There are three modal verbs in Hindi: सकना saknaa, चुकना cuknaa, and पाना paanaa. Their translation depends on the context. They cannot be used with intensive verbs or in the Imperative mood. In perfect tenses, there is no ergative construction in sentences with these verbs.
सकना saknaa andपाना paanaa
सकना saknaa and पाना paanaa are the markers of the so-called completive verbs. They can be translated in many ways: 'can, to be able to, to have the right to do something, to know how' etc. These markers are added to the stem of the main verb. सकना saknaa is very widely used. However, it can only be combined with the tenses that have a perfect or habitual meaning, or with the future tense. Using सकना saknaa with the perfect tenses is possible only in negative sentences. पाना paanaa can be combined with all the tenses.
Examples:
मैं हिंदी एक महीने में सीख सकता हूँ।
maiN hindii ek mahiine meN siikh saktaa huuN.
'I can learn Hindi within a month.'
वह कोई भी गाड़ी चला सकता है।
vo koii bhii gaaRii calaa saktaa hai.
'He knows how to drive any car.'
मैं नहीं आ सकूँगी।
maiN nahiiN aa sakuuNgii.
'I won't be able to come.'
मैं दर्वाज़ा नहीं खोल पा रहा हूँ।
maiN darvaazaa nahiiN khol paa rahaa huuN.
'In no way can I open the door.' (right now)
हम कोई जवाब नहीं दे सके।
ham koii javaab nahiiN de sake.
'We couldn't give any answer.'
चुकना cuknaa
This verb is also a marker of completive verbs. It is used only with the perfect tenses in affirmative sentences and means 'the fully realized possibility'.
Examples:
कल्पना कीजिए ! वह एक सप्ताह में हज़ार शब्द सीख चुका!
kalpanaa kiijie! vo ek saptaah meN hazaar śabd siikh cukaa!
'Imagine! He managed to learn one thousand words in a week.'
'अरे दोस्त, सिगरेट सुलगा लो।'
are dost, sigareT sulgaa lo.
'धन्यवाद, मगर मैं सिगरेट जला चुका हूँ।'
dhanyavaad, magar meN sigareT jalaa cukaa huuN.
'Hey, brother, light a cigarette.'
'Thanks, but I have already had it lit.'
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