Advanced Passive Strategies in Literary
Master literary passive to command authority and maintain professional objectivity in formal Hindi writing and speech.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Literary passive shifts focus from the actor to the action or object.
- Use the past participle of the main verb followed by conjugated `jaana`.
- The verb must match the object's gender and number, not the subject.
- Formal contexts prefer `ke dwara` over `se` for mentioning the agent.
Quick Reference
| Tense | Active Construction | Literary Passive Construction | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past Simple | Usne patra likha | Patra likha gaya | Official Reporting |
| Present Continuous | Sarkar kaam kar rahi hai | Kaarya kiya ja raha hai | News Updates |
| Future Simple | Hum nirnay lenge | Nirnay liya jayega | Legal/Formal Promises |
| Present Perfect | Unhone niyam banaye hain | Niyam banaye gaye hain | Policy Announcements |
| Modal (Should) | Aapko yeh karna chahiye | Yeh kiya jaana chahiye | Formal Advice |
| Habitual | Log aisa kehte hain | Aisa kaha jaata hai | General Truths |
Key Examples
3 of 8Chai banayi gayi.
Tea was made.
Pradhan Mantri dwara bhashan diya gaya.
The speech was given by the Prime Minister.
Doshi ko saza sunayi jayegi.
The verdict will be announced to the guilty.
Drop the Subject
The most 'literary' sentences often omit the subject entirely. If everyone knows who did it, don't say it.
Gender Trap
Always check the gender of the object. If you say 'Chai' (tea), the verb must end in 'i'. It's the #1 mistake.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Literary passive shifts focus from the actor to the action or object.
- Use the past participle of the main verb followed by conjugated `jaana`.
- The verb must match the object's gender and number, not the subject.
- Formal contexts prefer `ke dwara` over `se` for mentioning the agent.
Overview
Welcome to the sophisticated world of Hindi literary passive! You already know the basic passive. You know how to say khana khaya gaya. But at the C1 level, we go deeper. Literary passive is about elegance and authority. It is the language of news, law, and high literature. It shifts the focus entirely away from the doer. It makes the statement feel objective and grand. Think of it as the 'incognito mode' of Hindi grammar. You use it when the action is more important than the person. It is common in formal writing and serious speeches. Mastering this will make your Hindi sound incredibly professional. It is like moving from a casual chat to a keynote address.
How This Grammar Works
In standard Hindi, we love our subjects. We say 'The boy ate the fruit.' But in literary passive, the fruit takes center stage. The subject often disappears entirely. If you must include the subject, use dwara. This is much more formal than the usual se. The verb stops caring about the person who did the work. Instead, the verb follows the gender and number of the object. If the object is feminine, the verb becomes feminine. If the object is plural, the verb follows suit. It creates a sense of distance and formality. It is like looking at a painting rather than watching a movie. The focus is on the finished state or the event itself.
Formation Pattern
- 1Creating this look is a step-by-step process. Follow these rules carefully:
- 2Identify your object. This is now your grammatical star.
- 3Take the main verb and turn it into its past participle form. For example,
likhnabecomeslikha. - 4Add the auxiliary verb
jaana. This is the engine of the passive voice. - 5Conjugate
jaanaaccording to the tense you need. - 6Match the gender and number of both verbs to the object.
- 7For formal contexts, use
kiya jaana(to be done) orpaaya jaana(to be found). - 8If you mention the actor, place them before
ke dwara. - 9Example:
Prastav(Object) +parit(Root) +kiya gaya(Auxiliary).
When To Use It
Use this when you want to sound like a BBC Hindi presenter. It is perfect for journalism. 'A decision was taken' sounds more neutral than 'The Minister took a decision.' Use it in legal documents or official contracts. It is great for academic papers where 'I' or 'We' feels too personal. Use it in poetry to create a sense of fate or mystery. It is also useful when the actor is unknown. Imagine a crime scene; 'The glass was broken' is all you know. Use it in job interviews when describing company achievements. It shows you understand professional decorum. It is the 'suit and tie' of Hindi sentence structures.
When Not To Use It
Do not use this at a family dinner. You will sound like a robot or a textbook. Avoid it when ordering street food like golgappa. Saying 'Golgappas are being requested by me' will get you weird looks. Do not use it in intimate or emotional conversations. It creates too much distance between people. If the action is quick and personal, stick to the active voice. Don't use it if the subject is the most important part. If your friend won a race, say 'He won!' not 'The race was won by him.' Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Red light for casual chats, green light for formal writing.
Common Mistakes
Even advanced speakers trip up here sometimes. The biggest mistake is gender mismatch. If the object is pustak (feminine), don't say likha gaya. It must be likhi gayi. Another mistake is overusing ke dwara. In English, we use 'by' a lot. In Hindi, the best passive often has no agent at all. Don't force a subject into the sentence if it isn't needed. Some people confuse the 'ability passive' with the 'literary passive'. Mujhse nahi kiya jaata means 'I can't do it'. This is not the same as a formal report. Also, watch out for double passives. You don't need two jaana verbs in one go. Keep it clean and sharp.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Let's compare this to the 'Ability Passive'. The ability passive uses se and usually appears in negative sentences. It’s about physical or mental capacity. 'I can't walk' becomes mujhse chala nahi jaata. The literary passive is about the event. It uses dwara and is usually positive or neutral. Contrast it with the 'Karmavachya' in Sanskritized Hindi. Literary passive is slightly more flexible but still follows strict rules. Unlike the active voice, the ne particle never appears in passive constructions. This is a huge relief for many! The passive voice effectively 'eats' the ne particle and replaces it with object-verb agreement.
Quick FAQ
Q. Is dwara mandatory?
A. No, it is often better to leave it out entirely.
Q. Can I use this in emails?
A. Yes, especially in formal business emails to clients.
Q. Does it work with all verbs?
A. It only works with transitive verbs (verbs that take an object).
Q. Why does it sound so heavy?
A. Because it uses 'Tatsama' (Sanskrit-derived) vocabulary frequently.
Q. Is it okay to use in news headlines?
A. Yes, it is the standard format for most Hindi headlines.
Q. Can I use it for 'It is said'?
A. Absolutely, use aisa kaha jaata hai.
Q. Does the verb always end in gaya?
A. Only in the past tense; it changes for future and present.
Reference Table
| Tense | Active Construction | Literary Passive Construction | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past Simple | Usne patra likha | Patra likha gaya | Official Reporting |
| Present Continuous | Sarkar kaam kar rahi hai | Kaarya kiya ja raha hai | News Updates |
| Future Simple | Hum nirnay lenge | Nirnay liya jayega | Legal/Formal Promises |
| Present Perfect | Unhone niyam banaye hain | Niyam banaye gaye hain | Policy Announcements |
| Modal (Should) | Aapko yeh karna chahiye | Yeh kiya jaana chahiye | Formal Advice |
| Habitual | Log aisa kehte hain | Aisa kaha jaata hai | General Truths |
Drop the Subject
The most 'literary' sentences often omit the subject entirely. If everyone knows who did it, don't say it.
Gender Trap
Always check the gender of the object. If you say 'Chai' (tea), the verb must end in 'i'. It's the #1 mistake.
The 'Paaya Jaana' Trick
Use `paaya jaana` (to be found) instead of just `hona` to sound like a high-level researcher or detective.
Newsroom Vibes
Watch 'Rajya Sabha TV' or read 'Dainik Jagran' editorials. They are goldmines for this specific grammar pattern.
例句
8Chai banayi gayi.
Focus: banayi gayi
Tea was made.
Simple focus on the object 'tea'.
Pradhan Mantri dwara bhashan diya gaya.
Focus: dwara
The speech was given by the Prime Minister.
Use of 'dwara' adds a layer of formal dignity.
Doshi ko saza sunayi jayegi.
Focus: sunayi jayegi
The verdict will be announced to the guilty.
Future passive used in judicial settings.
Naye niyam lagu kiye ja rahe hain.
Focus: lagu kiye ja rahe hain
New rules are being implemented.
Continuous passive for ongoing administrative actions.
✗ Report pesh kiya gaya → ✓ Report pesh ki gayi.
Focus: ki gayi
The report was presented.
Report is feminine in Hindi; the verb must match.
✗ Mujhse kaam kiya gaya → ✓ Mere dwara kaam kiya gaya.
Focus: Mere dwara
The work was done by me.
In literary style, 'dwara' is preferred over 'se'.
Satya ki hamesha vijay paayi jaati hai.
Focus: paayi jaati hai
Truth is always found to be victorious.
Using 'paayi jaati hai' for philosophical statements.
Shanti banaye rakhne ki appeal ki gayi.
Focus: appeal ki gayi
An appeal was made to maintain peace.
Common in news reporting regarding public order.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct formal passive form for the future tense.
Agle mahine naya budget ___.
The sentence refers to 'next month' (future), so 'jayega' is the correct auxiliary.
Match the verb to the feminine object 'yojna' (scheme).
Sarkar dwara ek nayi yojna ___.
'Yojna' is feminine singular, so the verb must be 'shuru ki gayi'.
Identify the correct formal agent marker.
Yeh pustak Munshi Premchand ___ likhi gayi hai.
In formal literary passive, 'dwara' is the standard way to indicate the author/agent.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Active vs. Literary Passive
Deciding to use Passive
Is the actor unknown or unimportant?
Is the context formal (News/Law)?
Does the verb have an object?
Common Auxiliary Verbs
Action
- • Kiya jaana
- • Banaya jaana
Discovery
- • Paaya jaana
- • Dekha jaana
Speech
- • Kaha jaana
- • Sunaya jaana
Frequently Asked Questions
20 questionsIt is a formal way of using the passive voice in Hindi, common in literature and news. It emphasizes the result of an action rather than the person who performed it.
The structure is similar, but the vocabulary is more formal and the use of dwara is preferred over se. It also avoids personal pronouns more strictly.
Yes, it is appropriate for formal academic discussions. It shows a high level of respect and linguistic competence.
The ne particle is never used in the passive voice. The verb agrees with the object, so ne becomes redundant and is dropped.
In Hindi, jaana acts as the auxiliary verb for all passive constructions. It doesn't mean 'to go' here; it just indicates the passive state.
Exactly. Ke dwara is the formal equivalent of 'by'. For example, Sarkar dwara means 'By the government'.
Use se for the 'ability passive' (e.g., mujhse nahi hota) or in more casual settings. Use dwara for formal, literary, or official contexts.
Generally, no. Passive voice requires an object. You can't say 'It was slept by me' in a literary sense in Hindi.
It means 'to be found' or 'to be observed'. It is a very formal way to state a fact, like vahan pradushan paaya gaya (pollution was found there).
Yes, it is the bread and butter of Hindi journalism. Headlines almost always use this to save space and sound objective.
Use the past participle + jaata hai. For example, kaha jaata hai (it is said).
Yes, both the past participle and the auxiliary jaana must match the object. Chithi likhi gayi (Letter was written).
Yes, in a formal way. Shanti banaye rakhi jaye (Let peace be maintained) is a formal command.
It is excellent for describing projects. Yeh project mere dwara pura kiya gaya sounds very professional.
If you use it in casual conversation, it sounds stiff. Use it only when the situation demands formality.
Trying to translate 'is being' or 'was being' literally. Just follow the ja raha hai or ja raha tha pattern with the past participle.
It shares some philosophical roots in terms of focusing on the self or the result, but the modern Hindi structure is distinct.
Yes, use aisa maana jaata hai. This is a classic literary passive phrase.
Only if you use it to describe everyday chores. For serious topics, it sounds elegant, not robotic.
Read an editorial in a Hindi newspaper and try to flip the active sentences into passive ones. It’s a great mental workout!
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