Language/Urdu/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be

Urdu Grammar - How to Use "Be"

Hi Urdu learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will cover the basics of using "be" in Urdu. "Be" is a very important verb in any language and it is essential to know it to make proper sentences. So, let's dive in!

Introduction

In Urdu, "be" is the verb equivalent to "to be" in English. It is used in sentences to express existence, identity, possession, or to form the continuous tenses.

After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: Interrogation & Negation and Question Making.

Present Tense

In Urdu, there are two types of present tenses:

Simple Present Tense

In the simple present tense, "be" is used just like the English. Take a look at the table below:

Urdu	Pronunciation	English
ہے	hai	is/am/are
ہیں	hain	are

Let's have a dialogue:

• Person 1: تم پاکستانی ہو۔ (Tum Pakistani ho.)
• Person 2: جی، میں پاکستانی ہوں۔ (Ji, main Pakistani hun.)

Translation:

• Person 1: You are Pakistani.
• Person 2: Yes, I am Pakistani.

Present Continuous Tense

In Urdu present continuous tense, "be" is used with present participle "-ing". The table below shows the different forms:

Urdu	Pronunciation	English
ہے	hai	am/are/is being
رہا ہے	raha hai	am/is/are doing
رہے ہیں	rahe hain	are doing

Let's have a dialogue:

• Person 1: تم کیا کر رہے ہو؟ (Tum kya kar rahe ho?)
• Person 2: میں پڑھ رہا ہوں۔ (Main parh raha hun.)

Translation:

• Person 1: What are you doing?
• Person 2: I am reading.

Past Tense

In Urdu, the past tense of "be" is used to express a completed action in the past. The table below shows the different forms:

Urdu	Pronunciation	English
تھا	tha	was/were
تھی	thi	was/were
تھے	thay	were

Let's have a dialogue:

• Person 1: کیا تم کھانا خا کر آئے ہو؟ (Kya tum khana kha kar aye ho?)
• Person 2: جی، میں نے کھانا خا لیا تھا۔ (Ji, main ne khana kha lia tha.)

Translation:

• Person 1: Did you have lunch?
• Person 2: Yes, I had lunch.

Future Tense

In Urdu, the future tense of "be" is used to express an action that will occur at a later time. The table below shows the different forms:

Urdu	Pronunciation	English
ہوگا	hoga	will be
ہوگی	hogi	will be
ہوں گے	honge	will be

Let's have a dialogue:

• Person 1: کل کیا کروگے؟ (Kal kya karoge?)
• Person 2: میں کام پر جاؤں گا۔ (Main kaam par jaunga.)

Translation:

• Person 1: What will you do tomorrow?
• Person 2: I will go to work.

Negative Sentences

In Urdu, negative sentences are formed by adding the word "نہیں" (nahi) after the verb "be". Take a look at the examples below:

• میں پاکستانی نہیں ہوں۔ (Main Pakistani nahi hun.) - I am not Pakistani.
• وہ کام نہیں کر رہا۔ (Woh kaam nahi kar raha hai.) - He is not working.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we covered the basics of using "be" in Urdu. Keep practicing and you will soon become fluent in using it. Remember to also check out Polyglot Club to find native speakers and ask them any questions. You can also improve your Urdu grammar by checking out the other lessons on the platform.

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➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: Question Words & 0 to A1 Course.

Other Lessons

• Negation
• Nouns
• Common Mistakes
• Adjectives
• Conditional Mood
• Future Tense
• How to Use Have
• Pronouns
• Questions

Sources

• A Beginner's Guide to Basic Urdu Grammar
• Urdu - Wikipedia
• Hindi-Urdu: A Comprehensive Grammar (Routledge ...