Hindi Passive Voice (Getting Things Done)
jānā to hide the doer or express that you physically can't do something.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The Hindi passive voice focuses on the action or the object rather than the person performing the action.
- Use the verb 'jaana' (to go) as an auxiliary: 'kaam kiya gaya' (the work was done).
- The main verb must be in the past participle form (e.g., 'kiya', 'likha').
- The subject (if mentioned) is marked with 'ke dwara' (by).
Overview
In Hindi, the passive voice is not merely a stylistic choice; it represents a fundamental linguistic construction, especially prevalent at the B1 CEFR level for expressing nuance in agency and action. Unlike English, where the passive voice often suggests ambiguity or a lack of directness, Hindi frequently employs it for clarity, formality, or to convey specific semantic functions, particularly incapacity. It shifts the grammatical focus from the doer of an action to the action itself or its recipient, fundamentally altering the sentence's perspective.
This grammatical structure allows you to articulate events where the agent is unknown, irrelevant, or intentionally deemphasized. Crucially, Hindi also uses the passive voice to express an inability to perform an action, often due to physical limitations, emotional state, or external circumstances. Mastering this construct is essential for understanding authentic Hindi communication, from news reports to everyday expressions of exasperation.
Its prevalence reflects a cultural tendency to sometimes externalize responsibility or focus on outcomes rather than individual actors.
How This Grammar Works
जाना (jānā), which literally means 'to go'. However, in passive constructions, जाना loses its directional meaning and functions solely as a marker of passivity, much like 'to be' in English passive sentences.जाना then conjugates to indicate the tense, aspect, and mood of the sentence, also agreeing with the new subject.जाना contextualizes it temporally and grammatically. If the original agent needs to be mentioned, it is introduced using the postposition से (se) or, more formally, के द्वारा (ke dvārā), marking them as the instrumental cause rather than the direct subject.पुलिस ने चोर को पकड़ा (pulīs ne chor ko pakṛā – “The police caught the thief”) transforms. चोर (chor – thief), the object, becomes the new subject. The verb पकड़ना (pakṛnā – to catch) becomes its perfective participle पकड़ा (pakṛā – caught), agreeing with masculine singular चोर.जाना is conjugated in the past tense, masculine singular, becoming गया (gayā). The full passive sentence is चोर पकड़ा गया (chor pakṛā gayā – “The thief was caught”). Here, the focus shifts entirely to the thief and the action performed upon him.Formation Pattern
जाना. The agent, if mentioned, typically precedes the new subject.
लिखना - likhnā, to write).
-ना (nā) ending and adding -आ (ā) for masculine singular, -ई (ī) for feminine singular, and -ए (e) for masculine plural. For feminine plural, it's typically -ईं (ī̃).
लिखना (likhnā) → लिखा (likhā) / लिखी (likhī) / लिखे (likhe)
जाना (jānā) according to the desired tense, aspect, and mood, and ensure it also agrees in gender and number with the new subject. जाना will reflect the actual tense of the original sentence.
से (se) or के द्वारा (ke dvārā).
मैंने पत्र लिखा) | Example (Passive: मुझसे पत्र लिखा गया) |
से/के द्वारा (Optional) | The original subject, marked with से or के द्वारा. | मैंने (I) | मुझसे (by me) |
पत्र (letter, masc. sing.) | पत्र (letter, masc. sing.) |
लिखा (wrote, masc. sing.) | लिखा (written, masc. sing.) |
जाना (jānā) Conjugated] | Conjugated जाना, agreeing with the new subject & tense. | (Implicit in active) | गया (went/was, masc. sing. past) |
छात्रों ने पाठ पढ़े। (chātron ne pāṭh paṛhe. – “The students read the lessons.” - Active)
छात्रों से पाठ पढ़े गए। (chātron se pāṭh paṛhe gae. – “The lessons were read by the students.” - Passive)
माँ खाना बनाएगी। (mā̃ khānā banāegī. – “Mother will cook food.” - Active)
माँ से खाना बनाया जाएगा। (mā̃ se khānā banāyā jāegā. – “Food will be cooked by mother.” - Passive)
मैंने घर साफ़ किया। (mainne ghar sāf kiyā. – “I cleaned the house.” - Active)
मुझसे घर साफ़ किया गया। (mujhse ghar sāf kiyā gayā. – “The house was cleaned by me.” - Passive)
Conjugation Table
| Tense / Aspect | Masculine Singular (e.g., काम किया...) |
Feminine Singular (e.g., किताब की...) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| :-------------------- | :--------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------- | ||
| Simple Present | किया जाता है (kiyā jātā hai) |
की जाती है (kī jātī hai) |
||
| Present Continuous | किया जा रहा है (kiyā jā rahā hai) |
की जा रही है (kī jā rahī hai) |
||
| Simple Past | किया गया (kiyā gayā) |
की गई (kī gaī) |
||
| Past Continuous | किया जा रहा था (kiyā jā rahā thā) |
की जा रही थी (kī jā rahī thī) |
||
| Past Perfect | किया गया था (kiyā gayā thā) |
की गई थी (kī gaī thī) |
||
| Simple Future | किया जाएगा (kiyā jāegā) |
की जाएगी (kī jāegī) |
||
| Future Continuous | किया जा रहा होगा (kiyā jā rahā hogā) |
की जा रही होगी (kī jā rahī hogī) |
\ | |
| Subjunctive/Imperative | किया जाए (kiyā jāe) |
की जाए (kī jāe) |
When To Use It
- Unknown Agent:
चोर पकड़ा गया।(chor pakṛā gayā. – “The thief was caught.” – We don't know who caught him, or it's not the main point.) - Unimportant Agent:
यहाँ अंग्रेज़ी बोली जाती है।(yahā̃ aṅgrezī bolī jātī hai. – “English is spoken here.” – The specific speakers are not important; the fact that English is spoken is.) - Formal/Official Statements:
सभी नियमों का पालन किया जाएगा।(sabhī niyamõ kā pālan kiyā jāegā. – “All rules will be followed.” – Emphasizes the rules and their adherence, typical in official announcements). - General Truths/Proverbs:
पापों को धोया जाता है।(pāpõ ko dhoyā jātā hai. – “Sins are washed away.” – A general philosophical statement).
मैं नहीं कर सकता) because it often suggests an involuntary or overwhelming state.- Physical Inability (due to exhaustion, pain):
मुझसे चला नहीं जाता।(mujhse calā nahī̃ jātā. – “Walking is not happening by me.” / “I cannot walk [due to exhaustion/pain].”) This is distinct fromमैं चल नहीं सकता(main cal nahī̃ saktā – “I cannot walk” - general inability). - Emotional Inability (too sad, angry, etc.):
मुझसे यह देखा नहीं जाता।(mujhse yah dekhā nahī̃ jātā. – “This cannot be seen by me.” / “I can't bear to watch this [it's too sad/horrifying].”) This conveys a strong emotional reaction, making the act of watching impossible. - Unwillingness/Disgust:
मुझसे यह खाना खाया नहीं जाता।(mujhse yah khānā khāyā nahī̃ jātā. – “This food cannot be eaten by me.” / “I can't eat this food [it's unappetizing].”) This expresses a strong aversion, making the action of eating seem impossible.
मैं यह काम नहीं करूँगा (main yah kām nahī̃ karūngā – “I will not do this work”), one might say मुझसे यह काम नहीं किया जाएगा (mujhse yah kām nahī̃ kiyā jāegā – “This work will not be done by me” / “I won't be able to do this work”), implying a compelling circumstance preventing the action.Common Mistakes
- Incorrect
जाना(jānā) omission or usage: A very common mistake is to simply use the perfective participle withoutजानाor to useहोना(honā - to be/happen) instead. Whileयह किया(yah kiyā) can mean "This was done" in very specific contexts (often implying 'someone did this'), it's primarily the active past tense. For a clear, unambiguous passive,जानाis indispensable. For instance, sayingघर साफ़(ghar sāf – "house cleaned") instead ofघर साफ़ किया गया(ghar sāf kiyā gayā – "the house was cleaned") leaves the sentence incomplete or ambiguous.होनाin passive constructions is typically reserved for stative passives (e.g.,दरवाज़ा खुला हुआ है- darvāzā khulā huā hai - "the door is open") rather than actional passives withजाना.
- Lack of Agreement (Participle/
जानाwith New Subject): This is perhaps the most critical error. Learners often make the participle andजानाagree with the original agent or just use the masculine singular default, rather than the new grammatical subject (the object of the original active sentence). Remember, the entire passive construction (participle +जाना) must agree with the thing being acted upon. Ifरोटी(roṭī - bread, feminine singular) is the new subject, it must beखाई गई(khāī gaī - eaten, feminine singular), even if the person eating is masculine. - Incorrect:
मुझसे रोटी खाया गया।(mujhse roṭī khāyā gayā.) - Correct:
मुझसे रोटी खाई गई।(mujhse roṭī khāī gaī. – “Bread was eaten by me.”)
- Overuse of
के द्वारा(ke dvārā): While grammatically correct for "by,"के द्वाराcarries a highly formal, almost legalistic tone. In most everyday conversations, especially for the incapacity passive,से(se) is the natural and appropriate choice. Usingके द्वाराin casual speech can sound unnatural and overly stiff. - Better:
मुझसे यह काम नहीं किया जाएगा।(mujhse yah kām nahī̃ kiyā jāegā.) - Less natural:
मेरे द्वारा यह काम नहीं किया जाएगा।(mere dvārā yah kām nahī̃ kiyā jāegā.)
- Applying Incapacity Passive to Intransitive Verbs Incorrectly: While intransitive verbs can be used in the incapacity passive (e.g.,
मुझसे सोया नहीं जाता- mujhse soyā nahī̃ jātā – "I can't sleep"), they cannot form a standard passive because they lack a direct object to become the new subject. The incapacity passive with intransitive verbs focuses on the act itself not being doable by the person.
- Confusing with Simple Past (Transitive Verbs): For transitive verbs, the active simple past tense with
ने(ne) already uses a participle that agrees with the object, creating a superficial resemblance. However, theजानाauxiliary is the definitive marker of passivity.राम ने खाना खाया(rām ne khānā khāyā – “Ram ate food” - Active) vs.राम से खाना खाया गया(rām se khānā khāyā gayā – “Food was eaten by Ram” - Passive).
Contrast With Similar Patterns
सकना (saknā - to be able to/can)सकना and the incapacity passive express inability, but with crucial distinctions in nuance and implication.सकना (saknā) |से] + [Main Verb Participle] + नहीं जाता/जाती/जाते | [Agent] + [Main Verb] + नहीं सकता/सकती/सकते |\मुझसे चला नहीं जाता। (mujhse calā nahī̃ jātā. – “Walking is not happening by me.” – I'm too tired/sick to walk.) | मैं चल नहीं सकता। (main cal nahī̃ saktā. – “I cannot walk.” – Perhaps I broke my leg, or I'm forbidden to walk.) |\मुझसे यह दर्द सहा नहीं जाता। (mujhse yah dard sahā nahī̃ jātā. – “This pain cannot be borne by me.” – The pain is too intense.) | मैं यह दर्द सह नहीं सकता। (main yah dard sah nahī̃ saktā. – “I cannot bear this pain.” – A more direct statement of inability.) |\ने)ने (ne) with the subject) uses a verb participle that agrees with the object. This can sometimes be confused with the passive voice due to the participle agreement. However, the presence of the जाना auxiliary is the defining characteristic of the passive.जाना Auxiliary) | Simple Past (Active with ने) |से] + [Object] + [Main Verb Participle] + जाना | [Agent ने] + [Object] + [Main Verb Participle] |\चोर पकड़ा गया। (chor pakṛā gayā. – “The thief was caught.”) | पुलिस ने चोर को पकड़ा। (pulīs ne chor ko pakṛā. – “The police caught the thief.”)|\Real Conversations
The Hindi passive voice, particularly the incapacity passive, is deeply integrated into everyday spoken language and modern communication. You'll encounter it in informal chats, social media, and professional contexts alike. It’s a tool for expressing feelings and situations subtly.
1. Incapacity in Daily Life:
- Scenario: Friend asks you to join them for a late-night movie after a long day.
- दोस्त: आज रात फ़िल्म देखने चलें? (dost: āj rāt film dekhne calẽ? – “Friend: Shall we go watch a movie tonight?”)
- आप: यार, मुझसे आज और चला नहीं जाएगा, बहुत थक गया हूँ। (āp: yār, mujhse āj aur calā nahī̃ jāegā, bahut thak gayā hū̃. – “You: Dude, I can’t walk any more today, I’m very tired.” – Implies extreme exhaustion making it impossible.)
- Scenario: You’re served extremely spicy food.
- आप: बाप रे, मुझसे इतना तीखा खाना खाया नहीं जाता। (āp: bāp re, mujhse itnā tīkhā khānā khāyā nahī̃ jātā. – “You: Oh wow, I can’t eat such spicy food.” – Expresses strong aversion/inability due to spice.)
- Scenario: On social media, commenting on a sad news story.
- पोस्ट: इतनी दुखद खबर... (poṣṭ: itnī dukhad khabar... – “Post: Such sad news...”)
- कमेंट: मुझसे यह पढ़ा नहीं जा रहा है। दिल दहल गया। (kameṇṭ: mujhse yah paṛhā nahī̃ jā rahā hai. dil dahal gayā. – “Comment: I can’t read this. My heart sank.” – Expresses emotional inability to continue reading.)
2. Standard Passive in Formal/Objective Contexts:
- Scenario: In a work email about a project update.
- प्रिय टीम, प्रोजेक्ट 'अल्फा' का लक्ष्य सफलतापूर्वक पूरा किया गया है। (priya ṭīm, projaikṭ 'alphā' kā lakṣy saphalatāpūrvak pūrā kiyā gayā hai. – “Dear team, Project 'Alpha's goal has been successfully completed.” – Focuses on the completion, not necessarily who did it.)
- Scenario: A general announcement or instruction.
- कृपया दरवाज़ा बंद रखा जाए। (kṛpyā darvāzā band rakhā jāe. – “Please keep the door closed.” / “The door should be kept closed.” – An impersonal instruction.)
These examples illustrate how the passive voice is not just a grammatical construction but a vital tool for expressing feelings, responsibilities, and objective information in an idiomatic Hindi manner. Its flexibility allows speakers to navigate social interactions with greater nuance.
Progressive Practice
To truly internalize the Hindi passive voice, you must engage in deliberate and varied practice. Move beyond mere recognition to active production, gradually increasing the complexity of your exercises.
Active-to-Passive Transformation: Start with simple active sentences (e.g., मैंने किताब पढ़ी। - mainne kitāb paṛhī. – “I read the book.”) and systematically convert them into passive structures (e.g., मुझसे किताब पढ़ी गई। - mujhse kitāb paṛhī gaī. – “The book was read by me.”). Focus on correct participle formation and जाना conjugation with agreement.
Identify Passive Voice in Authentic Texts: Read Hindi news articles, blog posts, or short stories. Actively identify every instance of the passive voice. Analyze why it was used – was the agent unknown, unimportant, or was it expressing inability? This builds your recognition skills and contextual understanding.
Construct Incapacity Sentences: Practice forming sentences using the incapacity passive to express your own real-life limitations or feelings. Think about situations where you're too tired, too sad, too busy, or find something too difficult. For instance: आज सुबह मुझसे जल्दी उठा नहीं गया। (āj subah mujhse jaldī uṭhā nahī̃ gayā. – “This morning I couldn’t wake up early.”) or इतना शोर मुझसे बर्दाश्त नहीं होता। (itnā shor mujhse bardāśt nahī̃ hotā. – “I can't tolerate so much noise.”).
Role-Playing and Conversation: Engage in conversations with native speakers or fellow learners. Actively try to incorporate both types of passive voice. For example, describe a news event using the standard passive, or express a personal limitation using the incapacity passive. Pay attention to how native speakers use it naturally.
Reverse Translation: Translate English passive sentences into Hindi, and then translate Hindi passive sentences back into English. This bidirectional practice strengthens your understanding of both languages' differing approaches to passivity.
Focus on Agreement: Dedicate specific exercises to ensuring correct gender and number agreement of the participle and जाना with the new subject. Create drills with lists of various objects (masculine singular, feminine singular, masculine plural, feminine plural) and practice pairing them with appropriate passive verb forms.
Quick FAQ
Predominantly, transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) are used in the standard passive construction (X किया गया). This is because the direct object becomes the new subject of the passive sentence. Intransitive verbs (verbs that do not take a direct object, like सोना - sonā, to sleep; चलना - calnā, to walk) generally cannot form a standard passive. However, intransitive verbs can be used in the incapacity passive (मुझसे सोया नहीं जाता) to express the inability to perform that action. In such cases, the emphasis is on the action itself not being doable from the agent's side, rather than an object being acted upon. For example, मुझसे हँसा नहीं जाता (mujhse hãsā nahī̃ jātā – "I can't laugh" [because I'm too sad]).
The Standard Passive (e.g., काम किया गया) tends to be more formal and objective, often found in written reports, news, announcements, and official communication. The Incapacity Passive (e.g., मुझसे चला नहीं जाता) is very common and natural in informal, everyday spoken Hindi, used to express personal feelings and limitations. The choice between से and के द्वारा for mentioning the agent also affects formality: के द्वारा is significantly more formal, almost bureaucratic, while से is standard in most contexts, including casual ones.
You use the oblique form of the pronoun followed by से.
- "By me":
मुझसे(mujhse) - "By you" (informal singular):
तुझसे(tujhse) - "By you" (formal singular/plural):
आपसे(āpse) - "By him/her":
उससे(usse) - "By them":
उनसे(unse) - "By us":
हमसे(hamse)
से after the noun (e.g., पुलिस से - pulīs se, by the police). The more formal के द्वारा can also be used (मेरे द्वारा - mere dvārā), but as noted, it's reserved for highly formal contexts.Passive Voice Conjugation (Verb: Karna - To do)
| Tense | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Past
|
kiya gaya
|
ki gayi
|
kiye gaye
|
ki gayin
|
|
Present Perfect
|
kiya gaya hai
|
ki gayi hai
|
kiye gaye hain
|
ki gayin hain
|
|
Future
|
kiya jayega
|
ki jayegi
|
kiye jayenge
|
ki jayengi
|
Meanings
The passive voice is used when the performer of the action is unknown, irrelevant, or when you want to emphasize the result of the action.
Formal Reporting
Used in news or official reports to maintain objectivity.
“कानून पास किया गया।”
“दोषियों को पकड़ा गया।”
Focus on Result
When the outcome is more important than the person who caused it.
“खाना परोसा गया।”
“घर सजाया गया।”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Object + Participle + gaya
|
Kaam kiya gaya.
|
|
Negative
|
Object + nahi + Participle + gaya
|
Kaam nahi kiya gaya.
|
|
Interrogative
|
Kya + Object + Participle + gaya?
|
Kya kaam kiya gaya?
|
|
Future
|
Object + Participle + jayega
|
Kaam kiya jayega.
|
|
Continuous
|
Object + Participle + ja raha hai
|
Kaam kiya ja raha hai.
|
|
Perfect
|
Object + Participle + gaya hai
|
Kaam kiya gaya hai.
|
Formality Spectrum
कार्य पूरा किया गया। (Work/Project)
काम पूरा किया गया। (Work/Project)
काम हो गया। (Work/Project)
काम निपट गया। (Work/Project)
Passive Voice Components
Auxiliary
- jaana to go
Main Verb
- Past Participle e.g., kiya, likha
Agent
- ke dwara by
Examples by Level
काम किया गया।
The work was done.
खाना खाया गया।
The food was eaten.
पत्र लिखा गया।
The letter was written.
किताब पढ़ी गई।
The book was read.
दरवाजा खोला गया।
The door was opened.
खिड़कियाँ बंद की गईं।
The windows were closed.
सब्जी काटी गई।
The vegetable was cut.
पानी पिया गया।
The water was drunk.
यह फैसला सरकार के द्वारा लिया गया।
This decision was taken by the government.
मीटिंग कल आयोजित की जाएगी।
The meeting will be organized tomorrow.
उसे इनाम दिया गया।
He was given a prize.
गलती सुधार दी गई है।
The mistake has been corrected.
इस समस्या पर विचार किया जाना चाहिए।
This problem should be considered.
कानून को सख्ती से लागू किया गया।
The law was strictly enforced.
उसे पद से हटा दिया गया।
He was removed from the position.
सभी सबूत पेश किए गए।
All evidence was presented.
यह सिद्धांत वैज्ञानिकों द्वारा प्रतिपादित किया गया था।
This theory was propounded by scientists.
ऐतिहासिक तथ्यों को तोड़-मरोड़ कर पेश किया गया।
Historical facts were presented in a distorted manner.
इस मुद्दे को गंभीरता से लिया जाना अपेक्षित है।
It is expected that this issue be taken seriously.
संविधान में संशोधन किया गया।
The constitution was amended.
उक्त प्रस्ताव को सर्वसम्मति से पारित किया गया।
The aforementioned proposal was passed unanimously.
विवादित भूमि का सीमांकन किया गया है।
The disputed land has been demarcated.
साहित्यिक कृतियों का अनुवाद किया जाना एक कठिन कार्य है।
Translating literary works is a difficult task.
जनता के हितों को सर्वोपरि रखा गया है।
Public interests have been kept paramount.
Easily Confused
Learners confuse 'done by me' (passive) with 'got done by someone else' (causative).
Learners confuse 'Mujhe jana hai' (I have to go) with passive.
Overusing passive where active is more natural.
Common Mistakes
Main khaya gaya.
Khana khaya gaya.
Kaam kiya gaye.
Kaam kiya gaya.
Patra likha hai.
Patra likha gaya hai.
Khana banaya.
Khana banaya gaya.
Kitab padha gaya.
Kitab padhi gayi.
Sab kaam kiya gaya.
Sab kaam kiye gaye.
Uske dwara main gaya.
Mere dwara kaam kiya gaya.
Mujhe khaya gaya.
Khana mere dwara khaya gaya.
Sona gaya.
Soya gaya.
Kaam karwaya gaya.
Kaam kiya gaya.
Yeh baat bola gaya.
Yeh baat kahi gayi.
Woh mara gaya.
Woh mara gaya (correct, but context matters).
Sentence Patterns
___ (object) ___ (participle) gaya.
___ (object) ___ (participle) jayega.
___ (object) ___ (agent) ke dwara ___ (participle) gaya.
Kya ___ (object) ___ (participle) gaya?
Real World Usage
दोषियों को पकड़ा गया।
प्रोजेक्ट पूरा किया गया है।
प्याज को काटा गया।
कानून पारित किया गया।
फोटो शेयर की गई।
टिकट बुक किया गया है।
Focus on the Object
Don't Overuse
The 'dwara' Trap
Formal Tone
Smart Tips
Use passive voice to list steps clearly.
Use passive to remain neutral.
Use passive to avoid 'I' or 'You'.
Passive is your best friend.
Pronunciation
Gaya/Gayi
Ensure the 'y' sound is clear. 'Gaya' (masc) vs 'Gayi' (fem).
Falling intonation
Kaam kiya gaya ↓
Used for declarative statements.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Passive is 'Gone' (Gaya) - the subject has 'gone' away, and the action is left behind.
Visual Association
Imagine a letter sitting on a desk. The person who wrote it is invisible. The letter is just 'being written' (likha gaya).
Rhyme
Action is the star of the show, Just add 'gaya' and let the subject go.
Story
A chef makes a cake. In active voice: 'Chef makes cake.' In passive voice: 'The cake is made.' The cake is now the hero of the story, and the chef is just a shadow.
Word Web
Challenge
Look around your room and describe 3 things using passive voice (e.g., 'The light was turned on').
Cultural Notes
Passive voice is highly valued in formal settings to avoid sounding aggressive.
News anchors use passive voice to report events neutrally.
Legal documents rely heavily on passive constructions.
The Hindi passive voice evolved from Sanskrit passive constructions, simplified over centuries.
Conversation Starters
क्या आज का काम पूरा किया गया?
क्या कल की मीटिंग आयोजित की गई थी?
क्या यह फिल्म देखी गई है?
क्या घर सजाया गया है?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
काम ___ (karna) गया।
Find and fix the mistake:
किताब पढ़ा गया।
Which is correct?
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
The food was eaten.
Answer starts with: Kha...
Letters were written.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Kya kaam hua? B: Haan, kaam ___.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesकाम ___ (karna) गया।
Find and fix the mistake:
किताब पढ़ा गया।
Which is correct?
गया / काम / किया
The food was eaten.
Letters were written.
Match: 'kiya gaya' vs 'kiya jayega'
A: Kya kaam hua? B: Haan, kaam ___.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesKal match dekha ___ tha. (The match was watched yesterday)
hai / jaati / English / yahan / boli
Which sentence is Passive?
The food is being cooked.
Match correctly
Main khana nahi khaya jaata.
Mujhse ye bojh uthaya nahi ___. (I can't lift this load - incapacity)
Chor pakda gaya.
Kitabein (Books) padhi ___ hain.
jayega / kaam / kiya / kal
English is taught here.
Select the Incapacity Passive.
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
No, it sounds unnatural. Use it only when the focus is on the action.
It means 'by' and is used to introduce the agent in a passive sentence.
Yes, it is generally more formal than active voice.
No, only transitive verbs can be passive.
Because it must agree with the object of the sentence.
It is used, but less frequently than in English.
You must learn the gender of nouns to use passive correctly.
Yes, but it's less common than past tense passive.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
to be + past participle
Hindi passive is less common in daily speech than English.
ser + participio
Spanish also uses the 'se' passive, which Hindi lacks.
werden + Partizip II
German has a more complex case system.
-(r)eru suffix
Japanese passive can imply suffering (adversative passive).
Internal vowel change
Hindi uses an external auxiliary word.
bei (被) construction
Chinese passive is often used for negative outcomes.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
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