Noun + Light Verb Combos
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Combine a noun with a 'light verb' like 'karna' (to do) or 'hona' (to be) to create precise, natural-sounding Hindi actions.
- Use 'karna' for active tasks: 'kaam karna' (to work).
- Use 'hona' for states or occurrences: 'pareshan hona' (to be worried).
- The noun remains fixed while the light verb conjugates: 'main kaam karta hoon'.
Overview
Many Hindi actions are expressed not by a single verb, but by a combination of an action-oriented noun and a grammatically functional light verb. This structure, often termed a "noun + light verb combination" or "complex predicate," is a cornerstone of idiomatic Hindi. It dramatically expands the language's expressive capacity, particularly for abstract concepts and integrating loanwords.
The noun in such a combination carries the primary lexical meaning—the "what" of the action—while the light verb handles all grammatical inflections (tense, aspect, mood, agreement) and often imparts a subtle, additional layer of semantic nuance or direction—the "how" or "for whom." This division of labor is central to understanding Hindi verbal morphology and achieving fluency.
Linguistically, the light verb undergoes semantic bleaching, where its original, full lexical meaning (e.g., करना as "to do," देना as "to give") diminishes significantly. It instead functions as a grammatical placeholder, providing the necessary verbal scaffolding to conjugate the noun's inherent action. This phenomenon allows Hindi to create new verbal expressions dynamically, bypassing the need for a dedicated single verb for every action.
Mastering this pattern is crucial, as it underpins countless daily expressions and facilitates the absorption of new vocabulary into the language.
How This Grammar Works
मदद करना (madad karnā, "to help"), मदद (help) remains constant, irrespective of who is helping or when.ने postposition for the subject). It also carries the markers for tense, aspect, and mood.करना (karnā) often denotes a generic, volitional action. देना (denā) implies an action directed outwards, for the benefit of another, or the completion of an action.लेना (lenā) suggests an action performed for one's own benefit, or the acceptance/reception of an action. होना (honā) indicates an action happening or a state coming into being, often with an intransitive or passive-like implication.सोच (soc, "thought"), which becomes सोच करना (soc karnā, "to think" – though सोचना is more common for general thinking, सोच करना implies acting on a thought/planning), or याद (yād, "memory"), which combines with आना (ānā, "to come") to form याद आना (yād ānā, "to remember" or "to miss," literally "memory comes").आना here signifies an involuntary or external occurrence, fitting the idea of a memory arriving rather than being actively done.Formation Pattern
करना (karnā) - "to do" / Generic Action:
करना is often the safest choice for a volitional act.
पढ़ाई करना (paṛhāī karnā) - "to study" (literally, "to do studying")
मैं हर रात दो घंटे पढ़ाई करता हूँ। (main har rāt do ghanṭe paṛhāī kartā hū̃.) - "I study two hours every night."
इंतज़ार करना (intazār karnā) - "to wait" (literally, "to do waiting")
आप किसका इंतज़ार कर रहे हैं? (āp kiskā intazār kar rahe haiṇ?) - "Whom are you waiting for?"
देना (denā) - "to give" / Outward-directed Action:
जवाब देना (javāb denā) - "to answer" (literally, "to give an answer")
कृपया मेरे सवाल का जवाब दीजिए। (kṛpyā mere savāl kā javāb dījie.) - "Please answer my question."
छोड़ देना (choṛ denā) - "to leave / to give up" (often a compound verb, but देना here emphasizes completeness of action)
उसने अपनी नौकरी छोड़ दी। (usne apnī naukṛī choṛ dī.) - "He quit his job."
लेना (lenā) - "to take" / Inward-directed Action:
लेना usually signifies an action performed for one's own benefit, or an action whose effect is primarily on the subject itself. It conveys a self-benefactive or receptive nuance.
फ़ायदा लेना (fāyadā lenā) - "to take advantage" (literally, "to take benefit")
मैंने इस अवसर का फ़ायदा लिया। (mainne is avasar kā fāyadā liyā.) - "I took advantage of this opportunity."
नाम लेना (nām lenā) - "to mention / to take (someone's) name"
उसने बैठक में मेरा नाम लिया। (usne baiṭhak mẽ merā nām liyā.) - "He mentioned my name in the meeting."
होना (honā) - "to be / to happen" / Intransitive or State Change:
होना creates an intransitive verb, describing an event happening, a state coming into being, or an action being performed without an explicit agent. It often reflects a passive-like meaning or a change of state.
काम होना (kām honā) - "for work to be done / to happen"
आज बहुत काम होना है। (āj bahut kām honā hai.) - "A lot of work needs to be done today." / "There's a lot of work to happen today."
नुकसान होना (nuksān honā) - "to incur a loss / for damage to occur"
बाढ़ के कारण फसलों को बहुत नुकसान हुआ। (bāṛh ke kāraṇ fasloṇ ko bahut nuksān huā.) - "Due to the flood, the crops suffered heavy damage."
आना (ānā) - "to come" / Involuntary Occurrence / Spontaneous Action:
याद आना (yād ānā) - "to remember / to miss" (literally, "memory comes")
मुझे अपनी दादी की बहुत याद आती है। (mujhe apnī dādī kī bahut yād ātī hai.) - "I miss my grandmother very much."
नींद आना (nīnd ānā) - "to feel sleepy" (literally, "sleep comes")
मुझे नींद आ रही है। (mujhe nīnd ā rahī hai.) - "I'm feeling sleepy."
जाना (jānā) - "to go" / Completeness / State Transition:
देना in some contexts, जाना often implies a complete or irreversible action, a transition into a new state, or an action that happens away from the speaker or subject. It also features prominently in passive voice constructions.
खो जाना (kho jānā) - "to get lost"
मेरा फ़ोन खो गया है। (merā fon kho gayā hai.) - "My phone is lost."
पसंद आना / पसंद हो जाना (pasand ānā / pasand ho jānā) - "to like / to become liked"
यह गाना मुझे बहुत पसंद आ गया। (yah gānā mujhe bahut pasand ā gayā.) - "I really came to like this song."
Conjugation Table
| Tense/Aspect/Mood | Subject + Noun + Light Verb | Devanagari | Transliteration | English Translation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :------------------ | :-------------------------- | :--------------------- | :------------------------------- | :------------------------------ | ||
| Present Indefinite | मैं काम करता हूँ | मैं काम करता हूँ | main kām kartā hū̃ |
I work / I do work | ||
| वह काम करती है | वह काम करती है | vah kām kartī hai |
She works / She does work | |||
| Present Continuous | हम काम कर रहे हैं | हम काम कर रहे हैं | ham kām kar rahe haiṇ |
We are working | ||
| तुम काम कर रही हो | तुम काम कर रही हो | tum kām kar rahī ho |
You (fem. informal) are working | |||
| Past Indefinite | मैंने काम किया | मैंने काम किया | mainne kām kiyā |
I worked / I did work | ||
| उसने काम किया | उसने काम किया | usne kām kiyā |
He/She worked / did work | |||
| Past Habitual | वे काम करते थे | वे काम करते थे | ve kām karte the |
They used to work | ||
| वह काम करती थी | वह काम करती थी | vah kām kartī thī |
She used to work | |||
| Future | मैं काम करूँगा | मैं काम करूँगा | main kām karū̃gā |
I will work | ||
| आप काम करेंगी | आप काम करेंगी | āp kām karegī |
You (form. fem.) will work | |||
| Subjunctive | काश मैं काम करूँ | काश मैं काम करूँ | kāś main kām karū̃ |
I wish I would work | ||
| शायद वह काम करे | शायद वह काम करे | śāyad vah kām kare |
Maybe he/she works | |||
| Imperative | काम करो! | काम करो! | kām karo! |
Work! (informal) | ||
| काम कीजिए! | काम कीजिए! | kām kījie! |
Work! (formal) |
When To Use It
- Verbalizing Abstract Nouns: Many abstract concepts in Hindi exist primarily as nouns. To turn these into actions, a light verb is indispensable. There might not be a direct single verb equivalent for
पढ़ाई(paṛhāī, "study") orबात(bāt, "talk"), henceपढ़ाई करना(to study) andबात करना(to talk/converse). मुझे तुमसे कुछ बात करनी है।(mujhe tumse kuch bāt karnī hai.) - "I need to talk to you about something."योग करना स्वास्थ्य के लिए अच्छा है।(yog karnā svāsthya ke lie acchā hai.) - "Doing yoga is good for health."
- Incorporating Loanwords: This is one of the most dynamic uses of the pattern. Hindi effortlessly integrates foreign nouns (especially English ones) by simply attaching
करना(karnā) or another suitable light verb. This avoids the need to coin new, often complex, native verbs for every new concept. फ़ॉरवर्ड करना(forwarḍ karnā) - "to forward" (an email, message)कृपया यह ईमेल मुझे फ़ॉरवर्ड कर दीजिए।(kṛpyā yah īmel mujhe forwarḍ kar dījie.) - "Please forward this email to me."प्लान करना(plān karnā) - "to plan"हमने अपनी यात्रा प्लान कर ली है।(hamne apnī yātrā plān kar lī hai.) - "We have planned our trip."
- Adding Nuance and Specificity: Sometimes, both a simple verb and a noun + light verb combination exist, but they convey different shades of meaning. The complex predicate often offers greater specificity or an idiomatic expression.
देखना(dekhnā, "to see/look") vs.मुलाक़ात करना(mulāqāt karnā, "to meet/have an encounter")- While
मिलना(milnā) means "to meet,"मुलाक़ात करनाimplies a more formal or intentional meeting.कल मैंने अपने पुराने दोस्त से मुलाक़ात की।(kal mainne apne purāne dost se mulāqāt kī.) - "Yesterday I met my old friend."
- Fixed Expressions and Idioms: Many common Hindi idioms and set phrases are built around noun + light verb structures. These must be learned as complete units.
प्यार करना(pyār karnā) - "to love"मैं तुमसे बहुत प्यार करता हूँ।(main tumse bahut pyār kartā hū̃.) - "I love you very much."असर होना(asar honā) - "to have an effect" (literally, "effect to happen")दवा का मुझ पर कोई असर नहीं हुआ।(davā kā mujh par koī asar nahī̃ huā.) - "The medicine had no effect on me."
- Expressing Benefaction or Involuntariness: As discussed in the formation section,
देना,लेना,आना, andजानाadd crucial layers of meaning related to who benefits from an action, or whether an action is spontaneous or external. मुझे ठंडी लग रही है।(mujhe ṭhanḍī lag rahī hai.) - "I'm feeling cold." (लगनाhere indicates an involuntary sensation, similar toआनाin function.)
Common Mistakes
- Conjugating the Noun: This is perhaps the most frequent mistake. Learners, accustomed to verbs changing form, may incorrectly try to inflect the noun component. Remember: the noun is invariant. It provides the meaning but performs no grammatical work.
- Incorrect:
मैं कामों करता हूँ।(kāmoṇis plural) orमैं कामेँ करता हूँ।(kāmẽis feminized) - Correct:
मैं काम करता हूँ।(main kām kartā hū̃.) - "I work." - Reason: The noun
काम(kām) is part of a compound verbal unit; only the light verbकरना(karnā) conjugates.
- Using the Wrong Light Verb: While
करनाis versatile, it's not always the appropriate choice. Different light verbs convey distinct nuances that, if misused, can lead to unidiomatic or even incorrect sentences. This often stems from directly translating from English. - Incorrect:
मुझे नींद करती है।(Trying to useकरनाfor a sensation) - Correct:
मुझे नींद आती है।(mujhe nīnd ātī hai.) - "I feel sleepy." (The sensation comes to me, henceआना.) - Reason: Some actions/states intrinsically pair with specific light verbs to convey involuntariness (
आना), benefaction (देना/लेना), or passive-like meaning (होना).
- Forgetting
नेwith Transitive Light Verbs in Perfective Tenses: Many noun + light verb constructions, particularly those withकरनाorदेना, are transitive. In perfective (past) tenses, the subject of a transitive verb takes theने(ne) postposition, and the verb agrees with the direct object (or defaults to masculine singular if no explicit object). This rule is often overlooked when the focus is on the noun + light verb structure itself. - Incorrect:
मैं पढ़ाई किया।(missingने) - Correct:
मैंने पढ़ाई की।(mainne paṛhāī kī.) - "I studied." (Here,पढ़ाईis feminine, soकीis used.) - Reason: The light verb
करनाis transitive, andपढ़ाईfunctions as its direct object in this construction. Theनेrule applies just as it would for a simple transitive verb.
- Overgeneralization of the Pattern: Not every noun can form a noun + light verb combination, especially concrete nouns. Learners might attempt to create combinations that sound unnatural or are grammatically impossible.
- Incorrect:
मैं घर करता हूँ।(meaning "I house" or "I make house") - Correct:
मैं घर बनाता हूँ।(main ghar banātā hū̃.) - "I make a house." (Uses a direct verb.) - Reason: The pattern is primarily for abstract nouns or established idiomatic pairs. Attempting to apply it universally will fail.
- Confusing
करनाvs.होना: These two light verbs, while superficially similar (to dovs.to be/happen), create drastically different meanings, often representing active vs. passive/intransitive actions. मीटिंग करना(mīṭiṅ karnā) - "to hold/conduct a meeting" (active)मीटिंग होना(mīṭiṅ honā) - "for a meeting to take place/be held" (intransitive/passive-like)- Reason:
करनाimplies agency;होनाimplies occurrence. Misusing them changes the entire semantic relationship.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
- Noun + Light Verb vs. Simple (Lexical) Verbs:
पढ़ना (paṛhnā) means "to read/study," while पढ़ाई करना (paṛhāī karnā) also means "to study." The choice between these often hinges on nuance, idiomacy, and sometimes the grammatical role of the noun.पढ़ना(paṛhnā): A direct, lexical verb.मैं किताब पढ़ता हूँ।(main kitāb paṛhtā hū̃.) - "I read a book."पढ़ाई करना(paṛhāī karnā): Uses the nounपढ़ाई(study) withकरना.मैं पढ़ाई करता हूँ।(main paṛhāī kartā hū̃.) - "I study." While often interchangeable withपढ़नाfor "to study,"पढ़ाई करनाexplicitly highlights the activity of studying, derived from the noun. It's often preferred when the act of studying is the focus.बोलना(bolnā): "to speak/say."वह बहुत बोलता है।(vah bahut boltā hai.) - "He talks a lot."बात करना(bāt karnā): "to talk/converse."हमें आपसे बात करनी है।(hameṇ āpse bāt karnī hai.) - "We need to talk to you." Here,बात करनाimplies a two-way conversation, more specific than justबोलना.
- Noun + Light Verb vs. Compound Verbs:
जाना, लेना, देना, डालना, उठना, बैठना) that adds aspectual or directional meaning to the main verb. In a compound verb, the first verb carries the primary meaning, and the second verb (the vector) modifies it.मदद करना (madad karnā, "to help") | पढ़ लेना (paṛh lenā, "to read completely/for oneself") |प्लान करना (plān karnā, "to plan") | खा डालना (khā ḍālnā, "to eat up completely") |खा लेना (khā lenā), खा (khā, from खाना - to eat) is the main verb, and लेना (lenā) acts as a vector, indicating the action of eating is done for the subject's own benefit or has been completed. In contrast, in फ़ायदा लेना (fāyadā lenā, "to take advantage"), फ़ायदा (benefit) is a noun, and लेना functions as a light verb to verbalize that noun. The grammatical function of लेना is different in each context, even though it's the same word.noun vs. verb stem).Real Conversations
Noun + light verb constructions are not confined to formal texts; they are integral to everyday Hindi, appearing in casual chats, professional correspondence, and media. Observing their use in authentic contexts reveals their natural rhythm and utility.
- Social Media/Texting:
- A: भाई, आज शाम को क्या प्लान है? (bhāī, āj śām ko kyā plān hai?) - "Bro, what's the plan tonight?"
- B: कुछ ख़ास नहीं, शायद मूवी देखने का प्लान कर रहा हूँ। (kuch khās nahī̃, śāyad mūvī dekhne kā plān kar rahā hū̃.) - "Nothing special, maybe I'm planning to watch a movie." (Here, प्लान करना is used casually for "to plan.")
- Work/Professional Context:
- मैनेजर ने टीम को नए प्रोजेक्ट पर काम करने को कहा। (mainejara ne ṭīm ko nae projeckṭ par kām karne ko kahā.) - "The manager told the team to work on the new project." (काम करना for "to work.")
- कृपया इस रिपोर्ट की समीक्षा कीजिए और अपना फ़ीडबैक दीजिए। (kṛpyā is riporṭ kī samīkṣā kījie aur apnā fīḍbak dījie.) - "Please review this report and give your feedback." (समीक्षा करना for "to review," फ़ीडबैक देना for "to give feedback.")
- Casual Conversation:
- मुझे लगता है कि तुम्हें अपनी सेहत का ध्यान रखना चाहिए। (mujhe lagtā hai ki tumheṇ apnī sehat kā dhyān rakhnā cāhie.) - "I think you should take care of your health." (ध्यान रखना for "to take care of," literally "to keep attention.")
- जब मैं बच्चा था, तो मुझे बहुत शरारत करना पसंद था। (jab main bacccā thā, to mujhe bahut śarārat karnā pasand thā.) - "When I was a child, I loved doing a lot of mischief." (शरारत करना for "to do mischief.")
- Expressing Internal States (Involuntary):
- मुझे बहुत भूख लगी है। (mujhe bahut bhūkh lagī hai.) - "I am very hungry." (Literally "hunger has come upon me." लगना similar to आना for involuntary sensations.)
- क्या तुम्हें मेरी याद आती है? (kyā tumheṇ merī yād ātī hai?) - "Do you miss me?" (याद आना for "to miss/remember.")
These examples demonstrate how deeply integrated noun + light verb constructions are into the fabric of Hindi communication. They are not merely grammatical curiosities but the standard way to express a vast range of actions and states, often preferred over simpler verbal alternatives for their idiomatic feel and nuanced expression.
Progressive Practice
Mastering noun + light verb combinations requires consistent engagement and a systematic approach. Here's how you can progressively internalize this essential grammar pattern.
- Active Listening and Identification: Begin by actively listening for these combinations in Hindi media (songs, movies, podcasts) and conversations. When you encounter a new verbal phrase, try to identify the noun and the light verb. Ask yourself: What is the base noun? Which light verb is being used? What nuance does it add?
- Tip: Keep a running list of new noun + light verb pairs you encounter, noting their context.
- Start with करना: Since करना is the most common and versatile light verb, focus on mastering noun + करना combinations first. Create sentences using nouns you already know (e.g., काम, बात, मदद, प्लान) with करना across different tenses and subjects.
- Practice: Take 5-10 abstract nouns and form sentences using करना in present, past, and future tenses, paying attention to ने if applicable.
- Differentiate देना and लेना: Once comfortable with करना, move on to देना and लेना. Practice constructing sentences that clearly highlight the outward-directed (देना) vs. inward-directed (लेना) nature of the action. This helps solidify the semantic distinction.
- Exercise: Write pairs of sentences using nouns that can potentially go with either, explaining the difference in meaning (e.g., पढ़ाई कर लेना vs. पढ़ाई कर देना - the latter is rare but theoretically could imply
Light Verb Conjugation (karna)
| Tense | Subject (Main) | Noun | Light Verb |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present
|
Main
|
kaam
|
karta hoon
|
|
Past
|
Maine
|
kaam
|
kiya
|
|
Future
|
Main
|
kaam
|
karunga
|
|
Continuous
|
Main
|
kaam
|
kar raha hoon
|
|
Perfect
|
Maine
|
kaam
|
kar liya hai
|
|
Subjunctive
|
Main
|
kaam
|
karoon
|
Meanings
These constructions pair a noun or adjective with a generic 'light verb' to express a specific action or state. The light verb loses its literal meaning and acts as a grammatical anchor.
Active Task
Performing an action related to the noun.
“मदद करना (madad karna - to help)”
“बात करना (baat karna - to talk)”
State of Being
Experiencing a state or condition.
“खुश होना (khush hona - to be happy)”
“तैयार होना (taiyaar hona - to be ready)”
Causative/Giving
Performing an action for someone else.
“दिखा देना (dikha dena - to show)”
“बता देना (bata dena - to tell)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Noun + karna
|
Main kaam karta hoon
|
|
Negative
|
Noun + nahi + karna
|
Main kaam nahi karta
|
|
Interrogative
|
Kya + Noun + karna
|
Kya tum kaam karte ho?
|
|
Past
|
Noun + kiya
|
Maine kaam kiya
|
|
Future
|
Noun + karunga
|
Main kaam karunga
|
|
Imperative
|
Noun + karo
|
Kaam karo!
|
Formality Spectrum
सहायता करना (sahayata karna) (Professional vs Casual)
मदद करना (madad karna) (Professional vs Casual)
मदद करना (madad karna) (Professional vs Casual)
हेल्प करना (help karna) (Professional vs Casual)
Light Verb Network
Active
- kaam work
- madad help
State
- khush happy
- taiyaar ready
Examples by Level
मैं काम करता हूँ।
I work.
वह खुश है।
He is happy.
मदद करो।
Help (me).
तैयार हो जाओ।
Get ready.
क्या तुम कोशिश कर रहे हो?
Are you trying?
मुझे बात करनी है।
I need to talk.
वह बीमार हो गया।
He got sick.
मुझे फोन कर देना।
Give me a call.
उसने मुझे सूचित कर दिया।
He informed me.
हमें फैसला करना होगा।
We will have to decide.
वह परेशान हो रही है।
She is getting worried.
क्या तुमने सफाई कर दी?
Did you clean up?
हमें इस मुद्दे पर विचार करना चाहिए।
We should consider this issue.
वह अपनी गलती स्वीकार करने को तैयार है।
He is ready to accept his mistake.
उसने मुझे विश्वास दिलाया।
He assured me.
यह काम पूरा हो गया।
This work is finished.
उसने अपनी बात साबित कर दी।
He proved his point.
हमें इस स्थिति का सामना करना पड़ेगा।
We will have to face this situation.
उसने मुझे गुमराह करने की कोशिश की।
He tried to mislead me.
वह अपनी जिम्मेदारी निभाने में सक्षम है।
He is capable of fulfilling his responsibility.
उसने अपनी दलीलों से सबको प्रभावित कर दिया।
He impressed everyone with his arguments.
हमें इस जटिल समस्या का समाधान खोजना होगा।
We must find a solution to this complex problem.
उसने अपनी गरिमा बनाए रखी।
He maintained his dignity.
उसने अपनी बात पर जोर दिया।
He emphasized his point.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up active tasks (karna) and states (hona).
Compound verbs use two main verbs; light verbs use one noun and one functional verb.
Light verb constructions often change the transitivity of the sentence.
Common Mistakes
kaamon karna
kaam karna
karna kaam
kaam karna
main kaam hoon
main kaam karta hoon
kaam kiya hoon
kaam kiya hai
khush karna (for 'I am happy')
khush hona
madad hona
madad karna
taiyaar karna (for 'I am ready')
taiyaar hona
usne kaam kiya hai
usne kaam kiya
baat dena
baat karna
koshish hona
koshish karna
samna hona (for 'to face a problem')
samna karna
nirnay hona
nirnay lena
prabhav hona
prabhav dalna
Sentence Patterns
Main ___ karta hoon.
Kya tum ___ ho?
Mujhe ___ karna hai.
Usne ___ kar diya.
Real World Usage
Main project manage karta hoon.
Mujhe call kar dena.
Main bahut khush hoon!
Order track karna.
Main taiyaar hoon.
Hamein faisla karna hoga.
Listen for the Light Verb
Don't Conjugate the Noun
Expand Your Vocabulary
Use 'hona' for Feelings
Smart Tips
Use 'nirnay lena' instead of 'faisla karna'.
Use the English noun + 'karna'.
Always pair with 'hona'.
Use 'madad karna'.
Pronunciation
Stress
Stress the noun, not the light verb.
Question
तुम काम कर रहे हो? ↑
Rising intonation at the end for yes/no questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of the Noun as the 'Actor' and the Light Verb as the 'Director'. The Actor stays the same, but the Director changes costumes (tense) to fit the scene.
Visual Association
Imagine a person holding a sign that says 'KAAM' (Work). They are standing next to a light switch labeled 'KARNA'. When they flip the switch, the action happens.
Rhyme
Noun stays still, Verb takes the lead, Hindi grammar is what you need.
Story
Rohan wants to study. He says 'Padhai' (Study). He adds 'karna' (to do). Now he is 'Padhai kar raha hai'. He is happy, so he is 'Khush ho raha hai'.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about your day using a different noun + light verb combo for each.
Cultural Notes
In Delhi/UP, 'karna' is used very frequently. It's the standard for most daily activities.
These constructions evolved from Sanskrit and Prakrit, where nominalization was a common way to expand the verbal lexicon.
Conversation Starters
आज आपने क्या काम किया?
क्या आप कल के लिए तैयार हैं?
क्या आपको मदद की ज़रूरत है?
क्या आपने फैसला कर लिया?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Main kaam ___ hoon.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Kaamon karna.
Main kaam karta hoon.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Kya tum taiyaar ho? B: Haan, main ___.
Main / madad / karna / hoon.
Usne ___ le liya.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesMain kaam ___ hoon.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Kaamon karna.
Main kaam karta hoon.
Match: 1. Kaam, 2. Khush
A: Kya tum taiyaar ho? B: Haan, main ___.
Main / madad / karna / hoon.
Usne ___ le liya.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesक्या तुम मेरी एक फोटो ________ सकते हो?
Choose the correct option:
उसे तुम्हारा बहुत याद किया।
करनी / चाहिए / तुम्हें / मेहनत / और
I have to clean the room.
Match the pairs:
मीटिंग ________ हो गई है।
Choose the best sentence:
आप दरवाज़ा बंद करो।
She is trying to call you.
उसने मेरी बहुत ________।
Score: /11
FAQ (8)
Almost! It's a very productive way to create new verbs.
It's the past tense conjugation of the verb 'karna'.
Mostly, yes. It describes conditions or states of being.
You might sound slightly unnatural, but you'll likely still be understood.
Yes, some verbs are inherently transitive and don't need a light verb.
If it's followed by 'karna', it's acting as the noun/concept.
Yes, they are standard in all registers of Hindi.
Sometimes, to show the action is directed at someone else.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Hacer + Noun
Spanish 'hacer' is more restricted than Hindi's 'karna'.
Faire + Noun
Hindi allows for more creative noun-verb pairings.
Funktionsverbgefüge
German syntax is more rigid regarding verb placement.
Suru-verbs
Japanese 'suru' is even more productive than Hindi 'karna'.
Fi'l + Masdar
Arabic morphology is more complex than Hindi's.
Verb + Object
Chinese has no conjugation, unlike Hindi.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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