 하다.

I. 선생님이 학생에게 문장을 다시 쓰게 ＿＿＿＿.

The teacher made the student write the sentence again. ✍️

Answer

했어요 — causer + causee + action + -게 하다.

J. 팀장이 팀에게 문제를 풀게 ＿＿＿＿.

The team lead made the team solve the problem. 🧩

Answer

했어요 — the team lead causes the team to act.

🛠️

Vocabulary Box

• 선생님 → teacher

• 학생 → student

• 책 → book

• 읽히다 → to make someone read / to be read

• 관리자 → manager

• 직원 → staff member

• 회의실 → meeting room

• 앉히다 → to seat someone

• 회사 → company

• 사람들 → people

• 소식 → news

• 알리다 → to inform

• 웃기다 → to make laugh / be funny

• 부모님 → parents

• 아이 → child

• 재우다 → to put to sleep

• 낮추다 → to lower

• 담당자 → person in charge

• 문서 → document

• 수정하다 → to revise

• 정리하다 → to organize

Tip 💡 Causative adds control: someone causes someone else to do something.

 

Exercise 3 — Same Form, Different Role 🧭

A. 이 책은 많이 읽혀요.

Is 읽혀요 passive or causative? 📚

Answer

Passive — the book is read a lot.

B. 선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽혀요.

Is 읽혀요 passive or causative? 📖

Answer

Causative — the teacher makes the student read.

C. 이 표현은 공식 문서에서 자주 쓰여요.

Is 쓰여요 active or passive? 🏛️

Answer

Passive — the expression is used in official documents.

D. 작성자가 이 표현을 썼어요.

Is 썼어요 active or passive? ✍️

Answer

Active — the writer used/wrote the expression.

E. 문서가 다시 수정됐어요.

What is the spotlight? 📝

Answer

The affected thing: 문서. The document was revised again.

F. 담당자가 문서를 다시 수정했어요.

What is the spotlight? 👤

Answer

The doer: 담당자. The person in charge revised the document.

G. 팀장이 담당자에게 문서를 다시 수정하게 했어요.

What is the spotlight? 👔

Answer

The causer: 팀장. The team lead made the person in charge revise the document.

H. 자료가 공개됐어요.

Does the sentence name the doer? 📄

Answer

No. It focuses on the result: the materials were made public.

I. 팀장이 담당자에게 자료를 공개하게 했어요.

Does the sentence name the causer? 📢

Answer

Yes. 팀장 is the causer; 담당자 is the causee.

J. 문제가 아직 풀리지 않았어요.

Is this active solving or passive non-resolution? 🧩

Answer

Passive non-resolution — the problem has not been solved yet.

🧭

Vocabulary Box

• 책 → book

• 읽히다 → to be read / to make someone read

• 선생님 → teacher

• 학생 → student

• 표현 → expression

• 공식 문서 → official document

• 쓰이다 → to be used/written

• 작성자 → writer

• 쓰다 → to write/use

• 문서 → document

• 수정되다 → to be revised

• 담당자 → person in charge

• 수정하다 → to revise

• 팀장 → team lead

• 자료 → materials

• 공개되다 → to be made public

• 공개하다 → to make public

• 문제 → problem

• 풀리다 → to be solved

Tip 💡 Same form does not always mean same grammar job. Read the whole sentence.

 

Exercise 4 — Report-Style Transformations 📰

A. Active: 담당자가 보고서를 수정했어요.

Passive report: 보고서가 ＿＿＿＿. 📑

Answer

수정됐어요 — The report was revised.

B. Active: 관리자가 회의를 취소했어요.

Passive report: 회의가 ＿＿＿＿. 📅

Answer

취소됐어요 — The meeting was canceled.

C. Active: 회사가 자료를 공개했어요.

Passive report: 자료가 ＿＿＿＿. 📄

Answer

공개됐어요 — The materials were made public.

D. Active: 팀이 문제를 해결했어요.

Passive report: 문제가 ＿＿＿＿. 🧩

Answer

해결됐어요 — The problem was resolved.

E. Active: 작성자가 문서를 삭제했어요.

Passive report: 문서가 ＿＿＿＿. 🗑️

Answer

삭제됐어요 — The document was deleted.

F. Causative: 팀장이 담당자에게 보고서를 수정하게 했어요.

Result report: 보고서가 ＿＿＿＿. 👔

Answer

수정됐어요 — result-focused report hides the causer.

G. Causative: 관리자가 직원에게 문을 닫게 했어요.

Result report: 문이 ＿＿＿＿. 🚪

Answer

닫혔어요 — the door got closed.

H. Causative: 팀장이 팀에게 문제를 해결하게 했어요.

Result report: 문제가 ＿＿＿＿. 🧩

Answer

해결됐어요 — report focuses on the solved result.

I. Report: 회의가 취소됐다고 해요.

Confirmation: 회의가 취소됐다＿＿＿＿? 📅

Answer

면서요 — I heard the meeting was canceled, right?

J. Report: 자료가 공개됐다고 해요.

Reaction: 자료가 공개됐다＿＿＿＿? 😳

Answer

니요 — You mean the materials were made public?

📰

Vocabulary Box

• 담당자 → person in charge

• 보고서 → report

• 수정하다 → to revise

• 수정되다 → to be revised

• 관리자 → manager

• 회의 → meeting

• 취소하다 → to cancel

• 취소되다 → to be canceled

• 회사 → company

• 자료 → materials

• 공개하다 → to make public

• 공개되다 → to be made public

• 해결하다 → to resolve

• 해결되다 → to be resolved

• 작성자 → writer

• 삭제하다 → to delete

• 삭제되다 → to be deleted

• 문 → door

• 닫히다 → to be closed

Tip 💡 Report style often chooses -되다 to sound objective and result-focused.

 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. Fix: ❌ 문을 닫혔어요.

The door got closed. 🚪

Answer

문이 닫혔어요. — passive affected thing uses 이/가.

B. Fix: ❌ 학생이 선생님에게 책을 읽혔어요.

The teacher made the student read a book. 📖

Answer

선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽혔어요. — the teacher is the causer.

C. Fix: ❌ 표를 모두 팔렸어요.

All the tickets were sold. 🎟️

Answer

표가 모두 팔렸어요. — the ticket is affected, so use 표가.

D. Choose: 문서가 수정됐어요 / 문서를 수정됐어요

The document was revised. 📝

Answer

문서가 수정됐어요 — passive-style report with affected subject.

E. Choose: 팀장이 담당자에게 수정하게 했어요 / 담당자가 팀장에게 수정하게 했어요

The team lead made the person in charge revise it. 👔

Answer

팀장이 담당자에게 수정하게 했어요 — causer first, causee marked with 에게.

F. 이 글은 쉽게 ＿＿＿＿.

This writing reads easily / is easily read. 📝

Answer

읽혀요 — passive reading, not causative.

G. 선생님이 학생에게 글을 ＿＿＿＿.

The teacher makes the student read the writing. 👩‍🏫

Answer

읽혀요 — same visible form, causative role.

H. Fix: ❌ 자료가 공개했다니요?

You mean the materials were made public? 📄

Answer

자료가 공개됐다니요? — materials do not actively publish; use 공개되다.

I. Fix: ❌ 문제가 풀었어요.

The problem was solved. 🧩

Answer

문제가 풀렸어요. — passive/intransitive result.

J. Choose the clearest accountability sentence:

① 보고서가 수정됐어요.

② 담당자가 보고서를 수정했어요. 🕵️

Answer

② 담당자가 보고서를 수정했어요. — active names who revised it; better when accountability matters.

🛡️

Final Reference

• 닫다 → to close

• 닫히다 → to be closed

• 팔리다 → to be sold

• 읽히다 → to be read / to make someone read

• 수정되다 → to be revised

• 공개되다 → to be made public

• 풀리다 → to be solved

• -게 하다 → to make/let/have someone do

• 에게 → to someone / causee marker

• 이/가 → subject marker, often for the affected thing in passive sentences

Tip 💡 If the sentence sounds wrong, check the role marker first. Korean grammar often leaves tiny fingerprints.

 

🎉 You finished the passive/causative synthesis workout. You can now rotate a sentence between doer, affected thing, causer, and result without dropping the grammar camera. That is advanced-level sentence control. 🎥✨

🔊

🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use

Korean Helper Widgets as your tiny pronunciation lab. Type full pairs like 문을 닫았어요 / 문이 닫혔어요 and 아이가 밥을 먹었어요 / 엄마가 아이에게 밥을 먹였어요 to hear how the grammar shift sounds in real rhythm.

🌈 The Big Picture

• Passive: the subject is affected. 문이 닫혔어요 — The door was closed. 🚪

• Causative: a causer makes/lets/has someone do or experience something. 선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽혔어요 — The teacher made the student read the book. 📖

• Ambiguous-looking form: context decides. 읽히다 can mean “to be read” or “to make someone read.”

🎨 The Core Passive/Causative Family

1. Passive: affected thing + passive/passive-style verb 🧲

• 문이 닫혔어요. — The door was closed. 문 = door; 닫히다 = to be closed. 🚪

• 표가 팔렸어요. — The ticket was sold. 표 = ticket; 팔리다 = to be sold. 🎟️

• 문제가 풀렸어요. — The problem was solved. 문제 = problem; 풀리다 = to be solved/untied. 🧩

2. Causative: causer + causee + caused action/result 🛠️

• 엄마가 아이에게 밥을 먹였어요. — Mom fed the child rice/food. 먹이다 = to feed. 🍚

• 선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽혔어요. — The teacher made the student read a book. 읽히다 = to make someone read. 📖

• 아빠가 아이를 재웠어요. — Dad put the child to sleep. 재우다 = to put to sleep. 😴

3. Same-looking forms need context 🔍

• 읽히다 — to be read / to make someone read
• 이 책은 많이 읽혀요. — This book is read a lot. 📚
• 선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽혀요. — The teacher makes the student read a book. 👩‍🏫

• 울리다 — to make someone cry / to ring
• 그 말이 저를 울렸어요. — Those words made me cry. 😢
• 전화가 울려요. — The phone rings. ☎️

• 보이다 — to be seen / to seem
• 멀리 산이 보여요. — A mountain is visible far away. ⛰️
• 피곤해 보여요. — Someone looks tired. 😮‍💨

🛠️ How They Work in a Sentence

• 직원이 문을 닫았어요. — The staff member closed the door.

• 문이 닫혔어요. — The door was closed.

• 아이가 밥을 먹었어요. — The child ate rice/food.

• 엄마가 아이에게 밥을 먹였어요. — Mom fed the child rice/food.

• 이 책은 많이 읽혀요. — This book is read a lot.

• 선생님이 학생에게 이 책을 읽혀요. — The teacher makes the student read this book.

🧩 General Formation Rule

1. Find the original roles. Who acts? What is affected? Is there a receiver/causee?

2. Choose the target lens.
• Passive lens: affected thing becomes subject.
• Causative lens: add or identify the causer.

3. Choose a natural Korean verb. Do not invent forms just because English has “be” or “make.”

4. Check particles.
• Passive affected subject: usually 이/가 or 은/는.
• Causative causee: often 에게/한테 or 을/를, depending on the verb.

5. Audit the nuance. 문이 닫혔어요 is not the same sentence as 직원이 문을 닫게 했어요. One reports the affected door; the other reports caused action.

📚 Cross-check note

🪞 Synonym Alert

• -이/히/리/기- passive — built-in passive verbs: 닫히다, 팔리다, 끊기다.

• -되다 passive-style verbs — common in formal/report contexts: 취소되다, 공개되다, 수정되다.

• -이/히/리/기/우/구/추- causative — built-in causatives: 먹이다, 앉히다, 재우다, 낮추다.

• -게 하다 — flexible causative: “make/let/have someone do.” Use it when a built-in causative is unknown or unnatural.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

• ❌ 문을 닫혔어요 → ✅ 문이 닫혔어요 (Passive affected thing takes 이/가.)

• ❌ 아기가 밥을 먹였어요 when you mean “Mom fed the baby” → ✅ 엄마가 아기에게 밥을 먹였어요 (Name the causer.)

• ❌ Assuming 읽히다 always means passive → ✅ Check context: “is read” or “make someone read.”

• ❌ Forcing every English passive into Korean passive → ✅ Use active, passive, -되다, or -아/어지다 based on what sounds natural.

• ❌ Treating suffix choice as perfectly predictable → ✅ Learn high-frequency pairs and check a dictionary when creating a new one.

📦

🎯 Practice Hub — Synthesizing Influence: Passive/Causative Drills

 

Welcome to the passive/causative switchboard. 🧭 You’ll practice converting sentences, spotting role mistakes, and deciding whether Korean wants an affected-subject frame or a caused-action frame. Keep your grammar detective hat nearby; 읽히다 is absolutely going to try to sneak through two doors at once. 🕵️

 

🔊 Audio reminder: Use

Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear a full prompt aloud.

 

📝 Instructions: Fill in each blank or choose the better Korean sentence. Say the completed sentence aloud, then open the Answer toggle and check whether your roles match the meaning.

 

Exercise 1 — Passive Lens: What Happened to It? 🧲

A. 문이 ＿＿＿＿.

The door was closed. 🚪

Answer

닫혔어요 — 문 is affected.

B. 가게가 아침에 ＿＿＿＿.

The store opened in the morning. 🏪

Answer

열렸어요 — 열리다 = to open / be opened.

C. 표가 모두 ＿＿＿＿.

All tickets were sold. 🎟️

Answer

팔렸어요 — 팔다 → 팔리다.

D. 전화가 갑자기 ＿＿＿＿.

The call suddenly got disconnected. 📵

Answer

끊겼어요 — 끊기다 = to be disconnected.

E. 문제가 쉽게 ＿＿＿＿.

The problem was solved easily. 🧩

Answer

풀렸어요 — 풀리다 = to be solved/untied.

F. 자료가 책상 위에 ＿＿＿＿.

The materials were placed on the desk. 📄

Answer

놓였어요 — 놓이다 = to be placed.

G. 멀리 산이 ＿＿＿＿.

A mountain is visible far away. ⛰️

Answer

보여요 — 보이다 = to be seen / visible.

H. 보고서가 다시 ＿＿＿＿.

The report was revised again. 📑

Answer

수정됐어요 — passive-style -되다 verb.

I. 회의가 다음 주로 ＿＿＿＿.

The meeting was postponed to next week. 📅

Answer

연기됐어요 — 연기되다 = to be postponed.

J. 창문이 열려 ＿＿＿＿.

The window is open. 🪟

Answer

있어요 — result state: 열려 있어요.

🧲

Vocabulary Box

• 문 → door

• 닫히다 → to be closed

• 가게 → store

• 열리다 → to open / be opened

• 표 → ticket

• 팔리다 → to be sold

• 전화 → phone call

• 끊기다 → to be disconnected

• 문제 → problem

• 풀리다 → to be solved/untied

• 자료 → material/data

• 놓이다 → to be placed

• 산 → mountain

• 보이다 → to be visible / seem

• 보고서 → report

• 수정되다 → to be revised

• 회의 → meeting

• 연기되다 → to be postponed

Tip 💡 Passive lens: affected thing first.

 

Exercise 2 — Causative Lens: Who Caused It? 🛠️

A. 엄마가 아이에게 밥을 ＿＿＿＿.

Mom fed the child rice/food. 🍚

Answer

먹였어요 — 먹이다 = to feed.

B. 아빠가 아이를 ＿＿＿＿.

Dad put the child to sleep. 😴

Answer

재웠어요 — 자다 → 재우다.

C. 선생님이 학생을 의자에 ＿＿＿＿.

The teacher seated the student on the chair. 🪑

Answer

앉혔어요 — 앉히다 = to seat someone.

D. 친구가 저를 ＿＿＿＿.

My friend made me laugh. 😂

Answer

웃겼어요 — 웃기다 = to make laugh / be funny.

E. 부모님이 아이에게 옷을 ＿＿＿＿.

The parents dressed the child in clothes. 👕

Answer

입혔어요 — 입히다 = to dress someone.

F. 기사님이 손님을 역까지 ＿＿＿＿.

The driver gave the passenger a ride to the station. 🚕

Answer

태웠어요 — 태우다 = to give a ride / put someone in a vehicle.

G. 제가 차를 여기에 ＿＿＿＿.

I parked the car here. 🚗

Answer

세웠어요 — 세우다 = to stand something up / park.

H. 소리를 조금 ＿＿＿＿.

I lowered the sound a little. 🔉

Answer

낮췄어요 — 낮추다 = to lower.

I. 회사에서 사람들에게 사실을 ＿＿＿＿.

The company informed people of the fact. 📢

Answer

알렸어요 — 알리다 = to inform.

J. 팀장이 직원에게 자료 조사를 ＿＿＿＿.

The team lead assigned the staff member materials research. 📊

Answer

시켰어요 — 시키다 = to make/order/assign.

🛠️

Vocabulary Box

• 엄마 → mom

• 아이 → child

• 밥 → rice/food

• 먹이다 → to feed

• 재우다 → to put to sleep

• 앉히다 → to seat someone

• 웃기다 → to make laugh / be funny

• 입히다 → to dress someone

• 태우다 → to give a ride / put in a vehicle

• 세우다 → to park / stand something up

• 낮추다 → to lower

• 알리다 → to inform

• 시키다 → to make/order/assign

Tip 💡 Causative lens: find the causer and the causee.

 

Exercise 3 — Same Shape, Different Job 🔍

A. 이 책은 많이 읽혀요.

Passive or causative? 📚

Answer

Passive — The book is read a lot.

B. 선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽혀요.

Passive or causative? 📖

Answer

Causative — The teacher makes the student read a book.

C. 전화가 울려요.

What does it mean? ☎️

Answer

The phone rings. Here 울리다 is an intransitive/ringing meaning, not “make someone cry.”

D. 그 말이 저를 울렸어요.

What does it mean? 😢

Answer

Those words made me cry. This is causative-like: something caused emotion.

E. 멀리 바다가 보여요.

What does it mean? 🌊

Answer

The sea is visible far away. 보이다 = to be seen / visible.

F. 피곤해 보여요.

What does it mean? 😮‍💨

Answer

Someone looks tired. 보이다 can also mean “seem/look.”

G. 문제가 풀렸어요.

What is the lens? 🧩

Answer

Passive/result lens — The problem was solved.

H. 제가 문제를 풀었어요.

What is the lens? ✏️

Answer

Active lens — I solved the problem.

I. 문이 닫혀 있어요.

Event or state? 🚪

Answer

State — The door is closed; -아/어 있다 shows the resulting state.

J. 문이 닫혔어요.

Event or state? 🚪

Answer

Event/result — The door got closed / was closed.

🔍

Vocabulary Box

• 읽히다 → to be read / make someone read

• 울리다 → to ring / make cry

• 보이다 → to be visible / seem

• 바다 → sea

• 피곤하다 → to be tired

• 문제 → problem

• 풀다 → to solve

• 풀리다 → to be solved

• 닫히다 → to be closed

• 닫혀 있다 → to be in a closed state

Tip 💡 Same form, different job: read the whole sentence before naming the grammar.

 

Exercise 4 — Convert the Sentence Lens 🔄

A. Active: 직원이 문을 닫았어요.

Passive: 문이 ＿＿＿＿. 🚪

Answer

닫혔어요 — The door was closed.

B. Active: 사람들이 표를 다 팔았어요.

Passive: 표가 다 ＿＿＿＿. 🎟️

Answer

팔렸어요 — The tickets were all sold.

C. Active: 제가 문제를 풀었어요.

Passive/result: 문제가 ＿＿＿＿. 🧩

Answer

풀렸어요 — The problem was solved.

D. Active: 누가 전화를 끊었어요.

Passive/result: 전화가 ＿＿＿＿. 📵

Answer

끊겼어요 — The call got disconnected.

E. Base: 아이가 자요.

Causative: 아빠가 아이를 ＿＿＿＿. 😴

Answer

재워요 — Dad puts the child to sleep.

F. Base: 아이가 밥을 먹어요.

Causative: 엄마가 아이에게 밥을 ＿＿＿＿. 🍚

Answer

먹여요 — Mom feeds the child.

G. Base: 학생이 책을 읽어요.

Causative: 선생님이 학생에게 책을 ＿＿＿＿. 📖

Answer

읽혀요 — The teacher makes the student read.

H. Base: 차가 서요.

Causative: 제가 차를 여기에 ＿＿＿＿. 🚗

Answer

세워요 — I park the car here.

I. Base: 소리가 낮아요.

Causative/change: 제가 소리를 ＿＿＿＿. 🔉

Answer

낮춰요 — I lower the sound.

J. Base: 사람들이 사실을 알아요.

Causative: 회사가 사람들에게 사실을 ＿＿＿＿. 📢

Answer

알려요 — The company informs people of the fact.

🔄

Vocabulary Box

• 직원 → staff member

• 사람들 → people

• 누가 → someone / who

• 아빠 → dad

• 엄마 → mom

• 학생 → student

• 차 → car

• 여기 → here

• 소리 → sound

• 회사 → company

• 사실 → fact

Tip 💡 Conversion is not word swapping. It is role reassignment.

 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. Fix: ❌ 문을 닫혔어요.

The door was closed. 🚪

Answer

✅ 문이 닫혔어요. — passive affected subject uses 이/가.

B. Fix: ❌ 표를 팔렸어요.

The ticket was sold. 🎟️

Answer

✅ 표가 팔렸어요. — 표 is affected.

C. Fix: ❌ 아기가 밥을 먹였어요.

Mom fed the baby. 🍚

Answer

✅ 엄마가 아기에게 밥을 먹였어요. — add the causer 엄마.

D. Choose: “The book is read a lot.”

① 이 책은 많이 읽혀요. / ② 선생님이 책을 읽혀요. 📚

Answer

① — passive reading. Sentence ② needs a causee, such as 학생에게.

E. Choose: “The teacher makes the student read.”

① 이 책은 많이 읽혀요. / ② 선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽혀요. 📖

Answer

② — causative reading with causer and causee.

F. Fix: ❌ 문이 닫혔어 있어요.

The door is closed. 🚪

Answer

✅ 문이 닫혀 있어요. — result state uses connective 닫혀.

G. Choose the natural causative: “Please lower the sound.”

① 소리를 낮춰 주세요. / ② 소리가 낮아져 주세요. 🔉

Answer

① — 낮추다 means to lower something.

H. Choose the passive-style report: “The meeting was canceled.”

① 회의가 취소됐어요. / ② 회의를 취소됐어요. 📅

Answer

① — 회의 is the affected event.

I. Fix: ❌ 선생님이 학생이 책을 읽혔어요.

The teacher made the student read a book. 📖

Answer

✅ 선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽혔어요. — causee uses 에게 here.

J. What is the safest first question before choosing passive or causative?

Answer

Ask: Who is affected, and who causes the action? Roles first; suffix second. 🧭

🛡️

Vocabulary Box

• 이/가 → subject marker

• 을/를 → object marker

• 에게 → to someone / causee marker

• 닫혀 있다 → to be closed

• 낮추다 → to lower

• 낮아지다 → to become lower

• 취소되다 → to be canceled

• 읽히다 → to be read / make someone read

Tip 💡 Final audit: if the sentence has a causer, causative may be needed. If the affected thing is the star, passive may be needed.

 

Reference hub 🧭

• 문이 닫혔어요. → The door was closed.

• 문이 닫혀 있어요. → The door is closed.

• 엄마가 아이에게 밥을 먹였어요. → Mom fed the child.

• 이 책은 많이 읽혀요. → This book is read a lot.

• 선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽혀요. → The teacher makes the student read a book.

• 소리를 낮춰 주세요. → Please lower the sound.

 

🎉 You finished the passive/causative synthesis gym. If you can keep affected subjects, causers, and causees from stealing each other’s particles, your advanced sentence conversions are officially sharper. Grammar detective badge polished. 🕵️✨