Passive with 'Jawa' (যাওয়া - jaowa)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the verbal noun plus the verb 'jaowa' (to go) to create a passive sentence focusing on the action's result or possibility.
- Turn the main verb into a verbal noun ending in -a or -owa (e.g., kora, khawa).
- Add the auxiliary verb 'jaowa' and conjugate it for tense and person.
- The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of this passive construction.
Conjugating 'Jaowa' in the Passive
| Tense | Auxiliary Form | Example (with 'Kora') | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
যায় (jay)
|
করা যায়
|
is/can be done
|
|
Present Continuous
|
যাচ্ছে (jacche)
|
করা যাচ্ছে
|
is being done
|
|
Present Perfect
|
গিয়েছে (giyeche)
|
করা গিয়েছে
|
has been done
|
|
Past Simple
|
গেল (gelo)
|
করা গেল
|
was done
|
|
Past Continuous
|
যাচ্ছিল (jacchilo)
|
করা যাচ্ছিল
|
was being done
|
|
Future
|
যাবে (jabe)
|
করা যাবে
|
will be done
|
|
Conditional
|
যেত (jeto)
|
করা যেত
|
could have been done
|
|
Imperative
|
যাক (jak)
|
করা যাক
|
let it be done
|
Colloquial vs. Formal Forms
| Formal (Sadhu) | Standard (Chalit) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
যাইতেছে (jaiteche)
|
যাচ্ছে (jacche)
|
is being done
|
|
গিয়াছে (giyache)
|
গিয়েছে (giyeche)
|
has been done
|
|
যাইবে (jaibe)
|
যাবে (jabe)
|
will be done
|
Meanings
A construction where the focus is shifted from the doer to the action itself, often implying that the action is possible, habitual, or a completed state.
General Passive
Standard passive voice where the agent is unknown or unimportant.
“চিঠিটি লেখা হয়েছে (Chithi-ti lekha hoyeche) - The letter has been written.”
Possibility/Potential
Expressing that an action is possible or permitted.
“এখান থেকে পাহাড় দেখা যায় (Ekhan theke pahar dekha jay) - The mountains can be seen from here.”
Habitual/General Truth
Describing things that are generally done in a certain way.
“বাংলাদেশে ভাত খাওয়া হয় (Bangladeshe bhat khawa hoy/jay) - Rice is eaten in Bangladesh.”
Formal Instructions
Giving directions or rules in a polite, indirect way.
“এখানে ধূমপান করা যায় না (Ekane dhumpan kora jay na) - Smoking is not allowed here.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Obj + V-a + jay
|
কাজটি করা যায় (The work is done)
|
|
Negative
|
Obj + V-a + jay na
|
কাজটি করা যায় না (The work isn't done)
|
|
Interrogative
|
Obj + V-a + jay ki?
|
কাজটি কি করা যায়? (Can the work be done?)
|
|
Past
|
Obj + V-a + gelo
|
কাজটি করা গেল (The work was done)
|
|
Future
|
Obj + V-a + jabe
|
কাজটি করা যাবে (The work will be done)
|
|
Perfect
|
Obj + V-a + giyeche
|
কাজটি করা গিয়েছে (The work has been done)
|
|
Continuous
|
Obj + V-a + jacche
|
কাজটি করা যাচ্ছে (The work is being done)
|
|
Modal (Can)
|
Obj + V-a + jete pare
|
কাজটি করা যেতে পারে (The work might be done)
|
Espectro de formalidade
কার্যটি সম্পন্ন করা সম্ভব। (Karjoti somponno kora sombhob.) (Workplace)
কাজটি করা যায়। (Kajti kora jay.) (Workplace)
কাজটা করা যাবে। (Kajta kora jabe.) (Workplace)
কাজটা হয়ে যাবে রে! (Kajta hoye jabe re!) (Workplace)
The World of 'Jaowa' Passive
Possibility
- দেখা যায় can be seen
- শোনা যায় can be heard
Rules
- ধূমপান নিষেধ smoking forbidden
- বসা যাবে না cannot sit
Results
- করা হয়েছে has been done
- পাওয়া গেল was found
Hoya vs. Jaowa
How to build a passive sentence
Is there a doer?
Is it about possibility?
Is it a past result?
Exemplos por nível
ভাত খাওয়া যায়।
Rice can be eaten.
গান শোনা যায়।
A song can be heard.
বই পড়া যায়।
The book can be read.
কাজ করা যায়।
Work can be done.
চিঠিটি লেখা গেল।
The letter was written.
সিনেমাটি দেখা হয়েছে।
The movie has been seen.
এখানে বসা যায় না।
One cannot sit here.
চা পাওয়া যাবে?
Will tea be available?
সমস্যাটি সমাধান করা গিয়েছে।
The problem has been solved.
তাকে চেনা যায় না।
He cannot be recognized.
এই পথে যাওয়া যাবে না।
One cannot go by this path.
খবরটি শোনা গেল।
The news was heard.
বিষয়টি গুরুত্বের সাথে দেখা হচ্ছে।
The matter is being looked at with importance.
সবকিছু গুছিয়ে রাখা গিয়েছে।
Everything has been kept organized.
তাকে আর বিশ্বাস করা যায় না।
He can no longer be trusted.
কাজটি দ্রুত শেষ করা গেল।
The work was able to be finished quickly.
প্রাচীন লিপিটি পাঠ করা সম্ভবপর হয়েছে।
It has become possible to decipher the ancient script.
তার কণ্ঠস্বর চেনা যাচ্ছিল না।
His voice was not being recognized.
আইনটি কঠোরভাবে পালন করা হয়।
The law is strictly observed.
ঘটনাটি এড়িয়ে যাওয়া যায় না।
The incident cannot be ignored.
কাব্যের অন্তর্নিহিত অর্থ অনুধাবন করা যায়।
The inherent meaning of the poetry can be perceived.
সামাজিক পরিবর্তনের ধারাটি লক্ষ্য করা গিয়েছে।
The trend of social change has been observed.
প্রস্তাবটি সর্বসম্মতিক্রমে গৃহীত হয়েছে।
The proposal has been accepted unanimously.
সত্যকে কোনোভাবেই গোপন করা যায় না।
Truth can in no way be hidden.
Fácil de confundir
Learners use 'hoya' for everything because it maps directly to 'to be'.
Some passives use 'pora' (to fall) instead of 'jaowa'.
Confusing the literal 'going' with the auxiliary 'going'.
Erros comuns
Ami kora jay
Kajti kora jay
Bhat kha jay
Bhat khawa jay
Boi pora
Boi pora jay
Chithi lekha hoye
Chithi lekha hoyeche
Kajti kora gelo na
Kajti kora jay ni
Gari-ke dekha jay
Gari dekha jay
Ami kora jabo
Ami jabo
Kajti kora hoye jabe
Kajti kora jabe
Bhalo kora jay
Bhalo bhabe kora jay
Seta kora jete hoy
Seta kora dorkar
Padrões de frases
এখান থেকে ___ দেখা যায়।
এই কাজটি ___ করা যাবে না।
চেষ্টা করলে ___ করা সম্ভব।
খবরটি ___ শোনা গিয়েছে।
Real World Usage
আপনার প্রোফাইল দেখা যাচ্ছে না। (Your profile cannot be seen.)
এই প্রজেক্টটি কি সময়ের মধ্যে শেষ করা যাবে? (Can this project be finished in time?)
এখান থেকে সূর্যাস্ত দেখা যায়। (The sunset can be seen from here.)
অর্ডারটি বাতিল করা গিয়েছে। (The order has been cancelled.)
আজ দেখা করা যাবে? (Can we meet today? - lit. Can meeting be done?)
গবেষণায় দেখা গিয়েছে যে... (It has been seen in the research that...)
The 'Can' Shortcut
Avoid -ke with Objects
Politeness Hack
Past Tense Nuance
Smart Tips
Use the future passive form 'kora jabe?' instead of asking 'Can you do it?'.
Always use 'dekha jay' or 'shona jay' rather than 'ami dekhi'.
If you can replace 'is' with 'can be' in English, use 'jaowa'.
Use the present perfect 'kora giyeche' to report completion.
Pronúncia
Stress on Verbal Noun
The first syllable of the verbal noun (e.g., KO-ra) usually carries more stress than the auxiliary 'jay'.
Jaowa Vowel Shift
In 'giyeche', the 'i' sound is short and quick.
Possibility Statement
Dekha jay. (Falling tone at the end)
A simple statement of fact or possibility.
Doubtful Question
Kora jabe? (Rising tone on 'jabe')
Asking if something is actually possible.
Memorize
Mnemônico
Remember: 'Action goes (jaowa) to the finish line.' If the action 'goes' somewhere, it's the passive result.
Associação visual
Imagine a conveyor belt in a factory. The products (objects) are moving along, and things are 'going' (jaowa) through the process of being made, without seeing the workers.
Rhyme
When the actor is out of the way, use the verbal noun and add a 'jay'!
Story
A detective arrives at a crime scene. He doesn't know who did it, so he only sees what 'has been done' (kora giyeche). He sees the window 'has been broken' (bhanga giyeche) and the money 'has been taken' (neowa giyeche).
Word Web
Desafio
Look around your room and name three things that 'can be seen' using 'dekha jay'. Then name one thing that 'cannot be done' there using 'kora jay na'.
Notas culturais
In Kolkata, 'jaowa' passives are very common in polite requests to avoid sounding bossy.
In Dhaka, the 'giyeche' form is frequently used in news broadcasts to report government actions.
In some rural areas, 'hoya' is preferred over 'jaowa' even for possibility, but 'jaowa' is understood as a sign of education.
The use of 'jaowa' (to go) as a passive auxiliary is a common feature of Indo-Aryan languages, dating back to Prakrit and late Sanskrit 'yā' (to go) constructions.
Iniciadores de conversa
আপনার শহর থেকে কি পাহাড় দেখা যায়? (Can mountains be seen from your city?)
এই কাজটি কি আজ শেষ করা যাবে? (Can this work be finished today?)
বাংলাদেশে কোন খাবার সবচেয়ে বেশি খাওয়া হয়? (Which food is eaten most in Bangladesh?)
আপনার মতে, ইন্টারনেটের মাধ্যমে কি সব সমস্যার সমাধান করা সম্ভব? (In your opinion, can all problems be solved via the internet?)
Temas para diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
কাজটি ___ ___।
চিঠিটি লেখা ___। (The letter was written.)
Find and fix the mistake:
আমি দেখা যায়।
কাজটি / করা / যাবে / না
It has been said.
Answer starts with: A এ...
Select the passive sentence.
A: এই বইটা কি পড়া যাবে? B: হ্যাঁ, ___।
The 'jaowa' passive can never be used in the future tense.
Score: /8
Exercicios praticos
8 exercisesকাজটি ___ ___।
চিঠিটি লেখা ___। (The letter was written.)
Find and fix the mistake:
আমি দেখা যায়।
কাজটি / করা / যাবে / না
It has been said.
Select the passive sentence.
A: এই বইটা কি পড়া যাবে? B: হ্যাঁ, ___।
The 'jaowa' passive can never be used in the future tense.
Score: /8
Perguntas frequentes (8)
Yes, but you must add the `-ke` marker to the person. E.g., `Amake dekha jay` (I can be seen).
`Kora hoy` is a fact (it is done), while `kora jay` is a possibility (it can be done).
It is used in both, but it sounds more formal than active sentences because it omits the 'I' or 'You'.
Mostly with transitive verbs (verbs that take an object), but some intransitive verbs work in specific contexts.
`Nishedh` is a noun meaning 'forbidden'. It's shorter for signs, but `kora jabe na` is the full grammatical way to say it.
No, it loses its literal meaning and acts as a helper (auxiliary) to show the passive voice.
You would use `kora dorkar` or `kora uchit`. The 'jaowa' passive doesn't usually express 'should'.
Both! It is a standard feature of the Bengali language across all major dialects.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Se-passive / Ser + Participle
Bengali uses 'to go' as the auxiliary, while Spanish uses 'to be' or a reflexive pronoun.
On / Être + Participle
French relies on a pronoun ('on'), whereas Bengali relies on a verb auxiliary ('jaowa').
Werden-Passiv
German 'werden' is used for almost all passives, while Bengali splits passives between 'jaowa' and 'hoya'.
~reru / ~rareru
Japanese uses an inflectional suffix, while Bengali uses a separate auxiliary verb.
Internal Passive (Majhul)
Arabic is inflectional/vocalic; Bengali is periphrastic (using extra words).
Bèi (被) construction
Bengali 'jaowa' is neutral or positive; Chinese 'bèi' is often for unfortunate events.
