A1 · Débutant Chapitre 2

Questions, Negation, and Requests

5 Règles totales
54 exemples
6 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Transform your Hindi from simple statements into dynamic conversations and polite requests.

  • Negate sentences using the simple marker 'nahiṃ'.
  • Formulate essential questions to navigate daily life.
  • Give instructions and make polite requests using proper verb endings.
Unlock the power of 'No', 'What', and 'Please'!

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Hey friend! Ready to take a huge leap in your Hindi learning journey? This chapter is like a magic toolkit that teaches you how to truly express yourself. First, you'll master saying 'no' by placing 'nahiṃ' (नहीं) right before the verb – super simple and practical for phrases like 'I don't want this.' Next, we dive into asking questions! Imagine being in a bustling Indian market, wanting to ask 'What is it?' (kyā), 'Who?' (kaun), 'Where?' (kahā̃), or 'When?' (kab). You'll learn to form these questions by simply replacing the information you seek with the right question word, just before the verb. This skill is key to navigating conversations and getting information. We'll also explore the dictionary form of Hindi verbs, ending in '-na' (nā), which acts like their basic identity. Then comes the exciting part: giving friendly instructions to peers (using 'tum' and adding '-o' to the verb stem), like 'Come here!' or 'Read!' You'll also learn to make very polite requests (with 'aap' and adding '-iye' or '-jiye' to the verb stem), such as 'Please come in' or 'Please help me.' Picture yourself at a party in India: you can ask names, decline food, or politely ask for water. After this chapter, you won't just be a listener! You'll express needs, ask questions, and confidently connect. Don't worry; this is easier than you think, and you'll be speaking Hindi in no time!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Negate basic identity and existence sentences correctly.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Ask information-seeking questions using the four core 'K' words.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Differentiate between friendly commands and formal requests.

Guide du chapitre

Overview

Hey friend! Welcome to a truly transformative chapter in your Hindi language learning journey! This guide is designed to empower you with essential communication tools, making you an active participant rather than just a listener.
For A1 Hindi learners, mastering questions, negation, and basic commands is absolutely fundamental. It's like unlocking the first level of a video game – suddenly, you can interact with the world around you!
In this chapter, we'll equip you with the skills to confidently say no, ask crucial questions like What? Who? Where? and When?, and even give simple instructions or make polite requests. Imagine navigating an Indian market, asking for directions, or politely declining an extra helping of food – these are the real-world scenarios you'll soon conquer. This Hindi grammar A1 guide focuses on practical, everyday usage, ensuring you can apply what you learn immediately.
By the end of this section, you won't just understand basic Hindi sentences; you’ll be able to construct your own, engage in simple exchanges, and feel much more comfortable in Hindi-speaking environments. We'll break down each concept, from the simple placement of nahīṃ (नहीं) for negation to the nuances of formal and informal requests. Get ready to boost your Hindi conversational skills and connect with people on a deeper level!

How This Grammar Works

Let's dive into the core mechanics of expressing yourself in Hindi. We’ll start with the simplest way to say no, then move on to asking questions, understanding verbs, and finally, giving commands and making requests.
Saying No: Negation with 'Nahin'
Negation in Hindi is wonderfully straightforward. To make a sentence negative, you simply place the word nahīṃ (नहीं) – meaning no or not – directly before the verb. It's that easy!
* Maiṃ jātā hūm̐. (मैं जाता हूँ।) (I go.)
* Maiṃ nahīṃ jātā hūm̐. (मैं नहीं जाता हूँ।) (I do not go.)
* Yah kitāb hai. (यह किताब है।) (This is a book.)
* Yah kitāb nahīṃ hai. (यह किताब नहीं है।) (This is not a book.)
Asking Questions in Hindi: What, Who, Where, When
Asking questions is crucial for any conversation. You'll learn to use key interrogative words by replacing the information you seek with the appropriate question word. These typically come before the verb, similar to nahīṃ.
* Kyā (क्या) – What?
* Yah kyā hai? (यह क्या है?) (What is this?)
* Kaun (कौन) – Who?
* Vaha kaun hai? (वह कौन है?) (Who is that?)
* Kahā̃ (कहाँ) – Where?
* Aap kahā̃ se haiṃ? (आप कहाँ से हैं?) (Where are you from?)
* Kab (कब) – When?
* Aap kab āeṃge? (आप कब आएँगे?) (When will you come?)
Hindi Verbs: The Dictionary Form (-na)
Every Hindi verb has a basic, dictionary form that ends with -nā (ना). This is its infinitive form, like to eat or to read in English.
* Khānā (खाना) – To eat
* Paṛhnā (पढ़ना) – To read
* Ānā (आना) – To come
* Jānā (जाना) – To go
Hindi Commands: The Friendly 'Tum'
When speaking to friends, family, or people your age (informal you), you use the pronoun tum (तुम). To give a friendly command, you take the verb stem (remove the -nā from the dictionary form) and add -o (ओ).
* From khānā (खाना) (to eat), stem is khā (खा).
* Khāo! (खाओ!) (Eat!)
* From paṛhnā (पढ़ना) (to read), stem is paṛh (पढ़).
* Paṛho! (पढ़ो!) (Read!)
Polite Requests in Hindi: The 'Aap' Form
For formal situations, elders, strangers, or anyone you wish to show respect, you use the pronoun aap (आप) (formal you). To make a polite request, take the verb stem and add -iye (इये) or -jīye (जिये). Verbs ending in a vowel stem usually take -jīye, while consonant stems usually take -iye.
* From ānā (आना) (to come), stem is ā (आ). (vowel stem)
* Āīye! (आइए!) (Please come!)
* From jānā (जाना) (to go), stem is jā (जा). (vowel stem)
* Jāīye! (जाइए!) (Please go!)
* From paṛhnā (पढ़ना) (to read), stem is paṛh (पढ़). (consonant stem)
* Paṛhiye! (पढ़िए!) (Please read!)
* From likhnā (लिखना) (to write), stem is likh (लिख). (consonant stem)
* Likhiye! (लिखिए!) (Please write!)

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: Maiṃ nahīṃ hūm̐ jātā. (मैं नहीं हूँ जाता।)
✓ Correct: Maiṃ nahīṃ jātā hūm̐. (मैं नहीं जाता हूँ।)
*Explanation:* The negation word nahīṃ (नहीं) always comes directly before the verb it negates. In Hindi, the helping verb (like hūm̐ - हूँ) often comes at the very end.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Aap jao! (आप जाओ!)
✓ Correct: Aap jāīye! (आप जाइए!)
*Explanation:* When addressing someone formally with aap (आप), you must use the polite imperative ending (-iye / -jīye) for commands and requests. Using the informal -o ending with aap is grammatically incorrect and can sound disrespectful.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: Vaha kyā hai? (वह क्या है?) (Meaning Who is that?)
✓ Correct: Vaha kaun hai? (वह कौन है?)
*Explanation:* Kyā (क्या) is for what (things/concepts), while kaun (कौन) is for who (people). Using them interchangeably is a common beginner mistake.

Real Conversations

A

A

Kyā yah aapkī kitāb hai? (क्या यह आपकी किताब है?) (Is this your book?)
B

B

Nahīṃ, yah merī kitāb nahīṃ hai. (नहीं, यह मेरी किताब नहीं है।) (No, this is not my book.)
A

A

Aap kab āeṃge? (आप कब आएँगे?) (When will you come?)
B

B

Maiṃ śām ko āūm̐gā. (मैं शाम को आऊँगा।) (I will come in the evening.)
A

A

Kṛpā karke yaha baiṭhiye. (कृपा करके यहाँ बैठिए।) (Please sit here.)
B

B

Dhanyavād! (धन्यवाद!) (Thank you!)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I know where to place question words like kyā (क्या) or kahā̃ (कहाँ) in a sentence?

Generally, Hindi question words are placed just before the verb or the element they are asking about, replacing the information you're seeking. For instance, if you're asking What is this?, kyā (क्या) replaces this thing and goes near is.

Q

Is there a simple rule for when to use -iye (इये) vs. -jīye (जिये) for polite requests?

Yes, it's quite simple for Hindi verb conjugations. If the verb stem ends in a vowel (like ā from ānā), you usually add -jīye. If the verb stem ends in a consonant (like paṛh from paṛhnā), you usually add -iye.

Q

What is the significance of the -nā (ना) ending in Hindi verbs?

The -nā (ना) ending signifies the infinitive or dictionary form of a verb, equivalent to to [verb] in English (e.g., khānā - to eat). It's the base form from which all other conjugations are derived.

Q

Can I use kyā (क्या) at the beginning of a sentence to turn any statement into a yes/no question?

Absolutely! Placing kyā (क्या) at the very beginning of a declarative sentence is a common way to form a simple yes/no question in Hindi, without needing to change the word order of the rest of the sentence. For example,

Kyā aap thīk haiṃ?
(क्या आप ठीक हैं?) (Are you okay?).

Cultural Context

Understanding the nuances of tum (तुम) vs. aap (आप) is incredibly important in Hindi-speaking cultures. Using aap shows respect and politeness, especially towards elders, strangers, or people in positions of authority.
Misusing tum in a formal context can be considered impolite or even rude. This distinction highlights the value placed on respect and hierarchy in many South Asian societies. Similarly, using polite requests with -iye/-jīye is a mark of good manners, making your interactions smoother and more pleasant.

Exemples clés (8)

1

मैं चिकन नहीं खाता।

Je ne mange pas de poulet.

Dire Non : La négation avec 'Nahin'
2

वह ऑफिस नहीं जा रही।

Elle ne va pas au bureau.

Dire Non : La négation avec 'Nahin'
3

Aapka naam kya hai?

Quel est ton nom ?

Poser des questions en hindi : Quoi, Qui, Où, Quand (क्या, कौन, कहाँ, कब)
4

Metro station kahaan hai?

Où est la station de métro ?

Poser des questions en hindi : Quoi, Qui, Où, Quand (क्या, कौन, कहाँ, कब)
5

मुझे सोना पसंद है।

J'aime dormir.

Verbes Hindi : La Forme du Dictionnaire (-na)
6

क्या तुम मेरे साथ चलना चाहते हो?

Tu veux venir (marcher) avec moi ?

Verbes Hindi : La Forme du Dictionnaire (-na)
7

mera phone uthao

Décroche mon téléphone.

Commandes Hindi : Le 'Tum' Amical (Verbe + o)
8

link whatsapp pe bhejo

Envoie le lien sur WhatsApp.

Commandes Hindi : Le 'Tum' Amical (Verbe + o)

Conseils et astuces (4)

🎯

L'astuce du paresseux

Si tu n'es pas sûr de la conjugaison, un simple «नहीं» avec un hochement de tête suffit dans 90% des cas en conversation informelle ! «नहीं»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Dire Non : La négation avec 'Nahin'
💡

La règle du verbe magique

Souviens-toi toujours : en hindi, le verbe est TOUJOURS à la fin de la phrase. Ton mot interrogatif doit être juste avant lui. «तुम कहाँ जा रहे हो?»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Poser des questions en hindi : Quoi, Qui, Où, Quand (क्या, कौन, कहाँ, कब)
💡

L'étiquette "Na"

Chaque verbe a une étiquette qui finit par 'nā'. Il faut enlever cette étiquette ('nā') pour pouvoir le conjuguer. Imagine «खेलना» (khelnā) qui devient «खेल» (khel) avant de changer.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbes Hindi : La Forme du Dictionnaire (-na)
💬

Le petit 'Na'

Pour rendre une commande plus douce et amicale, ajoute na à la fin. C'est comme dire
Écoute, tu veux bien ?
: Suno na (Écoute, s'il te plaît ?).
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Commandes Hindi : Le 'Tum' Amical (Verbe + o)

Vocabulaire clé (7)

नहीं(nahiṃ) no/not क्या(kyā) what कहाँ(kahā̃) where खाना(khānā) to eat पानी(pānī) water आना(ānā) to come बैठना(baiṭhnā) to sit

Real-World Preview

utensils

At a Friend's Dinner

Review Summary

  • [Subject] + [Object] + नहीं(nahiṃ) + [Verb]
  • [Subject] + [Question Word] + [Verb]?
  • Verb Root + इये(iye) / जिये(jiye)

Erreurs courantes

In English, we say 'No, I am...'. In Hindi, 'nahiṃ' must come immediately before the verb 'hūṃ' to negate the sentence properly.

Wrong: नहीं मैं छात्र हूँ(nahiṃ maiṃ chātra hūṃ)
Correct: मैं छात्र नहीं हूँ(maiṃ chātra nahiṃ hūṃ)

Do not start every question with 'kyā'. If you use a specific word like 'kaun' (who), 'kyā' is unnecessary and redundant.

Wrong: क्या आप कौन हैं?(kyā āp kaun haiṃ?)
Correct: आप कौन हैं?(āp kaun haiṃ?)

The '-o' ending is for 'Tum' (friends). When using 'Aap' (respectful), you must use the '-iye' ending to avoid sounding rude.

Wrong: आप यहाँ आओ(āp yahā̃ āo)
Correct: आप यहाँ आइए(āp yahā̃ āiye)

Next Steps

You've just unlocked the ability to interact with the world in Hindi! Keep practicing those 'K' words—they are your best friends in India.

Practice negating 5 things you are not today.

Roleplay asking for directions using 'kahā̃ hai'.

Continue to: Daily Life and Abilities

Pratique rapide (10)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans cette requête polie.

Find and fix the mistake:

आप चाय लीजिये।

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: आप चाय लीजिए।
L'orthographe correcte de l'irrégulier 'lijiye' utilise le son 'i' court (ि) pour le suffixe, bien que certains dialectes varient.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Requêtes polies en hindi : La forme 'Aap' (-iye/-jiye)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase hindi.

Find and fix the mistake:

Main cricket khelnī chāhtā hūn.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Main cricket khelnā chāhtā hūn.
L'infinitif agissant comme un objet reste masculin singulier ('khelnā'), même si l'objet (cricket) ou le sujet est différent.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbes Hindi : La Forme du Dictionnaire (-na)

Remplis le blanc avec le mot interrogatif correct pour 'Qui'.

वो ___ है?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: कौन
कौन signifie 'Qui'. क्या signifie 'Quoi' et कब signifie 'Quand'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Poser des questions en hindi : Quoi, Qui, Où, Quand (क्या, कौन, कहाँ, कब)

Corrige l'erreur dans la phrase négative.

Find and fix the mistake:

Main school jaata nahin.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Main school nahin jaata.
Le négatif «नहीं» doit venir AVANT le verbe «जाता», pas après.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Dire Non : La négation avec 'Nahin'

Corrige l'erreur dans cette commande négative.

Find and fix the mistake:

Wahaan nahi jaao.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Wahaan mat jaao.
Dans les commandes impératives, on utilise 'mat' pour la négation, pas 'nahi'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Commandes Hindi : Le 'Tum' Amical (Verbe + o)

Remplis le blanc avec la forme infinitive correcte.

Mujhe pizza ___ pasand hai. (To eat)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: khānā
Nous avons besoin de l'infinitif (forme nominale) 'manger', qui est 'khānā'. 'Khātā' est conjugué.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbes Hindi : La Forme du Dictionnaire (-na)

Complète la commande pour 'parler' (bolna).

Zor se ___ (Speak loudly).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: bolo
Enlève 'na' de 'bolna' et ajoute 'o' pour faire 'bolo'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Commandes Hindi : Le 'Tum' Amical (Verbe + o)

Remplis le blanc avec la forme impérative polie correcte de 'bolna' (parler).

आप धीरे ____। (speak)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: बोलिए
Avec 'Aap', on utilise la racine + le suffixe '-iye'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Requêtes polies en hindi : La forme 'Aap' (-iye/-jiye)

Complète avec le mot négatif correct pour un ordre.

Yahan ___ baitho! (Ne t'assois pas ici !)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: mat
Pour les impératifs (ordres), on utilise «मत» au lieu de «नहीं».

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Dire Non : La négation avec 'Nahin'

Corrige l'ordre des mots pour 'Quand est ton anniversaire ?'

Find and fix the mistake:

कब आपका जन्मदिन है?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: आपका जन्मदिन कब है?
Le mot interrogatif कब doit aller juste avant le verbe है à la fin de la phrase.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Poser des questions en hindi : Quoi, Qui, Où, Quand (क्या, कौन, कहाँ, कब)

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

C'est une question d'efficacité en hindi. Puisque «नहीं» indique déjà clairement la négation, le verbe auxiliaire hai devient un peu superflu dans les phrases d'action au présent. L'enlever rend la phrase plus fluide. «मैं नहीं जाता।»
Oui, on te comprendra. Mais ça te fera passer pour un débutant ou ça sonnera trop formel. «मैं नहीं जाता है» sonne un peu comme 'Je ne vais pas est'.
Oui, dans une conversation très décontractée. Tu peux pointer un bus et demander 'Bas kahan?' (Bus où ?). C'est comme dire 'Où est le bus ?' en raccourci.
Non, pas s'il est au début ! Au début d'une phrase, il agit comme un marqueur de question pour les réponses Oui/Non. Au milieu, il signifie 'quoi'. «क्या तुम ठीक हो?»
Non. La racine est la base (par exemple, 'dekh'). L'infinitif, c'est la racine + nā ('dekhnā'). C'est la forme du dictionnaire.
Oui, il agit généralement comme un nom masculin singulier. Même si une femme dit 'Je veux voir', 'voir' (dekhnā) reste masculin.
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The Building Blocks of Hindi
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