Passive Voice
Active: 'Ravi wrote the letter'; passive: 'the letter was written by Ravi'. Use the passive when the action matters more than the doer. Indian English tends to overuse it, so learn to strike a balance.
The rule
Passive = subject (the receiver) + a form of 'be' + the 3rd form of the verb (done, eaten, seen) + (optional 'by' + doer). Use it when the action matters more than who did it, or when the doer is unknown / obvious / unimportant.
Explained
Passive voice flips the focus from the doer to the receiver of an action. Form it with the right tense of 'be' plus the 3rd form of the verb (done, eaten, seen). Use it when the doer is unknown, obvious, or unimportant. Avoid the common over-use trap — many sentences sound more natural in active voice. By the end of this lesson, you will use passive deliberately, not by accident.
Examples
| English | In Hindi |
|---|---|
| The letter was posted yesterday. | चिट्ठी कल पोस्ट की गई थी। |
| English is spoken in many countries. | अंग्रेज़ी कई देशों में बोली जाती है। |
| The new highway is being built. | नया हाईवे बनाया जा रहा है। |
| The car has been repaired. | गाड़ी की मरम्मत हो चुकी है। |
| The report will be submitted by Friday. | रिपोर्ट शुक्रवार तक जमा कर दी जाएगी। |
| The temple was built in 1872. | मंदिर 1872 में बनाया गया था। |
| My phone was stolen at the station. | मेरा फ़ोन स्टेशन पर चोरी हो गया। |
| The meeting has been postponed. | मीटिंग टाल दी गई है। |
| Mistakes were made. | ग़लतियाँ हुईं। |
| Tea is grown in Assam and Darjeeling. | चाय असम और दार्जिलिंग में उगाई जाती है। |
Common mistakes
The needful will be done.
I will take care of it.
This isn't standard English — it's vague and passive, and you can't even tell what 'needful' refers to. Be active and specific: 'I'll handle it', 'I'll send the document', etc.
The work was did by me.
The work was done by me.
The passive always uses the 3rd form, not the past form. 'Did' is the past form; 'done' is the 3rd form. So 'was done', 'was eaten', 'was seen'.
I was given a present by my friend.
My friend gave me a present.
The passive is grammatically correct here, but the active sounds more natural. Use the passive only when the doer ('my friend') isn't important.
Kindly do the needful at the earliest.
Please process this as soon as possible.
'Kindly do the needful' isn't standard English and reads as awkward, bureaucratic office-speak. Be specific and active instead.
Practise
1. Passive of 'They built this temple in 1872'.
- This temple built in 1872.
- This temple was built in 1872.
- This temple is built in 1872.
- This temple has built in 1872.
Show the answer
This temple was built in 1872.
2. The window ___ by the wind.
- was broken
- was broke
- is broken by
- has broke
Show the answer
was broken
3. Which is more natural in spoken English?
- The needful will be done.
- I'll handle it.
- It shall be taken care of.
- Action is being initiated.
Show the answer
I'll handle it.
Related lessons
- The 12 TensesMaster all 12 English tenses with Hindi comparison
- ConnectorsLink ideas naturally — and, but, because, although
- Articles & Prepositionsa, an, the and the tricky little words
- Modal Verbscan, could, should, must, would — used right
Practise this with Vaani
Reading a rule is half of it. Vaani, BolFluent's AI tutor, lets you speak it out loud and corrects you on the spot — in a real conversation.
Try a free call with Vaani