動詞の形N4
〜れる/られる(受身)
to be done... (passive)
Structure
V-受身形(五段:あ段+れる;一段:去る+られる;する→される;来る→来られる)
Explanation
Expresses the passive voice or adversity. Godan verbs: change the final u-vowel to a-vowel and add れる (e.g. 書く→書かれる); ichidan verbs: drop る and add られる (e.g. 食べる→食べられる); する→される; 来る→来られる. The agent is marked with に(は). Passives can also express adversity or displeasure, e.g. 雨に降られた.
Examples
この本は世界中で読まれています。
This book is read all over the world.
私は母に起こされました。
I was woken up by my mother.
Note
Japanese passives don't always mention the agent and can express adversity. They share the same form as the potential; distinguish by context. Intransitive verbs can also form adversative passives (e.g., 雨に降られた).