Hindi Necessity: I have to... (ko ... -na hai)
ko to the subject and matching the infinitive verb to the object's gender.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Express necessity in Hindi by using the dative case (ko) followed by the infinitive verb and 'hai'.
- Use 'ko' after the person: 'Mujhe' (Mujh + ko) = To me.
- Use the infinitive verb ending in '-na': 'Jana' = To go.
- Add 'hai' at the end: 'Mujhe jana hai' = I have to go.
Overview
The Hindi grammatical construction ko ... -nā hai (को ... -ना है) expresses necessity, obligation, or a scheduled action.
Unlike English, where the grammatical subject actively "has to" perform an action, Hindi frames the subject as the experiencer of the obligation. This indirect construction is signaled by the postposition ko (को), which attaches to the person or entity experiencing the necessity, transforming them into an indirect object. Therefore, a phrase like mujhe jānā hai (मुझे जाना है) literally translates to "to me, going is," conveying the meaning "I have to go." This fundamental shift in perspective – from actor to experiencer – is key to understanding and mastering this pervasive Hindi structure, which is vital for expressing daily needs and planned activities.
This construction is highly versatile, encompassing shades of "have to," "need to," "must," and even future plans. It is particularly common in everyday conversation, formal settings, and written communication. The verb always appears in its infinitive form, but its ending changes to agree with the grammatical object of the sentence in gender and number.
If no direct object is present, the verb defaults to the masculine singular form. Mastering this agreement is crucial for sounding natural and grammatically correct.
Conjugation Table
| Pronoun (Nominative) | Devanagari (Nominative) | Oblique Form (with ko) |
Devanagari (Oblique) | English Translation | Usage Note | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :------------------- | :----------------------- | :----------------------- | :------------------- | :------------------ | :--------- | ||
main |
मैं | mujhe |
मुझे | to me / I | Most common for 'I have to' | ||
tum |
तुम | tumhe |
तुम्हे | to you (informal) | |||
āp |
आप | āpko |
आपको | to you (formal/plural) | |||
vah |
वह | usko / use |
उसको / उसे | to him/her/it (distant) | use is common in speech |
||
ye |
यह | isko / ise |
इसको / इसे | to him/her/it (near) | ise is common in speech |
||
ham |
हम | hameṇ |
हमें | to us / we | |||
ve |
वे | unko / unheṇ |
उनको / उन्हें | to them (distant) | unheṇ is common in speech |
||
ye |
ये | inko / inheṇ |
इनको / इन्हें | to them (near) | inheṇ is common in speech |
||
kaun |
कौन | kisko / kise |
किसको / किसे | to whom | kise is common in speech |
||
koī |
कोई | kisī ko |
किसी को | to someone |
How This Grammar Works
ko ... -nā hai construction revolves around verb agreement. Unlike typical transitive sentences where the verb agrees with the grammatical subject, here the verb's infinitive ending (-nā) changes to match the gender and number of the direct object.ko.- 1No Direct Object (Intransitive Verbs): When the verb is intransitive or no direct object is explicitly stated, the infinitive verb remains in its masculine singular form, ending in
-nā(ना). The helping verbhai(है) is used.
mujhe jānā hai(मुझे जाना है) - "I have to go." (literally: "to me, going is")hamen āsānī se sīkhnā hai(हमें आसानी से सीखना है) - "We have to learn easily." (literally: "to us, learning is easily")
- 1Masculine Singular Direct Object: The infinitive verb ends in
-nā(ना) and the helping verb ishai(है) to agree with the masculine singular object.
mujhe kām karnā hai(मुझे काम करना है) - "I have to do work." (kām(काम) is masculine singular)āpko gīt gānā hai(आपको गीत गाना है) - "You have to sing a song." (gīt(गीत) is masculine singular)
- 1Feminine Singular Direct Object: The infinitive verb changes its ending to
-nī(नी) to agree with the feminine singular object. The helping verbhai(है) is used.
mujhe rotī khānī hai(मुझे रोटी खानी है) - "I have to eat bread." (rotī(रोटी) is feminine singular)usko kitāb paṛhnī hai(उसको किताब पढ़नी है) - "He/She has to read a book." (kitāb(किताब) is feminine singular)
- 1Masculine Plural Direct Object: The infinitive verb changes its ending to
-ne(ने) and the helping verb becomeshain(हैं) to agree with the masculine plural object.
mujhe do kārya karne hain(मुझे दो कार्य करने हैं) - "I have to do two tasks." (kārya(कार्य) is masculine, here treated as plural)unheṇ bahut sāre patra likhne hain(उन्हें बहुत सारे पत्र लिखने हैं) - "They have to write many letters." (patra(पत्र) is masculine, here treated as plural)
- 1Feminine Plural Direct Object: The infinitive verb changes its ending to
-nīṇ(नीं) and the helping verb becomeshain(हैं) to agree with the feminine plural object. The nasalization in-nīṇ(नीं) is crucial.
mujhe kitābeṇ paṛhnī hain(मुझे किताबें पढ़नी हैं) - "I have to read books." (kitābeṇ(किताबें) is feminine plural)hameṇ nayī kahāniyāṇ sunānī hain(हमें नई कहानियाँ सुनानी हैं) - "We have to tell new stories." (kahāniyāṇ(कहानियाँ) is feminine plural)
Formation Pattern
ko ... -nā hai follows a structured sequence. Adhering to these steps ensures correct grammar, particularly regarding verb agreement and the use of oblique forms.
ko.
ko forms (e.g., main -> mujhe).
laṛkā -> laṛke) before adding ko.
jānā (जाना) "to go," khānā (खाना) "to eat," karnā (करना) "to do"). This verb will always be in its infinitive form.
rotī (रोटी) "bread," kām (काम) "work," kitābeṇ (किताबें) "books"). If there is no direct object, proceed to step 5 with the masculine singular default.
-nā (ना) ending of the infinitive verb changes to agree with the gender and number of the direct object. If there's no object, use the masculine singular form.
karnā - करना, "to do") | Devanagari | Example in Sentence |
-nā (ना) | karnā | mujhe ab jānā hai (मुझे अब जाना है) "I have to go now." |
-ne (ने) | karne | unheṇ do gīt gāne hain (उन्हें दो गीत गाने हैं) "They have to sing two songs." |
-nī (नी) | karnī | mujhe ek chitṭhī likhnī hai (मुझे एक चिट्ठी लिखनी है) "I have to write a letter." |
-nīṇ (नीं) | karnīṇ | hameṇ yah kitābeṇ paṛhnī hain (हमें यह किताबें पढ़नी हैं) "We have to read these books." |
hai (है) / hain (हैं)), past (thā (था) / thī (थी) / the (थे) / thīṇ (थीं)), or future (hogā (होगा) / hogī (होगी) / honge (होंगे) / hoṇgī (होंगी)) tense. The helping verb also agrees with the gender and number of the direct object (or defaults to masculine singular if no object), but typically only for plural forms, where hai becomes hain.
mujhe khaānā khānā hai (मुझे खाना खाना है) - "I have to eat food." (khaānā (खाना) here is the object 'food', masculine singular. Verb khānā (खाना) 'to eat' becomes khānā. hai (है) for singular.)
mujhe khaānā khānā thā (मुझे खाना खाना था) - "I had to eat food." (thā (था) for singular masculine.)
mujhe khaānā khānā hogā (मुझे खाना खाना होगा) - "I will have to eat food." (hogā (होगा) for singular masculine.)
mujhe kitābeṇ paṛhnī hain (मुझे किताबें पढ़नी हैं) - "I have to read books." (kitābeṇ (किताबें) is feminine plural. Verb paṛhnā (पढ़ना) 'to read' becomes paṛhnīṇ. hain (हैं) for plural.)
mujhe kitābeṇ paṛhnī thīṇ (मुझे किताबें पढ़नी थीं) - "I had to read books." (thīṇ (थीं) for plural feminine.)
mujhe kitābeṇ paṛhnī hoṇgī (मुझे किताबें पढ़नी होंगी) - "I will have to read books." (hoṇgī (होंगी) for plural feminine.)
When To Use It
ko ... -nā hai construction is the most fundamental and neutral way to express necessity, obligation, or planned future actions in Hindi. Its applications are broad and cover a range of contexts from personal inclination to external, yet generally accepted, duties.- 1Personal Obligation or Necessity: This is for tasks or actions that you feel you must do, often due to personal desire, internal scheduling, or a general sense of duty. It lacks the sense of external force or burden that
paṛnāconveys.
mujhe apnā homework karnā hai(मुझे अपना होमवर्क करना है) - "I have to do my homework." (It's my responsibility.)usko nayā kapṛā kharīdnā hai(उसको नया कपड़ा खरीदना है) - "She has to buy new clothes." (Perhaps for an event she wants to attend.)
- 1Scheduled Actions or Future Plans: This construction is frequently used to discuss future arrangements, appointments, or fixed plans, similar to how "to be + infinitive" functions in English (
I am to meet him).
hamen kal subah milnā hai(हमें कल सुबह मिलना है) - "We have to meet tomorrow morning." (It's a scheduled meeting.)unko dilli jānā hai(उनको दिल्ली जाना है) - "They have to go to Delhi." (It's their travel plan.)
- 1Physical or Natural Needs: For basic biological necessities or inherent needs, this construction is the most appropriate.
mujhe pānī pīnā hai(मुझे पानी पीना है) - "I need to drink water." (I'm thirsty.)bacce ko sonā hai(बच्चे को सोना है) - "The child has to sleep." (It's past their bedtime.)
- 1Reporting an Obligation (Neutral Tone): When simply stating that an obligation exists without emphasizing burden or advice,
ko ... -nā haiis the default choice. It's a factual declaration of what needs to happen.
prabandhak ko sabhī reports jāncnī hain(प्रबंधक को सभी रिपोर्ट्स जाँचनी हैं) - "The manager has to check all the reports." (It's part of their job function.)
mujhe yeh kām karnā hai, it implies a settled plan or a matter of course, rather than a complaint.Common Mistakes
ko ... -nā hai construction. Recognizing these pitfalls is the first step toward correcting them and achieving fluency.- 1Omitting
koor Using Nominative Subject: The most frequent error is using the nominative subject instead of its oblique form withko. Sayingmain jānā hai(मैं जाना है) instead ofmujhe jānā hai(मुझे जाना है) is grammatically incorrect and will sound very unnatural to a native speaker. Thekois indispensable because it marks the experiencer of the obligation.
- 1Incorrect Verb Agreement (Gender and Number): Failing to change the infinitive verb's ending to agree with the direct object is another prevalent mistake. For example, stating
mujhe rotī khānā hai(मुझे रोटी खाना है) instead of the correctmujhe rotī khānī hai(मुझे रोटी खानी है) reveals a lack of understanding of Hindi ergativity. Remember, the verb matches the object, not the experiencer (mujhe). Pay close attention to feminine singular (-nī), masculine plural (-ne), and feminine plural (-nīṇ) endings.
- 1Ignoring Helping Verb Agreement (Plural Objects): While the gender agreement of the helping verb (
hai/hain) is less pronounced for singular objects (alwayshai), it is crucial for plural objects. For instance,mujhe kitābeṇ paṛhnī hai(मुझे किताबें पढ़नी है) is incorrect; it must bemujhe kitābeṇ paṛhnī hain(मुझे किताबें पढ़नी हैं) to reflect the plural nature ofkitābeṇ.
- 1Misusing Oblique Forms for Nouns: Just like pronouns, certain nouns (especially masculine nouns ending in
-ā) must take their oblique form beforeko. Forgetting this, such aslaṛkā ko jānā hai(लड़का को जाना है) instead oflaṛke ko jānā hai(लड़के को जाना है) ("the boy has to go"), is a common error that makes the speech sound unpolished.
- 1Confusing with
chāhie(चाहिए) orpaṛnā(पड़ना): While these structures are related to necessity or desire, they carry distinct nuances. Usingmujhe jānā chāhie(मुझे जाना चाहिए) when you mean "I have to go" (mujhe jānā hai) changes the meaning to "I should go." Similarly, employingpaṛnā(mujhe jānā paṛtā hai) when there is no external compulsion can imply an unearned sense of burden.
- 1Over-generalizing the Default Masculine Singular: Some learners default to the
-nā(ना) ending for all verbs, even when a feminine or plural object is present. Always check for a direct object and adjust the verb ending accordingly.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
ko ... -nā hai, it is vital to differentiate it from other Hindi constructions that also express necessity, desire, or obligation. These differences are subtle but crucial for idiomatic usage.jānā - जाना, "to go") | Nuance and Usage |ko ... -nā hai | Have to / Need to | mujhe jānā hai (मुझे जाना है) | Neutral, planned, personal necessity. Implies an internal obligation, a settled plan, or a natural need. No sense of external force. |ko ... -nā paṛtā hai / -nā paṛā | Have to (forced) | mujhe jānā paṛtā hai (मुझे जाना पड़ता है) | External compulsion, unwilling obligation. Suggests an action one must do against one's will, due to circumstances, rules, or authority. Often carries a sense of burden.-nā paṛā for past compulsion). |ko ... -nā chāhie | Should / Ought to | mujhe jānā chāhie (मुझे जाना चाहिए) | Advice, moral obligation, recommendation. Expresses what is desirable, appropriate, or advisable, but not necessarily mandatory. |ko ... (noun) chāhie | Want / Need (a noun) | mujhe pānī chāhie (मुझे पानी चाहिए) | Expresses desire or need for a noun. Not a verb action. This is the simplest way to say "I want X" or "I need X." |Subject (nominative) chāhnā (चाहना) | To want (a verb) | main jānā chāhtā hūṇ (मैं जाना चाहता हूँ) | Direct desire to perform an action. The subject is the direct actor. This is used when expressing a personal desire to do something. |mujhe khānā banānā hai(मुझे खाना बनाना है) - "I have to cook food." (It's my plan or responsibility for dinner.)mujhe khānā banānā paṛtā hai(मुझे खाना बनाना पड़ता है) - "I have to cook food." (But I'm tired, or someone else usually does it; it's a chore today.)mujhe khānā banānā chāhie(मुझे खाना बनाना चाहिए) - "I should cook food." (It's a good idea, maybe I haven't in a while.)mujhe khaānā chāhie(मुझे खाना चाहिए) - "I want food." (Expressing a desire for the nounkhaānā- "food").main khaānā banānā chāhtā hūṇ(मैं खाना बनाना चाहता हूँ) - "I want to cook food." (I have a desire to perform the action of cooking).
ko ... -nā hai construction occupies a central position as the most common and neutral expression of necessity.Real Conversations
The ko ... -nā hai structure is ubiquitous in daily Hindi communication, reflecting its versatility in expressing plans, obligations, and needs across various registers. From casual texts to formal work discussions, you will encounter this pattern frequently.
1. Casual Texting/Messaging: This structure is perfect for quick updates or coordinating plans with friends and family.
- mujhe ab nikalnā hai, der ho rahī hai! (मुझे अब निकलना है, देर हो रही है!) - "I have to leave now, it's getting late!"
- kal subah jaldi uṭhnā hai (कल सुबह जल्दी उठना है) - "Have to wake up early tomorrow morning." (Often used as a reminder to oneself or others.)
- ek nayī filma dekhnī hai (एक नई फ़िल्म देखनी है) - "Have to watch a new movie." (Expressing a strong desire or a planned activity to watch a specific film.)
2. Work and Professional Contexts: For deadlines, tasks, and team responsibilities, this construction is used to state necessities neutrally and professionally.
- hamko yah report shaam tak jamā karnī hai (हमको यह रिपोर्ट शाम तक जमा करनी है) - "We have to submit this report by evening." (Stating a deadline.)
- āpko sabhī āṅkaṛe phir se jāncnī hain (आपको सभी आंकड़े फिर से जाँचने हैं) - "You have to recheck all the data." (A directive or task assignment.)
3. Social Media and Personal Reflections: You'll see this used in captions or posts when people share their goals, immediate plans, or things they feel compelled to do.
- yah kitāb paṛhnī hai! sunā hai bahut acchī hai (यह किताब पढ़नी है! सुना है बहुत अच्छी है) - "Have to read this book! Heard it's very good." (Expressing a personal goal or recommendation.)
- aur ghumne jānā hai! (और घूमने जाना है!) - "Have to travel more!" (A personal aspiration or resolution.)
4. Expressing Physical Needs: For basic biological functions, this is the natural and polite way to communicate.
- mujhe pānī pīnā hai (मुझे पानी पीना है) - "I need to drink water." (Thirst.)
- mujhe bāthroom jānā hai (मुझे बाथरूम जाना है) - "I have to go to the bathroom." (A common polite phrase.)
This structure's prevalence demonstrates its essential role in conveying everyday imperatives without imposing a sense of strong external force, making it adaptable to a wide array of conversational situations in contemporary Hindi.
Progressive Practice
Mastering ko ... -nā hai requires consistent, structured practice. Begin with simple scenarios and gradually introduce complexity, focusing on the key areas of subject obliqueness, verb inflection, and helping verb agreement.
Start with Intransitive Verbs (No Object): This simplifies the task, as the verb will always default to masculine singular (-nā). Focus on correctly forming the oblique subject with ko.
- Practice phrases like: mujhe sonā hai (मुझे सोना है - "I have to sleep"), usko jānā hai (उसको जाना है - "He/she has to go"), hamen baithnā hai (हमें बैठना है - "We have to sit").
- Self-check: Are you using mujhe not main? Is the verb always -nā?
Introduce Singular Direct Objects (Masculine and Feminine): Now, bring in objects. Pay close attention to the object's gender to correctly change the verb ending. This is a common point of error.
- Masculine Singular: mujhe kām karnā hai (मुझे काम करना है - "I have to do work"), tumheṇ gīt gānā hai (तुम्हें गीत गाना है - "You have to sing a song").
- Feminine Singular: mujhe rotī khānī hai (मुझे रोटी खानी है - "I have to eat bread"), usko kitāb paṛhnī hai (उसको किताब पढ़नी है - "He/she has to read a book").
- Self-check: Does karnā become karnī when the object is feminine? Is gānā still gānā for a masculine object?
Advance to Plural Direct Objects (Masculine and Feminine): This adds another layer of complexity with both the infinitive verb ending and the helping verb needing to agree in number and gender.
- Masculine Plural: hamen do kārya karne hain (हमें दो कार्य करने हैं - "We have to do two tasks"). unheṇ patra likhne hain (उन्हें पत्र लिखने हैं - "They have to write letters").
- Feminine Plural: mujhe kitābeṇ paṛhnī hain (मुझे किताबें पढ़नी हैं - "I have to read books"), āpko nayī kahāniyāṇ sunānī hain (आपको नई कहानियाँ सुनानी हैं - "You have to tell new stories").
- Self-check: Do the infinitive verbs end in -ne or -nīṇ? Is hain (हैं) used instead of hai (है)?
Practice with Different Tenses: Extend your practice to the past and future tenses, ensuring the helping verb (thā, hogā) also agrees in gender and number with the object.
- mujhe jānā thā (मुझे जाना था - "I had to go").
- mujhe rotī khānī thī (मुझे रोटी खानी थी - "I had to eat bread").
- mujhe jānā hogā (मुझे जाना होगा - "I will have to go").
- mujhe kitābeṇ paṛhnī hoṇgī (मुझे किताबें पढ़नी होंगी - "I will have to read books").
- Self-check: Is thā/hogā used for masculine singular objects/no objects? Is thī/hogī for feminine singular? the/honge for masculine plural? thīṇ/hoṇgī for feminine plural?
Translate from English: Take simple English sentences expressing "have to" and translate them into Hindi, consciously applying all the rules learned.
- "He has to finish the project." → usko project pūrā karnā hai (उसको प्रोजेक्ट पूरा करना है).
- "We have to buy vegetables." → hamen sabziyāṇ kharīdnī hain (हमें सब्ज़ियाँ खरीदनी हैं).
Describe Daily Routines/Future Plans: Construct short paragraphs about your daily routine, using ko ... -nā hai to describe tasks you need to do, or outline your plans for the upcoming week.
This methodical approach will solidify your understanding and make the correct usage of ko ... -nā hai intuitive.
Quick FAQ
ko ... -nā hai construction, addressing common points of confusion for learners.ko used instead of the direct subject?ko (को) postposition indicates that the grammatical subject in English is the experiencer of the obligation, rather than the direct actor. This is a fundamental aspect of Hindi's ergative structure for necessity. It means "to me," "to him," etc., showing the obligation falls upon or is perceived by that individual.-nā, -ne, -nī, -nīṇ)?-nā.nahīṇ (नहीं) directly before the helping verb (hai/tha/hoga).mujhe nahīṇ jānā hai(मुझे नहीं जाना है) - "I don't have to go."usko yah kitāb nahīṇ paṛhnī hai(उसको यह किताब नहीं पढ़नी है) - "He/She doesn't have to read this book."
ko ... -nā hai is the most common and neutral way to express "must" in Hindi for general obligations or necessities. If there is a strong sense of external compulsion or an unpleasant duty, then `ko ... is more appropriate. Otherwise, ko ... -nā hai` covers most "must" scenarios.kyā (क्या) at the beginning of the sentence or appropriate question words (kab (कब) "when," kahaaṇ (कहाँ) "where," kyoṇ (क्यों) "why") in their natural position within the sentence.kyā aapko ab jānā hai?(क्या आपको अब जाना है?) - "Do you have to go now?"hameṇ kyā karnā hai?(हमें क्या करना है?) - "What do we have to do?"
phal (फल) "fruit/fruits"?mujhe bahut se phal khāne hain (मुझे बहुत से फल खाने हैं), with the verb khāne (खाने) and helping verb hain (हैं) in the masculine plural, reflecting the implied plural phal.tumheṇ vs. āpko) naturally reflects the level of formality, consistent with general Hindi usage. The grammatical rules for verb agreement remain constant regardless of the social context.Dative Pronoun Table
| Person | Pronoun | Dative Form |
|---|---|---|
|
1st Sing
|
Main
|
Mujhe
|
|
2nd Sing (Inf)
|
Tu
|
Tujhe
|
|
2nd Sing (Formal)
|
Tum
|
Tumhe
|
|
2nd Sing (Respect)
|
Aap
|
Aapko
|
|
3rd Sing
|
Vah
|
Use
|
|
1st Plural
|
Hum
|
Hamein
|
|
3rd Plural
|
Ve
|
Unhe
|
Meanings
This structure expresses external or internal necessity, obligation, or a planned future action.
Strong Obligation
Must do something due to duty or external pressure.
“मुझे पढ़ना है।”
“उसे दवा लेनी है।”
Planned Future
A scheduled or intended action.
“मुझे कल दिल्ली जाना है।”
“उसे आज फिल्म देखनी है।”
Interrogative Necessity
Asking about requirements.
“क्या तुम्हें जाना है?”
“उसे क्या करना है?”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Dative + Verb-na + hai
|
Mujhe jana hai
|
|
Negative
|
Dative + nahi + Verb-na + hai
|
Mujhe nahi jana hai
|
|
Question
|
Kya + Dative + Verb-na + hai?
|
Kya tumhe jana hai?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Dative + Verb-na + hai
|
Haan, mujhe jana hai
|
|
Negative Answer
|
Nahi, Dative + nahi + Verb-na + hai
|
Nahi, mujhe nahi jana hai
|
Formality Spectrum
मुझे जाना है। (Leaving a meeting or hangout.)
मुझे जाना है। (Leaving a meeting or hangout.)
मुझे निकलना है। (Leaving a meeting or hangout.)
चलना है। (Leaving a meeting or hangout.)
The Necessity Flow
Pronouns
- Mujhe To me
- Tumhe To you
Verbs
- Jana To go
- Khana To eat
Examples by Level
मुझे जाना है।
I have to go.
मुझे खाना है।
I have to eat.
मुझे सोना है।
I have to sleep.
मुझे पढ़ना है।
I have to study.
क्या तुम्हें काम करना है?
Do you have to work?
उसे आज नहीं आना है।
He doesn't have to come today.
हमें दिल्ली जाना है।
We have to go to Delhi.
तुम्हें क्या खरीदना है?
What do you have to buy?
मुझे बहुत सारा काम खत्म करना है।
I have to finish a lot of work.
क्या उसे कल जल्दी उठना है?
Does he have to wake up early tomorrow?
हमें यह फिल्म देखनी है।
We have to watch this movie.
मुझे अपनी माँ को फोन करना है।
I have to call my mother.
उसे इस प्रोजेक्ट पर ध्यान देना है।
He has to pay attention to this project.
क्या तुम्हें आज रात पार्टी में जाना है?
Do you have to go to the party tonight?
हमें इस समस्या का समाधान ढूंढना है।
We have to find a solution to this problem.
मुझे लगता है कि उसे अब निकलना है।
I think he has to leave now.
उसे अपनी जिम्मेदारियों को समझना है।
He has to understand his responsibilities.
हमें इस अवसर का लाभ उठाना है।
We have to take advantage of this opportunity.
क्या तुम्हें वास्तव में यह करना है?
Do you really have to do this?
उसे अपनी गलती स्वीकार करनी है।
He has to admit his mistake.
हमें इस जटिल स्थिति का सामना करना है।
We have to face this complex situation.
उसे अपनी कला को दुनिया के सामने लाना है।
He has to bring his art before the world.
क्या हमें इस परंपरा को जारी रखना है?
Do we have to continue this tradition?
उसे अपने सिद्धांतों पर अडिग रहना है।
He has to remain firm on his principles.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up 'should' and 'have to'.
Both mean 'have to'.
Mixing habits with obligations.
Common Mistakes
Main jana hai
Mujhe jana hai
Mujhe ja hai
Mujhe jana hai
Mujhe jana hoon
Mujhe jana hai
Mujhe jana
Mujhe jana hai
Tumhe jana hai?
Kya tumhe jana hai?
Mujhe nahi jana
Mujhe nahi jana hai
Mujhe jana hai nahi
Mujhe nahi jana hai
Mujhe jana padta hai
Mujhe jana hai
Mujhe jana chahiye
Mujhe jana hai
Mujhe jana hoga
Mujhe jana hai
Mujhe jana tha
Mujhe jana hai
Sentence Patterns
Mujhe ___ karna hai.
Kya tumhe ___ jana hai?
Mujhe ___ nahi jana hai.
Hamein ___ seekhna hai.
Real World Usage
Mujhe nikalna hai, milte hain!
Mujhe yeh report aaj submit karni hai.
Mujhe pizza order karna hai.
Mujhe station jana hai.
Mujhe yeh video share karni hai.
Mujhe naya seekhna hai.
Dative First
Don't use Main
Infinitive is Key
Polite Exit
Smart Tips
Use 'Mujhe nikalna hai' instead of 'Mujhe jana hai' for a more natural, 'I have to head out' feel.
Use 'Kya mujhe...?' to ask for clarification on duties.
Use 'Mujhe X aur Y karna hai' to list tasks.
Use 'Aapko' instead of 'Tumhe' for respect.
Pronunciation
Dative Pronouns
Ensure the 'e' at the end of 'Mujhe' is clear.
Question
Kya tumhe jana hai? ↑
Rising intonation at the end for yes/no questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'ko' as a hook that pulls the verb into the future.
Visual Association
Imagine a person with a 'To-Do' list taped to their forehead. The list is the '-na' verb, and the 'hai' is the stamp of approval.
Rhyme
When you have a task to do, add 'ko' to the person, '-na' to the verb, and 'hai' at the end too!
Story
Rohan wakes up. He has a list. 'Mujhe' (to me) 'padhna' (to study) 'hai'. He studies. Then he says 'Mujhe' 'khana' 'hai'. He eats. He is a master of his day.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 things you have to do today using the 'Mujhe... -na hai' structure.
Cultural Notes
Very common in daily speech, often used to express polite refusal.
Used to show commitment to tasks.
Used to express excitement for plans.
Derived from the Sanskrit dative case and the infinitive verb form.
Conversation Starters
Tumhe aaj kya karna hai?
Kya tumhe kal kaam par jana hai?
Tumhe apni life mein kya achieve karna hai?
Kya tumhe lagta hai ki sabko mehnat karni hai?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Mujhe ___ hai. (go)
___ jana hai. (I)
Find and fix the mistake:
Main khana hai.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I have to sleep.
Answer starts with: Muj...
I don't have to go.
Kya tumhe ___ hai? (eat)
Use: Hamein, padhna, hai
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesMujhe ___ hai. (go)
___ jana hai. (I)
Find and fix the mistake:
Main khana hai.
hai | jana | mujhe
I have to sleep.
I don't have to go.
Kya tumhe ___ hai? (eat)
Use: Hamein, padhna, hai
Score: /8
Practice Bank
6 exercisesउसको / है / करना / काम
I had to go.
Match the following:
___ (You - formal) कल आना है।
We have to buy clothes (kapre - m.pl).
तुमको क्या करना है?
Score: /6
FAQ (8)
No, 'Main' is the nominative subject. You must use the dative 'Mujhe'.
In simple 'have to' sentences, it usually stays in the masculine singular '-na' form.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
You can add 'padta hai' (forced) or just say 'Mujhe nahi karna hai'.
No, for the past, you use 'tha' instead of 'hai'.
Yes, 'Mujhe' is the contracted form of 'Mujhko'. Both are correct.
Use 'kya' at the beginning of the sentence to turn it into a yes/no question.
Use 'Hamein' + verb-na + hai.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Tener que + infinitive
Spanish uses a conjugated verb 'tener', while Hindi uses a dative pronoun.
Devoir + infinitive
Hindi uses a dative construction, not a modal verb.
Müssen + infinitive
Hindi's structure is more about the 'requirement' existing for the person.
-nakereba naranai
Hindi is much simpler and more direct.
Yajib 'alayya
Arabic uses a prepositional phrase, Hindi uses a dative pronoun.
Dei + verb
Hindi uses a dative-infinitive structure.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
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