A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Passive Voice in Urdu Grammar

Introduction to Urdu Grammar

Urdu is a captivating language with a beautiful and unique grammatical structure. While the language’s rich phonetic and syntactical qualities make it stand out, its grammar rules may sometimes pose a challenge for both learners and speakers. This article specifically delves into the complexities of passive voice in Urdu grammar.

Defining Passive Voice in Urdu

In Urdu grammar, the passive voice is characterized by the use of intransitive verbs that shift an action’s focus from the subject (the one who performs the action) to the object (the one who receives the action). The passive voice emphasizes the RESULT or EFFECT of an action rather than the agent behind the action.

Key Components of Passive Voice in Urdu

The passive voice in Urdu is constructed using these primary components:

1. The verb form in passive voice
2. The direct object in the passive sentence, acting as the subject
3. A “by” phrase (کا یا کی کے) to introduce the original subject, which is now the agent in passive voice

Formation of Passive Voice in Urdu

1. Present Indefinite

To form the passive voice in the present indefinite tense, the past participle of the verb is used with the auxiliary verb “ہوتا” (“hota”) for masculine nouns or “ہوتی” (“hoti”) for feminine nouns. To further illustrate, here is the transformation from active to passive voice in the present indefinite tense:

• Active: وہ کتاب پڑھتا ہے۔ (Woh kitaab parhta hai.) – He reads the book.
• Passive: کتاب پڑھی جاتی ہے۔ (Kitaab parhi jaati hai.) – The book is read.

2. Past Indefinite

For the past indefinite tense, the past participle of the verb is used along with “تھا” (“tha”) for masculine nouns or “تھی” (“thi”) for feminine nouns. Here’s an example:

• Active: وہ کتاب پڑھا۔ (Woh kitaab parha.) – He read the book.
• Passive: کتاب پڑھی گئی۔ (Kitaab parhi gaee.) – The book was read.

3. Future Indefinite

In the future indefinite tense, the past participle is used with “ہوگا” (“hoga”) for masculine nouns or “ہوگی” (“hogi”) for feminine nouns:

• Active: وہ کتاب پڑھے گا۔ (Woh kitaab parhay ga.) – He will read the book.
• Passive: کتاب پڑھی جائے گی۔ (Kitaab parhi jayegi.) – The book will be read.

Understanding Urdu Passive Voice through Examples and Sentences

In this section, several examples are provided to deepen the understanding of the passive voice in Urdu grammar and highlight its proper usage:

Example 1:

• Active: میں نے چاول پکائے۔ (Main ne chawal pakaye.) – I cooked the rice.
• Passive: چاول پکائے گئے۔ (Chawal pakaye gae.) – The rice was cooked.

Example 2:

• Active: ہم نے ڈراپ بینک دی۔ (Hum ne daak bank di.) – We gave the letter to the bank.
• Passive: بینک کو ڈاک دی گئی۔ (Bank ko daak di gai.) – The letter was given to the bank.

Example 3:

• Active: یہاں کچھ کام کیا گیا۔ (Yahan kuch kaam kiya gaya.) – Some work was done here.
• Passive: یہاں کچھ کام کرایا گیا۔ (Yahan kuch kaam karaya gaya.) – Some work was made to be done here.

In conclusion, mastering the passive voice in Urdu grammar involves understanding its core components, the formation rules for various tenses, and practicing with a plethora of examples and sentences. Grasping the nuances of passive voice in Urdu will empower learners to express themselves eloquently and accurately in this beautiful language.