Reporting Speech in Hindi (Indirect Speech)
कि and shifting pronouns to smoothly report conversations in modern Hindi.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Indirect speech in Hindi uses the conjunction 'ki' (कि) to link the reporting verb to the reported clause.
- Use 'ki' (कि) to connect the speaker's statement to your report: 'Usne kaha ki woh aa raha hai.'
- Shift pronouns to match your perspective: 'Main' (I) often becomes 'Woh' (he/she) in indirect speech.
- Adjust verb tenses logically: If the reporting verb is past, the reported clause often shifts to past tense.
Overview
Reporting speech in Hindi, known as अप्रत्यक्ष कथन (apratyaksh kathan), enables you to convey someone else's utterance without quoting their exact words. This grammatical structure is fundamental for recounting conversations, sharing information, and integrating another's thoughts or statements fluidly into your own narrative. Unlike direct speech, which uses quotation marks for verbatim repetition, indirect speech seamlessly integrates the reported content into the main sentence.
Mastery of अप्रत्यक्ष कथन is essential for B2-level learners, as it facilitates more sophisticated communication, moving beyond simple recitation to nuanced summarization and contextualization of dialogue. It is a cornerstone of advanced conversational and written Hindi, allowing for greater expressiveness and naturalness in discourse. The primary mechanism for forming indirect speech in Hindi frequently involves the conjunction कि (ki), which functions as a subordinating element introducing the reported clause.
How This Grammar Works
कि (ki), which acts as a bridge between the reporting clause (e.g., "he said") and the reported clause (the content of what was said). The grammatical role of कि here is primarily as a quotative marker, signaling that the subsequent clause represents another's speech. It does not trigger the complex sequence of tenses observed in languages like English, where the matrix verb's past tense necessitates a corresponding past shift in the subordinate clause.मैं (main - I), and you are reporting it, मैं must change to वह (vah - he/she) to reflect the third-person perspective of the reporter. Similarly, possessive pronouns like मेरा (mera - my) would become उसका (uska - his/her).उसने कहा कि मैं आता हूँ (usne kaha ki main aata hoon - He said that I come) is grammatically incorrect if the original statement was मैं आता हूँ (main aata hoon - I come). The correct indirect form would be उसने कहा कि वह आता है (usne kaha ki vah aata hai - He said that he comes), preserving the present tense while adjusting the verb conjugation for the new subject वह. This directness in tense retention reflects a linguistic tendency to report speech as immediately perceived, focusing on the content's validity at the moment of reporting rather than its temporal displacement from the original utterance.Formation Pattern
कि (ki) remains a consistent element, the structure of the reported clause adapts to reflect its initial function.
Reporting Clause + कि + Reported Clause (with adjusted pronouns/adverbs)
कहना (kahna - to say) and बताना (batana - to tell/inform).
कहना can be used without an indirect object (e.g., उसने कहा - he said). If an indirect object is specified, it usually takes the से (se) postposition: उसने मुझसे कहा (usne mujhse kaha - he said to me). Less commonly, को (ko) can be used (उसने मुझको कहा).
बताना always requires an indirect object, typically marked with को: उसने मुझे बताया (usne mujhe bataya - he told me). Using बताना without specifying who was told is grammatically incomplete.
मैं (main - I) | वह (vah - he/she) | राहुल ने कहा, "मैं खुश हूँ।" (Rahul said, "I am happy.") | राहुल ने कहा कि वह खुश है। (Rahul said that he is happy.) |
हम (ham - we) | वे (ve - they) | उन्होंने कहा, "हम चलेंगे।" (They said, "We will go.") | उन्होंने कहा कि वे चलेंगे। (They said that they will go.) |
मेरा (mera - my) | उसका (uska - his/her) | सीता ने कहा, "यह मेरी किताब है।" (Sita said, "This is my book.") | सीता ने कहा कि वह उसकी किताब है। (Sita said that it is her book.) |
अनिल ने कहा, "मैं पढ़ रहा हूँ।" (Anil said, "I am studying.")
अनिल ने कहा कि वह पढ़ रहा है। (Anil said that he is studying.)
पढ़ रहा हूँ -> पढ़ रहा है) remains present continuous; only the verb agreement changes for the new subject वह.
आज (aaj - today), कल (kal - yesterday/tomorrow), यहाँ (yahaan - here) are conditional, not automatic. They occur only if the temporal or spatial reference has genuinely shifted from the original statement to the moment of reporting.
उसने कहा कि वह आज आएगा। (He said that he will come today.)
उसने कहा कि वह उस दिन आएगा। (He said that he will come that day.)
पूछना (poochhna - to ask). The original interrogative structure within the reported clause transforms into a declarative one after कि.
क्या (kya - used to form yes/no questions) is typically retained within the reported clause, often following कि. The sentence then proceeds in a declarative word order.
राधा ने पूछा, "क्या तुम तैयार हो?" (Radha asked, "Are you ready?")
राधा ने पूछा कि क्या मैं तैयार हूँ। (Radha asked if I am ready.)
तुम (tum) becomes मैं (main), and the question mark is removed.
कौन - kaun, क्या - kya, कहाँ - kahaan, कब - kab, कैसे - kaise, कितना - kitna/kitni/kitne, क्यों - kyon) is retained immediately after कि. The remainder of the clause then adopts a declarative sentence structure.
उसने पूछा, "तुम कहाँ जा रहे हो?" (He asked, "Where are you going?")
उसने पूछा कि मैं कहाँ जा रहा हूँ। (He asked where I am going.)
कि directly with a conjugated verb. Instead, the main verb of the command is converted into its infinitive form and paired with के लिए (ke lie - for/in order to). The reporting verb used will convey an instruction or request.
Reporting Clause + Infinitive + के लिए + Reporting Verb
कहना (to tell/order), आदेश देना (aadesh dena - to order), अनुरोध करना (anurodh karna - to request), सलाह देना (salah dena - to advise).
पढ़ो (padho - read!) -> पढ़ना (padhna - to read)).
अध्यापक ने छात्र से कहा, "शांत रहो!" (The teacher told the student, "Be quiet!")
अध्यापक ने छात्र से शांत रहने के लिए कहा। (The teacher told the student to be quiet.)
न (na) precedes the infinitive: अध्यापक ने छात्र से शोर न करने के लिए कहा। (The teacher told the student not to make noise.) This structure distinctly signals reported commands.
When To Use It
- Summarizing Conversations and Information: When you need to condense or rephrase a longer discussion or a piece of information from another source. Indirect speech allows for efficient summarization without cumbersome verbatim quotes.
- Example:
मेरे दोस्त ने कहा कि वह आज शाम को नहीं आ पाएगा क्योंकि उसे काम है।(Mere dost ne kaha ki vah aaj shaam ko nahin aa paega kyoki use kaam hai.- My friend said that he wouldn't be able to come this evening because he has work.) - Relaying Personal Anecdotes or Gossip: In social contexts, indirect speech is the natural way to share what others have said, whether it's news, opinions, or humorous observations. It allows for a more personal and less formal recounting.
- Example:
उसने बताया कि पार्टी में बहुत मज़ा आया था और सबने खूब नाचा।(Usne bataya ki party mein bahut maza aaya tha aur sabne khoob naacha.- She told me that the party was a lot of fun and everyone danced a lot.) - Professional Communication: In emails, reports, or meetings, indirect speech is essential for attributing statements, summarizing client requirements, or conveying instructions while maintaining a professional tone and enhancing readability.
- Example (Email):
प्रबंधक ने सूचित किया कि परियोजना की अंतिम तिथि अगले सप्ताह तक बढ़ा दी गई है।(Prabandhak ne suchit kiya ki pariyojana ki antim tithi agle saptah tak badha di gai hai.- The manager informed that the project deadline has been extended until next week.) - Reporting News and Official Statements: Journalists and reporters consistently use indirect speech to convey statements from public figures, witnesses, or official sources. This facilitates objective reporting and source attribution within an article.
- Example:
मौसम विभाग ने चेतावनी दी है कि अगले 24 घंटों में भारी बारिश होने की संभावना है।(Mausam vibhag ne chetavani di hai ki agle 24 ghanton mein bhari barish hone ki sambhavna hai.- The meteorological department has warned that there is a possibility of heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours.) - Maintaining Narrative Flow and Cohesion: Continually using direct quotes can disrupt the flow of conversation or written text. Indirect speech integrates reported content smoothly, making your communication more coherent and natural, especially in extended discussions where multiple statements are referenced. This naturalness contributes significantly to advanced communicative competence.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect Pronoun Shifting: This is the most prevalent error. Learners often retain the original speaker's
मैं(main- I) when the context requires a third-person pronoun. This leads to grammatical incorrectness and ambiguity. - Incorrect:
उसने कहा कि मैं व्यस्त हूँ।(Usne kaha ki main vyast hoon.- He said that I am busy.) — This implies the reporter is busy, not the original speaker. - Correct:
उसने कहा कि वह व्यस्त है।(Usne kaha ki vah vyast hai.- He said that he is busy.)
- Unnecessary Tense Backshifting: A direct consequence of English grammatical interference, learners often attempt to change the tense of the reported verb in Hindi, even when the original tense should be maintained. Remember, Hindi typically preserves the original tense.
- Incorrect (English influence):
उसने कहा कि वह आया था।(Attempting to translate "He said he had come.") - Correct (If original was "I came"):
उसने कहा कि वह आया।(Usne kaha ki vah aaya.- He said that he came.)
- Omitting
कि(ki): While sometimes omitted in very casual, rapid native speech, explicitly omittingकिin written or more formal spoken contexts renders the sentence incomplete or awkward.किfunctions as the fundamental connector. - Incorrect:
उसने कहा मैं नहीं आऊँगा।(Usne kaha main nahin aaoonga.) - Correct:
उसने कहा कि वह नहीं आएगा।(Usne kaha ki vah nahin aaega.- He said that he will not come.) - Confusing
कहना(kahna) andबताना(batana): Both mean "to say/tell," but their grammatical requirements differ.कहनाcan be used without an explicit indirect object, or withसे/को.बतानाalways requires an indirect object, typically withको. Never useबतानाwithout specifying who was told. - Incorrect Reporting of Commands/Requests: Failing to convert the main verb of a command into its infinitive +
के लिए(ke lie) structure is a common error. Learners might incorrectly try to useकिwith the original conjugated imperative verb. - Incorrect:
माँ ने कहा कि तुम बैठो।(Mother said that you sit.) - Correct:
माँ ने बैठने के लिए कहा।(Maa ne baithne ke lie kaha.- Mother told to sit.) - Over-generalizing Time/Place Adverb Changes: Mechanically changing
आजtoउस दिनorयहाँtoवहाँwithout considering the actual temporal or spatial context. These changes are conditional, not automatic. - If reporting "today" on the same day,
आजremainsआज. - If reporting "here" while still physically "here,"
यहाँremainsयहाँ.
Real Conversations
Indirect speech forms the bedrock of natural conversation, extending far beyond simplified textbook examples to encompass real-world interactions, including digital communication. Understanding its nuances in modern Hindi usage is crucial for B2 learners seeking to communicate authentically.
- Casual Chat and Social Media: In texting or informal spoken contexts, कहना (kahna) is frequently replaced by forms of बोलना (bolna - to speak/say), particularly its perfective forms बोला/बोली/बोले. This conveys a more conversational and less formal tone.
- Text message exchange:
- Anjali: रिया ने कहा कि वह आज पार्टी में नहीं आ रही है। (Riya ne kaha ki vah aaj party mein nahin aa rahi hai. - Riya said that she's not coming to the party today.)
- Priya: अच्छा, उसने क्या बोला? कोई खास वजह? (Achha, usne kya bola? Koi khaas vajah? - Oh, what did she say? Any special reason?)
- Anjali: बोली कि उसकी तबीयत ठीक नहीं है। (Boli ki uski tabiyat theek nahin hai. - She said that she's not feeling well.)
Here, बोला/बोली feels more spontaneous and appropriate for a quick, informal exchange.
- Professional Emails and Reports: In formal written communication, precision and clear attribution are paramount. Indirect speech allows you to summarize decisions, convey client feedback, or reiterate instructions efficiently without cluttering the text with quotation marks. This maintains a professional tone and enhances readability.
- Email excerpt: कल की मीटिंग में, टीम लीडर ने बताया कि हमें अगले चरण के लिए एक नई रणनीति विकसित करनी होगी। (Kal ki meeting mein, team leader ne bataya ki hamein agle charan ke lie ek nai rananiti vikasit karni hogi. - In yesterday's meeting, the team leader informed that we will have to develop a new strategy for the next phase.)
This usage demonstrates clarity and maintains a formal register using बताया (bataya).
- Relaying Instructions and Advice: When conveying tasks or guidance, indirect speech is generally preferred over direct commands, as it integrates the instruction into a broader statement, often softening the imperative.
- Conversation: डॉक्टर ने मुझसे कहा कि मुझे रोज़ सुबह टहलने जाना चाहिए। (Doctor ne mujhse kaha ki mujhe roz subah tahalne jaana chahie. - The doctor told me that I should go for a walk every morning.)
- Contrast this with the direct डॉक्टर ने कहा, "रोज़ सुबह टहलो!" (Doctor ne kaha, "Roz subah tahalo!" - The doctor said, "Walk every morning!"), which sounds more abrupt and less advisory.
- Public Announcements and News: Official statements, weather forecasts, or public warnings are almost universally conveyed through indirect speech, ensuring broad dissemination of the content rather than the specific phrasing.
- News Report: सरकार ने घोषणा की है कि नए नियम अगले महीने से लागू होंगे। (Sarkar ne ghoshna ki hai ki naye niyam agle mahine se lagu honge. - The government has announced that the new rules will be implemented from next month.)
This section illustrates the practical and diverse application of indirect speech, reflecting its seamless integration into both casual and formal Hindi communication.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Do I always have to change time words like
आज(aaj- today) orकल(kal- yesterday/tomorrow) in indirect speech? - A: No, not automatically. Unlike English, these adverbial changes are context-dependent in Hindi. If the reported event still refers to "today" from the perspective of the reporting moment,
आजremainsआज. The same principle applies toकल,यहाँ(yahaan- here), etc. Only change them if the temporal or spatial reference point has genuinely shifted. - Example (reported same day):
उसने आज सुबह कहा कि वह आज शाम को आएगा।(Usne aaj subah kaha ki vah aaj shaam ko aaega.- He said this morning that he would come this evening.) - Example (reported next day):
कल उसने कहा था कि वह उस दिन आएगा।(Kal usne kaha tha ki vah us din aaega.- Yesterday he had said that he would come that day.) - Q: Can I use
बोला(bola) instead ofकहा(kaha) as a reporting verb? - A: Yes, absolutely, in informal contexts.
बोला/बोली/बोले(perfective forms ofबोलना) are very common in casual, spoken Hindi and texting.कहनाand its perfective formsकहा/कही/कहेare generally more standard and formal, suitable for written reports or more respectful interactions. Choose the verb based on the desired register. - Q: How do I report a question where the original speaker used
क्या(kya) as a yes/no interrogative? - A: You typically retain
क्याafterकि(ki) in the reported clause. The structure becomesreporting verb + कि क्या + declarative form of the question. - Example:
उसने मुझसे पूछा, "क्या तुमने खाना खाया?"(Usne mujhse poochha, "Kya tumne khaana khaaya?"- He asked me, "Did you eat food?") - Indirect:
उसने मुझसे पूछा कि क्या मैंने खाना खाया।(Usne mujhse poochha ki kya maine khaana khaaya.- He asked me if I had eaten food.) - Q: Is it acceptable to use indirect speech in professional emails or formal documents?
- A: Yes, it is often preferred. Indirect speech is well-suited for formal communication because it allows for clear attribution and summarization without the visual disruption of quotation marks. It contributes to a more cohesive and polished writing style. In such contexts, verbs like
सूचित करना(suchit karna- to inform),घोषणा करना(ghoshna karna- to announce), orनिर्देश देना(nirdesh dena- to instruct) are frequently used, paired withकि. - Q: Are there situations where direct speech might be preferable to indirect speech?
- A: Yes. Direct speech is powerful for emphasizing specific words, achieving dramatic effect, or when the exact wording is critically important (e.g., in legal documents, quoting poetry, or capturing a precise emotional utterance). It conveys the original statement with maximum immediacy and impact. However, for general information relaying and maintaining narrative flow, indirect speech is usually more practical and less cumbersome.
Indirect Speech Structure
| Part | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Subject
|
The speaker
|
Ram ne
|
|
Reporting Verb
|
The action of speaking
|
kaha
|
|
Conjunction
|
The link
|
ki
|
|
Reported Clause
|
The message
|
woh aayega
|
Meanings
Indirect speech is used to report what someone else has said without using their exact words. It acts as a bridge between the original speaker and the current listener.
Reporting Statements
Relaying information or opinions expressed by others.
“Usne bataya ki kaam khatam ho gaya. (He told that the work is finished.)”
“Maa ne kaha ki khana taiyaar hai. (Mother said that the food is ready.)”
Reporting Questions
Relaying an inquiry made by someone else.
“Usne poocha ki tum kahan ja rahe ho. (He asked where you are going.)”
“Maine poocha ki kya tum aaoge. (I asked if you will come.)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subj + Verb + ki + Clause
|
Usne kaha ki woh khush hai.
|
|
Negative
|
Subj + Verb + ki + nahi + Clause
|
Usne kaha ki woh nahi aayega.
|
|
Question
|
Subj + poocha + ki + Q-word + Clause
|
Usne poocha ki tum kahan ho?
|
|
Request
|
Subj + kaha + ki + Verb(subjunctive)
|
Usne kaha ki main aaun.
|
|
Past
|
Subj + kaha + ki + Clause(past)
|
Usne kaha ki usne khana khaya.
|
|
Future
|
Subj + kaha + ki + Clause(future)
|
Usne kaha ki woh kal jayega.
|
Formality Spectrum
Unhone kaha ki ve aa rahe hain. (Reporting a friend's arrival)
Usne kaha ki woh aa raha hai. (Reporting a friend's arrival)
Usne bola ki woh aa raha hai. (Reporting a friend's arrival)
Usne bola woh aa raha hai. (Reporting a friend's arrival)
Indirect Speech Components
Reporting Verbs
- kaha said
- poocha asked
- bataya told
Connectors
- ki that
Direct vs Indirect
Examples by Level
Usne kaha ki woh khush hai.
He said that he is happy.
Maa ne kaha ki khana taiyaar hai.
Mother said that food is ready.
Ram ne kaha ki woh aayega.
Ram said that he will come.
Maine kaha ki main thak gaya hoon.
I said that I am tired.
Usne poocha ki tum kahan ho?
He asked where you are.
Rahul ne bataya ki woh nahi aayega.
Rahul told that he will not come.
Teacher ne kaha ki homework karo.
The teacher said to do homework.
Maine socha ki tum busy ho.
I thought that you are busy.
Usne mujhse kaha ki main jaldi pahunchun.
He told me that I should arrive early.
Maine poocha ki kya tum kal free ho?
I asked if you are free tomorrow.
Usne bataya ki usne kaam kar liya hai.
He said that he has finished the work.
Sabne kaha ki film bahut achhi hai.
Everyone said that the film is very good.
Manager ne nirdesh diya ki sab log time par aayein.
The manager instructed that everyone should arrive on time.
Usne kaha ki agar tumne mehnat ki hoti, toh safal hote.
He said that if you had worked hard, you would have succeeded.
Maine usse poocha ki woh kahan gaya tha.
I asked him where he had gone.
Usne dawa kiya ki woh sach bol raha hai.
He claimed that he is telling the truth.
Usne is baat par zor diya ki humein ekjut hona chahiye.
He emphasized that we should be united.
Maine socha ki shayad woh kal tak aa jaye.
I thought that perhaps he might come by tomorrow.
Usne bataya ki uske pita ji ne use mana kiya tha.
He told that his father had forbidden him.
Sabka manna hai ki yeh faisla galat hai.
Everyone believes that this decision is wrong.
Usne aisi baat kahi jaise ki woh sab jaanta ho.
He said something as if he knew everything.
Maine usse agrah kiya ki woh ek baar phir soche.
I urged him to think once more.
Usne yeh spasht kiya ki uski koi galti nahi thi.
He clarified that it was not his fault.
Logon ka kehna hai ki yeh purani parampara hai.
People say that this is an old tradition.
Easily Confused
Learners often mix quotes with indirect structure.
Both sound similar, but one links clauses, the other links nouns.
Both mean 'said', but 'kaha' is more formal.
Common Mistakes
Usne kaha main khush hoon.
Usne kaha ki woh khush hai.
Ram kaha ki woh aayega.
Ram ne kaha ki woh aayega.
Usne kaha ki main aa raha hoon.
Usne kaha ki woh aa raha hai.
Usne poocha ki tum kahan ho.
Usne poocha ki tum kahan ho?
Maine poocha ki kya tum aaoge?
Maine poocha ki kya woh aayega?
Usne bataya ki woh kal aaya tha.
Usne bataya ki woh kal aayega.
Usne kaha ki woh kaam kiya.
Usne kaha ki usne kaam kiya hai.
Usne kaha ki main jaana chahiye.
Usne kaha ki mujhe jaana chahiye.
Usne kaha ki woh aayega agar tum bulaoge.
Usne kaha ki woh aayega agar main bulaunga.
Usne kaha ki woh kar sakta hai.
Usne kaha ki woh kar sakta tha.
Usne kaha ki woh aana hai.
Usne kaha ki use aana hai.
Usne kaha ki main karta.
Usne kaha ki woh karta.
Usne kaha ki woh aa gaya hota.
Usne kaha ki woh aa gaya hota.
Sentence Patterns
___ ne kaha ki ___.
___ ne poocha ki ___ kahan hai?
___ ne bataya ki usne ___ kar liya hai.
Sabka manna hai ki ___.
Real World Usage
Usne msg kiya ki woh aa raha hai.
Manager ne kaha ki mujhe kal aana hai.
Sab keh rahe hain ki yeh trend hai.
Driver ne bataya ki rasta band hai.
App ne bataya ki order aa gaya hai.
Professor ne kaha ki assignment kal jama karna hai.
Pronoun Check
Don't Over-Shift
Use 'ki' for Thoughts
Casual Speech
Smart Tips
Always use the question word after 'ki'.
Use the subjunctive form of the verb.
Keep the future tense in the reported clause.
Ensure the reported verb matches the original time frame.
Pronunciation
The 'ki' sound
The 'ki' (कि) is short and clipped, not long like 'ki' (की).
Reporting Statement
Usne kaha ki... ↘
Falling intonation at the end of the statement.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember the 'K-I' rule: 'K' for Kaha (said) and 'I' for Indirect speech.
Visual Association
Imagine a telephone wire connecting two people. The wire is labeled 'KI'. Whatever the first person says travels through the 'KI' wire to the second person.
Rhyme
When you report what someone said, use 'ki' to keep the thread.
Story
Ram told Sita he was hungry. Sita told Laxman what Ram said. Sita said: 'Ram ne kaha ki woh bhookha hai'.
Word Web
Challenge
Report three things your friends said to you today using 'ki'.
Cultural Notes
In informal North Indian speech, 'bola' is often used instead of 'kaha'.
In formal settings, 'kaha' is preferred over 'bola'.
The structure remains the same, but vocabulary might shift (e.g., 'bataya' vs 'kaha').
The word 'ki' comes from Persian influence on Hindi, serving as a versatile conjunction.
Conversation Starters
Tumhare dost ne kya kaha?
Teacher ne class mein kya bataya?
Kya tumne suna ki kal chutti hai?
Kya tumhe pata hai ki usne kya claim kiya?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Usne kaha ___ woh aa raha hai.
Ram ne kaha ki ___ (main/woh) aayega.
Find and fix the mistake:
Usne kaha ki main khush hoon.
Ram ne kaha, 'Main ja raha hoon'.
ki / kaha / usne / woh / aayega
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Usne poocha ki ___ kahan hai.
Find and fix the mistake:
Usne poocha ki kya tum aaoge?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesUsne kaha ___ woh aa raha hai.
Ram ne kaha ki ___ (main/woh) aayega.
Find and fix the mistake:
Usne kaha ki main khush hoon.
Ram ne kaha, 'Main ja raha hoon'.
ki / kaha / usne / woh / aayega
Match the verb to its meaning.
Usne poocha ki ___ kahan hai.
Find and fix the mistake:
Usne poocha ki kya tum aaoge?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesउसने कहा ___ वह व्यस्त है।
अमित ने कहा कि मैं खुश हूँ।
कि / वह / उसने / आएगा / कहा
Translate: She told me that she is tired.
Choose the best translation for: 'He asked where I was.'
Match the pairs:
मैंने उससे ___ कि वह कब जाएगी।
उसने कहा कि वह आ रहा था।
कहा / जाने / घर / लिए / के / उसने
Pick the right one:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
In formal writing, yes. In casual speech, it can sometimes be omitted, but it's safer to include it.
Use 'ki' followed by the question word or 'kya'. Example: 'Usne poocha ki tum kahan ho'.
Not necessarily. Hindi is flexible. If the event is still true, you don't need to backshift.
Yes, use 'socha' (thought) or 'manna' (believed). Example: 'Maine socha ki main jaunga'.
They are similar, but 'kaha' is more standard and formal.
The verb in the reported clause will change to reflect the feminine gender. Example: 'Usne kaha ki woh aa rahi hai'.
Yes, use the subjunctive or infinitive. Example: 'Usne kaha ki main aaun'.
It requires you to step into the shoes of the reporter. Practice by imagining the original conversation.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
que
Spanish requires more complex subjunctive backshifting.
que
French has strict sequence of tenses.
dass
German changes word order in the subordinate clause.
to
Japanese places the reporting verb at the end of the sentence.
anna
Arabic requires specific case endings.
shuo
Chinese does not change pronouns or tenses.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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...
