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Verb Tenses I: Simple Present Posted by on Feb 9, 2017 in Hindi Language

In Hindi, tenses are known as काल (kaal).  Past tense is known as भूतकाल (bhoot kaal). Present tense is known as वर्त्तमान काल (vartamaan kaal).  Future tense is called भविष्यत् काल (bhavishya kaal).
Like English, there are several types of each tense. Let us begin with the simple present tense or सामान्य वर्त्तमान काल (saamaanya vartamaan kaal).
MINI LESSON
The infinitive form in Hindi is made by appending “ना (na)” to the root मूल (mool) of the word.
For example: to eat
kha + na = khana (to eat)
खा + ना = खाना
chadh + na = chadhna (to climb)
चढ़ + ना = चढ़ना
A sentence in the simple present tense is onstructed in the following manner:
Subject + conjugated  verb [ROOT मूल + ता / ती /ते ta/ti (singular/plural; masc./fem.)] + हूँ/हो है/हैं (conjugated form of the auxiliary verb, “to be,” depending on the subject)

Since this is only a simple intro to constructing the present tense from the infinitive, we will not go into detailed conjugation of the verb “to eat” खाना (khana).

Instead, we will look at the conjugations that you are most likely to encounter in basic conversations. I will tabulate the first two examples for clarity.

Subject 

+ 

root + ता / ती /ते

(ta/ti/tey)

(conjugated form of the main verb)

+

हूँ/हो/ है/हैं

(hoon, ho, hai, hain)

(conjugated form of the auxiliary verb, “to be,” depending on the subject)
 Example 1:  I eat.  (1st person, sing., masc.)
Main

मैं

 +

 KHA + ta

खाता

 +

 hoon

हूँ
 Example 2: I eat. (1st person, sing., fem.)
Main

मैं

+

 KHA + ti

खाती  

+

 hoon

हूँ
 
We eat. (First person, plural.)
Hum KHA + tay hain.
हम खाते हैं।
You eat. (Second person, singular, masculine. Informal.)
Tum KHA + tay ho.
तुम खाते हो।
You eat. (Second person, singular, feminine. Informal.)
Tum KHA + ti ho.
तुम खाती हो।
You eat. (Second person, plural. Informal.)
Tum (sab) KHA + tay ho.
(This literally means, You (all) eat.
तुम सब खाते हो।
You eat. (Second person, singular, feminine. Formal.)
Aap KHA + tee(n)  hain.
आप खातीं हैं।
You eat. (Second person, singular, masculine. Formal.)
Aap KHA + tay  hain.
आप खाते हैं।
You eat. (Second person, plural. Formal.)
Aap KHA + tay hain.
आप खाते हैं। 
He eats. (Third person, singular, masculine.)
Veh KHA + ta hai.
वह खाता है।
She eats. (Third person, singular, feminine.)
Veh KHA + tee hai.
वह खाती है।
They eat. (Third person, plural.)
Vey KHA + tay hain.
वे खाते हैं।
PRACTICE
Your Turn: Some sentences have been provided below. Rewrite the sentences with the correct conjugations according to the instructions in the parentheses. The infinitives of the main verbs have been provided for you.
1. He writes. (to write = likhna)

Check your answer here. 

2. You (2nd person, feminine, formal) speak. (to speak = bolna)

Check your answer here. 

3. They shout. (to shout = chillaana)

Check your answer here. 

4. She jumps. (to jump = koodna)

Check your answer here. 

5. He is nice. (to be = hona; nice = accha 

Check your answer here. 

 
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About the Author: Nitya

Namaste, friends. My name is Nitya. I was born and raised in Mumbai (formerly Bombay). I'm a native Hindi speaker. However, as life took me through school, college, work, and waves of friends from different parts of India, my repertoire of Hindi flavors and dialects grew and added dimension to my native fluency. Casual, formal, colloquial, and regional ... Hindi is a language with incredible variety and localization. Through this blog, I will help you learn Hindi through conversations, vocabulary, colloquialisms, and glimpses of Indian culture. आओ, मिलकर हिंदी सीखते हैं। (Aao, milkar Hindi seekhte hain!) Come, let's learn Hindi together.