4.2.2 Usage in formal contexts

Formal Contexts and the Passive Voice in Urdu

In more advanced Urdu, the passive voice becomes especially important in formal, written, and official styles. In this chapter, we will focus on where and why the passive is used, not on its basic formation. You will see how style changes when you choose passive instead of active, and how this choice affects politeness, distance, and formality.

1. Why Formal Urdu Prefers the Passive

In everyday spoken Urdu, people mostly prefer the active voice:

• اس نے کھانا پکایا
  He / she cooked the food.

However, in formal written Urdu, you will often read:

• کھانا پکایا گیا
  The food was cooked.

There are several reasons.

1.1 Hiding or downplaying the agent

Formal Urdu often avoids directly naming the person who acted, especially in official, bureaucratic, or sensitive contexts. The passive allows writers to omit the doer.

Compare:

This pattern is very common in:

• government or institutional statements
• news reports
• corporate communication
• academic or scientific writing

The focus moves from who did it to what happened.

1.2 Creating an impersonal and objective tone

Passive constructions sound more distant and “official”. They reduce personal involvement and sound more neutral.

• یہ فیصلہ کمیٹی کی سفارشات کی روشنی میں کیا گیا۔
  This decision was made in light of the committee’s recommendations.

The sentence avoids naming the exact individuals. It sounds impersonal and bureaucratic, which is often the goal in formal texts.

1.3 Emphasizing the result or process

In formal Urdu, the result or process can be more important than the person who performed the action.

• نئی پالیسی نافذ کی گئی۔
  The new policy was implemented.

The focus is on the policy implementation, not on who implemented it.

Another example:

• قانون میں ترمیم کی گئی۔
  An amendment was made in the law.

Again, the change is central, not the agent.

2. Where You See Passive in Formal Urdu

2.1 Government and official language

Official announcements, circulars, and notifications frequently use passive constructions.

Examples:

• عوام کو مطلع کیا جاتا ہے کہ دفتر کل بند رہے گا۔
  The public is hereby informed that the office will remain closed tomorrow.
• درخواستیں جمع کرانے کی آخری تاریخ میں توسیع کی گئی ہے۔
  The deadline for submitting applications has been extended.
• نئی تعلیمی پالیسی کا مسودہ تیار کیا جا رہا ہے۔
  The draft of the new educational policy is being prepared.

Notice how the doer is never clearly named. “It is being prepared” is enough.

2.2 News reports and journalism

News reports tend to be concise and objective. The passive helps to keep a neutral tone and to avoid assigning blame too directly.

Compare:

More examples from typical news style:

• بارش کے باعث متعدد پروازیں منسوخ کی گئیں۔
  Due to rain, several flights were canceled.
• بجٹ میں تعلیم کے شعبے کے لیے فنڈز بڑھائے گئے۔
  Funds for the education sector were increased in the budget.
• واقعے کی تحقیقات کے لیے کمیٹی بنائی گئی۔
  A committee was formed to investigate the incident.

Notice the pattern: X کیا گیا / گئیں / گیا / گئی appears again and again.

2.3 Academic and scientific writing

In academic writing, the focus is on data, methods, and results. The passive voice helps to remove the personal “I” or “we” and make the text sound more objective.

Compare:

Common academic passive constructions:

• تجربہ چار ہفتوں تک جاری رکھا گیا۔
  The experiment was continued for four weeks.
• ڈیٹا مختلف ذرائع سے جمع کیا گیا۔
  Data was collected from various sources.
• نتائج کا تجزیہ SPSS کے ذریعے کیا گیا۔
  The results were analyzed through SPSS.
• سوالنامہ انگریزی اور اردو دونوں میں تیار کیا گیا۔
  The questionnaire was prepared in both English and Urdu.

2.4 Bureaucratic and administrative writing

Forms, notices, regulations, and contracts often use passive structures.

Examples:

• فارم مقررہ تاریخ تک جمع کرایا جائے۔
  The form should be submitted by the due date.
• فیس مقررہ بینک میں جمع کرائی جائے گی۔
  The fee will be deposited in the designated bank.
• ادائیگی رسید کے اجرا کے بعد کی جائے گی۔
  Payment will be made after the issuance of the receipt.

Also in rules and terms & conditions:

• دیر سے آنے پر داخلہ نہیں دیا جائے گا۔
  Entry will not be given in case of late arrival.
• نامکمل درخواستوں پر غور نہیں کیا جائے گا۔
  Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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3. Politeness and Indirectness with Passive

3.1 Softening orders and instructions

In polite instructions, the passive tone sounds less direct than using an imperative addressed to “you”.

Compare:

More examples:

• موبائل فون بند رکھے جائیں۔
  Mobile phones should be kept switched off.
• سوالات آخر میں کیے جائیں۔
  Questions should be asked at the end.

These are common in announcements and signs in public places.

3.2 Reducing personal accusation or blame

Passive can be used to talk about negative events without directly accusing anyone.

Compare:

The passive sentence sounds less accusatory.

Another example:

• حساب کتاب میں غلطی کی گئی جسے بعد میں درست کیا گیا۔
  A mistake was made in the accounting, which was later corrected.

The people who made the mistake are not directly mentioned.

4. Typical Passive Patterns in Formal Urdu

Here we focus on reusable formula-like patterns that you will see very often in formal contexts.

4.1 “[noun] کیا گیا / کی گئی / کیے گئے / کی گئیں”

This pattern is extremely frequent in written Urdu, especially for one-time formal actions.

General box:

Examples:

Notice how the auxiliary agrees with the noun, not with an agent.

4.2 “[noun] بنایا گیا / بنائی گئی ...”

Used very often for “something was made / created / formed / established”.

Examples:

• نئی کمیٹی بنائی گئی۔
  A new committee was formed.
• ایک خصوصی سیل بنایا گیا۔
  A special cell (unit) was created.
• نئی رپورٹ کے لیے الگ ٹیم بنائی گئی۔
  A separate team was formed for the new report.

4.3 “[noun] دیا گیا / دی گئی ...”

Useful to express “was given, granted, provided, issued”.

Examples:

• متاثرین کو مالی مدد دی گئی۔
  Financial assistance was given to the victims.
• طلبہ کو اضافی وقت دیا گیا۔
  Extra time was given to the students.
• اسے وارننگ دی گئی۔
  A warning was given to him / her.

4.4 “[noun] جا رہا ہے / جا رہی ہے ...” for ongoing actions

In formal announcements or news, ongoing passive actions are often described with رہا / رہی / رہے + ہے / ہیں.

Examples:

• منصوبے پر تیزی سے کام کیا جا رہا ہے۔
  Work is being done on the project rapidly.
• صورت حال پر مسلسل نظر رکھی جا رہی ہے۔
  The situation is being continuously monitored.
• متاثرہ علاقوں میں امدادی سامان تقسیم کیا جا رہا ہے۔
  Relief goods are being distributed in the affected areas.

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5. Shifts in Style: Active vs Passive in Formal Texts

5.1 When active is more natural

Even in formal writing, not everything is passive. When the identity of the actor is important or when clarity is needed, active voice is normal.

• سپریم کورٹ نے فیصلہ سنایا۔
  The Supreme Court delivered the verdict.

Here, the authority of the Supreme Court is important, so the subject is clearly named.

• کمیٹی نے رپورٹ جمع کرائی۔
  The committee submitted the report.

Again, we want to know who submitted the report.

5.2 When passive is preferred

If the agent is obvious, irrelevant, or intentionally hidden, passive is often preferred.

Compare both forms:

• حکومت نے ٹیکس بڑھایا۔
  The government increased the tax.
• ٹیکس بڑھایا گیا۔
  The tax was increased.

In news headlines or summaries, the passive version is very common, because “by whom” is already known or can be understood from context.

• انتظامیہ نے ملازمتیں ختم کیں۔
  The administration cut jobs.
• ملازمتیں ختم کی گئیں۔
  Jobs were cut.

The second is vaguer and often used when writers want to sound more neutral or less confrontational.

5.3 Reading passive as a signal of formality

In written texts, frequent use of passive is a strong signal that the text aims at:

• objectivity
• official or bureaucratic tone
• emotional distance

For learners at B2 level, recognizing this stylistic choice helps with:

• understanding the tone of the text
• interpreting the writer’s attitude (neutral, distancing, cautious)

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6. Typical Formal Contexts and Sample Texts

6.1 Example: Government notice

Original:

• عوام کو مطلع کیا جاتا ہے کہ پانی کی فراہمی کی مرمت کے کام کے باعث کل صبح نو بجے سے شام پانچ بجے تک پانی بند رہے گا۔ اس دوران پانی ٹینکروں کے ذریعے فراہم کیا جائے گا۔

Translation:

• The public is hereby informed that due to repair work on the water supply, water will be shut off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow. During this period, water will be provided through tankers.

Passive forms used:

• مطلع کیا جاتا ہے
• پانی بند رہے گا (stative, not exactly passive, but impersonal)
• فراہم کیا جائے گا

6.2 Example: University announcement

Original:

• طلبہ کو اطلاع دی جاتی ہے کہ امتحانات کا شیڈول جاری کر دیا گیا ہے۔ رول نمبر سلپس کل سے دفتر امتحانات سے حاصل کی جا سکتی ہیں۔ دیر سے آنے والے طلبہ کو امتحان میں بیٹھنے کی اجازت نہیں دی جائے گی۔

Translation:

• Students are hereby informed that the examination schedule has been issued. Roll number slips can be obtained from the examination office from tomorrow. Students who arrive late will not be allowed to sit in the exam.

Passive elements:

• اطلاع دی جاتی ہے
• شیڈول جاری کر دیا گیا ہے
• اجازت نہیں دی جائے گی

6.3 Example: News report snippet

Original:

• شہر کے مختلف علاقوں میں سرچ آپریشن کیا گیا جس کے دوران متعدد مشتبہ افراد کو حراست میں لیا گیا۔ پولیس کے مطابق گرفتار شدگان سے مزید تفتیش کی جا رہی ہے۔

Translation:

• A search operation was conducted in various areas of the city, during which several suspected individuals were taken into custody. According to the police, further investigation is being carried out with those arrested.

Passive forms:

• سرچ آپریشن کیا گیا
• حراست میں لیا گیا
• تفتیش کی جا رہی ہے

These examples show how natural and frequent the passive is in formal reporting.

7. Practical Tips for Using Passive in Formal Urdu

7.1 When you write formal Urdu

When drafting any of the following:

• emails to institutions
• formal letters
• reports
• academic assignments
• notices and announcements

you can consider shifting to passive to sound more formal.

For example, in a formal report:

• ہم نے ڈیٹا اکٹھا کیا اور اس کا تجزیہ کیا۔
  We collected data and analyzed it.

More formal:

• ڈیٹا اکٹھا کیا گیا اور اس کا تجزیہ کیا گیا۔
  Data was collected and analyzed.

7.2 Being careful with overuse

Although passive is common in formal writing, using it in every sentence can make your text heavy and hard to read. A mix of active and passive is usually best.

For instance:

• کمیٹی نے رپورٹ تیار کی۔ رپورٹ میں کئی اہم سفارشات پیش کی گئیں۔
  The committee prepared the report. Several important recommendations were presented in the report.

Here, one active sentence (کمیٹی نے رپورٹ تیار کی) plus one passive sentence (سفارشات پیش کی گئیں) works well.

7.3 Recognizing passive constructions quickly

When reading formal Urdu, look out for:

• گیا / گئی / گئے + past participle
• جا رہا ہے / جا رہی ہے / جا رہے ہیں
• جاتا ہے / جاتی ہے / جاتے ہیں in impersonal-sounding general statements

Examples:

• یہاں سگریٹ نوشی نہیں کی جاتی۔
  Smoking is not done here / Smoking is not allowed here.
• اس مسئلے پر مناسب توجہ نہیں دی گئی۔
  Adequate attention was not given to this issue.

These patterns are signals of passive or impersonal constructions.

8. Vocabulary from Formal Passive Contexts

Below is a list of useful vocabulary and set phrases that often appear with passive voice in formal Urdu.

These items will help you both understand and produce formal passive constructions in real contexts such as news, notices, academic writing, and official communication.