Formal Passive Voice: It's Being Done (Karmavachya)
jānā to sound professional and objective.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The passive voice in Hindi shifts focus from the doer to the action by using 'jana' as an auxiliary verb.
- The main verb becomes a past participle (e.g., 'kiya').
- Add the appropriate form of 'jana' (to go) after the participle.
- The agent (doer) is marked with 'se' or 'dwara' if mentioned.
Overview
The Karmavachya (कर्मवाच्य), or formal passive voice, is a fundamental construct for C1-level Hindi learners aiming for sophisticated communication. It systematically shifts grammatical focus from the agent of an action to the action itself or the object experiencing it. This grammatical pivot is employed to achieve impersonality, formality, and a distinct sense of detachment, making it indispensable in professional, journalistic, and academic discourse.
Unlike the active voice where the subject's agency is paramount, the passive voice facilitates the de-emphasis, obfuscation, or outright omission of the agent. This allows for a focus on processes, outcomes, or general truths. Mastering Karmavachya is not merely about alternative sentence structures; it is about acquiring a powerful tool for manipulating perspective and register within Hindi, enabling more nuanced and authoritative expression.
You will encounter Karmavachya frequently in official announcements, news reporting, policy documents, legal texts, and formal correspondence. It is the linguistic choice for communicating that "things are done" or "things will be done" without necessarily identifying the doer, thereby conveying a sense of universality or institutional authority.
How This Grammar Works
jānā (जाना). Although jānā literally translates to 'to go', in the context of the passive voice, it functions idiomatically. It signifies that the action goes into or results in a state affecting the object, without implying physical movement.jānā here as meaning 'to become' or 'to get' in a passive sense.kiyā from karnā, likhā from likhnā) remains invariant, functioning almost like an adjective describing the state of the object. All subsequent grammatical inflections—for tense, aspect, mood, and crucially, for gender and number agreement—are solely managed by the auxiliary verb jānā. This means jānā will adapt to forms such as gayā, gayī, gaye, or gayī̃ based on the object's grammatical properties.मैंने चिट्ठी लिखी (mainne chiṭṭhī likhī - "I wrote the letter"). Here, चिट्ठी (chiṭṭhī - letter) is the feminine singular object, and the verb लिखी (likhī) agrees with it. In the passive rendition, चिट्ठी लिखी गई (chiṭṭhī likhī gaī - "The letter was written"), चिट्ठी becomes the grammatical subject, and गई (gaī), the feminine singular past form of jānā, now agrees with the letter.मैंने (mainne), can be optionally specified with के द्वारा (ke dvārā).Formation Pattern
karnā (करना - to do), likhnā (लिखना - to write), paṛhnā (पढ़ना - to read), denā (देना - to give).
nā and applying appropriate vowel changes (e.g., karnā → kiyā, likhnā → likhā, paṛhnā → paṛhā, denā → diyā). This perfective stem represents the core action and remains unchanged, as jānā handles all agreement.
jānā (जाना): Place jānā immediately after the perfective stem of the main verb. This specific pairing is the definitive marker of a passive construction.
jānā for Tense, Aspect, and Mood: jānā will bear all necessary grammatical inflections, determining whether the action "is done," "was done," "will be done," etc.
jānā must agree in gender and number with the object (which is now the grammatical subject of the passive sentence).
किताब (kitāb - book, feminine singular), jānā will take feminine singular forms (e.g., जाती है, गई थी, जाएगी).
कागज़ (kāgaz - papers, masculine plural), jānā will take masculine plural forms (e.g., जाते हैं, गए थे, जाएँगे).
ke dvārā (के द्वारा): If you need to specify the original performer of the action, use the postposition ke dvārā (literally "by means of" or "through") with the original subject. This construction inherently conveys formality.
छात्रों के द्वारा किताब पढ़ी जाती है। (chātroṁ ke dvārā kitāb paṛhī jātī hai. - "The book is read by the students.")
के द्वारा (ke dvārā)) + Main Verb (Perfective Stem) + जाना (jānā) (Conjugated for Object, Tense)
मैंने वह काम किया। (mainne vah kām kiyā. - "I did that work.")
वह काम (मेरे के द्वारा) किया गया। (vah kām (mere ke dvārā) kiyā gayā. - "That work was done (by me).")
Conjugation Table
| Tense / Object | Masculine Singular (e.g., पत्र - patra) |
Masculine Plural (e.g., पत्र - patra) |
Feminine Singular (e.g., चिट्ठी - chiṭṭhī) |
Feminine Plural (e.g., चिट्ठियाँ - chiṭṭhiyā̃) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :------------- | :--------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------ | :-------------------------------------------------- | ||
| Present Indefinite | लिखा जाता है (likhā jātā hai) |
लिखे जाते हैं (likhe jāte haĩ) |
लिखी जाती है (likhī jātī hai) |
लिखी जाती हैं (likhī jātī haĩ) |
||
| Past Indefinite | लिखा गया (likhā gayā) |
लिखे गए (likhe gae) |
लिखी गई (likhī gaī) |
लिखी गईं (likhī gaī̃) |
||
| Future Indefinite | लिखा जाएगा (likhā jāegā) |
लिखे जाएँगे (likhe jāẽge) |
लिखी जाएगी (likhī jāegī) |
लिखी जाएँगी (likhī jāẽgī) |
||
| Present Perfect | लिखा गया है (likhā gayā hai) |
लिखे गए हैं (likhe gae haĩ) |
लिखी गई है (likhī gaī hai) |
लिखी गई हैं (likhī gaī̃ haĩ) |
||
| Past Perfect | लिखा गया था (likhā gayā thā) |
लिखे गए थे (likhe gae the) |
लिखी गई थी (likhī gaī thī) |
लिखी गई थीं (likhī gaī̃ thī̃) |
When To Use It
- For Impartiality and Objectivity: News reporting, scientific papers, and official statements frequently employ the passive voice. It allows the focus to remain squarely on the event or outcome rather than directly attributing responsibility, thus conveying a sense of neutrality or distance. For example,
आज एक महत्वपूर्ण घोषणा की गई।(āj ek mahatvapūrṇ ghoṣṇā kī gaī.- "Today an important announcement was made.") This avoids specifying who made the announcement, lending it greater authority and impartiality.
- When the Agent is Unknown, Unimportant, or Obvious: If the person performing the action is irrelevant, unknown, or easily inferred from the context, the passive voice offers efficiency and naturalness. Instead of a direct attribution, consider a public service message like
यहां कूड़ा फेंकना मना है।(yahā̃ kūṛā phẽknā manā hai.- "Throwing trash here is prohibited."), where the agent (the authorities) is implicitly understood without explicit mention.
- To Avoid Direct Responsibility or Accusation: This is a common strategic application of the passive voice. Rather than a direct accusation such as
आपने गलती की है(āpne galtī kī hai- "You made a mistake"), one might useगलतियाँ हुई हैं(galtiyā̃ huī haĩ- "Mistakes have occurred"). The passive voice allows the speaker to distance themselves from direct blame, a subtle but significant cultural nuance in formal and professional settings. This usage mirrors the English phrase "mistakes were made."
- In Public Announcements and Legal Texts: Any form of official communication—government notifications, terms and conditions, corporate policies—heavily relies on
Karmavachyato establish authority and universality.नियमों का कड़ाई से पालन किया जाएगा।(niyamõ kā kaṛāī se pālan kiyā jāegā.- "Rules will be strictly adhered to.") This structure effectively communicates that the rules apply universally and will be enforced, irrespective of individual agents.
- Modern Digital Usage: You will frequently encounter
Karmavachyain official social media posts by organizations, formal emails, and website policy pages. It is instrumental in maintaining a professional brand voice. An example isआपकी शिकायत दर्ज कर ली गई है।(āpkī śikāyat darj kar lī gaī hai.- "Your complaint has been registered.") Such usage is common in customer service communications.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect Gender and Number Agreement: This is arguably the most prevalent and noticeable error. Learners frequently default to keeping the
jānā(जाना) auxiliary in its masculine singular form, irrespective of the object's true gender and number. Always ensurejānāunequivocally agrees with the object, which functions as the grammatical subject of the passive sentence. For instance, ifखबर(khabar- news, feminine singular) is the object, the correct form isदी गई(dī gaī), notदिया गया(diyā gayā). Similarly,किताबें(kitābẽ- books, feminine plural) demandsपढ़ी गईं(paṛhī gaī̃), notपढ़े गए(paṛhe gae). Such an error immediately signals a lack of advanced proficiency.
- Misusing
se(से) for Agent Marking: Whilesecan introduce an agent in specific passive-like constructions (particularly those expressing ability or inability, as discussed in the next section), it does not function as the formal agent marker forKarmavachya. To formally state "by someone" in the passive voice, always utilizeke dvārā(के द्वारा). Thus,मेरे द्वारा यह काम किया गया(mere dvārā yah kām kiyā gayā- "This work was done by me") is grammatically sound, whereasमुझसे यह काम किया गया(mujhse yah kām kiyā gayā) typically conveys "I was able to do this work" or perhaps "This work got done by me (perhaps unintentionally).".
- Applying Passive Voice to Intransitive Verbs: The Karmavachya fundamentally requires a transitive verb because its core mechanism involves shifting focus to a direct object that receives the action. Intransitive verbs, by their very nature, do not possess a direct object. Therefore, attempting to make verbs like
sonā(सोना- to sleep) orbaithnā(बैठना- to sit) passive in this formal manner will result in ungrammatical or highly unnatural constructions. You cannot logically sayसोया गया(soyā gayā) to mean "was slept"; instead, Hindi typically employs impersonal passive constructions (e.g.,सोया गयाmeaning "sleeping happened") to convey such ideas.
- Overuse in Informal Contexts: Employing Karmavachya excessively in casual conversation or informal writing can render your speech or text overly formal, stiff, or even sarcastic. While technically correct, stating
मेरे द्वारा कॉफ़ी पी गई(mere dvārā kŏphī pī gaī- "Coffee was drunk by me") in a casual setting sounds profoundly unnatural. Reserve this construction for appropriate formal registers where its detachment is stylistically justified.
- Double Conjugation: It is imperative to remember that only
jānā(जाना) conjugates for tense, aspect, and agreement. The main verb steadfastly remains in its perfective stem form (e.g.,kiyā,likhā,dekha). Do not attempt to conjugate both verbs; for instance,करते जाते हैं(karte jāte haĩ) is incorrect for the passive; the correct form isकिया जाता है(kiyā jātā hai).
- The
ko(को) Marker Exception: This represents a more advanced nuance withinKarmavachya. When the direct object of the active sentence is animate and marked with the postpositionko(indicating specificity or definiteness), the auxiliaryjānāoften defaults to masculine singular, regardless of the object's actual gender and number. For example, in the active sentenceमैंने बच्चे को देखा।(mainne bacce ko dekhā.- "I saw the child."), the passive form isबच्चे को देखा गया।(bacce ko dekhā gayā.- "The child was seen."). Here,बच्चेis masculine, but even if the object were feminine (लड़की को-laṛkī ko), the verb would typically remainदेखा गया. This is a fixed, non-agreeing usage in many such specific constructions, demonstrating a pattern of verb agreement with the implied neutral 'state' rather than the direct object.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
कर्मवाच्य). However, distinguishing their precise functions is critical for achieving C1-level proficiency. Confusing these patterns can lead to significant miscommunication and an inaccurate grasp of Hindi's intricate verbal system.- 1. Passive of Inability/Capability (using
se+jānā): - This construction conveys whether an action can or cannot be performed by a particular individual. It is consistently marked by the postposition
se(से) used with the agent, and the auxiliaryjānā(जाना) frequently appears in negative contexts. - Structure: Agent
से+ Main Verb (Perfective Stem) +jānā(conjugated) + (optional)नहीं. - Example:
मुझसे यह काम नहीं किया जाता।(mujhse yah kām nahī̃ kiyā jātā.- "I am unable to do this work.") - Key Distinction: The primary focus here is the agent's inherent ability or inability, not the impersonal completion of an action.
Karmavachya, in contrast, centers on the action itself, withke dvārā(के द्वारा) optionally marking an agent without implying capability or lack thereof.
- 2. Natural/Spontaneous Passive (
svābhāvik karmavachya): - Certain verbs are inherently intransitive yet describe actions that occur to the subject spontaneously, without an explicit external agent. These verbs (e.g.,
khulnā-खुलना- to open,ṭūṭnā-टूटना- to break,biknā-बिकना- to sell) denote a change of state. - Example:
दरवाज़ा खुला।(darvāzā khulā.- "The door opened.") - Key Distinction: This differs from
Karmavachyabecause it does not imply an external agent, even if unstated. Compareदरवाज़ा खोला गया।(darvāzā kholā gayā.- "The door was opened (by someone).") TheKarmavachyaexplicitly suggests an intentional act by an external force, while the natural passive implies a self-initiated or accidental occurrence.
- 3. Compound Verbs with
jānāfor Completion/Ingress: - The verb
jānāalso serves as an auxiliary in compound verbs to indicate completion, suddenness, or the ingress (beginning) of a state or action. In these constructions, the main verb typically appears as an infinitive stem (root verb) immediately followed byjānā. - Example:
वह सो गया।(vah so gayā.- "He fell asleep/He slept completely.") Here,सो(so) is the root ofsonā(सोना). - Key Distinction: In these compound verbs,
jānādenotes the completion or result of the action, often with an intransitive verb, and the grammatical subject of the sentence remains the agent. InKarmavachya, the main verb is in its perfective stem, and the object transforms into the grammatical subject. For instance,पढ़ा गया(paṛhā gayā) is passive ("was read"), whereasपढ़ गया(paṛh gayā) is a compound verb indicating completion ("finished reading").
- 4. English Passive Voice:
- Functionally, the Hindi Karmavachya is similar to the English passive voice. However, Hindi's passive often feels more natural and less stylistically awkward than an excessively frequent English passive. The agent (
ke dvārā) in Hindi is more readily omitted without rendering the sentence feeling incomplete or grammatically strained. The contexts in whichKarmavachyais naturally preferred in Hindi can be broader, particularly in formal settings, compared to English.
Real Conversations
While fundamentally a formal grammatical structure, Karmavachya isn't exclusively confined to academic papers or news broadcasts. At the C1 level, you'll observe its nuanced presence in various modern Hindi communication, particularly when formality, impersonality, or a specific emphasis is desired, even in contexts that border on the conversational-formal.
- Official Digital Communication: In professional emails or social media updates from organizations, Karmavachya maintains a polished, authoritative tone. For instance, an email might state: आपका अनुरोध स्वीकार कर लिया गया है। (āpkā anurodh svīkār kar liyā gayā hai. - "Your request has been accepted.") This avoids a direct "We have accepted your request," which can sound less institutional.
- News and Reporting: Even in more accessible news formats like social media updates or informal online news summaries, the passive voice is prevalent. शहर में एक नया पुल बनाया गया। (śahar mẽ ek nayā pul banāyā gayā. - "A new bridge was built in the city.") This maintains journalistic objectivity, focusing on the event itself.
- Public Notices and Instructions: Karmavachya is the standard for public announcements, signs, and instructions where the agent is typically a governing body or universally understood. कृपया शांति बनाए रखी जाए। (kṛpayā śānti banāe rakhī jāe. - "Please maintain peace.") This is a formal way of conveying a directive without explicitly naming the enforcer.
- Subtle Blame Avoidance: In slightly sensitive, formal conversational contexts, Karmavachya can be used to soften an issue or avoid direct blame. A manager might say कुछ महत्वपूर्ण विवरण छूट गए हैं। (kuch mahatvapūrṇ vivaraṇ chūṭ gae haĩ. - "Some important details have been missed.") rather than आपने कुछ महत्वपूर्ण विवरण छोड़ दिए हैं। (āpne kuch mahatvapūrṇ vivaraṇ choṛ die haĩ. - "You have missed some important details."), maintaining harmony while addressing the problem.
Progressive Practice
To truly internalize and master Karmavachya at a C1 level, beyond theoretical understanding, consistent and varied practice is essential. Focus on applying the rule in progressively complex scenarios.
- Transformation Exercises: Begin by converting active voice sentences into their passive counterparts. Start with simple present and past tenses, gradually introducing future, perfect, and conditional forms. Pay meticulous attention to the agreement of jānā with the object's gender and number.
- Example: वह एक रिपोर्ट लिखेगा। (vah ek riporṭ likhegā. - "He will write a report.") → एक रिपोर्ट लिखी जाएगी। (ek riporṭ likhī jāegī. - "A report will be written.")
- Identification in Authentic Materials: Actively seek out Karmavachya sentences in Hindi news articles, official websites, legal documents, and formal social media posts. Analyze the context in which they are used and why the passive voice was chosen over the active. This develops an intuitive understanding of appropriate usage.
- Targeted Writing Practice: Draft short formal reports, official emails, or public notices using Karmavachya. For instance, write a press release announcing an event or a policy update. Consciously integrate the ke dvārā (के द्वारा) construction when the agent needs formal mention, and practice omitting it when the agent is unimportant.
- Focus on the ko (को) Exception: Create sentences where the direct object is animate and marked with ko. Practice forming the passive voice in these instances, ensuring jānā remains masculine singular, which reinforces this advanced nuance. शिक्षक को बुलाया गया। (śikṣak ko bulāyā gayā. - "The teacher was called.")
- Distinction Drills: Actively practice differentiating Karmavachya from similar constructions like the passive of inability (मुझसे किया जाता है), the natural passive (दरवाज़ा खुला), and compound verbs (वह पढ़ गया). This requires focused attention on the auxiliary verb and the overall semantic implication.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Can I use
Karmavachyain daily, informal texting or conversation? - A: Generally, no. Its inherent formality makes it sound unnatural and overly stiff in casual contexts. It might even be interpreted as sarcastic if used inappropriately. Reserve it for situations demanding a formal or impersonal tone.
- Q: Does the main verb ever change its form in
Karmavachya? - A: No, the main verb always remains in its perfective stem form (e.g.,
किया,लिखा,पढ़ा). All inflections for tense, aspect, mood, and agreement are carried solely by the auxiliary verbjānā(जाना).
- Q: Is the agent marker
ke dvārā(के द्वारा) mandatory? - A: No, it is optional. In many
Karmavachyasentences, the agent is either unknown, unimportant, or implicitly understood from the context, and thus omitted. Useke dvārāonly when specifying the agent adds necessary information formally.
- Q: Is
Karmavachyacommon in the future tense? - A: Yes, it is very common in the future tense, especially for official announcements, plans, or schedules. For example,
बैठक कल आयोजित की जाएगी।(baiṭhak kal āyojit kī jāegī.- "The meeting will be organized tomorrow.").
- Q: What happens if the object has the
ko(को) postposition? - A: This is an advanced point: when the direct object is animate and marked with
ko(indicating a definite object), the auxiliaryjānātypically defaults to masculine singular, regardless of the object's actual gender or number. For example,बच्चे को देखा गया।(bacce ko dekhā gayā.- "The child was seen.").
- Q: Why does Hindi use 'to go' (
jānā) for the passive voice? - A: This is an idiomatic feature. Think of
jānāhere as signifying a transition into a state of completion or being acted upon, rather than literal movement. It indicates that the actiongoes intothe object.
- Q: How similar is this to the English passive voice?
- A: Functionally, they are quite similar, both shifting focus from agent to action/object. However, the contexts for their natural use can differ. Hindi's
Karmavachyamight be preferred in a broader range of formal situations, and the omission of the agent often feels more integral to the Hindi structure than in English.
Passive Voice Conjugation (Object: Patra - Letter)
| Tense | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Past
|
Participle + gaya/gayi
|
Patra likha gaya
|
|
Present Perfect
|
Participle + gaya hai
|
Patra likha gaya hai
|
|
Past Perfect
|
Participle + gaya tha
|
Patra likha gaya tha
|
|
Future
|
Participle + jayega
|
Patra likha jayega
|
|
Continuous
|
Participle + ja raha hai
|
Patra likha ja raha hai
|
|
Obligative
|
Participle + jana chahiye
|
Patra likha jana chahiye
|
Meanings
The passive voice is used when the action is more important than the person performing it, or when the performer is unknown.
Formal Reporting
Used in news or official documents to remain objective.
“कानून पास किया गया।”
“मीटिंग कल बुलाई गई।”
Unknown Agent
When the doer is irrelevant or unknown.
“खिड़की तोड़ दी गई।”
“पैसे चुरा लिए गए।”
Polite/Indirect
Softening a request or statement.
“यह काम आपसे किया जाना चाहिए।”
“आपको सूचित किया जाता है।”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Obj + V(part) + gaya
|
Kaam kiya gaya
|
|
Negative
|
Obj + nahi + V(part) + gaya
|
Kaam nahi kiya gaya
|
|
Interrogative
|
Kya + Obj + V(part) + gaya?
|
Kya kaam kiya gaya?
|
|
Future
|
Obj + V(part) + jayega
|
Kaam kiya jayega
|
|
Continuous
|
Obj + V(part) + ja raha hai
|
Kaam kiya ja raha hai
|
|
Modal
|
Obj + V(part) + jana chahiye
|
Kaam kiya jana chahiye
|
Formality Spectrum
कार्य पूरा किया गया। (Professional vs Casual)
काम पूरा हो गया। (Professional vs Casual)
काम हो गया। (Professional vs Casual)
काम निपट गया। (Professional vs Casual)
Passive Voice Components
Helper Verb
- jana to go
Verb Form
- Past Participle e.g., kiya
Focus
- Object The receiver
Examples by Level
काम किया गया।
The work was done.
खाना खाया गया।
The food was eaten.
पानी पिया गया।
The water was drunk.
किताब पढ़ी गई।
The book was read.
पत्र लिखा गया।
The letter was written.
दरवाजा खोला गया।
The door was opened.
गाड़ी चलाई गई।
The car was driven.
सब्जी काटी गई।
The vegetable was cut.
मीटिंग कल रखी गई है।
The meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow.
नियम बदल दिए गए हैं।
The rules have been changed.
यह फैसला लिया गया।
This decision was taken.
उसे बुलाया गया था।
He was called.
सरकार द्वारा नया कानून पारित किया गया।
A new law was passed by the government.
इस समस्या पर चर्चा की जानी चाहिए।
This problem should be discussed.
उन्हें सम्मानित किया गया।
They were honored.
सबूत नष्ट कर दिए गए।
The evidence was destroyed.
इस विषय पर गंभीरता से विचार किया गया है।
This subject has been considered seriously.
उम्मीद की जाती है कि सुधार किया जाएगा।
It is expected that improvements will be made.
अतीत की गलतियों को दोहराया नहीं जाना चाहिए।
Past mistakes should not be repeated.
प्रस्ताव को सर्वसम्मति से स्वीकार किया गया।
The proposal was accepted unanimously.
नियति द्वारा सब कुछ पहले ही निर्धारित कर दिया गया था।
Everything had already been determined by fate.
यह तर्क दिया गया है कि परिवर्तन अनिवार्य है।
It has been argued that change is inevitable.
अधिकारों का उल्लंघन बर्दाश्त नहीं किया जाएगा।
Violation of rights will not be tolerated.
उन्हें इस पद के लिए चुना जाना एक सम्मान है।
Being chosen for this position is an honor.
Easily Confused
Learners often add 'ne' to passive sentences.
Confusing 'ho gaya' (happened) with 'kiya gaya' (was done).
Confusing 'hua hai' (is done/state) with 'kiya gaya hai' (has been done/action).
Common Mistakes
Maine kaam kiya gaya.
Kaam kiya gaya.
Patra likha gaye.
Patra likha gaya.
Kaam kar gaya.
Kaam kiya gaya.
Gaya kaam.
Kaam gaya.
Usne khana khaya gaya.
Khana khaya gaya.
Kitab padha gaya.
Kitab padhi gayi.
Sab kaam ho gaya.
Sab kaam kar diye gaye.
Mujhe bola gaya tha ki...
Mujhse kaha gaya tha ki...
Yeh kaam tumse kiya gaya.
Yeh kaam tumhare dwara kiya gaya.
Woh kaam kiya gaya.
Woh kaam kiya gaya tha.
Yeh baat samjha gaya.
Yeh baat samjhi gayi.
Unke dwara kiya gaya tha kaam.
Kaam unke dwara kiya gaya tha.
Iska matlab samjha jana chahiye.
Iska matlab samjha jana chahiye.
Sentence Patterns
___ (object) ___ (verb) gaya.
___ (object) ___ (verb) jana chahiye.
___ (agent) dwara ___ (object) ___ (verb) gaya.
Kya ___ (object) ___ (verb) gaya hai?
Real World Usage
यह प्रोजेक्ट कल तक पूरा किया जाएगा।
शहर में कर्फ्यू लगा दिया गया है।
काम हो गया क्या?
मुझे इस पद के लिए चुना गया।
आपका ऑर्डर तैयार किया जा रहा है।
आपकी ट्रेन रद्द कर दी गई है।
Gender Matters
No 'Ne'
Professionalism
Avoid Blame
Smart Tips
Use passive voice to avoid direct blame.
Use passive voice to remain objective.
Use passive voice.
Use passive for general rules.
Pronunciation
Gaya/Gayi
Ensure the 'y' is distinct. 'Gaya' rhymes with 'aya'.
Falling
Kaam kiya gaya ↘
Finality and objectivity.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Passive is 'Past-ive': Use the Past participle and add 'jana' to go with the flow.
Visual Association
Imagine a letter (the object) floating in the air while a pen (the agent) is hidden behind a curtain. The letter is being written by an invisible hand.
Rhyme
When the object takes the lead, add 'jana' to fulfill the need.
Story
A king once ordered a feast. The food was cooked (khana pakaya gaya). The guests were invited (mehman bulaye gaye). The music was played (sangeet bajaya gaya). Everything was done without mentioning the king.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about your day using only passive voice (e.g., 'Coffee was made', 'Emails were sent').
Cultural Notes
Passive voice is highly valued in emails to sound polite and avoid direct confrontation.
News anchors use passive voice to report crimes without naming suspects prematurely.
Research papers use passive voice to maintain scientific objectivity.
Hindi passive voice evolved from Sanskrit structures, simplifying into the current 'jana' auxiliary form.
Conversation Starters
क्या आपको लगता है कि यह काम समय पर पूरा किया गया?
क्या कल कोई घोषणा की गई थी?
क्या आपको सूचित किया गया है?
क्या यह नियम बदला जाना चाहिए?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
पत्र ___ (likha) gaya.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Kitab padha gaya.
Ram ne kaam kiya.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
gaya / kaam / kiya
Khana ___ (past).
Which is most formal?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesपत्र ___ (likha) gaya.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Kitab padha gaya.
Ram ne kaam kiya.
Match the passive form.
gaya / kaam / kiya
Khana ___ (past).
Which is most formal?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesThe decision was taken by the committee.
यहाँ फ़ोटो खींचना ___ है।
Which is the most formal way to say 'The files were checked'?
गया / पुरस्कार / उसे / दिया
चाय पी जा रहा है। (The tea is being drunk)
Match the pairs:
सड़कें ___ जा रही हैं।
How does a news anchor say 'The Prime Minister was welcomed'?
बच्चों को बुलाया गए।
This letter was written by me.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, it sounds unnatural if overused. Use it only when the object is the focus.
Only if you need to specify the agent. Otherwise, omit it.
It acts as the auxiliary to indicate the passive state.
It changes the focus, not the core meaning.
Yes, but it might sound a bit formal or detached.
Use 'gaye' for masculine plural and 'gayi' for feminine plural.
Similar in function, but the structure is different.
Use active voice for most things and save passive for professional contexts.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Se + verb
Hindi uses a full verb 'jana' while Spanish uses a particle.
être + past participle
Choice of auxiliary verb (to be vs to go).
werden + past participle
German uses 'werden', Hindi uses 'jana'.
reru/rareru suffix
Suffix vs Auxiliary.
Internal vowel change
Morphological change vs Syntactic construction.
bei marker
Particle usage.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Hindi Passive Voice: Actions without Doers (Verb + जाना)
Overview The Hindi passive voice, particularly the construction using a verb's perfective participle followed by conjuga...
Hindi Passive Voice: Past Participle (Was Done)
Overview The Hindi passive voice, particularly when formed with the past participle and the auxiliary verb `jānā` (जाना...
Related Grammar Rules
Getting Things Done: Second Causative Verbs (-vana)
Overview The Second Causative verb form in Hindi, characterized by the suffix `**-vānā**` (`-वाना`), is a critical gramm...
Might Have to & Could Manage: Combining Modals (सकना, पड़ना, पाना)
Overview Mastering Hindi grammar at the C1 level demands precision, particularly when expressing nuanced concepts like o...
Connecting Verbs: Want to, Try to, Start to (Control & Raising)
Overview Mastering advanced Hindi syntax necessitates a nuanced understanding of how verbs interact, particularly when e...
Stacking Hindi Verbs: Doing more with Auxiliaries (Chaining)
Overview Mastering Hindi at the C1 level necessitates a deep understanding of its verb system, particularly the nuanced...
The Hinglish Matrix: English Verbs in Hindi
Overview Ever tried watching a Bollywood movie on Netflix without subtitles? You probably realized you understood half t...
