The Malagasy Passive voice
Example: Manoratra taratasy aho.
1) Object focus=
Soratako ny taratasy= Soratra (-ana) + ko
= Ny taratasy NO soratako.
=Ny taratasy DIA soratako.
A letter is written by me.
2) Subject focus=
Izaho NO manoratra ny taratasy
= Izaho DIA manoratra ny taratasy
It is I who am writing a letter.
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Exercise=
A- Put the sentences in another word order
1- Androany ny fanadinana. (The exam is for today)
2- Maraina ny andro. (it is the morning=it is daylight)
3- Voasazy ilay maditra (the faulty person was punished)
4- Hendry ianareo. (you behave well)
5- Tara izy. (he is late)
Answers=
1-Ny fanadinana dia androany.
2-Ny andro dia maraina.
3-Ilay maditra dia/no voasazy.
4-Ianareo dia/no hendry.
5-Izy dia/no tara.
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B- Choose the right sentence =the subject focus among the choices
1-Mihinana mofo ny zaza. The children are eating a loaf of bread.
1-a-Ny zaza no mihinana ny mofo.
1-b-Mofo no hanin’ny zaza.
1-c-Ny mihinana ny mofo dia ny zaza.
Choose the right sentence =the subject focus among the choices
2-Tonga ao antrano ny vahiny. The guests arrive at home.
2-a-ny vahiny no tonga ao antrano.
2-b-Ny tonga ao antrano dia ny vahiny.
2-c-Ao antrano no ahatongavan’ny vahiny.
Choose the right sentence =the object focus among the choices
3-Nandray taksibé ny mpianatra. The pupils took the share taxi.
3-a-Ny mpianatra no nandray ny taksibé.
3-b-Taksibé no noraisin’ny mpianatra.
3-c-Ny nandray ny taksibé dia ny mpianatra.
Answers:1a-2c-3b
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C- Look at the example: Put the sentences in another word order. Do not put the first NY of the original sentence.
Ny maraina dia ny andro= Maraina ny andro=Ny andro dia maraina.
what is morning is the day*= It is the morning=the day is morning*.
1-Ny mety dia ny mianatra tsara. (what is good is learning well*)
2-Ny hendry dia ny zaza mpankato. (who are nice are the obeying children*)
3-Ny mihira dia ny mpianatro. (who are singing are my pupils*.)
Answers=
1- Ny mety dia ny mianatra tsara = Mety ny mianatra tsara = Ny mianatra tsara dia mety.
2- Ny hendry dia ny zaza mpankato = Hendry ny zaza mpankato = ny zaza mpankatoa dia hendry.
3- Ny mihira dia ny mpianatro = Mihira ny mpianatro = Ny mpianatro no mihira.
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
Text:
Vao vita ny raharaha, ny nitsangana voalohany nanantona anay dia Ingahy Rakotovao.
Nitsikitsiky niarahaba sy nitso-drano izy ary dia nanao hoe:
-Mahazo mifanoroka amin’izay ianareo, anaka.
Injay àry!
Nihodina ny tany aman-danitra tamiko. Tsy nisy hitako intsony ny nanodidina ahy. Nihabahaba tsy nahahetsika teo aho. Rano an-dravina ny tenako rehetra. Ny mason’ny olona amin’izay fantatro fa any amiko daholo. Sady nanatona koa moa izy rehetra, ary efa nisy nahadona ahy aza vao taitra aho.
-Faly loatra ê! hoy ny olona sasany nikomikomy nihomehy.
I Vola. Andry ANDRAINA. 1976.p. 31
Vocabulary
Ny raharaha= the marriage.
Nitsikitsiky=smiling
Nitso-drano=saying blessings
Mifanoroka= to kiss each other
Tany aman-danitra= heaven and earth
Tsy nahahetsika aho= I was petrified
Rano an-dravina ny tenako manontolo= I was trembling from head to feet
Nihomehy= laughing.
“””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Exercise:
Put the sentences in another word order:
1-Ny nitsangana voalohany nanantona anay dia Ingahy Rakotovao.
The first one who stood up and came to us was Mister Rakotovao.
He was looking at me . ( I knew everybody was looking at me)
Answers:
1-Nitsangana voalohany nanatona anay Ingahy Rakotovao.
=Ingahy Rakotovao no nitsangana voalohany nanatona anay.
2-Mijery ahy ny masony.
=Ny mijery ahy dia ny masony.
