Expressing Purpose: Using 'To' and 'For' with Verbs (-ne ke liye)
-ने form and add के लिए.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To express purpose, use the oblique infinitive (-ne) followed by 'ke liye' (for).
- Change the verb ending from -na to -ne: 'khana' (to eat) becomes 'khane'.
- Add 'ke liye' after the oblique verb: 'khane ke liye' (for eating/to eat).
- Place this phrase before the main verb of the sentence: 'Main khane ke liye gaya' (I went to eat).
Overview
When articulating the motivation or objective behind an action in Hindi, you utilize a specific grammatical construction: the oblique infinitive paired with a postposition. This pattern precisely communicates the "why" or "for what purpose" of a verb's action. Hindi systematically modifies the infinitive verb form, often with के लिए (ke liye), को (ko), or the standalone oblique form before verbs of motion.
Mastering this structure is crucial for B1-level learners to clearly express intentions, moving beyond simple statements of action to explain underlying purposes.
How This Grammar Works
-ना (-nā), such as पढ़ना (paṛhnā - to read/study). As a postpositional language, Hindi requires that verbs preceding postpositions transform into their oblique case. This is a fundamental principle, mirroring how nouns change form (e.g., घर (ghar - house) becomes घर में (ghar meṁ - in the house)).-ना changes to -ने (-ne). Thus, पढ़ना becomes पढ़ने (paṛhne). This -ne form is an inflection signaling an impending postposition.के लिए (ke liye), meaning "for" or "in order to." So, पढ़ने के लिए (paṛhne ke liye) means "to study."को (ko) also expresses purpose with the oblique infinitive, offering a concise alternative. It can signify general intention, availability, or a less emphatic "to." For instance, खाने को (khāne ko) might mean "to eat" or "for eating." Additionally, with verbs of motion like जाना (jānā - to go) or आना (ānā - to come), the oblique infinitive (-ne) can stand alone to express purpose. मैं पढ़ने जा रहा हूँ (maiṁ paṛhne jā rahā hūṁ) translates to "I am going to study," with पढ़ने clearly indicating the purpose of जा रहा हूँ.Formation Pattern
-ना (-nā). This is the action for which you want to express a purpose.
-ना ending and replace it with -ने (-ne). This creates the oblique form of the verb, ready to combine with a postposition. This change reflects the grammatical requirement for verbs preceding postpositions.
के लिए (ke liye) for a direct "to" or "in order to," or को (ko) for a concise, general "to." In certain contexts with verbs of motion, the oblique infinitive (-ne) can stand alone.
[Verb Root] + -ने + के लिए
[Verb Root] + -ने + को
[Verb Root] + -ने (with verbs of motion)
खाना (to eat) | खा | खाने (khāne) | खाने के लिए | khāne ke liye | खाने को | khāne ko |
पीना (to drink) | पी | पीने (pīne) | पीने के लिए | pīne ke liye | पीने को | pīne ko |
जाना (to go) | जा | जाने (jāne) | जाने के लिए | jāne ke liye | जाने को | jāne ko |
देखना (to see/watch) | देख | देखने (dekhne) | देखने के लिए | dekhne ke liye | देखने को | dekhne ko |
पढ़ना (to read/study) | पढ़ | पढ़ने (paṛhne) | पढ़ने के लिए | paṛhne ke liye | पढ़ने को | paṛhne ko |
करना (to do) | कर | करने (karne) | करने के लिए | karne ke liye | करने को | karne ko |
मिलना (to meet/get) | मिल | मिलने (milne) | मिलने के लिए | milne ke liye | मिलने को | milne ko |
मैं हिन्दी सीखने के लिए भारत आया हूँ। (maiṁ hindī sīkhne ke liye bhārat āyā hūṁ.) - I have come to India to learn Hindi. (Here, सीखना (to learn) becomes सीखने followed by के लिए).
कुछ खाने को चाहिए? (kuch khāne ko cāhie?) - Do you need something to eat? (Here, खाना (to eat) becomes खाने followed by को, indicating general need or availability).
वह टहलने जा रहा है। (vah ṭahalne jā rahā hai.) - He is going for a walk (lit. to walk). (Here, टहलना (to walk) becomes टहलने and stands alone with the verb of motion जा रहा है).
When To Use It
[Oblique Infinitive] + के लिए is primarily employed to articulate the purpose, intention, or motivation behind the main action of a sentence. It answers the implicit question "Why?" or "For what reason?" This makes it indispensable for constructing logically coherent sentences in Hindi.- 1Stating the Reason for an Action: This is the most common application, where
के लिएfunctions similarly to "in order to" or "to" in English. It clarifies the objective.
मैंने अपनी माँ से बात करने के लिए फ़ोन उठाया।(maiṁne apnī māṁ se bāt karne ke liye fon uṭhāyā.) - I picked up the phone to talk to my mother. (बात करना(to talk) becomesबात करने).हम नया घर खरीदने के लिए पैसे बचा रहे हैं।(ham nayā ghar kharīdne ke liye paise bacā rahe haiṁ.) - We are saving money to buy a new house. (खरीदना(to buy) becomesखरीदने).
- 1Expressing General Purpose or Utility: This form can describe the general purpose for which something exists or is used.
यह मशीन कपड़े धोने के लिए है।(yah maśīn kapṛe dhone ke liye hai.) - This machine is for washing clothes. (धोना(to wash) becomesधोने).
- 1With Verbs of Motion (Often without
के लिएorको): When the purpose verb is followed by a verb of motion (जाना,आना,चलना), theके लिएorकोcan often be omitted, especially in natural, conversational Hindi. The oblique infinitive alone conveys the purpose of the movement. This is crucial for sounding natural and fluent.
वह बाज़ार सब्ज़ी लाने जा रही है।(vah bāzār sabzī lāne jā rahī hai.) - She is going to the market to bring vegetables. (लाना(to bring) becomesलाने, with noके लिए).क्या तुम मुझसे मिलने आओगे?(kyā tum mujhse milne āoge?) - Will you come to meet me? (मिलना(to meet) becomesमिलने, with noकोorके लिए).- Formal usage would retain
के लिए:वह बाज़ार सब्ज़ी लाने के लिए जा रही है।This is grammatically correct but might sound slightly stilted in everyday conversation. The choice depends on the formality of the context.
- 1Implying Intention or Availability (with
को): Theकोconstruction with the oblique infinitive often implies a general availability or an immediate, less formal intention, rather than a strong, planned purpose. It can be translated as "for [doing something]" or "to [do something]."
यहाँ बैठने को जगह नहीं है।(yahāṁ baiṭhne ko jagah nahīṁ hai.) - There is no space to sit here. (बैठना(to sit) becomesबैठने). This implies a lack of availability.मुझे आपसे कुछ बात करने को है।(mujhe āpse kuch bāt karne ko hai.) - I have something to talk about with you. (बात करना(to talk) becomesबात करने). This indicates an intention or a matter to be addressed. When in doubt,के लिएis the safer and more universally applicable choice for explicit purpose.
Common Mistakes
- 1The
-नाTrap (Using the Infinitive Instead of the Oblique Infinitive): This is perhaps the most prevalent error. Beginners often combine the dictionary form of the verb (-nāending) directly withके लिए.
- Incorrect:
मैं खाना खाना के लिए रुकूँगा।(maiṁ khānā khānā ke liye rukūṁgā.) - I will stop to eat food. - Correct:
मैं खाना खाने के लिए रुकूँगा।(maiṁ khānā khāne ke liye rukūṁgā.) - I will stop to eat food.
-na infinitive is the direct case form; it must change to the -ne oblique form before a postposition. Failing to do so is a fundamental grammatical error, immediately flagging the speaker as a non-native.- 1Redundant
के(Adding an Extraकेbefore the Oblique Infinitive): Learners sometimes mistakenly add an additionalकेbefore the oblique infinitive, perhaps due to confusion withकेin other contexts.
- Incorrect:
मैं के पढ़ने के लिए लाइब्रेरी गया।(maiṁ ke paṛhne ke liye lāibrerī gayā.) - I went to the library to study. - Correct:
मैं पढ़ने के लिए लाइब्रेरी गया।(maiṁ paṛhne ke liye lāibrerī gayā.) - I went to the library to study.
के in के लिए is an integral part of the postposition itself. It does not need to be duplicated before the verb. The oblique infinitive (पढ़ने) directly precedes the postposition के लिए.- 1Overusing
के लिएwith Verbs of Motion: While grammatically correct, usingके लिएwith the oblique infinitive when followed by a verb of motion (जाना,आना,चलना) can sound unnatural or overly formal in many conversational contexts.
- Stilted/Overly Formal:
वह दूध खरीदने के लिए दुकान जा रही है।(vah dūdh kharīdne ke liye dukān jā rahī hai.) - She is going to the shop to buy milk. - Natural:
वह दूध खरीदने दुकान जा रही है।(vah dūdh kharīdne dukān jā rahī hai.) - She is going to the shop to buy milk.
के लिए adds an emphasis on purpose that is often unnecessary and therefore feels redundant in casual speech. Omission is common and marks a more native-like fluency.- 1Misinterpreting or Misusing
कोfor Purpose: Learners may conflate the various functions ofकोand use it incorrectly to express purpose, or misunderstand its nuance compared toके लिए.
- Potentially Ambiguous/Incorrect:
मैंने उसे देखने को बुलाया।(maiṁne use dekhne ko bulāyā.) - I called him to see. (Could also mean "I called him for seeing [something]" or "I called him so he could see.") - Clearer Purpose with
के लिए:मैंने उसे देखने के लिए बुलाया।(maiṁne use dekhne ke liye bulāyā.) - I called him in order to see him/it.
को can express purpose, especially for general availability or less direct intentions, के लिए is unambiguous and universally understood for explicit purpose. Using को incorrectly can lead to sentences that are grammatically odd or imply a different meaning.- 1Incorrect Handling of Compound Verbs: Compound verbs (e.g.,
कर देना- to do completely,ले लेना- to take completely) consist of a main verb and a light verb. Only the light verb changes to the oblique infinitive form.
- Incorrect:
यह काम करने देने के लिए आया हूँ।(yah kām karne dene ke liye āyā hūṁ.) - I have come to let the work be done. - Correct:
यह काम कर देने के लिए आया हूँ।(yah kām kar dene ke liye āyā hūṁ.) - I have come to finish the work. (कर देना(kardēnā - to finish doing) becomesकर देने).
देना becomes देने, while कर remains unchanged. This preserves the semantic integrity of the compound verb.Real Conversations
In authentic Hindi discourse, both formal and informal, purpose clauses are integral for conveying intent. The distinction between के लिए, को, and the standalone -ne form with verbs of motion becomes particularly apparent in how native speakers communicate.
Casual Conversation & Texting: In informal settings, brevity is often preferred. This leads to the frequent omission of के लिए when a verb of motion is present, making the communication more fluid and direct.
- Example 1 (Social Media Caption):
- आज जिम वर्कआउट करने जा रही हूँ। (āj jim varkāuṭ karne jā rahī hūṁ.) - Going to the gym to work out today.
- (Instead of: आज जिम वर्कआउट करने के लिए जा रही हूँ।)
Insight
के लिए with जा रही हूँ, assuming the purpose is clear. This is very common in spoken Hindi and informal writing.- Example 2 (Asking for something):
- पानी पीने को दोगे? (pānī pīne ko doge?) - Will you give (me) water to drink?
- (Here पीने को implies availability or a general request for something for the purpose of drinking.)
Insight
को is used concisely here to ask for something to drink, often implying a less formal request.Formal Communication (Emails, Presentations): In more formal contexts, such as professional emails or academic discussions, retaining के लिए for clarity and a polished tone is generally preferred, even with verbs of motion. This ensures that the purpose is explicitly stated and leaves no room for ambiguity.
- Example 3 (Work Email):
- यह रिपोर्ट डेटा विश्लेषण करने के लिए बनाई गई है। (yah riport ḍeṭā viśleṣaṇ karne ke liye banāī gaī hai.) - This report has been prepared for analyzing data.
- (Here, बनाई गई है (has been prepared) is the main action, and डेटा विश्लेषण करने के लिए clearly states its explicit purpose.)
Insight
के लिए construction maintains a formal register, suitable for a professional document where precision is paramount.- Example 4 (News Report/Formal Announcement):
- सरकार ने गरीबों की मदद करने के लिए नई योजना शुरू की है। (sarkār ne garīboṁ kī madad karne ke liye naī yojanā śurū kī hai.) - The government has launched a new scheme to help the poor.
Insight
के लिए emphasizes the clear objective of the government's action.Hindi values directness and context in everyday conversation. The ability to correctly omit के लिए with verbs of motion reflects a deeper understanding of this contextual communication. The choice between के लिए and को also subtly reflects the nuance of intention—definite purpose versus general availability or necessity.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Can
हेतु(hetu) be used instead ofके लिए(ke liye)? - A: Yes,
हेतु(hetu) also means "for" or "on account of" and can express purpose, but it belongs to a highly formal or literary register. It is rarely used in spoken Hindi or informal writing. For instance, you might see it in official documents or academic texts:अनुसंधान हेतु(anusandhān hetu) - for research. In general usage, stick toके लिए. Usingहेतुin casual conversation would sound conspicuously out of place.
- Q: Is the
-ने(-ne) form used for anything other than purpose? - A: Absolutely. The
-neoblique infinitive is highly versatile and appears in several other crucial grammatical constructions. - Obligation/Necessity: With
है(hai),था(thā), etc. to express "to have to do something," e.g.,मुझे जाना है(mujhe jānā hai) - I have to go. - With Other Postpositions: It combines with many other postpositions, such as
के बाद(ke bād) - after doing,से पहले(se pahle) - before doing,में(meṁ) - in doing/while doing,पर(par) - upon doing. For example,खाने के बाद(khāne ke bād) - after eating. - Agentive Marker (
ने): The postpositionने(ne) marks the agent of a transitive verb in the perfective aspect, e.g.,उसने खाया(usne khāyā) - He ate. This is distinct from the-neending of the oblique infinitive, although they look identical. Context clarifies the role.
- Q: How do compound verbs (e.g.,
कर देना,ले लेना) behave in purpose clauses? - A: When forming a purpose clause with a compound verb, only the light verb (the second verb in the compound) takes the
-neoblique infinitive ending. The main verb (the first verb) remains in its root form. यह काम खत्म कर देने के लिए है।(yah kām khatm kar dene ke liye hai.) - This work is to be finished. (Fromखत्म कर देना(khatm kar denā - to finish)).उसे समझाने के लिए मुझे और समय चाहिए।(use samjhāne ke liye mujhe aur samay cāhie.) - I need more time to make him understand. (Fromसमझाना(samjhānā - to explain/make understand)).
- Q: How can I express a negative purpose, i.e., "in order not to do something"?
- A: To express a negative purpose, place
न(na) orनहीं(nahīṁ) before the oblique infinitive in the purpose clause.नis generally more common and concise in this construction. मैं उसे नाराज़ न करने के लिए चुप रहा।(maiṁ use nārāz na karne ke liye cup rahā.) - I remained silent in order not to anger him.परीक्षा में फेल न होने के लिए उसे मेहनत करनी पड़ी।(parīkṣā meṁ fel na hone ke liye use mehnat karnī paṛī.) - He had to work hard in order not to fail the exam.
न directly preceding the oblique infinitive makes the negation clear.- Q: Where should the purpose clause be placed in a sentence?
- A: In Hindi, purpose clauses generally precede the main verb or the action they modify. This adheres to Hindi's typical SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) structure and places the subordinate clause before the main clause.
मैं किताबें खरीदने के लिए दुकान गया।(maiṁ kitābēṁ kharīdne ke liye dukān gayā.) - I went to the shop to buy books. (Purpose clauseकिताबें खरीदने के लिएcomes before the main verbगया).
- Q: How does this differ from
को(ko) indicating infinitival obligation, likeकरना है? - A: While both involve an infinitive and
को, their functions are distinct. - Purpose:
खाना खाने को आया हूँ।(khāne khāne ko āyā hūṁ.) - I have come to eat food. Here,खाने कोexplains the reason forआया हूँ. - Obligation/Necessity:
मुझे खाना खाना है।(mujhe khānā khānā hai.) - I have to eat food. Here,खाना हैexpresses an obligation or future action. The infinitiveखानाis in its direct form, andकोis implied but not explicitly written withहै/थाetc. The key difference is the form of the infinitive (-nevs.-na) and the main verb that follows.
Formation Table
| Infinitive (-na) | Oblique (-ne) | Purpose Phrase |
|---|---|---|
|
Khana (to eat)
|
Khane
|
Khane ke liye
|
|
Padhna (to read)
|
Padhne
|
Padhne ke liye
|
|
Jaana (to go)
|
Jaane
|
Jaane ke liye
|
|
Khelna (to play)
|
Khelne
|
Khelne ke liye
|
|
Sona (to sleep)
|
Sone
|
Sone ke liye
|
|
Dekhna (to watch)
|
Dekhne
|
Dekhne ke liye
|
Meanings
This structure is used to indicate the purpose or reason for an action, equivalent to the English 'in order to' or 'for'.
Intentional Purpose
Explaining the goal of an action.
“Main sone ke liye ja raha hoon.”
“Woh padhne ke liye library gaya.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb-ne + ke liye
|
Main padhne ke liye gaya.
|
|
Negative
|
Verb-ne + ke liye (nahi)
|
Main padhne ke liye nahi gaya.
|
|
Question
|
Kya + Verb-ne + ke liye?
|
Kya tum padhne ke liye gaye?
|
|
Interrogative
|
Kyun + Verb-ne + ke liye?
|
Tum kyun padhne ke liye gaye?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Verb-ne + ke liye
|
Padhne ke liye.
|
|
Variation
|
Verb-ne + ke vaaste
|
Woh padhne ke vaaste gaya.
|
Formality Spectrum
Main bhojan karne ke liye ja raha hoon. (Daily life)
Main khane ke liye ja raha hoon. (Daily life)
Main khane ja raha hoon. (Daily life)
Khane ja raha hoon. (Daily life)
Purpose Construction
Actions
- Khane To eat
- Padhne To read
Goals
- Seekhne To learn
- Milne To meet
Examples by Level
Main khane ke liye gaya.
I went to eat.
Woh khelne ke liye bahar gaya.
He went outside to play.
Main sone ke liye ja raha hoon.
I am going to sleep.
Kya tum padhne ke liye aaoge?
Will you come to study?
Main Hindi seekhne ke liye yahan hoon.
I am here to learn Hindi.
Woh kapde khareedne ke liye bazaar gaya.
He went to the market to buy clothes.
Hum film dekhne ke liye cinema gaye.
We went to the cinema to watch a film.
Kya tum mujhse milne ke liye aa sakte ho?
Can you come to meet me?
Main apni galti sudhaarne ke liye yahan aaya hoon.
I have come here to correct my mistake.
Woh naukri dhoondhne ke liye shehar gaya.
He went to the city to look for a job.
Main tumhari madad karne ke liye taiyaar hoon.
I am ready to help you.
Kya tumne yeh kaam karne ke liye permission li?
Did you take permission to do this work?
Sarkar ne naye niyam laagu karne ke liye meeting bulayi.
The government called a meeting to implement new rules.
Main apne sapne poore karne ke liye mehnat kar raha hoon.
I am working hard to fulfill my dreams.
Woh apni baat saabit karne ke liye saboot dhoondh raha hai.
He is looking for evidence to prove his point.
Humne yeh project samay par khatam karne ke liye extra kaam kiya.
We worked extra to finish this project on time.
Vigyaani naye siddhant sthapit karne ke liye prayog kar rahe hain.
Scientists are conducting experiments to establish new theories.
Usne apni chhavi sudhaarne ke liye kai kadam uthaye.
He took several steps to improve his image.
Yeh kanoon samajik nyay sunishchit karne ke liye banaya gaya hai.
This law has been made to ensure social justice.
Main is vishay par gehri charcha karne ke liye utsuk hoon.
I am eager to have a deep discussion on this topic.
Sahityakaaron ne bhasha ko samriddh karne ke liye prayas kiye.
Literary figures made efforts to enrich the language.
Antarrashtriya sambandhon ko sudridh karne ke liye yeh samjhauta mahatvapurn hai.
This agreement is crucial to strengthen international relations.
Darshnikon ne manav jeevan ka arth samajhne ke liye sadiyon tak chintan kiya.
Philosophers contemplated for centuries to understand the meaning of human life.
Is niti ka uddeshya arthvyavastha ko punarjeevit karne ke liye hai.
The purpose of this policy is to revive the economy.
Easily Confused
Learners think verbs need special treatment, but nouns don't.
Both mean 'for', but register differs.
Using the base infinitive instead of the oblique.
Common Mistakes
Khana ke liye
Khane ke liye
Padhna ke liye
Padhne ke liye
Ke liye khana
Khane ke liye
Jaana ke liye
Jaane ke liye
Mujhe khana ke liye jana hai
Mujhe khane ke liye jana hai
Woh milne ke liye aaya
Woh mujhse milne ke liye aaya
Padhne ke liye library
Padhne ke liye library gaya
Woh kaam karne ke liye gaya
Woh kaam karne gaya
Main seekhne ke liye Hindi
Main Hindi seekhne ke liye
Woh khane ke liye nahi tha
Woh khane ke liye nahi gaya
Sarkar ne niyam banane ke liye
Sarkar ne niyam banane ke liye meeting ki
Woh samjhne ke liye koshish ki
Usne samjhne ki koshish ki
Main karne ke liye taiyaar
Main karne ke liye taiyaar hoon
Sentence Patterns
Main ___ ke liye gaya.
Woh ___ ke liye yahan hai.
Kya tum ___ ke liye taiyaar ho?
Humne ___ ke liye mehnat ki.
Real World Usage
Main milne ke liye aa raha hoon.
Main yeh naukri karne ke liye utsuk hoon.
Order dene ke liye yahan click karein.
Main ghoomne ke liye Delhi ja raha hoon.
Doston se milne ke liye excited!
Shodh karne ke liye humne data ikattha kiya.
The -ne Rule
Don't use -na
Noun vs Verb
Casual Speech
Smart Tips
Check if the first verb is a purpose. If so, use -ne ke liye.
Always look at the word before it. If it's a verb, it must end in -ne.
Use this structure to be clear and precise.
Use 'ke liye' for clarity, or 'ke hetu' for extra formality.
Pronunciation
Oblique -ne
The 'e' sound is a short, nasalized vowel.
ke liye
The 'liye' is pronounced as 'lee-yeh'.
Rising
Kya tum khane ke liye aaoge? ↑
Question intonation.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'ne' as the 'Need' to do something, and 'ke liye' as the 'key' to the reason.
Visual Association
Imagine a key (ke liye) opening a door to a verb (ne). You need the key to enter the action.
Rhyme
Change the na to a ne, add ke liye, now you're free!
Story
Rahul wanted to learn Hindi. He went to school (padhne ke liye). He met a teacher (milne ke liye). He sat down (baithne ke liye).
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about what you did today using 'ke liye'.
Cultural Notes
Very common in daily speech, often shortened to just the infinitive in very casual settings.
Uses 'ke hetu' instead of 'ke liye' in official documents.
Often uses 'ke vaaste' in poetic or literary contexts.
Derived from the Sanskrit 'krite' (for the sake of).
Conversation Starters
Tum yahan kyun aaye ho?
Kya tumne yeh kaam karne ke liye permission li?
Tumne Hindi seekhne ke liye kya kiya?
Sarkar ko kya karna chahiye?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Main Hindi ___ ke liye seekh raha hoon.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Woh padhna ke liye gaya.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I came to meet you.
Answer starts with: Mai...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Tum kyun aaye ho? B: Main ___.
Main / ghoomne / ke liye / Delhi / gaya.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesMain Hindi ___ ke liye seekh raha hoon.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Woh padhna ke liye gaya.
ke liye / gaya / main / khane
I came to meet you.
Match: Padhna
A: Tum kyun aaye ho? B: Main ___.
Main / ghoomne / ke liye / Delhi / gaya.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesमूवी ___ के लिए टिकट बुक करो। (dekhna)
गया / वह / खेलने / है
I am coming to meet you.
Match the pairs:
He went to study.
चाय ___ के लिए चीनी चाहिए। (banana)
इंटरव्यू देना के लिए तैयार हो जाओ।
To save money.
In order to help...
गिटार ___ के लिए समय चाहिए। (bajaana)
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Yes, almost all verbs can be converted to the oblique -ne form and used with 'ke liye'.
The postposition 'ke liye' requires the oblique case of the preceding word.
It is neutral and used in all contexts.
Just use 'Noun + ke liye'. No -ne needed.
Yes, but 'ke liye' is the most common for purpose.
Yes, 'Main khane ke liye nahi gaya' (I didn't go to eat).
Yes, though 'ke hetu' is sometimes preferred in very formal documents.
Forgetting to change the verb to the oblique -ne form.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
para + infinitive
Hindi requires the -ne suffix.
pour + infinitive
Hindi requires the -ne suffix.
um ... zu + infinitive
German uses a two-part structure.
verb-stem + ni + iku/kuru
Hindi uses a postpositional phrase.
li + masdar
Hindi uses a separate postposition.
weile + verb
Hindi places the purpose phrase after the verb.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
Hindi Oblique Infinitives: Using Verbs with 'ke liye', 'se', and 'kā' (-ne form)
Overview The Hindi infinitive, fundamentally a verbal noun, functions as the base for expressing an action in a non-fini...
Hindi Purpose Clauses: Using 'so that' (taki)
Overview `ताकि` (taki) is a crucial subordinating conjunction in Hindi, translating to "so that," "in order that," or "f...
Related Videos
Related Grammar Rules
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Hindi Postposition को (ko): To, For, The
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Hindi Postposition 'Mein' (In/Inside)
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Possessive Agreement (ka/ke/ki)
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