Hindi First Causative: Making Someone Do (-aa)
-aa to the verb stem and shorten vowels to transform 'doing' into 'causing' an action.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Add '-aa' to the verb root to turn an action into a command or request for someone else to perform it.
- Add '-aa' to the root: 'chal' (walk) becomes 'chalaa' (make walk/drive).
- If the root ends in a vowel, add '-vaa' or modify the root for clarity.
- The subject is the one causing the action, while the object is the one performing it.
Overview
In Hindi, verbs possess a unique capacity to express not only an action but also the causation of that action. The First Causative verb (Pratham Preranārthak Kriyā) signifies that the subject of the sentence causes or makes another agent perform the action directly. This grammatical construction emphasizes direct involvement: you are not performing the action yourself, but you are actively facilitating or influencing someone else to do it.
Unlike English, which often relies on auxiliary verbs like 'make' or 'have' (e.g., 'I made him eat'), Hindi modifies the verb stem itself to convey this causative meaning. Mastering the First Causative is crucial for B1 learners, as it unlocks a more natural, nuanced, and authentic expression of agency and interpersonal interaction in Hindi, moving beyond simple declarative sentences.
This form is primarily used when you are present and actively involved in the causal chain, even if you aren't physically executing the core action. For instance, khilānā (खिलाना – to feed) means you are causing someone to eat, likely by offering or serving food yourself. This contrasts with the Second Causative, which indicates a more indirect causation where you arrange for someone else to perform the action, often by delegating or commissioning.
The existence of these distinct causative forms highlights a fundamental aspect of Hindi's verb system: a verb often exists as a 'family' of related forms, each expressing a different degree of agency and influence.
How This Grammar Works
paṛhnā (पढ़ना – to read).paṛhānā (पढ़ााना – to teach/make someone read), the subject of paṛhānā is the one causing the reading. For example, Aadhyā kitāb paṛhtī hai (आध्या किताब पढ़ती है – Aadhya reads a book) becomes Main Aadhyā ko kitāb paṛhātā hū̃ (मैं आध्या को किताब पढ़ाता हूँ – I make Aadhya read a book / I teach Aadhya a book).ko (को). The subject of the First Causative verb (the 'causer') is the one initiating the action and will dictate the verb's gender and number agreement. For instance, if a male teacher teaches, the verb will be masculine singular (paṛhātā hū̃), and if a female teacher teaches, it will be feminine singular (paṛhātī hū̃).Formation Pattern
-ā. Understanding these rules precisely is crucial for accurate usage.
-nā, ना) and remove -nā. For example, from karnā (करना – to do), the stem is kar (कर); from baiṭhnā (बैठना – to sit), the stem is baiṭh (बैठ).
-ā: To the identified stem, add the suffix -ā (आ) followed by -nā to form the new infinitive. This -ā sound is the hallmark of the First Causative. So, kar (कर) + ā (आ) + nā (ना) becomes karānā (कराना – to make someone do). Similarly, baiṭh (बैठ) + ā (आ) + nā (ना) becomes baiṭhānā (बैठाना – to seat someone).
ā (आ) becomes short a (अ): jāgnā (जागना – to wake up) → stem jāg (जाग) → jagānā (जगाना – to wake someone up). Example: Main use jagātā hū̃ (मैं उसे जगाता हूँ – I wake him up).
ī (ई) or ai (ऐ) becomes short i (इ): pīnā (पीना – to drink) → stem pī (पी) → pilānā (पिलाना – to give someone a drink). Example: Mā̃ bachche ko dūdh pilātī hai (माँ बच्चे को दूध पिलाती है – Mother gives the child milk to drink).
ū (ऊ) or o (ओ) becomes short u (उ): bhūlnā (भूलना – to forget) → stem bhūl (भूल) → bhulānā (भुलाना – to make someone forget/distract). Example: Vah mujhe us kām se bhulā rahā thā (वह मुझे उस काम से भुला रहा था – He was making me forget that task).
ā, an l (ल) is often inserted between the stem and the causative suffix for phonetic smoothness. This prevents the awkward clash of two ā sounds.
khānā (खाना – to eat) → stem khā (खा) → khilānā (खिलाना – to feed). Example: Ham mehānmāno ko khānā khilā rahe the (हम मेहमानों को खाना खिला रहे थे – We were feeding the guests).
dēnā (देना – to give) → stem de (दे) → dilānā (दिलाना – to cause to give/help get). Example: Vah mujhe naukri dilānā chāhtā hai (वह मुझे नौकरी दिलाना चाहता है – He wants to help me get a job).
sōnā (सोना – to sleep) → stem so (सो) → sulānā (सुलाना – to make someone sleep). Example: Mā̃ bachche ko sulātī hai (माँ बच्चे को सुलाती है – Mother makes the child sleep).
dekhnā (देखना – to see) → dikhānā (दिखाना – to show). Here, dikhānā directly implies causing someone to see. Example: Mujhe apni tasvīr dikhāo (मुझे अपनी तस्वीर दिखाओ – Show me your picture).
khulnā (खुलना – to open, intransitive) → kholnā (खोलना – to open, transitive). kholnā itself is the First Causative of khulnā. Example: Vah darvāzā kholtī hai (वह दरवाज़ा खोलती है – She opens the door).
samajhnā (समझना – to understand) → samjhānā (समझाना – to explain/make understand). Example: Kṛpā karke mujhe yah samjhāo (कृपया करके मुझे यह समझाओ – Please explain this to me).
karnā (करना) | kar (कर) | karā (करा) | karānā (कराना) | to make do |
baiṭhnā (बैठना) | baiṭh (बैठ) | baiṭhā (बैठा) | baiṭhānā (बैठाना) | to seat, make sit |
likhnā (लिखना) | likh (लिख) | likhā (लिखा) | likhānā (लिखाना) | to make write |
paṛhnā (पढ़ना) | paṛh (पढ़) | paṛhā (पढ़ा) | paṛhānā (पढ़ााना) | to teach, make read |
jāgnā (जागना) | jāg (जाग) | jagā (जगा) | jagānā (जगाना) | to wake (someone) up |
pīnā (पीना) | pī (पी) | pilā (पिला) | pilānā (पिलाना) | to give to drink |
khānā (खाना) | khā (खा) | khilā (खिला) | khilānā (खिलाना) | to feed |
dēnā (देना) | de (दे) | dilā (दिला) | dilānā (दिलाना) | to cause to give |
sōnā (सोना) | so (सो) | sulā (सुला) | sulānā (सुलाना) | to make sleep |
dekhnā (देखना) | dekh (देख) | dikhā (दिखा) | dikhānā (दिखाना) | to show |
Conjugation Table
| Tense/Aspect | Male Singular (मैं, तू, वह) | Female Singular (मैं, तू, वह) | Male Plural (हम, तुम, वे) | Female Plural (हम, तुम, वे) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :---------------- | :----------------------------- | :---------------------------- | :------------------------------- | :----------------------------- | ||
| Simple Present | pilātā hū̃/hai (पिलाता हूँ/है) |
pilātī hū̃/hai (पिलाती हूँ/है) |
pilāte haĩ (पिलाते हैं) |
pilātī haĩ (पिलाती हैं) |
||
| Present Continuous | pilā rahā hū̃/hai (पिला रहा हूँ/है) |
pilā rahī hū̃/hai (पिला रही हूँ/है) |
pilā rahe haĩ (पिला रहे हैं) |
pilā rahī haĩ (पिला रही हैं) |
||
| Simple Past | pilāyā (पिलाया) |
pilāyī (पिलायी) |
pilāye (पिलाये) |
pilāyī̃ (पिलायीं) |
||
| Past Continuous | pilā rahā thā (पिला रहा था) |
pilā rahī thī (पिला रही थी) |
pilā rahe the (पिला रहे थे) |
pilā rahī thī̃ (पिला रही थीं) |
||
| Present Perfect | pilāyā hai (पिलाया है) |
pilāyī hai (पिलायी है) |
pilāye haĩ (पिलाये हैं) |
pilāyī̃ haĩ (पिलायीं हैं) |
||
| Future | pilāū̃gā/pilāegā (पिलाऊँगा/पिलाएगा) |
pilāū̃gī/pilāegī (पिलाऊँगी/पिलाएगी) |
pilāẽge (पिलाएँगे) |
pilāẽgī (पिलाएँगी) |
When To Use It
- Feeding and Serving: When you offer food or drink to someone, you are actively causing them to eat or drink. Instead of simply saying
Khao!(खाओ! – Eat!), you would usekhilānā(खिलाना) in sentences likeMā̃ ne bachche ko khānā khilāyā(माँ ने बच्चे को खाना खिलाया – Mother fed the child). Similarly,pilānā(पिलाना) for drinks:Main mehānmāno ko pānī pilāū̃gā(मैं मेहमानों को पानी पिलाऊँगा – I will give water to the guests to drink).
- Teaching and Explaining: The act of teaching is linguistically understood as 'making someone read' or 'making someone understand.' Thus,
paṛhānā(पढ़ााना – to teach) andsamjhānā(समझाना – to explain) are fundamental First Causatives.Adhyāpak chātṛo ko Hindī paṛhāte haĩ(अध्यापक छात्रों को हिंदी पढ़ाते हैं – The teacher teaches Hindi to the students).Usne mujhe yah sūchnā samjhāyī(उसने मुझे यह सूचना समझायी – He explained this information to me).
- Showing and Displaying: When you direct someone's attention to something, you are causing them to see it.
Dikhānā(दिखाना – to show) is the First Causative ofdekhnā(देखना – to see).Apni nayī kār dikhāo(अपनी नई कार दिखाओ – Show your new car). This is used for objects, photos, or even concepts.
- Guiding and Directing:
Chalānā(चलाना – to drive/operate/make walk) fromchalnā(चलना – to walk).Vah kār chalātā hai(वह कार चलाता है – He drives a car). Ormujhe rāstā dikhāo(मुझे रास्ता दिखाओ – show me the way/guide me).
- Bringing about an action: This category covers a wide array of verbs where you initiate an action that another person or entity then completes. For example,
karānā(कराना – to make do),banānā(बनाना – to make/build – can be causative ofbannā– to be made),jagānā(जगाना – to wake someone up). These forms are critical in expressing day-to-day coordination and interaction.
Common Mistakes
-ā suffix. Forgetting this makes the word sound incorrect or even unintelligible to native speakers. For example, instead of jagānā (जगाना), one might mistakenly say jāgānā (जागाना). Always review the vowel shortening rules: āa, ī/ai → i, ū/o → u. Practice verbs like jāgnā/jagānā, sōnā/sulānā, pīnā/pilānā until the shortening becomes automatic.- Confusing Transitive and Causative: Some basic transitive verbs already carry a causative-like meaning. For instance,
kholnā(खोलना – to open something) is the First Causative ofkhulnā(खुलना – to open, intransitive). Some learners might incorrectly try to form a First Causative fromkholnā, leading to redundant or non-existent forms. Recognize that verbs likekholnā,chhoṛnā(छोड़ना – to leave something, fromchūṭnā– to be left), andbaṛhānā(बढ़ाना – to increase something, frombaṛhnā– to increase intransitively) are often already in their First Causative form relative to an intransitive base.
- Incorrect Subject-Verb Agreement: The First Causative verb always agrees with the causer (the subject initiating the action), not the agent performing the action. A common mistake is to try to make the verb agree with the 'actor' being caused. Remember,
Maine bachche ko khānā khilāyā(मैंने बच्चे को खाना खिलाया – I fed the child); the verbkhilāyāagrees withkhānā(food, masculine singular direct object) due to theneconstruction, but in non-perfective tenses, it agrees with I (male speaker)Main bachche ko khānā khilātā hū̃(मैं बच्चे को खाना खिलाता हूँ – I feed the child). The key is the causer's gender/number in simple tenses.
- Literal Translation from English 'Make': Hindi causatives are often mistranslated directly from English phrases like 'I made him eat.' While English uses an auxiliary verb, Hindi integrates the causative meaning directly into the action verb. Therefore, attempting to use
banānā(बनाना – to make/create) for all causative meanings is incorrect. Instead ofMaine use khānā banāyā(I made him food), which means 'I made food for him,' you should useMaine use khānā khilāyā(I fed him food).
- Misunderstanding
koUsage: The postpositionko(को) generally marks the animate direct object of a verb. In First Causative constructions, the person being caused to act (the 'actor') is frequently marked withko. For instance,Maine naukar ko paṛhānā sikhāyā(मैंने नौकर को पढ़ाना सिखाया – I taught the servant to read). Failing to usekoor using it incorrectly can obscure who is performing the caused action.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
- Base Verb vs. First Causative:
- Base Verb: Denotes an action performed by the subject itself, with no external influence implied. It's the simplest form of the verb. Example:
Main chal rahā hū̃(मैं चल रहा हूँ – I am walking). - First Causative: Denotes that the subject causes another agent to perform the action directly. The subject is actively involved in initiating or enabling the action. Example:
Main bachche ko chalā rahā hū̃(मैं बच्चे को चला रहा हूँ – I am making the child walk / I am walking the child).
- First Causative vs. Second Causative: This distinction is critical for B1 learners.
- First Causative (
-ānā/-ānāending): Implies direct involvement of the subject in making someone do something. The causer is usually present and actively participates in ensuring the action takes place. Think of it as 'I make X do Y.' The formation generally involves-āafter the stem, with vowel shortening andlinsertion rules. Example:Mā̃ ne naukar ko kitāb paṛhāyī(माँ ने नौकर को किताब पढ़ायी – Mother made the servant read the book / Mother taught the servant the book). - Second Causative (
-vānā/-vānāending): Implies indirect causation, where the subject has the action done through an intermediary. The subject delegates the task and is not directly involved in the execution. Think of it as 'I have Y done by X.' The formation generally involves-vāafter the first causative stem or directly after the base stem (with similar vowel changes). Example:Mā̃ ne naukar se kitāb paṛhvāyī(माँ ने नौकर से किताब पढ़वायी – Mother had the servant read the book / Mother got the book read by the servant). Note the use ofse(से) with the agent in Second Causatives.
karnā (करना – to do) | karānā (कराना – to make someone do) | karvānā (करवाना – to have someone do) |ko) | Agent of action (often with se) |- Verbs with Inherent Transitivity (acting as First Causative): Some verbs are inherently transitive and their meaning aligns with a First Causative of an intransitive counterpart. For example,
toṛnā(तोड़ना – to break something) is the transitive form ofṭūṭnā(टूटना – to break, intransitive). Here,toṛnāfunctions as the First Causative, and you would not typically formtuṛānāfor the same meaning. Recognizing these pairs (e.g.,khulnā/kholnā,banānā/bannā,baṛhnā/baṛhānā) prevents confusion and redundant causative formation.
Real Conversations
First Causative verbs are woven into the fabric of everyday Hindi communication, from simple requests to professional interactions. Their usage often conveys politeness, efficiency, or a sense of shared activity.
- Casual Request/Guidance:
- Friend A: Mujhe yah rāstā samajh nahī̃ ā rahā. (मुझे यह रास्ता समझ नहीं आ रहा – I'm not understanding this route.)
- Friend B: Āo, main tumhẽ map dikhātā hū̃. (आओ, मैं तुम्हें मैप दिखाता हूँ – Come, I'll show you the map.)
- (Here, dikhātā hū̃ (दिखाता हूँ) is the First Causative of dekhnā (देखना – to see), meaning 'I'll make you see.')
- In a restaurant or while hosting:
- Host: Thoṛā aur khānā khilāū̃gā kya? (थोड़ा और खाना खिलाऊँगा क्या? – Shall I feed you a little more food? / Shall I serve you a little more food?)
- Guest: Nahī̃, main pūrā bhar gayā hū̃. (नहीं, मैं पूरा भर गया हूँ – No, I'm completely full.)
- (The host is directly offering/serving, hence khilāū̃gā (खिलाऊँगा) from khānā (खाना – to eat).)
- Professional/Educational Context:
- Student: Sir, mujh kō yah prashn samajh nahī̃ āyā. (सर, मुझ को यह प्रश्न समझ नहीं आया – Sir, I didn't understand this question.)
- Teacher: Koi bāt nahī̃, main tumhẽ phir se samjhātā hū̃. (कोई बात नहीं, मैं तुम्हें फिर से समझाता हूँ – No problem, I'll explain it to you again.)
- (The teacher is directly causing the student to understand, using samjhātā hū̃ (समझाता हूँ) from samajhnā (समझना – to understand).)
- Social Media/Texting (Cultural Insight): While dikhao is common, in more polite contexts or with elders, people might still say dikhaiye or dikhāiye nā (दिखाइए ना – please show). The use of causatives often softens requests, making them sound less like commands and more like offers of assistance or shared activity. For example, a parent might text Bachche ko jagā denā (बच्चे को जगा देना – Wake up the child), using jagā denā (to cause to wake up) rather than simply jag jāo (wake up yourself).
Progressive Practice
Mastering Hindi First Causatives requires systematic practice beyond just memorizing rules. Here’s a progressive approach:
- Start with Core Pairs: Begin by identifying and practicing common base verb-First Causative pairs. Focus on verbs like paṛhnā/paṛhānā (read/teach), khānā/khilānā (eat/feed), pīnā/pilānā (drink/give to drink), sonā/sulānā (sleep/make sleep), jagānā/jāgnā (wake up/wake someone up). Write sentences for each pair in various simple tenses (present, past, future).
- Focus on Vowel Shortening: Dedicate specific drills to verbs that undergo vowel shortening. Create flashcards with the base infinitive on one side and its First Causative on the other, paying close attention to the vowel change. Actively pronounce them to internalize the sound shift (e.g., jāgnā vs. jagānā).
- Identify l-Insertion: Practice verbs where l is inserted. Pay attention to khānā/khilānā, pīnā/pilānā, dēnā/dilānā. Recognizing this pattern will help with prediction.
- Transitivity Exploration: Pick an intransitive verb (e.g., khulnā – to open intransitively) and its corresponding transitive/First Causative (e.g., kholnā – to open transitively). Create sentences demonstrating both, understanding when the action happens on its own versus when an agent causes it. Similarly, explore ṭūṭnā (to break, intr.) and toṛnā (to break, tr.).
- Sentence Transformation: Take simple Hindi sentences using base verbs and transform them into First Causative constructions. For example, Main khānā khātā hū̃ (I eat food) → Main bachche ko khānā khilātā hū̃ (I feed the child). This exercise directly applies the formation rules.
- Contextual Practice (Role-Play/Journaling): Engage in role-play scenarios that naturally elicit First Causatives (e.g., inviting guests, teaching a concept, showing directions). When journaling in Hindi, intentionally look for opportunities to replace simple verbs with their causative counterparts to express subtle shades of meaning. For example, instead of Maine use dekhā (I saw him), try Maine use tasvīr dikhāyī (I showed him the picture).
- Differentiate First vs. Second Causative: Once comfortable with the First Causative, deliberately practice constructing sentences where you have to choose between First and Second Causative, paying attention to the degree of directness. Maine kapṛe dhulāe (I washed the clothes [myself or directly made someone]) vs. Maine kapṛe dhulvāe (I had the clothes washed [by a laundry service]).
Quick FAQ
- Q: Are First Causatives always transitive?
Yes, with very rare exceptions. By their nature, they involve causing an action on an object or person, making them transitive. This also means that in perfective tenses, the ne (ने) particle is typically used with the subject.
- Q: Can every verb have a First Causative form?
Almost all verbs in Hindi can form a First Causative. Some are inherent, like kholnā from khulnā, while others follow the regular -ā suffix pattern. Verbs that are already naturally causative (e.g., mārnā – to hit) might not have a distinct First Causative form as their base form already implies direct action on an object.
- Q: Why do some verbs insert an
l?
The insertion of l (ल) is primarily for phonetic reasons, to prevent an awkward hiatus or clash of vowels when the -ā suffix is added to a vowel-ending stem, especially those ending in ā or o. It makes the word flow more smoothly.
- Q: Is
paṛhānā(पढ़ााना – to teach) truly a causative?
Absolutely. From a Hindi linguistic perspective, teaching is understood as 'causing someone to read or learn.' This humble interpretation highlights the deep connection between direct action and its enablement in Hindi.
- Q: Do I always use
kowith the person I'm causing to act?
Yes, in most cases, the animate 'actor' (the person being caused to perform the action) will take the ko (को) postposition. For example, Main bachche ko kitāb paṛhātā hū̃ (मैं बच्चे को किताब पढ़ाता हूँ – I make the child read a book / I teach the child a book). However, if the object is inanimate, ko is typically omitted: Main darvāzā kholtā hū̃ (मैं दरवाज़ा खोलता हूँ – I open the door).`
First Causative Formation
| Base Verb | Meaning | Causative | Causative Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
chal
|
walk
|
chalaa
|
drive/make walk
|
|
dekh
|
see
|
dikhaa
|
show
|
|
pee
|
drink
|
pilaa
|
make drink
|
|
kha
|
eat
|
khilaa
|
feed
|
|
so
|
sleep
|
sulaa
|
put to sleep
|
|
padh
|
read
|
padhaa
|
teach
|
Meanings
The first causative indicates that the subject causes the action to happen, often involving a direct interaction with the person performing the action.
Direct Causation
The subject directly initiates the action performed by another.
“वह मुझे हँसाता है (He makes me laugh).”
“माँ बच्चे को खिलाती है (Mother feeds/makes the child eat).”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subj + Obj(ko) + Causative
|
Main bachche ko khilaata hoon
|
|
Negative
|
Subj + nahin + Causative
|
Main bachche ko nahin khilaata
|
|
Interrogative
|
Kya + Subj + Causative?
|
Kya tum bachche ko khilaate ho?
|
|
Past
|
Subj + Causative-aa + ya
|
Usne mujhe dikhaaya
|
|
Future
|
Subj + Causative-aa + ega
|
Main tumhe dikhaunga
|
Formality Spectrum
कृपया मुझे पुस्तक दिखाएँ (Requesting an item)
मुझे किताब दिखाओ (Requesting an item)
किताब दिखा (Requesting an item)
दिखा ना (Requesting an item)
Causative Flow
Action
- khilaana to feed
Examples by Level
माँ बच्चे को सुलाती है
Mother puts the child to sleep
वह मुझे हँसाता है
He makes me laugh
मैं पानी पिलाता हूँ
I make (someone) drink water
वह खाना खिलाती है
She feeds food
क्या आप मुझे रास्ता दिखा सकते हैं?
Can you show me the way?
शिक्षक पाठ पढ़ाते हैं
The teacher teaches the lesson
वह गाड़ी चलाता है
He drives the car
बच्चे को मत रुलाओ
Don't make the child cry
उसने मुझे बहुत काम करवाया
He made me do a lot of work
वह मुझे सच बुलवाता है
He makes me tell the truth
मैंने उसे पत्र लिखवाया
I had him write the letter
वह मुझे घर बुलाती है
She calls me home
प्रबंधक ने कर्मचारियों को काम पर लगाया
The manager put the employees to work
उसने मुझे अपनी बात समझाई
He made me understand his point
वह मुझे उलझन में डालता है
He puts me in a dilemma
उसने मुझे यह फिल्म दिखाई
He showed me this film
उसने मुझे अपनी योजना में शामिल किया
He included me in his plan
वह मुझे अपनी बातों से प्रभावित करता है
He influences me with his words
उसने मुझे अपनी गलती का एहसास कराया
He made me realize my mistake
वह मुझे अपनी दुनिया में ले जाता है
He takes me into his world
उसने मुझे अपनी विचारधारा के प्रति सचेत किया
He made me aware of his ideology
वह मुझे अपनी कला का प्रदर्शन दिखाता है
He demonstrates his art to me
उसने मुझे अपनी जटिल समस्याओं में उलझाया
He entangled me in his complex problems
वह मुझे अपनी परंपराओं का पालन कराता है
He makes me follow his traditions
Easily Confused
Learners often use -vaa for everything.
Common Mistakes
Main khata hoon bachche ko
Main bachche ko khilata hoon
Tum dikho mujhe
Tum mujhe dikhao
Main usse karvaata hoon
Main usse karata hoon
Usne mujhe samjhaya
Usne mujhe samjhaya
Sentence Patterns
Main ___ ko ___ (causative) hoon.
Real World Usage
बच्चे को सुला दो।
Focus on the root
Smart Tips
Use the causative.
Pronunciation
Long Vowel Shift
The 'aa' suffix often lengthens the preceding syllable.
Command
किताब दिखाओ! ↘
Firm request
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'aa' as 'Action Added'. You are adding an action to someone else's day.
Visual Association
Imagine a puppet master pulling strings. The puppet is the object, the master is the subject.
Rhyme
When you want to make them do, add an 'aa' to the root for you.
Story
I wanted my cat to eat. I didn't just watch. I 'khilaaya' (fed) the cat. Now the cat is happy because I caused the action.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences today using causative verbs for things you do for your pets or family.
Cultural Notes
Feeding others is a sign of love, so 'khilaana' is very common.
Derived from Sanskrit causative structures.
Conversation Starters
क्या आप मुझे अपना शहर दिखा सकते हैं?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
मैं बच्चे को ___ (so) हूँ।
Score: /1
Practice Exercises
1 exercisesमैं बच्चे को ___ (so) हूँ।
Score: /1
Practice Bank
10 exercisesमाँ बच्चे को ___ रही है। (Mother is putting the child to sleep - from 'sonaa')
मैंने उसे पानी पीलाया।
दिखाओ / मुझे / अपनी / प्रोफाइल / इंस्टाग्राम / ।
I make him work.
To call or invite someone is:
Match the pairs:
उसने मुझे नई फिल्म ___। (He showed me the new movie.)
Select the correct word:
वह लड़के को जगाता है।
The waiter served (fed) us.
Score: /10
FAQ (1)
Most transitive verbs, yes.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Hacer + infinitive
Hindi uses a morphological suffix, Spanish uses a periphrastic construction.
Faire + infinitive
Hindi is synthetic, French is analytic.
lassen
Hindi suffix is more integrated.
saseru
Japanese is agglutinative.
Form IV
Arabic is triconsonantal.
shi
Chinese has no morphology.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Simple Present: The "Ta-Te-Ti" Rule (Habits)
Overview The Hindi Simple Present tense, often referred to as the "Habitual Present," is fundamental for expressing acti...
Hindi Verbs: The Dictionary Form (-na)
Overview In Hindi, the foundational form of every verb is the **infinitive**, invariably ending with the suffix `-nā` (न...
Continue With
Hindi Causatives: Getting Things Done (-ā & -vā)
Overview Hindi causative verbs are a fundamental aspect of the language, enabling speakers to express the act of **causi...
Getting Things Done: Second Causative Verbs (-vana)
Overview The Second Causative verb form in Hindi, characterized by the suffix `**-vānā**` (`-वाना`), is a critical gramm...
Related Videos
Related Grammar Rules
Getting Things Done: Second Causative Verbs (-vana)
Overview The Second Causative verb form in Hindi, characterized by the suffix `**-vānā**` (`-वाना`), is a critical gramm...
Might Have to & Could Manage: Combining Modals (सकना, पड़ना, पाना)
Overview Mastering Hindi grammar at the C1 level demands precision, particularly when expressing nuanced concepts like o...
Connecting Verbs: Want to, Try to, Start to (Control & Raising)
Overview Mastering advanced Hindi syntax necessitates a nuanced understanding of how verbs interact, particularly when e...
Stacking Hindi Verbs: Doing more with Auxiliaries (Chaining)
Overview Mastering Hindi at the C1 level necessitates a deep understanding of its verb system, particularly the nuanced...
The Hinglish Matrix: English Verbs in Hindi
Overview Ever tried watching a Bollywood movie on Netflix without subtitles? You probably realized you understood half t...
