The imperative mood in Hindi functions in the same way as that form in English.
There are 5 ways to form the imperative mood.
See the table below.
|
Type of Imperative |
Meaning |
Formation |
Irregular Formation |
|
infinitive |
some time should pass between the order and its fulfillment |
infinitive |
- |
|
imperative for the pronoun तू tuu |
it is used only in the situations of intimacy or contempt |
the verbal stem |
- |
|
imperative for the pronoun तुम tum |
used when addressing people as तुम tum |
stem + -ओ o* |
लेना lenaa - लो lo 'take' देना denaa - दो do 'give' होना honaa - हो ho 'be' |
|
imperative for the pronoun आप aap |
more polite form, used when addressing people as आप aap |
stem + -इए ie / -इये iye* |
लेना lenaa - लीजिए liijie 'take' देना denaa - दीजिए diijie 'give' होना honaa - होजिए hojie 'be' करना karnaa - कीजिए kiijie 'do' पीना piinaa- पीजिए piijie 'drink' |
|
super polite imperative for the pronoun आप aap |
a formal, polite usage, close to the English construction 'would you be so kind as to …' |
stem + -इएगा iegaa* |
the same as for the previous one |
*Verbal stems that end in ऊ uu shorten this vowel before the imperative mood suffixes. Verbs whose stems end in ई ii change it to इय iy or इ i before the suffix -ओ o.
Ex: छूना chuunaa 'to touch': छुओ chuo 'Touch.' छुइए chuie 'Touch.'
पीना piinaa 'to drink': पियो piyo 'Drink.' / पिओ pio 'Drink.'
Special prohibiting particles are used in negative sentences. They can be placed either before or after the verb.
|
Type of Imperative |
Particle |
|
infinitive |
न na (preposition only) |
|
imperative for the pronoun तू tuu |
मत mat |
|
imperative for the pronoun तुम tum |
मत mat, नहीं nahiiN |
|
imperative for the pronoun आप aap |
न na (preposition only), नहीं nahiiN |
|
super polite imperative for the pronoun आप aap |
न na (preposition only) |
The equivalents of the English word 'please' are the words कृपया kŗpayaa and ज़रा zaraa (the latter borrowed from Urdu).
Examples:
कृपया मुझे यह पुस्तक दीजिए।
kŗpayaa mujhe yeh pustak diijie.
'Please, give me this book.'
वहाँ मत जाओ!
vahaaN mat jaao!
'Don't go there!'
कल फ़ोन करना।
kal fon karnaa.
'Call tomorrow.'
ज़रा यह दवा खाइए।
zaraa yeh davaa khaaie.
'Please, take this medicine.'
मेरे बेटे, पानी ला।
mere beTe, paanii laa.
'Bring the water, son.'
कृपया दर्वाज़ों से हटकर खड़े हो।
kŗpayaa darvaazoN se haTkar khaRe ho.
'Please stand clear of the doors.'
See Also: