Understanding Passive Voice in Hindi: A Guide for English Learners

What is Passive Voice in Hindi?

Passive voice in Hindi is used to emphasize the action or the object receiving the action, rather than the subject performing it. In Hindi, this uses a construction that often involves the passive marker -jaata/-jaati.

Structure of Passive Voice in Hindi

In the passive voice, the subject undergoes the action, and the doer may be omitted or introduced using a prepositional phrase. Here is a simple structure:
Subject + (Passive verb) + (by Phrase) + (optional agent)

Forming Passive Sentences in Hindi

To form passive sentences in Hindi, it's crucial to know the verb form changes. Hindi verbs in passive voice often end with -jaata hai/-jaati hai for singular and -jaate hain for plural. Remember that the gender and number of the verb match the subject.

• लिखा जाता है (likha jaata hai) - is written
• किया जाता है (kiya jaata hai) - is done
• पढ़ा जाता है (padha jaata hai) - is read

When to Use Passive Voice in Hindi

Passive voice can be used when the action itself or the object is more critical than who is performing the action. It's less common than in English but is used in formal writing and when the doer is unknown or irrelevant. In spoken Hindi, active voice is usually preferred.

Active vs. Passive Voice Usage

Here is a comparison to highlight the difference in usage between active and passive voice in Hindi. This can guide you on when to choose each.
Active:
राहुल पत्र लिखता है। (Rahul writes the letter.)
Passive:
पत्र राहुल द्वारा लिखा जाता है। (The letter is written by Rahul.)

Practice Makes Perfect

Try writing sentences in both active and passive voice as practice. This helps reinforce your understanding of verb agreement and sentence structure in Hindi.