The verbal form in the present habitual tense consists of two parts:
In the table below, the conjugation is demonstrated by the example of the verb बोलना bolnaa 'to speak'.
|
Person |
Gender |
Singular |
Plural |
|
I |
masculine |
मैं बोलता हूँ maiN boltaa huuN |
हम बोलते हैं ham bolte haiN |
|
feminine |
मैं बोलती हूँ maiN boltii huuN |
हम बोलती हैं ham boltii haiN |
|
|
II |
masculine |
तू बोलता है tuu boltaa hai |
तुम बोलते हो tum bolte ho आप बोलते हैं aap bolte haiN |
|
feminine |
तू बोलती है tuu boltii hai |
तुम बोलती हो tum boltii ho आप बोलती हैं aap boltii haiN |
|
|
III |
masculine |
यह, वह बोलता है yeh, vo boltaa hai |
ये, वे बोलते हैं ye, ve bolte haiN |
|
feminine |
यह, वह बोलती है yeh, vo boltii hai |
ये, वे बोलती हैं ye, ve boltii haiN |
Negative sentences are made by putting the negative particle नहीं nahiiN 'not' before the main verb. In the present habitual tense, the verb 'to be' is sometimes omitted in such sentences. When this happens with a feminine plural verbal form, the ending of the main verb becomes nasalized.
Compare:
वह पढ़ती है। vo paRhtii hai. वह नहीं पढ़ती। vo nahiiN paRhtii.
वे पढ़ती हैं। ve paRhtii haiN. वे नहीं पढ़तीं। ve nahiiN paRhtiiN.
The present habitual tense can be used for general statements of permanent validity. It can also express repeated actions and states, characterize somebody or something, and describe the ability to perform an action.
The words that sometimes indicate the present habitual tense are as follows: 'always' हमेशा hameśaa, 'often' अक्सर aksar, 'seldom' कम kam, 'sometimes' कभी kabhii/ कभी कभी kabhii kabhii, 'at nights' रात को raat ko, 'in the evenings' शाम को śaam ko, 'in the mornings' सुबह को subeh ko, etc.
Examples:
भेड़िया सब तरह के जानवर खा जाता है।
bheRiyaa sab tarah ke jaanvar khaa jaataa hai.
'The wolf eats all kinds of animals.'
कभी कभी मैं शराब पीता हूँ।
kabhii kabhii maiN śaraab piitaa huuN.
'Sometimes I drink wine.'
रात को वे बाहर नहीं जातीं।
raat ko ve baahar nahiiN jaatiiN.
'They don't go outside at night.'
वह स्कूल में पढ़ता है।
vo skuul meN paRhtaa hai.
'He studies at school.' (= he is a schoolboy)
आप नाचती हैं?
aap naactii haiN?
'Do you dance?' (= can you dance?)
तुम्हें हिंदी बोलना आता है?
tumheN hindii bolnaa aataa hai?
'Can you speak Hindi?'
See Also: