In Hindi, there is no special verb equivalent to the English verb 'to have'. Possession is expressed by different constructions containing the verb 'to be'. There are three important and widely used constructions of this type. The form of the construction depends on the character of the possessed object. The possessor is represented by the word followed by a postposition. The object of possession is always in the direct case, so the verb 'to be' agrees with the possessed object.
|
Possessed Object |
Postposition |
Examples |
|
denotes body-parts and kinship terms |
का kaa / के ke / की kii |
कुत्ते की दुम है। kutte kii dum hai. 'The dog has a tail.' उस का एक बेटा है। us kaa ek beTaa hai. 'He has a son.' मेरे तीन भाई हैं। mere tiin bhaaii haiN. 'I have three brothers.' |
|
an abstract noun |
को ko |
मुझे आशा है कि... mujhe aaśaa hai ki… 'I hope, that' (=I have a hope that) माँ को पैसे की ज़रूरत है। maaN ko paise kii zaruurat hai. 'Mother needs money.' (=mother has a need in money) उस को अधिकार नहीं है। us ko adhikaar nahiiN hai. 'He has no right.' |
|
a concrete and removable thing, an artifact, which can be used by the possessor |
के पास ke paas |
मेरे पास एक पत्थर है। mere paas ek patthar hai. 'I have a stone.' बहिन के पास दो कंघियाँ हैं। behin ke paas do kańghiyaaN haiN. 'Sister has two brushes.' हमारे पास पैसे नहीं हैं। hamaare paas paise nahiiN haiN. 'We have no money.' |
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