The distinguishing feature of the infinitive in Hindi is an auxiliary element ना naa, which is added to a verbal stem.
Ex: खा + ना = खाना khaa + naa = khaanaa 'to eat'
रो + ना = रोना ro + naa = ronaa 'to cry'
The Hindi infinitive possesses the qualities of a noun. The functions of this verbal noun are similar to those of an English gerund that ends in -ing.
Ex: पढ़ना paRhnaa 1) 'to read', 'to study'; 2) 'reading'; 'studying', 'study'
Infinitives functioning as nouns are always masculine. For that reason, the infinitive declines like a masculine noun and has an oblique form ending in 'ए' e.
The oblique form appears in several constructions, mainly (but not always) before postpositions. Independently (without a postposition), the oblique form of the infinitive is used with motion verbs such as आना aanaa 'to come', जाना jaanaa 'to go' etc., and with the verb लगना lagnaa when it means 'to begin' (v.i.).
Ex: बनाने के लिए banaane ke lie 'in order to build' (literally: 'for building')
देखने आना dekhne aanaa 'to come to see = to visit'
ख़रीदने जाना kh'ariidne jaanaa 'to go shopping'
हँसने लगना haNsne lagnaa 'to start laughing'
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