What is the Passive Voice in Hindi?
The passive voice, known as कर्तृवाच्य (kartṛvāchya) in Hindi, is a grammatical construction where the focus shifts from the doer (subject) of the action to the recipient (object) of the action. In other words, the object of an active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence. The agent (the one who performs the action) is either omitted or mentioned later in the sentence using “द्वारा” (dvārā).
Why is Passive Voice Important in Formal Hindi Writing?
Passive voice is a hallmark of formal and academic Hindi writing. It allows writers to:
- Maintain an objective tone by focusing on actions rather than actors
- Highlight important information by placing the object at the beginning
- Achieve a formal and polished style, suitable for reports, official letters, and academic work
How to Form Passive Voice in Hindi
To construct a passive sentence in Hindi, follow these steps:
- Identify the object in the active sentence. This becomes the new subject in the passive sentence.
- Use the appropriate passive verb form. The verb is conjugated using the root form + “या/यी/ये गया/गई/गए” depending on gender and number, followed by the auxiliary verb “है/हैं/था/थी/थे” to indicate tense and agreement.
- If necessary, mention the original subject (doer) using “द्वारा”.
Active to Passive Voice: A Step-by-Step Example
Active: राम ने पत्र लिखा।
Translation: Ram wrote the letter.
Passive: पत्र राम द्वारा लिखा गया।
Translation: The letter was written by Ram.
Key Points to Remember
- The verb agrees with the new subject (original object) in gender and number.
- The agent (original doer) is optional and introduced with “द्वारा”.
- In formal writing, the passive voice is often preferred for its neutrality and focus on action/results.
Passive Voice in Different Tenses
Present Tense
Active: शिक्षक छात्रों को पढ़ाते हैं।
Passive: छात्रों को शिक्षक द्वारा पढ़ाया जाता है।
Past Tense
Active: उसने किताबें खरीदीं।
Passive: किताबें उसके द्वारा खरीदी गईं।
Future Tense
Active: वह परीक्षा देगा।
Passive: परीक्षा उसके द्वारा दी जाएगी।
Usage Tips for Formal Hindi Writing
- Use passive voice to emphasize results or processes over personal actions.
- Avoid overusing passive voice in informal contexts as it may sound unnatural.
- When writing official documents, reports, or academic papers, passive voice lends clarity and formality.
- Always ensure verb agreement with the new subject.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Incorrect verb agreement with the subject in gender or number
- Forgetting to use “द्वारा” when mentioning the doer
- Using passive voice inappropriately in conversational or informal settings
Practice Exercises
- Convert the following active sentence to passive: “माता ने भोजन बनाया।”
- Write a short paragraph about a process (e.g., how a book is published) using passive constructions.
- Identify passive voice usage in a Hindi newspaper article and analyze its effect.
Conclusion
Using the passive voice correctly in formal Hindi writing can significantly improve the quality and professionalism of your communication. By following the structure and examples provided in this article, you can confidently incorporate passive constructions into your writing. For more tips and personalized language learning support, explore the Hindi resources on Talkpal’s AI language learning blog and take your skills to the next level.
