Active and Passive Voice - English Grammar with Hindi Explanation
Definition: Voice is the form of the verb which shows whether the subject acts or is acted upon.
Voice क्रिया का वह रूप है जो दर्शाता है कि कर्ता स्वयं कार्य करता है या उस पर कार्य किया जाता है।
Voice क्रिया का वह रूप है जो दर्शाता है कि कर्ता स्वयं कार्य करता है या उस पर कार्य किया जाता है।
1. Active Voice (कर्तृवाच्य)
When the subject performs the action expressed by the verb.
जब कर्ता स्वयं क्रिया द्वारा व्यक्त कार्य को करता है।
Active: Ram eats an apple.
राम एक सेब खाता है।
राम एक सेब खाता है।
2. Passive Voice (कर्मवाच्य)
When the subject is acted upon by the verb.
जब कर्ता पर क्रिया द्वारा व्यक्त कार्य किया जाता है।
Passive: An apple is eaten by Ram.
एक सेब राम द्वारा खाया जाता है।
एक सेब राम द्वारा खाया जाता है।
Rules for Changing Active to Passive Voice
- The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
- The main verb changes to its past participle form (V3)
- Add the appropriate form of 'be' verb (is/am/are/was/were/be/been/being)
- The subject of the active sentence becomes the object with 'by'
Tense-wise Conversion Table
| Tense | Active Voice | Passive Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | She writes a letter | A letter is written by her |
| Present Continuous | She is writing a letter | A letter is being written by her |
| Present Perfect | She has written a letter | A letter has been written by her |
| Simple Past | She wrote a letter | A letter was written by her |
| Past Continuous | She was writing a letter | A letter was being written by her |
| Past Perfect | She had written a letter | A letter had been written by her |
| Simple Future | She will write a letter | A letter will be written by her |
| Future Perfect | She will have written a letter | A letter will have been written by her |
When to Use Passive Voice
- When the doer is unknown
My bike was stolen yesterday.
मेरी बाइक कल चोरी हो गई थी। - When the doer is unimportant
This house was built in 1990.
यह घर 1990 में बनाया गया था। - When we want to emphasize the action rather than the doer
The results will be announced tomorrow.
परिणाम कल घोषित किए जाएंगे।
Note: Some verbs cannot be changed into passive voice:
- Intransitive verbs (go, sleep, die etc.)
- Verbs of possession (have, own, possess)
- Some state verbs (resemble, lack, suit)
Special Cases
1. Imperative Sentences
Active: Open the door.
Passive: Let the door be opened.
दरवाज़ा खोला जाए।
Passive: Let the door be opened.
दरवाज़ा खोला जाए।
2. Questions
Active: Did he break the window?
Passive: Was the window broken by him?
क्या खिड़की उसके द्वारा तोड़ी गई थी?
Passive: Was the window broken by him?
क्या खिड़की उसके द्वारा तोड़ी गई थी?
3. Modal Verbs
Active: You should respect your elders.
Passive: Your elders should be respected.
आपके बड़ों का सम्मान किया जाना चाहिए।
Passive: Your elders should be respected.
आपके बड़ों का सम्मान किया जाना चाहिए।
Conclusion
Active voice is generally preferred as it is more direct and concise. However, passive voice has its own uses in specific situations.
सामान्यतः active voice का प्रयोग अधिक होता है क्योंकि यह सीधा और संक्षिप्त होता है, लेकिन विशेष स्थितियों में passive voice का भी प्रयोग किया जाता है।
सामान्यतः active voice का प्रयोग अधिक होता है क्योंकि यह सीधा और संक्षिप्त होता है, लेकिन विशेष स्थितियों में passive voice का भी प्रयोग किया जाता है।
