भूतकाल सामान्य निष्क्रिय: इसका क्या हुआ?
was done यानी «किया गया»। यह outcomes और events पर ज़ोर देने के लिए शानदार है।
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Shift the focus from 'who did it' to 'what happened' using 'was' or 'were' plus the third verb form.
- Use 'was' for singular subjects and 'were' for plural subjects. Example: 'The car was fixed.'
- Always use the Past Participle (V3) of the main verb. Example: 'The letters were written.'
- Add 'by' only if the person who did the action is actually important. Example: 'It was painted by Da Vinci.'
Overview
Your milk was stolen. Tumne abhi-abhi Past Simple Passive use kiya hai!The evidence was discovered in a dumpster,toh tumne is rule ko iske natural habitat mein pehle hi sun liya hai. Ye sirf detectives ke liye nahi hai; isi tarah hum history, technology aur phone par aane wale un annoying 'package delivered' notifications ke baare mein baat karte hain.
Elon Musk bought Twitter.Ye active hai. Par kabhi-kabhi, hum script ko palatna chahte hain.
Twitter was bought by Elon Musk.Ye Passive Voice hai. Specifically, Past Simple Passive un completed actions (poore ho chuke kaamon) par focus karta hai jahan *result* ya *object* us insaan se zyada important hota hai jisne wo kaam kiya. Ise ek camera lens ki tarah socho: active voice mein, camera actor par hota hai.
The vase was brokensunne mein
I broke the vasese kam guilty lagta hai na?
How This Grammar Works
The chef cooked the meal.Ise passive banane ke liye, Object driver ki seat par aa jata hai aur naya Subject ban jata hai.
by word ke saath start hokar) ya phir bus se poori tarah utar jata hai. Phir verb ka makeover hota hai past tense mein 'to be' verb aur 'past participle' (ye tumhari verb list ka 3rd column hai) ka use karke. Ye ek chemical reaction ki tarah hai: Object + was/were + V3.This hidden gem was found in London,toh creator passive isliye use kar raha hai kyunki jagah ka *milna* (finding) main point hai, na ki wo specific insaan jisne use dhoonda.
Formation Pattern
pizza, email, stolen heart).
was use karo aur plural subjects (you, we, they) ke liye were use karo.
Eaten, broken, written, sent.
Conjugation Table
| Form | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | --- |
| Singular (I/He/She/It) | The photo was posted. |
फ़ोटो पोस्ट की गई थी। |
| Plural (You/We/They) | The tickets were sold. |
टिकट्स बिक गए थे। |
| Negative | The app was not updated. |
ऐप अपडेट नहीं हुआ था। |
| Question | Was the car fixed? |
क्या कार ठीक हो गई थी? |
When To Use It
- The Mystery Man: Jab tumhein koi clue nahi hai ki action kisne kiya.
My bike
(Agar mujhe pata hota ki kisne kiya, toh main unke ghar par hota, passive voice use nahi kar raha hota).was stolen. - Captain Obvious: Jab ye itna clear ho ki kisne kiya hai ki bolna redundant (faaltu) lage.
The thief
(Hum assume karte hain ki police ne kiya, kisi random barista ne nahi).was arrested. - The Wallflower: Jab action karne wala insaan important nahi hai.
The road
(Humein smooth sadak se matlab hai, specific construction crew se nahi).was pavedlast year. - The Professional: Formal writing ya news mein.
The law
Ye ek objective distance ki layer add karta hai jo kaafi 'adulting' wala feel deti hai.was passedby parliament.
This title was added recently. Tumhara Amazon account kehta hai Your package was delivered. Yahan tak ki tumhare crush ki Instagram story bhi keh sakti hai This moment was captured by a friend. Ye results aur status updates ki language hai.
Common Mistakes
- The Missing 'To Be': Log aksar kehte hain
The letter written yesterday.
Nahi! Tumheinwaski zaroorat hai.The letter
waswritten yesterday. - Wrong Participle: Participle ki jagah past simple use karna.
The cake was
(Ouch). Ye hona chahiyeate.The cake was
eaten. - Subject-Verb Disagreement: Plurals ke liye
wasuse karna.The files
Nahi.wasdeleted.The files
weredeleted. - Overusing It: Agar tum har cheez ke liye passive use karoge, toh tum robot ya ek bahut boring textbook jaise lagoge.
The coffee was drunk by me
sunne mein ajeeb lagta hai. Bas kahoI drank the coffee.
- Confusing 'By' and 'With': Logon/agents ke liye
byuse karo aur tools ke liyewith.The window was broken
bya thiefwitha brick.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Past Simple Passive ko iske cousins ke saath confuse mat karna:
The cat caught the mouse.(Billi ki hunting skills par focus hai).
The mouse was caught by the cat. (Chuhe ki bad luck par focus hai).The mail is delivered every day. (Ek aadat ya general fact).The house was being painted when I arrived. (Ek action jo progress mein tha).Past Simple Passive ko ek finished Polaroid photo ki tarah samjho. Ye kisi aisi cheez ka snap hai jo ho chuki hai aur puri tarah khatam hai. Ye ek closed chapter hai.
The email was sent. Done. Ab iske baare mein koi stress nahi.
Quick FAQ
Kya main kisi bhi verb ke saath passive use kar sakta hoon?
Nahi! Sirf transitive verbs (wo verbs jo object lete hain) passive ho sakte hain. Tum I was slept nahi keh sakte.
Kya passive voice use karna rude hai?
Bilkul nahi, par ye 'evasive' (baat talne wala) ho sakta hai. Politicians ye kehna pasand karte hain
Mistakes were made taaki unhein I made a mistakena kehna pade.
Mujhe kaise pata chalega ki ye V3 hai ya sirf past tense?
Regular verbs ke liye, wo same dikhte hain (played/played). Irregulars ke liye, wo alag hote hain (saw/seen). Tumhein bas unhein yaad karna hoga! Sorry, wahan koi shortcut nahi hai.
Kya har passive sentence mein 'by' ki zaroorat hoti hai?
Nahi! Asal mein, zyadatar passive sentences ise chhod dete hain kyunki 'kisne kiya' (who) main point nahi hota.
Memory Trick
W.W.P. rule ke baare mein socho: Was/Were + Participle. Ek Passive Panda ko imagine karo jo kuch bhi karne ke liye bahut lazy hai, toh cheezein bas uske saath *ho jati* hain.
The bamboo was eaten by the panda. Usne 'act' nahi kiya; usne bas result enjoy kiya!
Real Conversations
Alex: "Dude, where's your car?"
Sam:
It was towed this morning. I parked in a loading zone by mistake.
Alex:
Oh man, that sucks.Wasa finegivento you too?
Sarah:
I love your new profile picture!
Maya:
Thanks! It was taken by my sister during our trip to Bali.
Sarah:
The lighting is amazing.Wasiteditedwith an app?
Maya:
Just a little bit!
Progressive Practice
Simple start karo:
I wrote the textko change karo
The text was written mein.
Agent add karo:
The movie was directed by Spielberg.
Negative banao:
The invite was not sent.
Sawal pucho:
Werethe resultspublished?
Mix it up: Ek kharab baseball game ki story mein thrown, caught, aur brought jaise irregular verbs use karne ki koshish karo.
Past Simple Passive Formation
| Subject | Auxiliary (to be) | Past Participle (V3) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I / He / She / It
|
was
|
cleaned
|
It was cleaned.
|
|
You / We / They
|
were
|
cleaned
|
They were cleaned.
|
|
I / He / She / It (Neg)
|
wasn't
|
cleaned
|
She wasn't cleaned.
|
|
You / We / They (Neg)
|
weren't
|
cleaned
|
We weren't cleaned.
|
|
Question (Singular)
|
Was [subject]
|
cleaned?
|
Was it cleaned?
|
|
Question (Plural)
|
Were [subject]
|
cleaned?
|
Were they cleaned?
|
Contractions in the Past Passive
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage |
|---|---|---|
|
was not
|
wasn't
|
Common in speech/informal writing
|
|
were not
|
weren't
|
Common in speech/informal writing
|
Meanings
A grammatical construction used to describe an action that happened in the past where the receiver of the action becomes the subject of the sentence.
Unknown or Unimportant Actor
Used when we don't know who performed the action or it doesn't matter.
“My bike was stolen yesterday.”
“The windows were cleaned last week.”
Formal or Academic Reporting
Used in news reports, history books, or scientific papers to sound objective.
“The treaty was signed by both leaders.”
“The experiment was conducted under strict conditions.”
Emphasizing the Result
Used when the result of the action is the most interesting part of the story.
“The gold medal was won by a teenager.”
“The cake was eaten before the party even started!”
Reference Table
| एक्टिव वॉइस | पैसिव वॉइस | किस पर ज़ोर? |
|---|---|---|
|
They built it.
|
It was built.
|
क्रिया
|
|
Someone broke the window.
|
The window was broken.
|
परिणाम
|
|
The company made mistakes.
|
Mistakes were made.
|
निष्पक्षता
|
|
She interviewed him.
|
He was interviewed by her.
|
प्राप्तकर्ता
|
|
Kids ate the cookies.
|
The cookies were eaten.
|
प्रभावित वस्तु
|
|
The staff cleaned the room.
|
The room was cleaned.
|
अवस्था
|
औपचारिकता का स्तर
The bicycle was forcibly removed from the premises. (Reporting a theft)
My bike was stolen. (Reporting a theft)
My bike got nicked. (Reporting a theft)
My whip was boosted. (Reporting a theft)
पास्ट सिंपल पैसिव: मुख्य अवधारणा मैप
बनावट
- Was/Were सहायक क्रिया
- Past Participle मुख्य क्रिया (V3)
मुख्य उपयोग
- Unknown Agent काम करने वाला अज्ञात
- Unimportant Agent काम करने वाला महत्वहीन
- Focus on Action क्रिया पर ज़ोर
- Formal Context औपचारिक संदर्भ (ख़बरें, रिपोर्ट)
एक्टिव बनाम पैसिव (पास्ट सिंपल)
क्या मुझे पास्ट सिंपल पैसिव का उपयोग करना चाहिए?
क्या क्रिया अतीत में हुई थी?
क्या तुम्हारे वाक्य का सब्जेक्ट क्रिया को प्राप्त कर रहा है, कर नहीं रहा?
क्या 'करने वाला' (एजेंट) अज्ञात, महत्वहीन, या स्पष्ट है?
पास्ट सिंपल पैसिव: कब उपयोग करें
अज्ञात करने वाला
- • My keys were found.
- • The window was broken.
महत्वहीन करने वाला
- • The new road was opened.
- • Mistakes were made.
औपचारिक रिपोर्टिंग
- • The decision was announced.
- • Research was conducted.
परिणाम पर ज़ोर
- • The project was completed.
- • My phone was fixed.
स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण
The door was closed.
The door was closed.
The car was washed.
The car was washed.
The apples were eaten.
The apples were eaten.
The book was lost.
The book was lost.
The letter was sent yesterday.
The letter was sent yesterday.
The windows were not cleaned.
The windows were not cleaned.
Was the pizza delivered?
Was the pizza delivered?
The toys were broken by the kids.
The toys were broken by the kids.
The bridge was built in 1850.
The bridge was built in 1850.
My phone was stolen while I was on the bus.
My phone was stolen while I was on the bus.
The results were published in a medical journal.
The results were published in a medical journal.
Were you told about the meeting change?
Were you told about the meeting change?
The suspect was seen leaving the building at midnight.
The suspect was seen leaving the building at midnight.
The law was passed despite heavy opposition.
The law was passed despite heavy opposition.
The data was analyzed using a new software tool.
The data was analyzed using a new software tool.
The employees were given a bonus for their hard work.
The employees were given a bonus for their hard work.
The city was utterly devastated by the earthquake.
The city was utterly devastated by the earthquake.
It was widely believed that the king had been poisoned.
It was widely believed that the king had been poisoned.
The proposal was rejected on the grounds of being too costly.
The proposal was rejected on the grounds of being too costly.
No fewer than ten houses were destroyed in the blaze.
No fewer than ten houses were destroyed in the blaze.
The manuscript was painstakingly restored over several decades.
The manuscript was painstakingly restored over several decades.
The initiative was all but forgotten until the recent discovery of the files.
The initiative was all but forgotten until the recent discovery of the files.
The decision was reached after exhaustive deliberation by the board.
The decision was reached after exhaustive deliberation by the board.
The landscape was transformed beyond recognition by the industrial revolution.
The landscape was transformed beyond recognition by the industrial revolution.
आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले
Learners often use the active voice when they don't know the subject, leading to vague sentences.
Learners mix up 'was built' (finished) with 'was being built' (in progress).
Confusing a state (adjective) with an action (passive).
सामान्य गलतियाँ
The car fixed yesterday.
The car was fixed yesterday.
The windows were clean.
The windows were cleaned.
I was eat the cake.
The cake was eaten.
They was invited.
They were invited.
The book was wrote by him.
The book was written by him.
Was the letters sent?
Were the letters sent?
The house was build in 1990.
The house was built in 1990.
The thief was arrested from the police.
The thief was arrested by the police.
It was happened last night.
It happened last night.
The dinner was being cooked when I arrived.
The dinner was cooked.
The bed was not slept in it.
The bed was not slept in.
वाक्य संरचनाएँ
The ___ was ___ in ___.
I was ___ to ___ by ___.
___ were not ___ until ___.
Was the ___ ___ by ___?
Real World Usage
Local shop was robbed last night.
I was promoted after six months.
I was stuck in traffic, sorry!
The war was ended by a treaty.
Was this dish made with nuts?
This photo was taken in Bali.
'Was/Were' को पहचानो
The car was fixed.
अपने V3 पर ध्यान दो
was broke की जगह was broken कहना, एक बड़ी गलती है।रिसीवर पर फोकस करो
The ball was hit.
औपचारिक बनाम अनौपचारिक
My phone was found.
एजेंट वैकल्पिक
The cake was eaten by the dog.
Smart Tips
Switch to the passive voice to make your writing sound more professional and varied.
Check the V3 form. Many learners accidentally use the V2 form (e.g., 'was took' instead of 'was taken').
Use the passive voice to focus on the mistake rather than the person who made it.
Use the passive to keep the focus on the product.
उच्चारण
Weak form of 'was'
In the passive voice, 'was' is usually unstressed and sounds like /wəz/.
Linking 'were'
If the next word starts with a vowel, the 'r' in 'were' is pronounced.
Focus on the Participle
The cake was EATEN.
Emphasizes the action itself.
याद करें
स्मृति सहायक
W.W.P: Was/Were + Participle. Think of it as 'What Was Performed'.
दृश्य संबंध
Imagine a crime scene where the criminal is invisible. You can only see the broken window and the stolen jewelry. You describe what you see: 'The window was broken,' 'The jewelry was stolen.'
Rhyme
If the doer is unknown or you just don't care, use 'was' or 'were' with a V3 pair!
Story
A famous painting was stolen from a museum. The guards were questioned, the tapes were watched, but the thief was never found. Every sentence focuses on the mystery, not the person.
Word Web
चैलेंज
Look around your room. Find three things and say when they were made or bought using the passive voice. (e.g., 'This lamp was bought in 2021.')
सांस्कृतिक नोट्स
The 'get-passive' (e.g., 'I got sacked') is extremely common in informal British English to describe negative events.
In scientific English, the passive is used to maintain 'objectivity', though modern journals are starting to allow 'we' more often.
Passive voice is used in legal contexts to focus on the crime or the law rather than the individual.
The English passive voice evolved from Old English, which used the verbs 'weorthan' (to become) and 'beon' (to be) with a past participle.
बातचीत की शुरुआत
Tell me about a time something of yours was stolen or lost.
What is a famous building in your city? When was it built?
Think of your favorite movie. Where was it filmed?
Were you ever given a very special gift?
डायरी विषय
सामान्य गलतियाँ
Test Yourself
The old house ___ last year.
Find and fix the mistake:
The books was read by many students.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /3
अभ्यास प्रश्न
8 exercisesThe letter ___ (write) by my grandfather in 1945.
Select the correct passive sentence.
Find and fix the mistake:
The windows was cleaned yesterday.
The police arrested the thief.
1. He found the keys. 2. They built the bridge.
You can use the passive voice with the verb 'to arrive'.
A: Why are you late? B: My car ___ (hit) by another driver.
Sort: Build, Clean, Write, Play
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesThe bridge ___ in the storm last night.
The old car ___ (repair) by the mechanic yesterday.
Important historical documents ___ (safeguard) in the museum vault.
The new rules was announced to everyone.
सही वाक्य चुनो:
Translate into English: 'El edificio fue construido en 1900.'
Translate into English: 'Ella fue vista en la cafetería anoche.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the subjects with the correct form:
Score: /10
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (8)
Use `by` only if the person who did the action is important or surprising. For example, 'The book was written by a 10-year-old.' If it's obvious, like 'The thief was arrested by the police,' you can leave it out.
No! Overusing the passive voice can make your writing sound boring or evasive. Use it only when the object is truly more important than the subject.
`Was broken` is neutral and standard. `Got broken` is informal and often used for accidents or negative events in spoken English.
Not always. It can be an adjective describing the state of the window. If you mean 'Someone broke it,' it's passive. If you mean 'It was in a broken state,' it's an adjective.
Because in science, the experiment is what matters, not the scientist. 'The chemicals were mixed' sounds more objective than 'I mixed the chemicals.'
Put `was` or `were` at the beginning. 'Was the email sent?' or 'Were the cookies eaten?'
Common ones include: `done`, `seen`, `made`, `built`, `written`, `broken`, `stolen`, and `taken`.
No, 'they' is plural and always requires `were`. 'They were found,' never 'They was found.'
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Voz pasiva (ser + participio) or Pasiva refleja (se)
English uses the passive voice much more frequently than the formal Spanish 'ser' passive.
La voix passive (être + participe passé)
French participles must agree in gender and number with the subject, unlike English.
Vorgangspassiv (werden + Partizip II)
The auxiliary verb is different ('become' vs 'be').
受身 (ukemi)
English passive is a sentence structure; Japanese passive is a verb conjugation.
المبني للمجهول (al-mabni lil-majhul)
Arabic does not use an auxiliary verb like 'was' or 'were'.
被字句 (bèi zì jù)
Chinese verbs don't change form (no V3), and the passive often implies a negative result.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
संबंधित वीडियो
06:16 How Kodak invented the “snapshot”
06:27 Was Alexander the Great really that great? - Stephanie Honchell Smith
05:40 Japan's most famous ghost story - Jeffrey Angles
PASSIVE VOICE - English Grammar step-by-step
Arnel's Everyday English
Passive Voice | English Grammar Lessons For Beginners | Spoken English For Beginners
WOW English
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