The Focus Of This Lesson Is Describing your Interests and Goals using the Active Voice

میں نے حال ہی میں اپنے کالج کی تعلیم مکمل کی ہے، اور مجهے ہوٹل کی سروس اور انتظام میں کام کرنا پسند ہے.
Mei nay haal hi mein apnay college ki taleem mukamal ki hai, aur mujhay hotel ki service aur intezaam mein kam kerna pasand hai.
"I have recently completed my college studies, and I like working in hotel service and management."

In this lesson, we will learn how to:

1.     Compare the passive voice and active voice
2.     Write sentences in active voice-sentence pattern
3.     Use vocabulary for talking about interests and goals

1. How to Compare the Passive Voice and Active Voice

In Urdu there are several ways of making a sentence passive. This is most common when talking about likes and dislikes.

In this lesson, we focus on the present tense, talking about likes and dislikes in an active voice, and using different verb conjugations.

When talking about likes and dislikes in Urdu, we usually use the format:

1) I like doing X

[pronoun  verb-present continuous form ]

[mujhay verb-Na pasand hai]

For example:

1. مجھے گانا پسند ہے
   Mujhay gana pasand hai.
   "I like singing." (Literally: "Singing is appealing to me.")

This is the passive voice. The pronoun is inflected and becomes the object instead of the subject (مجھے mujhay "Me" instead of میں main "I"). پسند pasand, which means "like," is akin to a noun, and the only verb applied is the intransitive ہے hai ("is") from ہونا hona ("to be"). The second object, گانا "singing," is in the present continuous form of the verb.

The same can be expressed in an active voice, in the simple present tense, and where the verb is in the infinitive form, in the following way:

2) I like to do X.

[pronoun X verb-infinitive form ]

[pronoun X verb-infinitive form pasand kerta hun]

For example:

1. میں گانا پسند کرتا ہوں
   Main gana pasand kerta hun.
   "I like to sing."

Here the pronoun is active ("I," not "me"), and the main verb is transitive (کرنا kerna - "to do").

This type of sentence is better suited for describing your hobbies and interests in formal situations and for taking a more active tone when describing things. The regular way of talking about likes makes the personal pronoun (میں main- "I") into the object (مجھے Mujhay - "Me"), which is the passive way of talking about your likes, even though that is the common way. Switching to the present continuous tense makes the tone more active.

Beyond just talking about your likes, this type of sentence is also used to describe your skills and process of working, how you work, etc., and is particularly suited to professional situations, where we use the format "I like to do X" to talk about work habits and discipline as well.

2. How to Write Sentences in Present Continuous Tense for "liking."

The basic sentence structure is the following:

                                                                                                                                [ "I" + X verb + "like to."]

[میں  X verb-infinitive پسند کرتا ہوں ]
[Mei X verb-infinitive pasand kerta hun] (first-person singular, masculine)

or

[میں  X verb-infinitive پسند کرتی ہوں. ]

[Mei X verb-infinitive pasand kartii huun] (first-person singular, feminine)

[ "We" + X verb + "like to."]

[ہم  X verb-infinitive پسند کرتے ہیں. ]

[Hum X verb-infinitive pasand karte hain] (first-person plural)

پسند
pasand
"like"

کرنا
kerna
"to do"

ہوں
hun
"am" (in this case "do" in the first person)

The object [X] has to be in the infinitive form for verbs, and if the object is a noun, it has to be paired with a transitive verb in the infinitive form, usually کرنا (kerna) "to do."

1. Object is a verb: Verb-infinitive [verb root-Naa]
2. Object is a noun: Noun + verb infinitive [noun + verb root-Naa]

Here are some examples with verb objects:

1.   پڑھنا
   perhna
   "to read"
2. لکھنا
   likhna
   "to write"
3. بنانا
   banana
   "to build/make"
4. لگانا
   lagana
   "to take/stick"

Here are some examples with noun-verb objects:

1. ورزش کرنا
   warzish kerna ("do exercise")
   "to exercise"
   
2. خلاصہ کرنا
   Khulasa kerna "(to summarize")
   "to summarize"
3. مصوری کرنا
   musawari kerna ("make painting")
   "to paint"
4. بلاگ لکهنا
   blog Likhna ("write blog")
   "to blog"
5. خیال رکهنا
   khayal rakhna ("do service")
   "to serve/to care for"
6. جانچ کرنا
   janch kerna ("do checking")
   "to check/inspect"

In many cases, the verb exists on its own, but it can sometimes be changed to a noun form and combined with the verb کرنا kerna. In the examples below, "sewing" or "stitching" سینا seena is an action that is awkward to use in the continuous tense "I like sewing," so we change it to a noun سیلائی seelai ("sewing/stitching"), used along with کرنا kerna (to do), and the sentence changes to "I like to sew/stitch." It's clear that you are referring to many tasks, not one prolonged action of sewing.

Since the infinitive form for verbs in Urdu is the same as the present tense conjugation-"to do" and "doing" are both کرنا kerna-this distinction has to be made. These are nuances particular to Urdu grammar as well as it being idiomatic, so you will develop an instinct for where it is better to use this over time.

- seena    سینا ("sewing/stitching") → سیلائی کرنا seelai kerna ("to do sewing/stitching"): "To Sew/Stitch"

- dorna    دوڑنا ("running") → دوڑ لگانا dor lagana ("to go running"): "To run"

- khareeda    خریدنا ("buying") → خریداری کرنا khareedari kerna ("to do shopping"): "To shop"

- jhagarna    جهگڑنا ("arguing/fighting") → جهگڑا کرنا jhagra kerna ("to do fight/argue"): "To argue/fight"

For example:

1. میں لکھنا پسند کرتی ہوں
   Mei likhna pasand kerti hun. (feminine)
   "I like to write."
2. میں ورزش کرنا پسند کرتا ہوں.
   Mei warzish kerna pasand kerta hun.(masculine)
   "I like to exercise."
3. میں بلا وجہ جهگڑا کرنا پسند نہیں کرتا ہوں
   Mei bilawajah jhagra kerna pasand nahi kerta hun. (masculine)
   "I don't like to get into fights unnecessarily."

3. How to Use Vocabulary for Talking About Interests and Goals

The following are similar formats and words used for talking about goals and interests.

پسند
pasand
"like," "taste"

For example:

1. میں کام شروع کرنے سے پہلے مکمل طور پر تحقیق کرنا پسند کرتا ہوں
   Mei kam shru kernay say pehlay mukamal tor per tehqeeq kerna pasand kerta hun. (masculine)
   "I like to research fully before starting the task."

امید
umeed
"desire," "ambition"

For example:

1. میں اپنی کمپنی بنانے کی امید رکهتا ہوں 
   Mei apni company bananay ki umeed rakhta hun. (masculine)
   "I hope to create my own company" (Lit. "I nurse the desire of creating my own company").

خواہش
khawahish
"wish"

For example:

1. امتحان کے بعد آپ کی کیا کرنے کی خواہش ہے؟ 
   Imtehan ky baad aap ki kia kernay ki khawahish hai?
   "What do you wish to do after your exams?"

اراده
irada
"intention"

For example:

1. میرا ارادہ ٹیم کے تعلقات کو مضبوط بنانے کا ہے
   Mera irada team ky taluqaat ko mazboot bananay ka hai.
   "My intention is to make the team bonding stronger."

Examples from the Dialogue

1. یہ بھی جانا جاتا ہے کہ آپ اپنے ملازمین کی اچھی دیکھ بھال کرتے ہیں، نئے آنے والوں کی اچهی تربیت کرتے ہیں، اور اگر وه محنت کریں تو ان کو آگے بڑھنے کے مواقع دیتے ہیں.
   Yeh bhi jana jata hai ky aap apnay mulazmeen ki achi daikh bhaal kertay hain, naiye anay walon ki achi tarbiat kertay hain, aur agr woh mehnat karein tou unn ko agay berhnay ky mawaqay detay hain.
   "It is also known that you take good care of your employees, train new entrants well, and allow them opportunities to advance if they work hard."

Sample Sentences

1. میں لکھنا پسند کرتی ہوں
   Mei likhna pasand kerti hun.
   "I like to write."(feminine)
2. میں ورزش کرنا پسند کرتا ہوں
   Mei warzish kerna pasand kerta hun.
   "I like to exercise." (instead of "I like exercising") (masculine)
3. میں بلا وجہ جهگڑا کرنا پسند نہیں کرتا ہوں
   Mei bilawajah jhagra kerna pasand nahi kerta hun.
   "I don't like to get into fights unnecessarily." (masculine)

تعارف کروائیں
taruf kerwaein
"please introduce"

This phrase has two important words: تعارف (taruf), meaning "introduction," and کروائیں (kerwaein), meaning "please do."

This phrase is used in formal meetings, interviews, and on the eve of meeting new people. This phrase is used in the formal occasions; however, you can also use it in informal situations as well.

This phrase is formal and has a polite request in it indicated by the word کروائیں (kerwaein), which means "please do." There is a big amount of respect placed on asking a question in a polite way. This phrase can be used for both men and women.

For example:

1. اپنا تعارف کروائیں.
   Apna taruf kerwaein.
   "Please introduce yourself."

اچھی سمجھ ہونا
achi samajh hona
"have good understanding"

This phrase has two component words: اچھی (achi), which means "good" and is used for feminine things, and سمجھ ہونا (samajh hona), which means "to come to an understanding, to understand."

This phrase is used when you are admitting that you have a good knowledge about a certain topic or concept. It is also used when you want to praise someone for their extensive knowledge of a particular thing. This phrase in general is also used to mean that someone is wise.

For example:

1. اس نوکری کے لئے، آپ کو معاشیات کی اچھی سمجھ ہونا ضروری ہے.
   Iss nokri ky liye, aap ko maashiyaat ki achi samajh hona zaruri hai.
   "For this job, you need a good understanding of Economics."

دلچسپی رکھنا
dilchaspi rakhna
"interested"

This verb is used to express interest in something, as well as personal interests, such as a hobby, and professional interests, such as a liking for research.

For example:

1. میں آرٹ میں دلچسپی رکهتا ہوں.
   Mei art mei dilchaspi rakhta hun.
   "I have an interest in art."

College education in Pakistan

Post-secondary education in Pakistan follows the older British system that it was modeled after. Though there are also universities, and colleges within universities, as a whole, people in Pakistan commonly refer to post-secondary education as "college." Being in college or going to college is the same as attending a university in other countries. Generally, Bachelor studies last four years. From high school, students start specializing in particular fields: the Arts, Commerce, and Science. The Arts include mostly social sciences and humanities; Commerce is all economics, business, and statistics; and Sciences combine life and medical sciences and engineering. From 10th grade onwards students have to choose one of those fields and study only related subjects. This continues on in their bachelor's studies as well, where students can study and specialize in a subject within their chosen field. Because of this early division, it is generally quite difficult to switch fields later. Those studying History, for example, will not be able to switch to pre-medical studies in university easily. However, it is possible for Engineering graduates to study Business after their Bachelor degree is completed. This has become the new trend among young Pakistanis-to study engineering during their undergraduate years, and then enter an MBA program to go on to work in a multinational company.

Useful expression

1. پاکستان میں کالج کی تعلیم
   Pakistan mei college ki taleem
   "College education in Pakistan"