Language/Hindi/Grammar/Imperative-Mood

Imperative Mood in Hindi

Whereas there is only one imperative in English, there are 5 different imperatives in Hindi.

Each form convey different levels of politeness:

1. Sunnā is simply the infinitive of the verb “to listen” and it can also be used as a somewhat crude imperative.
2. Similarly, sun —the root of the infinitive—carries a rough undertone. Both can be used among good friends or close relatives.
3. Suno is slightly more polite and can be used among acquaintances or in casual everyday speech; but don’t use it in front of persons of authority or high standing.
4. Suni(y)e is the polite word of choice; one could translate it as “please listen”.
5. Suni(y)egā is extra-polite (“Would you kindly listen?”) and rarely heard in everyday encounters.

Related Lessons

• Be Polite
• Past Tense
• Pronouns
• Plurals
• How to Use Have
• Future Tense
• Present Tense
• Questions
• Feminine
• Adjectives
• Conditional Mood
• How to Use Have
• Gender
• Negation