Every language has two methods of doing anything, Active and Passive, by default. Active Voice tells us about the performer of something, and Passive Voice tells us about something being done or done unto someone. Passive Voice prevails to a large extent in Punjabi where focus is laid on the receiver or on the result rather than on the doer.
For example, in English we say “The letter is written by me.”
It is Mere ton likhi gayi hai chitthi in Punjabi.
You just read the above sentence yesterday, no stress is given to “me” but to “the letter.” Passive Voice will give formality and naturalness to your words while speaking Punjabi, particularly whenever you write, narrate stories, and speak formally.
What Is Passive Voice
So easy: Passive Voice is when the recipient is getting something done to him/her and is not doing it himself/herself.
In Active Voice, someone does something.
In Passive Voice, the recipient had something done to him/her by someone else.
Example:
Active: Main ghar saaf karda haan.
I clean the house.
Passive: Ghar mere ton saaf kita janda hai.
The house is cleaned by me.
De-emphasis on “house” (recipient) vis-à-vis “I” (agent).
Form changes according to tense but pattern is the same.
Instruction: Subject + Verb + Object
Passive Instruction: Object + Verb + by + Subject
Auxiliary verb is followed by helping verbs gaya, gayi, gaye, janda, jandi, jande to form Passive Voice in Punjabi.
Verbs are modified according to gender and number.
| Gender/Number | Helping Verb | Punjabi Example | English Translation |
| Masculine (Singular) | gaya | Kaam kita gaya hai | The work has been done |
| Feminine (Singular) | gayi | Chitthi likhi gayi hai | The letter has been written |
| Masculine (Plural) | gaye | Kaam kite gaye han | The works have been done |
| Feminine (Plural) | gayian | Kahaniyan likhiyan gayian han | The stories have been written |
How to Identify Passive Voice in Punjabi
Passive Voice can be easily spotted as:
The sentence contains gaya, gayi, gaye, janda, jandi, jande.
Action somehow has been relocated to the subject.
The doer of action is generally followed by the word ton (by).
Examples:
Kitaab mere ton likhi gayi hai. The book was written by me.
Khaana banne ke baad bachon ne khaya.
Examples of Active and Passive Sentences
| Active Voice | Passive Voice | English Meaning |
| Main darwaza khol da haan | Darwaza mere ton kholya janda hai | The door is opened by me |
| Oh kitab parhdi hai | Kitaab ohde ton parhi jandi hai | She reads the book |
| Asin ghar saaf kita | Ghar asin ton saaf kita gaya | We cleaned the house |
| Oh khana bana rahe han | Khana ohna ton banaya ja reha hai | They are preparing food |
| Main gaana gaya | Gaana mere ton gaya gaya | I sang |
Rules of Making Passive Voice in Punjabi
The object “Active Voice” is made subject of Passive Voice.
The main verb is used as a past participle.
Helping verbs are gender- and number-agreeable (gaya, gayi, gaye).
Doer (initial subject) is prefixed with the sense “by”.
Example:
Active: Oh chithi likhda hai. He writes a letter.
Passive: Chithi oh ton likhi jandi hai. He writes the letter.
Negative Sentences in Passive Voice
Simply place the prefix nahi before the main verb to form a negative sentence.
Pattern:
Object + nahi + Verb + gaya/gayi/gaye + hai/han
Examples:
Kitaab nahi likhi gayi hai. The book was not written.
Kaam nahi kita gaya. The work was not done.
Darwaza nahi kholya gaya. The door was not opened.
Interrogative Sentences (Questions)
For Passive Voice sentences, start with Ki.
Pattern:
Ki + Object + Verb + gaya/gayi/gaye + hai/han + by + Subject
Examples:
Ki kaam kita gaya hai? Has work been done?
Ki khana banaya gaya hai? Is food cooked?
Ki kitaab likhi gayi hai? Is the book written?
Difference Between Active and Passive Voice in Punjabi
| Active Voice | Passed Voice | Permutation |
| Main chithi likhda haan | Chithi mere ton likhi jandi hai | I am writing a letter / A letter is written by me |
| Oh darwaza khol reha hai | Darwaza oh ton kholya ja reha | He is opening the door / The door is being opened by him |
| Asin kaam kita hai | Kaam ton kita gaya hai | We have done the work / The work has been done |
Active is used where doer is important.
Passive is used where the receiver or result of the action is important.
Punjabi Use of Passive Voice
Where doer is not important.
Kaam kita gaya hai. The work is done.
Where you need to be polite or official.
Faisla leya gaya hai. The decision has been made.
Where you don’t know who did it.
Ghar lut gaya. The house has been robbed.
Where you must stress the outcome.
Khana ban gaya hai. Food has been made.
Common errors to be eliminated
Wrong usage of helping verbs.
❌ Chitthi likh gaya hai
✅ Chitthi likhi gayi hai
Not employing the ton when the doer is doing.
❌ Kaam Ram kita gaya
✅ Kaam Ram ton kita gaya
Incorrect usage of the mixed gender endings.
❌ Chitthi likha gaya hai (incorrect for female)
✅ Chitthi likhi gayi hai (correct)
There are too many unnecessary verbs.
Shorten your sentence and come to the point.
Practice Steps
Step 1: Select any Active sentence.
Example: Main kitaab parhi hai.
Step 2: Select the object and put it at the beginning.
Object: Kitaab
Step 3: Put the verb in Passive.
Book padhai mere par gayi hai.
Step 4: Practice on a daily basis regularly with new examples.
Make Passive Voice second nature and think about it naturally.
Examples in Daily Life
Khana banaya gaya hai. Food has been cooked.
Chitthi likhi gayi hai. The letter has been written.
Kaam kita gaya hai. Work has been done.
Ghar saaf kita gaya hai. The house has been cleaned.
Release kiti gayi hai. The movie has been released.
All these sentences are used on a daily basis by Punjabis in the business utility of communication while doing business, reading out reports, or announcing results.
Quick Summary Table
| Type | Punjabi Example | English Meaning |
| Affirmative | Kaam kita gaya hai | The work has been done |
| Negative | Kaam nahi kita gaya | The work has not been done |
| Question | Ki kaam kita gaya hai? | Has the work been done? |
Comparison of Punjabi and English Passive Voice
| English | Punjabi |
| The book was written | Kitaab likhi gayi si |
| The food is cooking | Khana banaya ja reha hai |
| The door will open | Darwaza kholya jaavega |
The Punjabi sentences are accurate in terms of numbers as well as gender, and even more expressive and rhythmic.
Passive Voice in Punjabi is one means of diverting attention away from doer to whom is being done. It gives humility to your words, gives them a professional and crisp look.
Now you’ve learned how to use gaya, gayi, gaye and ton. So you can form sentences like Kaam kita gaya hai or Chitthi likhi gayi hai.
Practice daily and you will be a master of it. Passive Voice will flow in your veins within no time in Punjabi.