Journalistic Hindi: Passive Voice & Objective Style (Karma Vachya)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the passive voice in Hindi to shift focus from the doer to the action, essential for formal and journalistic writing.
- Use 'ke dwara' (by) or 'se' (from) to denote the agent.
- The main verb becomes a past participle + 'jana' (to go) in the appropriate tense.
- The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
Overview
Have you ever wondered why news anchors sound like they’re narrating a documentary about a glacier moving? It’s not just the suit and the perfectly coiffed hair. It’s the grammar.
In high-level Hindi, especially in journalism or official reports, we shift from 'I did this' to 'This was done.' This is the world of the passive voice (कर्मवाच्य - Karma Vachya) and objective journalistic style. It’s the art of being there without actually being there. If you want to write like a pro for a news site or sound authoritative in a boardroom, you need to master this.
It’s the difference between saying "I launched the app" and "The app was launched to critical acclaim." One sounds like a person; the other sounds like an institution. Since you're at a C2 level, we aren't just looking at basic sentences. We’re looking at how to weave these patterns into a seamless, objective narrative that sounds sophisticated and modern.
Objective journalistic style in Hindi is all about removing the 'doer' (कर्ता - Karta) to focus on the 'action' or the 'result'. Think of it as the 'CCTV camera' approach to language. The camera doesn't care who is watching; it just records what happens.
In Hindi, this is primarily achieved through the passive voice. While English uses 'to be' + past participle, Hindi uses the perfective form of the main verb followed by the auxiliary verb जाना (jaana). But wait, there's a twist!
In journalistic Hindi, we also use specific phrases like माना जाता है (it is believed) or सूत्रों के अनुसार (according to sources) to maintain that sweet, sweet neutrality. Whether you're tweeting about a policy change or writing a long-form essay on climate change, this style makes your Hindi sound incredibly polished and 'official'. It’s like putting a tuxedo on your sentences.
No more 'I think' or 'He said'; instead, we use 'It appears' and 'It was stated'.
How This Grammar Works
जाना (jaana) construction. But don't get confused—this isn't about 'going' anywhere physically. Here, जाना acts as a helper that turns the main verb into a passive state.जाना does all the heavy lifting of matching the tense, gender, and number of the object. Yes, you heard that right. In the passive voice, the object is the boss.जाना becomes गयी (gayi). If it's plural, it becomes गए (gaye). In journalistic contexts, we often omit the agent (के द्वारा - ke dwara) entirely.Formation Pattern
समाचार - news).
-ा, -ी, or -े (e.g., सुनाना becomes सुनाया).
जाना: Conjugate जाना based on the tense and the gender/number of the object (e.g., गया, जाता है, जाएगा).
के द्वारा (ke dwara) or के माध्यम से (ke madhyam se), though journalistic style usually skips this.
ऐसा देखा गया है कि... (It has been seen that...) or कहा जा रहा है कि... (It is being said that...).
समाचार (masculine) सुनाया गया (was told), then खबर (feminine) must be सुनाई गयी.
When To Use It
आपकी प्रार्थना पर विचार किया जा रहा है), it sounds much more professional than 'We are looking at your request'. Finally, use it in Social Media 'Breaking News' contexts.नया आईफोन पेश किया गया है) hits differently than 'They showed the new iPhone'. It adds weight and gravitas to your words, making you sound like a true expert who doesn't need to shout to be heard.Common Mistakes
योजना बनाया गया (The plan was made), you've made a mistake because योजना (yojna) is feminine. It should be योजना बनायी गयी. Another classic is Overusing the Agent. If you keep saying पुलिस के द्वारा चोर पकड़ा गया (The thief was caught by the police), it starts sounding clunky. Just say चोर पकड़ा गया (The thief was caught). Everyone knows the police caught him; you don't need to be Captain Obvious! Also, don't confuse the passive जाना with the Continuous Aspect. काम किया जा रहा है (Work is being done) is passive, while वह काम करने जा रहा है (He is going to do work) is active. Mixing these up is like trying to use a fork to eat soup—technically possible, but very messy. Finally, avoid Passive-Aggressive Overload. Just because you're using the passive voice doesn't mean you have to sound like a robot. Keep a balance between active and passive to keep your writing readable.Contrast With Similar Patterns
चाहिए (should) or होना (must). While the passive says 'This was done', the impersonal says 'This should be done' (ऐसा किया जाना चाहिए).दरवाज़ा खुला (The door opened) is intransitive—it just happened.दरवाज़ा खोला गया (The door was opened) is passive—someone did it, but we aren't saying who. The passive implies an external force or agency, which is why journalists love it; it hints at a 'story' behind the event. Finally, contrast this with the Active Journalistic Style.प्रधानमंत्री ने घोषणा की (The PM announced). This is more direct and energetic. You choose the passive when the action is the star, and the active when the person is the star.Quick FAQ
Is the passive voice more formal than the active voice?
Yes, absolutely. It’s the standard for professional, academic, and journalistic Hindi.
Can I use the passive voice for every verb?
No, only 'transitive' verbs (verbs that take an object) can truly be made passive. You can't really 'be slept' in the same way.
Does 'jaana' always mean 'to go'?
In this context, no! It’s a functional auxiliary verb indicating the passive state. Think of it as a grammatical 'mood ring'.
Why do journalists avoid saying 'I' or 'We'?
To maintain the illusion of objectivity. The news is supposed to be about the world, not the reporter’s breakfast choices.
Is it okay to use passive voice in WhatsApp messages?
Only if you want to sound like you're sending a press release to your friends. Keep it for formal contexts unless you're being funny!
How do I know the gender of the object?
Practice and a good dictionary! Most nouns ending in 'aa' are masculine, and 'ee' are feminine, but there are many exceptions. It’s the eternal struggle of the Hindi learner.
Can the passive voice be used in the future tense?
Yes! यह काम किया जाएगा (This work will be done). जाना conjugates just like any other verb.
What is the most common journalistic phrase?
Probably सूत्रों के हवाले से (according to sources) or कहा जा रहा है (it is being said).
Passive Voice Conjugation (Past Tense)
| Subject (Object) | Verb | Auxiliary (Jana) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kaam (M)
|
kiya
|
gaya
|
Kaam kiya gaya
|
|
Baat (F)
|
ki
|
gayi
|
Baat ki gayi
|
|
Kaam (Pl)
|
kiye
|
gaye
|
Kaam kiye gaye
|
Meanings
The passive voice (Karma Vachya) in Hindi is used to emphasize the action or the recipient of the action rather than the agent. It is a hallmark of formal, objective, and journalistic writing.
Formal Reporting
Used in news to report events without naming the specific actor.
“कानून पारित किया गया।”
“बैठक बुलाई गई।”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Obj + Participle + Jana
|
Kaam kiya gaya
|
|
Negative
|
Obj + nahi + Participle + Jana
|
Kaam nahi kiya gaya
|
|
Interrogative
|
Kya + Obj + Participle + Jana
|
Kya kaam kiya gaya?
|
|
Agentive
|
Obj + Agent + dwara + Participle + Jana
|
Kaam mere dwara kiya gaya
|
Formality Spectrum
रिपोर्ट प्रस्तुत की गई। (Office environment)
रिपोर्ट जमा कर दी गई। (Office environment)
रिपोर्ट दे दी। (Office environment)
रिपोर्ट डाल दी। (Office environment)
Passive Voice Components
Components
- dwara by
- jana to go
Examples by Level
मैं खाना खाता हूँ।
I eat food.
काम किया गया।
The work was done.
पत्र लिखा गया।
The letter was written.
सरकार द्वारा निर्णय लिया गया।
The decision was taken by the government.
यह पुस्तक प्रसिद्ध लेखकों द्वारा लिखी गई है।
This book has been written by famous authors.
अतीत की घटनाओं का विश्लेषण विशेषज्ञों द्वारा किया जाना चाहिए।
The events of the past should be analyzed by experts.
Easily Confused
Learners confuse 'ho gaya' (happened) with 'kiya gaya' (was done).
Learners use active voice when passive is required for formality.
Learners add 'hai' to passive.
Common Mistakes
Main kiya gaya.
Mere dwara kiya gaya.
Kaam ki gayi.
Kaam kiya gaya.
Woh gaya kaam.
Kaam kiya gaya.
Kaam kiya hai.
Kaam kiya gaya.
Police ne pakda gaya.
Police dwara pakda gaya.
Gayi kaam.
Kaam kiya gaya.
Kaam kiya jate.
Kaam kiya gaya.
Maine bola gaya.
Mere dwara bola gaya.
Kaam kiya gaya hai.
Kaam kiya gaya.
Usne kaam kiya gaya.
Uske dwara kaam kiya gaya.
Yeh kaam mere se kiya gaya.
Yeh kaam mere dwara kiya gaya.
Gayi thi kaam.
Kaam kiya gaya tha.
Kaam ho gaya.
Kaam kiya gaya.
Sentence Patterns
___ dwara ___ kiya gaya.
Kya ___ ___ gaya?
___ nahi kiya gaya.
___ ko ___ dwara kiya gaya.
Real World Usage
घटना की जांच की जा रही है।
यह पत्र आपको भेजा गया है।
डेटा का विश्लेषण किया गया।
कानून पारित किया गया।
यह निर्णय लिया गया है।
बैठक बुलाई गई है।
Focus on the Object
Avoid Overuse
Use 'dwara' for Agents
Journalistic Tone
Smart Tips
Use passive voice to sound objective.
Focus on the event, not the person.
Use passive for each step.
Avoid 'I' or 'we'.
Pronunciation
Jana
Pronounced as 'jaa-naa'.
Formal
Sentence ends with a slight downward pitch.
Authority and objectivity.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Jana' as the 'Go' button for passive voice.
Visual Association
Imagine a news anchor pointing at a screen where the action is happening, but the person who did it is hidden behind a curtain.
Rhyme
Action is the star, the doer is far, add 'jana' to the verb, and you'll go far.
Story
The king ordered a bridge. The bridge was built. The builders were never mentioned. The passive voice keeps the focus on the bridge.
Word Web
Challenge
Rewrite three active sentences from today's news into passive voice.
Cultural Notes
Passive voice is the standard for news reporting to ensure neutrality.
Derived from Sanskrit passive structures.
Conversation Starters
क्या यह काम कल किया गया था?
क्या रिपोर्ट जमा की गई है?
क्या नए नियम लागू किए गए हैं?
क्या इस विषय पर चर्चा की जानी चाहिए?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Kaam kiya ___.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Kaam kiya gayi.
Police ne chor pakda.
Main khana khata hoon.
A: Report jama hui? B: Haan, ___.
gaya / kaam / kiya
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesKaam kiya ___.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Kaam kiya gayi.
Police ne chor pakda.
Main khana khata hoon.
A: Report jama hui? B: Haan, ___.
gaya / kaam / kiya
Maine kaam kiya -> ?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesगया / पुरस्कार / को / दिया / लेखक
The decision was taken by the board.
Match the pairs:
पुल का निर्माण किया ___ रहा है।
Which one sounds like a news headline?
कल हड़ताल (strike) समाप्त की जाती है।
Translate the journalistic phrase.
सभी सीटों को बुक ___ ।
सूचना / गई / दी / सबको
Select the objective option:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Use it in formal, academic, or journalistic writing to maintain objectivity.
No, it is very formal and sounds unnatural in daily conversation.
Use 'dwara' (by) after the agent.
Yes, it must agree with the gender and number of the subject.
Yes, but it is less common than past tense passive.
Forgetting to use 'dwara' or misusing the gender of 'jana'.
Yes, but Hindi uses 'jana' instead of 'to be'.
Use passive voice in your formal reports and emails.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Pasiva refleja
Hindi uses an explicit auxiliary verb.
Voix passive
Hindi conjugation is more complex.
Passiv
German word order is stricter.
Ukemi
Hindi is analytic, Japanese is agglutinative.
Majhul
Arabic is morphological.
Bei-structure
Chinese 'bei' is a prepositional marker.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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