Language/Hindi/Grammar/Verbs-and-Conjugation

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Hindi → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Verbs and Conjugation

Welcome to the lesson on Verbs and Conjugation! In this lesson, we'll explore the fascinating world of Hindi verbs, a crucial component of the language that allows you to express actions, states, and occurrences. Understanding verbs and their conjugation is essential for forming correct sentences in Hindi, making it an important step in your language learning journey.

Importance of Verbs in Hindi

Verbs are the backbone of any language, including Hindi. They allow us to communicate effectively, expressing what we do, what happens, and how we feel. In Hindi, verbs change their form based on the subject, tense, and sometimes even the gender of the subject. This might seem complex at first, but with practice and the right guidance, you'll master it in no time!

Structure of the Lesson

In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:

1. An introduction to Hindi verbs

2. Understanding tenses: Present, Past, and Future

3. Conjugation rules for verbs

4. Examples illustrating verb conjugation

5. Exercises to practice what you’ve learned

6. Detailed solutions and explanations

Let’s dive in!

Introduction to Hindi Verbs

In Hindi, verbs are known as "क्रिया" (Kriyā). They are the action words in a sentence. Just like in English, where we have verbs like "run", "eat", and "sleep", Hindi has its own set of verbs.

Hindi verbs can be categorized into two main groups:

• Transitive Verbs (क्रिया जिनका कर्म होता है): These verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning. For example, "खाना" (khānā - to eat) is a transitive verb because it needs a subject and an object (e.g., "I eat an apple").

• Intransitive Verbs (क्रिया जिनका कर्म नहीं होता है): These verbs do not take a direct object. For example, "सोना" (sonā - to sleep) does not need an object to convey meaning.

Understanding Tenses: Present, Past, and Future

Tenses in Hindi indicate the time of an action or event. There are three main tenses:

1. Present Tense (वर्तमान काल): Describes actions happening currently.

2. Past Tense (भूतकाल): Describes actions that have already happened.

3. Future Tense (भविष्यत काल): Describes actions that will happen.

Let's look at how these tenses work.

Present Tense

In the present tense, the verb changes based on the subject. For singular subjects, the verb usually ends with "ता" for males and "ती" for females.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

• मैं (Main - I): Use the verb root + "ता" (male) or "ती" (female).

• तुम (Tum - You): Use the verb root + "ते" (for both genders).

• वह (Vah - He/She): Use the verb root + "ता" (male) or "ती" (female).

• हम (Hum - We): Use the verb root + "ते" (for both genders).

• वे (Ve - They): Use the verb root + "ते" (for both genders).

Here’s a table with examples of present tense conjugation:

Hindi	Pronunciation	English
मैं खाता हूँ	Main khātā hūn	I eat (male)
मैं खाती हूँ	Main khātī hūn	I eat (female)
तुम खाते हो	Tum khāte ho	You eat (male)
तुम खाती हो	Tum khātī ho	You eat (female)
वह खाता है	Vah khātā hai	He eats
वह खाती है	Vah khātī hai	She eats
हम खाते हैं	Hum khāte hain	We eat (male)
हम खाती हैं	Hum khātī hain	We eat (female)
वे खाते हैं	Ve khāte hain	They eat (male)
वे खाती हैं	Ve khātī hain	They eat (female)

Past Tense

In the past tense, the verb endings change to indicate the completed action.

• मैं (Main - I): Use the verb root + "आ" (male) or "ई" (female).

• तुम (Tum - You): Use the verb root + "ए" (for both genders).

• वह (Vah - He/She): Use the verb root + "आ" (male) or "ई" (female).

• हम (Hum - We): Use the verb root + "ए" (for both genders).

• वे (Ve - They): Use the verb root + "ए" (for both genders).

Here’s a table with examples of past tense conjugation:

Hindi	Pronunciation	English
मैं खाया	Main khāyā	I ate (male)
मैं खाई	Main khāī	I ate (female)
तुम खाए	Tum khāe	You ate (male)
तुम खाई	Tum khāī	You ate (female)
वह खाया	Vah khāyā	He ate
वह खाई	Vah khāī	She ate
हम खाए	Hum khāe	We ate (male)
हम खाई	Hum khāī	We ate (female)
वे खाए	Ve khāe	They ate (male)
वे खाई	Ve khāī	They ate (female)

Future Tense

In the future tense, the structure changes to indicate an action that will happen.

• मैं (Main - I): Use the verb root + "ऊँगा" (male) or "ऊँगी" (female).

• तुम (Tum - You): Use the verb root + "ोगे" (for male) or "ोगी" (for female).

• वह (Vah - He/She): Use the verb root + "एगा" (male) or "एगी" (female).

• हम (Hum - We): Use the verb root + "ेंगे" (for both genders).

• वे (Ve - They): Use the verb root + "ेंगे" (for both genders).

Here’s a table with examples of future tense conjugation:

Hindi	Pronunciation	English
मैं खाऊँगा	Main khāūngā	I will eat (male)
मैं खाऊँगी	Main khāūngī	I will eat (female)
तुम खाओगे	Tum khāoge	You will eat (male)
तुम खाओगी	Tum khāogī	You will eat (female)
वह खाएगा	Vah khāegā	He will eat
वह खाएगी	Vah khāegī	She will eat
हम खाएँगे	Hum khāenge	We will eat (male)
हम खाएँगी	Hum khāeṅgī	We will eat (female)
वे खाएँगे	Ve khāenge	They will eat (male)
वे खाएँगी	Ve khāeṅgī	They will eat (female)

Conjugation Rules for Verbs

Now that we’ve understood the basic structure of tenses, let’s look at the conjugation rules for Hindi verbs.

1. Identify the verb root: Remove the infinitive ending (usually "ना") to find the root.

2. Add the correct ending: Depending on the subject and tense, add the appropriate suffix.

3. Consider gender: Remember that verbs can change based on the gender of the subject.

4. Practice: Consistent practice is key to mastering verb conjugation!

Examples Illustrating Verb Conjugation

Let’s take the verb "लिखना" (likhnā - to write) and see how it conjugates across different tenses.

Present Tense Conjugation of "लिखना"

Hindi	Pronunciation	English
मैं लिखता हूँ	Main likhtā hūn	I write (male)
मैं लिखती हूँ	Main likhtī hūn	I write (female)
तुम लिखते हो	Tum likhte ho	You write (male)
तुम लिखती हो	Tum likhtī ho	You write (female)
वह लिखता है	Vah likhtā hai	He writes
वह लिखती है	Vah likhtī hai	She writes
हम लिखते हैं	Hum likhte hain	We write (male)
हम लिखती हैं	Hum likhtī hain	We write (female)
वे लिखते हैं	Ve likhte hain	They write (male)
वे लिखती हैं	Ve likhtī hain	They write (female)

Past Tense Conjugation of "लिखना"

Hindi	Pronunciation	English
मैं लिखा	Main likhā	I wrote (male)
मैं लिखी	Main likhī	I wrote (female)
तुम लिखे	Tum likhe	You wrote (male)
तुम लिखी	Tum likhī	You wrote (female)
वह लिखा	Vah likhā	He wrote
वह लिखी	Vah likhī	She wrote
हम लिखे	Hum likhe	We wrote (male)
हम लिखी	Hum likhī	We wrote (female)
वे लिखे	Ve likhe	They wrote (male)
वे लिखी	Ve likhī	They wrote (female)

Future Tense Conjugation of "लिखना"

Hindi	Pronunciation	English
मैं लिखूँगा	Main likhūngā	I will write (male)
मैं लिखूँगी	Main likhūngī	I will write (female)
तुम लिखोगे	Tum likhoge	You will write (male)
तुम लिखोगी	Tum likhogī	You will write (female)
वह लिखेगा	Vah likhegā	He will write
वह लिखेगी	Vah likhegī	She will write
हम लिखेंगे	Hum likhenge	We will write (male)
हम लिखेंगी	Hum likhenḍī	We will write (female)
वे लिखेंगे	Ve likhenge	They will write (male)
वे लिखेंगी	Ve likhenḍī	They will write (female)

Exercises to Practice What You’ve Learned

Now it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Here are some exercises designed to help you practice verb conjugation in different tenses.

1. Conjugate the verb "पढ़ना" (to read) in the present tense for all subjects.

2. Write 5 sentences using the past tense of "चलना" (to walk).

3. Fill in the blanks with the correct future tense forms of "सुनना" (to listen): "मैं _____ (to listen) _____"

4. Change the following sentence from present to past tense: "तुम खाते हो" (You eat).

5. Transform the sentence "वह खेलता है" (He plays) into future tense.

6. Conjugate the verb "देखना" (to see) for "मैं" (I) in all three tenses.

7. Write a short paragraph about what you did yesterday using the past tense.

8. Create sentences using the future tense for the verb "बोलना" (to speak) for each subject.

9. Match the subjects with their correct verb forms in the present tense.

10. Transform the following sentences from past to present tense: "मैं आया" (I came).

Detailed Solutions and Explanations

1. Present tense conjugation of "पढ़ना":

• मैं पढ़ता हूँ (Main paḍhtā hūn) - (male)

• मैं पढ़ती हूँ (Main paḍhtī hūn) - (female)

• तुम पढ़ते हो (Tum paḍhte ho) - (male)

• तुम पढ़ती हो (Tum paḍhtī ho) - (female)

• वह पढ़ता है (Vah paḍhtā hai) - (male)

• वह पढ़ती है (Vah paḍhtī hai) - (female)

• हम पढ़ते हैं (Hum paḍhte hain) - (male)

• हम पढ़ती हैं (Hum paḍhtī hain) - (female)

• वे पढ़ते हैं (Ve paḍhte hain) - (male)

• वे पढ़ती हैं (Ve paḍhtī hain) - (female)

2. Sentences using past tense of "चलना":

• मैं चला (Main chalā) - I walked (male).

• मैं चली (Main chalī) - I walked (female).

• तुम चले (Tum chale) - You walked (male).

• तुम चली (Tum chalī) - You walked (female).

• वह चला (Vah chalā) - He walked.

3. Fill in the blanks with future tense forms of "सुनना":

• मैं सुनूँगा (Main sunūngā) - I will listen (male).

• मैं सुनूँगी (Main sunūngī) - I will listen (female).

4. Change "तुम खाते हो" to past tense:

• तुम खाए (Tum khāe) - You ate (male).

• तुम खाई (Tum khāī) - You ate (female).

5. Future tense of "वह खेलता है":

• वह खेलेगा (Vah khelegā) - He will play.

6. Conjugate "देखना" for "मैं" (I):

• Present: मैं देखता हूँ (Main dekh tā hūn) / मैं देखती हूँ (Main dekh tī hūn)

• Past: मैं देखा (Main dekhā) / मैं देखी (Main dekhī)

• Future: मैं देखूँगा (Main dekhūngā) / मैं देखूँगी (Main dekhūngī)

7. Short paragraph using past tense:

• कल मैं बाजार गया (Kal main bāzār gayā) - Yesterday I went to the market (male).

• मैंने फल खरीदे (Mainne phal kharīde) - I bought fruits.

• मैंने दोस्तों से मिला (Mainne doston se milā) - I met friends.

8. Sentences using future tense of "बोलना":

• मैं बोलूँगा (Main bolūngā) - I will speak (male).

• मैं बोलूँगी (Main bolūngī) - I will speak (female).

• तुम बोलोगे (Tum bologe) - You will speak (male).

• तुम बोलोगी (Tum bologī) - You will speak (female).

• वह बोलेगा (Vah bolegā) - He will speak.

• वह बोलेगी (Vah bolegī) - She will speak.

9. Match subjects with present tense verb forms:

• मैं (Main) - पढ़ता (paḍhtā) / पढ़ती (paḍhtī)

• तुम (Tum) - पढ़ते (paḍhte) / पढ़ती (paḍhtī)

• वह (Vah) - पढ़ता (paḍhtā) / पढ़ती (paḍhtī)

10. Change from past to present tense:

• मैं आया (Main āyā) becomes मैं आता हूँ (Main ātā hūn) - I come (male).

With these exercises, you can reinforce your understanding and practice conjugating verbs in different tenses. Remember that the key to mastering Hindi verbs is consistent practice and application.

Keep practicing, and you'll be able to express yourself fluently in Hindi in no time!

Table of Contents - Hindi Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Pronouns and Verbs

• Personal Pronouns
• Basic Verbs

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

  ---

Questions and Negations

• Question Words
• Negation

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Indian Names and Titles

• Common Indian Names
• Addressing People

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Ordering at a Restaurant

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Adverbs of Manner

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Indian Festivals and Holidays

• Major Festivals
• Public Holidays

Sources

• A Complete Guide To Hindi Tenses | Superprof
• A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Hindi Verb Conjugation
• Hindi - verb conjugation -- Verbix verb conjugator

Other Lessons

• Pronouns
• Past Tense
• Plurals
• Gender
• How to Use Have
• Feminine
• Present Tense
• How to Use Have
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Negation

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