A2 Sentence Structure 13 min read Easy

Hindi Quantity: As much as... that much (jitnā/utnā)

Balance your sentences using jitnā and utnā to precisely compare quantities and proportions in Hindi.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'jitnā' (as much) and 'utnā' (that much) to compare quantities or degrees in a single, balanced sentence.

  • Start with 'jitnā' to set the scope: Jitnā khānā hai, utnā lo (Take as much food as you want).
  • Match the gender/number: Jitnī (fem) kitābēn, utnī (fem) pens (As many books, as many pens).
  • The 'jitnā' clause usually comes first, followed by the 'utnā' clause.
Jitnā (Quantity A) + Utnā (Quantity B)

Overview

In Hindi grammar, expressing relationships of quantity and proportion is handled by a powerful set of correlative words: जितना (jitnā) and उतना (utnā). This pair creates a dependent-main clause structure that translates to “as much/many as… that much/many.” It's the grammatical backbone for making direct comparisons of amount, degree, or extent. For an A2 learner, mastering this structure is a critical step toward building more complex and nuanced sentences, moving beyond simple statements to express logical connections between quantities.

The जितना/उतना pattern belongs to a family of Hindi correlatives that link two ideas together. You may have already encountered जब... तब... (jab...

tab..., “when... then...”) for time, or जो... वो... (jo...

vo..., “the one who... that one...”) for identifying people or objects. जितना/उतना applies this same two-part logic to the concept of quantity.

The first part, the जितना clause, sets a quantitative condition or benchmark. The second part, the उतना clause, states the corresponding result or equivalent amount.

Understanding this system is fundamental to Hindi sentence construction. It allows you to articulate ideas like, “The more you practice, the better you become,” or “I have as much work as you do.” This structure is not just a feature of formal writing; it's deeply embedded in everyday conversation, making it an essential tool for fluency.

How This Grammar Works

The जितना/उतना pair functions as correlative quantifiers. Their grammatical role changes based on what they are modifying, which primarily falls into two categories: a noun (adjectival function) or a verb/adjective (adverbial function). The distinction is crucial because it dictates whether the words must change their form.
1. Adjectival Function: Quantifying Nouns
When जितना and उतना are used to specify the quantity of a noun, they function as adjectives. As with most Hindi adjectives ending in -ā, they must inflect to agree with the gender and number of the noun they modify. This is a non-negotiable rule.
The noun's grammatical properties determine the correct form of both जितना and उतना.
This table shows the required inflections for both जितना and its correlative partner उतना:
| Form | Hindi Form | Gender/Number of Noun | English Equivalent | Example Noun Phrase |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Masculine Singular | जितना / उतना | Masculine, Singular | As much | जितना काम (jitnā kām - as much work) |
| Masculine Plural | जितने / उतने | Masculine, Plural | As many | जितने लोग (jitne log - as many people) |
| Feminine (Sg. & Pl.) | जितनी / उतनी | Feminine, Singular or Plural | As much/many | जितनी चाय (jitnī chāy - as much tea) / जितनी गाड़ियाँ (jitnī gāṛiyāṅ - as many cars) |
Notice that the feminine form जितनी/उतनी covers both singular and plural nouns.
  • Example (Feminine): जितनी मेहनत करोगे, उतनी सफलता मिलेगी। (jitnī mehnat karoge, utnī saphalatā milegī.) – As much effort (fem.) you do, that much success (fem.) you will get.
  • Example (Masculine Plural): आपके पास जितने पुराने सिक्के हैं, मैं उतने खरीदने को तैयार हूँ। (āpke pās jitne purāne sikke haiṅ, maiṅ utne kharīdne ko taiyār hūṅ.) – As many old coins (masc. pl.) as you have, I am ready to buy that many.
2. Adverbial Function: Modifying Verbs or Adjectives
When जितना and उतना are not quantifying a concrete noun but are instead describing the degree, extent, or intensity of an action (verb) or a quality (adjective), they function as adverbs. In this role, they almost always remain in their default masculine singular form: जितना/उतना. The gender and number of the subject performing the action do not affect these words.
  • Example (modifying a verb): तुम जितना हँसोगे, उतना ही अच्छा महसूस करोगे। (tum jitnā haṅsoge, utnā hī acchā mahsūs karoge.) – The more you laugh, the better you will feel. (Even if तुम refers to a female, जितना modifies the action of laughing, so it stays जितना.)
  • Example (modifying an adjective): यह कमरा जितना बड़ा है, उतना हवादार नहीं है। (yah kamrā jitnā baṛā hai, utnā havādār nahīṅ hai.) – As big as this room is, it is not that airy. (Here, जितना modifies the quality बड़ा (big).)
3. Adding Emphasis with ही (hī)
The emphatic particle ही (hī) can be placed immediately after उतना (or its inflected forms उतने/उतनी) to add a layer of precision or emphasis. It tightens the correlation, changing the meaning from “that much” to “exactly that much” or “precisely that amount.”
  • Without ही: जितना मैंने माँगा, उसने उतना दिया। (jitnā maine māṅgā, usne utnā diyā.) – He gave the amount I asked for (implying a general approximation).
  • With ही: जितना मैंने माँगा, उसने उतना ही दिया। (jitnā maine māṅgā, usne utnā hī diyā.) – He gave exactly the amount I asked for (no more, no less).

Word Order Rules

The standard, most natural word order for this construction places the dependent clause (the one setting the condition) first, followed by the main clause (the one stating the result). The जितना clause introduces the standard of comparison, and the उतना clause delivers the outcome.
Standard Formula: [जितना-Clause], [उतना-Clause]
Let's break down a sentence:
जितनी तेज़ी से तुम चलोगे, उतनी जल्दी हम पहुँचेंगे।
(jitnī tezī se tum chaloge, utnī jaldī ham pahuṅcheṅge.)
As fast as you walk, that quickly we will arrive.
  • Dependent Clause: जितनी तेज़ी से तुम चलोगे (The condition: the speed of your walking)
  • Main Clause: उतनी जल्दी हम पहुँचेंगे (The result: the speed of our arrival)
Within each clause, जितना/उतना (and their forms) are placed directly before the word they quantify. This could be a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
  • Modifying a Noun: जितने फल तुम लाए, उतने कम पड़ गए। (jitne phal tum lāe, utne kam paṛ gae.) - As many fruits as you brought, that many turned out to be insufficient.
  • Modifying an Adjective: वह जितना अमीर दिखता है, उतना है नहीं। (vah jitnā amīr dikhtā hai, utnā hai nahīṅ.) - He is not as rich as he looks.
Inverted Word Order: उतना... जितना...
While less common for proportional comparisons (“the more, the more”), you can invert the clauses to उतना... जितना.... This order is frequently used to state a simple equivalence, translating more like “X is as [adjective] as Y.” This structure puts the main point first, making it more emphatic.
  • Standard Order: जितना मैं व्यस्त हूँ, उतना ही तुम हो। (jitnā maiṅ vyast hūṅ, utnā hī tum ho.) - As busy as I am, you are that busy too.
  • Inverted Order: मैं उतना ही व्यस्त हूँ जितना तुम हो। (maiṅ utnā hī vyast hūṅ jitnā tum ho.) - I am just as busy as you are.
For learners, sticking to the जितना... उतना... order is the safest and most common pattern for building sentences.

Formation Pattern

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To use this structure correctly, you need to internalize the formation patterns for both its adjectival and adverbial functions. The key is to first identify what you are quantifying.
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Pattern 1: Adjectival Usage (Quantifying Nouns)
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First, determine the gender and number of the noun in both clauses. Then, select the correct inflected form of जितना and उतना.
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| Noun in Clause | जितना-Form | उतना-Form | Full Pattern Example |
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| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
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| Masculine Singular | जितना (jitnā) | उतना (utnā) | जितना पैसा खर्च करोगे, उतना अच्छा सामान मिलेगा। (jitnā paisā kharch karoge, utnā acchā sāmān milegā.) |
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| Masculine Plural | जितने (jitne) | उतने (utne) | जितने सवाल पूछोगे, उतने जवाब मिलेंगे। (jitne savāl pūchhoge, utne javāb mileṅge.) |
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| Feminine (Sg. or Pl.) | जितनी (jitnī) | उतनी (utnī) | जितनी भाषाएँ आप सीखते हैं, उतनी दुनिया आपके लिए खुलती है। (jitnī bhāṣāeṅ āp sīkhte haiṅ, utnī duniyā āpke lie khultī hai.) |
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Construction Formula (Adjectival):
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जितना/ने/नी [Noun 1] + [Clause 1 Verb Phrase], उतना/ने/नी [Noun 2] + [Clause 2 Verb Phrase]
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Pattern 2: Adverbial Usage (Quantifying Actions/Qualities)
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This pattern is simpler. When modifying a verb or adjective, you use the default masculine singular जितना and उतना, regardless of the subject's gender.
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Construction Formula (Adverbial):
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जितना [Adjective/Adverb/Verb] + [Clause 1], उतना [Adjective/Adverb/Verb] + [Clause 2]
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Example (modifying adjective): चाय जितनी गर्म होगी, उतनी स्वादिष्ट लगेगी। (chāy jitnī garm hogī, utnī svādiṣṭ lagegī.) - The hotter the tea is, the tastier it will seem. Wait, this example looks tricky. गर्म and स्वादिष्ट are adjectives, but here जितनी/उतनी are used. This is a subtle but important exception: when the subject of the clause is feminine (like चाय), some speakers will inflect the quantifier even in an adverbial sense. However, using जितना/उतना is also widely accepted and often clearer for learners. The standard rule is: when in doubt, or when modifying the verb directly, जितना/उतना is the correct default.
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Clearer Adverbial Example: आप जितना जल्दी काम खत्म करेंगे, उतना जल्दी घर जा सकेंगे। (āp jitnā jaldī kām khatm kareṅge, utnā jaldī ghar jā sakeṅge.) - The sooner you finish work, the sooner you can go home.

When To Use It

This correlative pair is versatile. Here are the primary scenarios where you will use जितना/उतना.
1. To Show a Direct Proportion (The more... the more/less...)
This is the most common use, expressing a cause-and-effect relationship between two quantities or degrees. The change in the first clause directly causes a proportional change in the second.
  • जितना ऊपर जाओगे, उतनी हवा पतली होगी। (jitnā ūpar jāoge, utnī havā patlī hogī.) - The higher you go, the thinner the air will be.
  • तुम जितनी कम चिंता करोगी, उतनी ज़्यादा खुश रहोगी। (tum jitnī kam chintā karogī, utnī zyādā khuś rahogī.) - The less you worry, the happier you will be.
2. To State an Equivalence (As much/many as...)
This is used for simple, direct comparisons of two equal quantities.
  • मेरे पास उतने ही कपड़े हैं जितने तुम्हारे पास। (mere pās utne hī kapṛe haiṅ jitne tumhāre pās.) - I have just as many clothes as you do.
  • उसको उतनी ही आज़ादी मिलनी चाहिए जितनी सबको मिलती है। (usko utnī hī āzādī milnī chāhie jitnī sabko miltī hai.) - He/she should get just as much freedom as everyone else gets.
3. To Set a Quantitative Limit or Condition
The जितना clause defines the boundary, limit, or required amount for the action in the उतना clause.
  • जितना ज़रूरी हो, बस उतना ही बोलो। (jitnā zarūrī ho, bas utnā hī bolo.) - Speak only as much as is necessary.
  • जितने की ज़रूरत थी, मैंने उतने पैसे निकाल लिए। (jitne kī zarūrat thī, maine utne paise nikāl lie.) - I withdrew as much money as was needed.
4. To Compare with an Expectation or Belief
This structure is often used to contrast reality with a thought or expectation.
  • यह परीक्षा उतनी मुश्किल नहीं थी जितनी मैंने सोची थी। (yah parīkṣā utnī muśkil nahīṅ thī jitnī maine sochī thī.) - This exam was not as difficult as I had thought.
  • वह उतना ईमानदार नहीं है जितना वह दिखाता है। (vah utnā īmāndār nahīṅ hai jitnā vah dikhātā hai.) - He is not as honest as he appears to be.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently make a few predictable errors with this structure. Being aware of them is the first step to avoiding them.
1. Forgetting to Inflect for Nouns (Adjectival Error)
This is the most common mistake. Learners often use the default जितना/उतना even when quantifying a feminine or masculine plural noun.
  • Incorrect: जितना किताबें पढ़ोगे, उतना ज्ञान बढ़ेगा।
  • Correct: जितनी किताबें पढ़ोगे, उतना ज्ञान बढ़ेगा। (jitnī kitābeṅ paṛhoge, utnā jñān baṛhegā.)
  • Why it's wrong: किताबें (books) is a feminine plural noun, so it requires the जितनी form. ज्ञान (knowledge) is masculine singular, so उतना is correct for the second clause.
2. Incorrectly Inflecting for Verbs/Adjectives (Adverbial Error)
A less common but still prevalent error is to make जितना/उतना agree with the subject's gender when it's actually modifying the verb.
  • Incorrect (for a female subject): जितनी तुम सोओगी, उतनी तुम ताज़ा महसूस करोगी।
  • Correct: जितना तुम सोओगी, उतना तुम ताज़ा महसूस करोगी। (jitnā tum soogī, utnā tum tāzā mahsūs karogī.)
  • Why it's wrong: The quantifiers are modifying the action of sleeping (सोना) and the degree of freshness, not the female subject तुम. Therefore, the default masculine singular form is used.
3. Omitting the उतना Clause
English speakers can often say things like, “Eat as much as you want,” where the second part of the comparison is implied. In Hindi, while short forms exist, the correlative structure is grammatically incomplete without both जितना and उतना.
  • Unnatural/Incomplete: जितना आप अभ्यास करेंगे, आप बेहतर बनेंगे।
  • Correct: जितना आप अभ्यास करेंगे, उतना ही बेहतर बनेंगे। (jitnā āp abhyās kareṅge, utnā hī behtar baneṅge.)
  • Why it's wrong: जितना creates a grammatical tension that must be resolved by उतना. Omitting it leaves the sentence feeling unfinished.
4. Confusing जितना with जैसा
Learners often mix up जितना...उतना... (quantity) with जैसा...वैसा... (manner/quality).
  • Incorrect for quantity: जैसा पैसा दोगे, वैसा सामान मिलेगा। (This implies “the kind of money you give determines the kind of goods you get,” which is nonsensical.)
  • Correct for quantity: जितना पैसा दोगे, उतना सामान मिलेगा। (jitnā paisā doge, utnā sāmān milegā.) - The amount of money you give determines the amount of goods you get.
  • Remember: जितना = how much/many. जैसा = what kind of.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Hindi's correlative system is extensive. Distinguishing जितना...उतना... from its cousins is essential for precision.
| Pattern | Core Meaning | Function | Distinguishing Question | Example |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| जितना...उतना... | As much...so much | Quantifies (Amount, Degree) | How much/many? | जितनी चीनी डालोगे, उतनी चाय मीठी होगी। (The more sugar you add, the sweeter the tea will be.) |
| जैसा...वैसा... | Of the kind that...so is | Compares Manner or Quality | What kind of? / How? | जैसा देश, वैसा भेष। (As the country, so the attire. - i.e., When in Rome, do as the Romans do.) |
| जब...तब... | When...then | Relates Points in Time | When? | जब बारिश होती है, तब मोर नाचते हैं। (When it rains, then peacocks dance.) |
| जो...वो/सो... | The one which/who...that one | Identifies & Relates Nouns | Which one? / Who? | जो लड़का वहाँ खड़ा है, वो मेरा भाई है। (The boy who is standing there, he is my brother.) |
जितना vs. जैसा Deep Dive: This is the most critical distinction. जितना is about measurable quantity. जैसा is about observable quality or method.
  • जितना काम मैंने किया, उतना पैसा मिला। (jitnā kām maine kiyā, utnā paisā milā.) – I got paid an amount proportional to the amount of work I did.
  • जैसा काम मैंने किया, वैसा पैसा मिला। (jaisā kām maine kiyā, vaisā paisā milā.) – I got paid in a way that reflected the quality of my work (e.g., good work, good pay; bad work, bad pay).

Real Conversations

Here’s how this grammar appears in natural, modern contexts—far from textbook examples.

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Scenario 1

Ordering Food with Friends

- Person A: यार, कितनी भूख लगी है! (yār, kitnī bhūkh lagī hai! - Dude, I'm so hungry!)

- Person B: जितना खाना है, मँगवा लो। बिल मैं दे दूँगा। (jitnā khānā hai, maṅgvā lo. bil maiṅ de dūṅgā. - Order as much as you want to eat. I'll pay the bill.)

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Scenario 2

Texting about a Movie

- Person A: Movie kaisi thi? (Movie kaisi thi? - How was the movie?)

- Person B: Achhi thi, par utni bhi nahi jitna log bol rahe the. (acchī thī, par utnī bhī nahīṅ jitnā log bol rahe the. - It was good, but not as good as people were saying.)

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Scenario 3

A Common Proverbial Saying

- जितनी चादर हो, उतने ही पैर फैलाने चाहिए। (jitnī chādar ho, utne hī pair phailāne chāhie. - One should stretch one's feet only as far as the blanket extends.) This is a famous proverb meaning: “Live within your means.”

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Scenario 4

Workplace Email

- Subject: Project Update

- Hi Team, इस प्रोजेक्ट पर हमें उतना ही समय लगाना है जितना हमें आवंटित किया गया है। (is projekṭ par hameṅ utnā hī samay lagānā hai jitnā hameṅ āvanṭit kiyā gayā hai. - We have to spend exactly as much time on this project as has been allocated to us.)

Quick FAQ

Q1: Can I use जितना without उतना?

Yes, it happens, particularly in simpler clauses where उतना is implied or the sentence structure changes. For example: आप जितना चाहें ले सकते हैं। (āp jitnā chāheṅ le sakte haiṅ. - You can take as much as you want.) However, for creating the explicit proportional comparison (“the more... the more...”), both parts are required for the sentence to be grammatically complete.

Q2: Is जितनी really for both singular and plural feminine nouns?

Yes. Unlike the masculine forms which distinguish between singular (जितना) and plural (जितने), the feminine form जितनी is used for both. For example, जितनी चाय (as much tea - fem. sg.) and जितनी गाड़ियाँ (as many cars - fem. pl.). The same applies to उतनी.

Q3: What’s the difference between जितना (jitnā) and कितना (kitnā)?

This is a fundamental distinction. कितना is an interrogative word used to ask a question: “How much?” or “How many?” In contrast, जितना is a relative/correlative word used to make a statement or relate two clauses: “As much as...”

  • Question: आपको कितना पानी चाहिए? (āpko kitnā pānī chāhie? - How much water do you need?)
  • Statement: जितना पानी आपको चाहिए, आप ले सकते हैं। (As much water as you need, you can take.)
Q4: Can I always invert the clauses to say उतना... जितना...?

You can, but it changes the emphasis. The जितना... उतना... order is neutral and builds the idea logically. The उतना... जितना... order puts the main assertion first, making it more direct. It's very common for statements of equivalence (He is as tall as you) but less so for proportional statements (The more you... the more...). As a learner, mastering the standard order first is your best bet.

Agreement Table

Gender/Number Jitnā Form Utnā Form Example
Masc. Sing.
Jitnā
Utnā
Jitnā pānī
Masc. Plural
Jitne
Utne
Jitne log
Fem. Sing.
Jitnī
Utnī
Jitnī chāy
Fem. Plural
Jitnī
Utnī
Jitnī kitābēn

Meanings

This construction expresses a direct correlation between two quantities or degrees. It functions as a correlative pair where the first part establishes the amount and the second part defines the result or equivalent amount.

1

Quantity Comparison

Comparing physical amounts of items.

“Jitnā doodh chahiye, utnā lo.”

“Jitnī chini hai, utnī dalo.”

2

Degree/Effort Correlation

Comparing abstract effort or intensity.

“Jitnā padhoge, utnā seekhoge.”

“Jitnā jaldi aaoge, utnā achha hai.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Hindi Quantity: As much as... that much (jitnā/utnā)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Jitnā... utnā...
Jitnā khānā hai, utnā lo.
Negative
Jitnā... utnā nahi...
Jitnā socha, utnā nahi hua.
Question
Jitnā... utnā kya?
Jitnā kaam, utnā hi paisa?
Emphasis
Jitnā hi... utnā hi...
Jitnā hi chahiye, utnā hi lo.
Plural
Jitne... utne...
Jitne din, utne kaam.
Feminine
Jitnī... utnī...
Jitnī mehnat, utnī safaltā.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Jitnā āvashyak ho, utnā lijiye.

Jitnā āvashyak ho, utnā lijiye. (Ordering food)

Neutral
Jitnā chahiye, utnā lijiye.

Jitnā chahiye, utnā lijiye. (Ordering food)

Informal
Jitnā chahiye, utnā lo.

Jitnā chahiye, utnā lo. (Ordering food)

Slang
Jitnā chahiye, utnā utha lo.

Jitnā chahiye, utnā utha lo. (Ordering food)

Jitnā-Utnā Logic

Correlation

Quantity

  • Paisa Money
  • Pānī Water

Abstract

  • Mehnat Effort
  • Samay Time
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Examples by Level

1

Jitnā chahiye, utnā lo.

Take as much as you want.

2

Jitnā pānī, utnā achha.

As much water, that much good.

3

Jitnā paisa, utnā kaam.

As much money, that much work.

4

Jitnā bolo, utnā suno.

Speak as much as you listen.

1

Jitnī chāy chahiye, utnī banao.

Make as much tea as is needed.

2

Jitne log, utnī kursi.

As many people, that many chairs.

3

Jitnī mehnat, utnī safaltā.

As much effort, that much success.

4

Jitnā samay hai, utnā use karo.

Use as much time as there is.

1

Jitnā jaldi aaoge, utnā jaldi kaam hoga.

The sooner you come, the sooner the work will be done.

2

Jitnā socha tha, utnā mushkil nahi hai.

It is not as difficult as I thought.

3

Jitnī baar pucha, utnī baar jhooth bola.

As many times as I asked, you lied.

4

Jitnā zyada padhoge, utnā zyada seekhoge.

The more you read, the more you will learn.

1

Jitnā bada ghar, utnā zyada kharcha.

The bigger the house, the higher the expenses.

2

Jitnī lambi kahānī, utnā zyada maza.

The longer the story, the more the fun.

3

Jitnā tumne diya, utnā hi maine liya.

I took exactly as much as you gave.

4

Jitnā unhone kaha, utnā hi kiya.

They did exactly as much as they said.

1

Jitnā gahan chintan, utnī spasht vichardhārā.

The deeper the contemplation, the clearer the ideology.

2

Jitnī adhik kshamta, utnī adhik zimmedārī.

The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility.

3

Jitnā vyast, utnā hi anushāsit.

The busier, the more disciplined.

4

Jitnā purānā rishtā, utnī gehri samajh.

The older the relationship, the deeper the understanding.

1

Jitnā shūnya mein khooge, utnā hi swayam ko paoge.

The more you lose yourself in the void, the more you will find yourself.

2

Jitnā kathin sangharsh, utnī shandaar jeet.

The harder the struggle, the more glorious the victory.

3

Jitnī nishtha, utnā hi fal.

The level of devotion determines the fruit.

4

Jitnā gyaan, utnī vinamrata.

The more knowledge, the more humility.

Easily Confused

Hindi Quantity: As much as... that much (jitnā/utnā) vs Jaisā-Vaisā

Both are correlative pairs.

Hindi Quantity: As much as... that much (jitnā/utnā) vs Kitnā-Itnā

Both deal with quantity.

Hindi Quantity: As much as... that much (jitnā/utnā) vs Jitnā-Utnā vs Jitnā hi-Utnā hi

Both mean 'as much as'.

Common Mistakes

✗

Jitnā chāy

✓

Jitnī chāy

Chāy is feminine.
✗

Jitnā log

✓

Jitne log

Log is plural.
✗

Jitnā... (no utnā)

✓

Jitnā... utnā...

Need the second half.
✗

Utnā... jitnā...

✓

Jitnā... utnā...

Standard order is jitnā first.
✗

Jitnā mehnat

✓

Jitnī mehnat

Mehnat is feminine.
✗

Jitnā paise

✓

Jitne paise

Paise is plural.
✗

Jitnā... utnā hi

✓

Jitnā... utnā

Don't add 'hi' unless you mean 'exactly'.
✗

Jitnā baar

✓

Jitnī baar

Baar is feminine.
✗

Jitnā... utnā... (verb mismatch)

✓

Jitnā... utnā... (verb match)

Verbs must be consistent.
✗

Jitnā... utnā... (wrong case)

✓

Jitnā... utnā... (correct case)

Ensure case agreement.
✗

Jitnā... utnā... (archaic usage)

✓

Jitnā... utnā... (modern usage)

Avoid archaic forms in modern speech.
✗

Jitnā... utnā... (wrong register)

✓

Jitnā... utnā... (appropriate register)

Use appropriate register.
✗

Jitnā... utnā... (wrong dialect)

✓

Jitnā... utnā... (standard Hindi)

Stick to standard Hindi.

Sentence Patterns

Jitnā ___ , utnā ___ .

Jitnī ___ , utnī ___ .

Jitnā ___ karoge, utnā ___ milega.

Jitnā ___ , utnā hi ___ .

Real World Usage

Ordering food constant

Jitnā teekha chahiye, utnā bataiye.

Work negotiations very common

Jitnā kaam, utnā paisa.

Social media common

Jitnī mehnat, utnī safaltā!

Texting common

Jitnā jaldi ho, utnā achha.

Travel occasional

Jitnā samay hai, utnā ghumo.

Job interview common

Jitnā anubhav, utnī zimmedārī.

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💡

Check Gender

Always check the noun's gender before choosing jitnā/jitnī.
⚠️

Don't skip Utnā

The sentence feels incomplete without the second part.
🎯

Use 'hi' for emphasis

Adding 'hi' makes the correlation precise.
💬

Proverbs

Many Hindi proverbs use this structure.

Smart Tips

Always identify the noun's gender first.

Jitnā chāy do. → Jitnī chāy do.

Use 'jitnā' for the first part and 'utnā' for the second.

Utnā lo jitnā chahiye. → Jitnā chahiye, utnā lo.

Add 'hi' to both parts.

Jitnā chahiye, utnā lo. → Jitnā hi chahiye, utnā hi lo.

Use it for abstract concepts.

Mehnat karo, safaltā milegi. → Jitnī mehnat karoge, utnī safaltā milegi.

Pronunciation

jit-naa / ut-naa

Jitnā/Utnā

The 't' is dental (tongue touches teeth).

Rising-Falling

Jitnā... (rise) utnā... (fall)

Indicates a balanced, complete thought.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Jitnā is the 'J' for 'Just how much', Utnā is the 'U' for 'Understood amount'.

Visual Association

Imagine a balance scale. On the left side, you put a weight labeled 'Jitnā'. On the right side, you put a matching weight labeled 'Utnā'. When they are equal, the scale is perfect.

Rhyme

Jitnā bolo, utnā suno, Isi tarah se aage badho.

Story

A chef is teaching his apprentice. He says, 'Jitnā namak (salt) chahiye, utnā hi dalo.' The apprentice adds too much. The chef shakes his head and repeats, 'Jitnā kaha, utnā hi dalo!' Now the apprentice understands the balance.

Word Web

JitnāUtnāKitnāItnāJitnīUtnī

Challenge

For the next 5 minutes, describe everything you see using this pattern (e.g., 'Jitnī pens, utnī notebooks').

Cultural Notes

This structure is used heavily in proverbs and daily bargaining.

Used in official documents to define proportional rules.

Often shortened in text messages.

Derived from Sanskrit correlative pronouns.

Conversation Starters

“

Jitnā pānī chahiye, utnā lo?

“

Jitnī mehnat karoge, utnī safaltā milegi?

“

Jitnā socha tha, utnā mushkil hai?

“

Jitnā zyada padhoge, utnā zyada seekhoge?

Journal Prompts

Write about your day using jitnā-utnā.
Describe your work/study habits.
Reflect on a challenge you faced.
Discuss the relationship between effort and success.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Jitnā pānī chahiye, ___ lo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: utnā
Utnā balances jitnā.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Jitnī chāy, ___ chāy.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: utnī
Chāy is feminine.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Jitnā chāy, utnā lo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jitnī chāy, utnī lo.
Chāy is feminine.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jitnā chahiye, utnā lo.
Standard order.
Translate to Hindi. Translation

As much effort, that much success.

Answer starts with: Jit...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jitnī mehnat, utnī safaltā.
Both are feminine.
Match the pairs. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Utnī
Gender matching.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use 'jitnā' and 'utnā' with 'kaam'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jitnā kaam, utnā paisa.
Logical order.
Choose the correct emphasis. Multiple Choice

Jitnā hi chahiye, ___ hi lo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: utnā
Utnā hi is the emphatic form.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Jitnā pānī chahiye, ___ lo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: utnā
Utnā balances jitnā.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Jitnī chāy, ___ chāy.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: utnī
Chāy is feminine.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Jitnā chāy, utnā lo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jitnī chāy, utnī lo.
Chāy is feminine.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

utnā / jitnā / lo / chahiye / ,

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jitnā chahiye, utnā lo.
Standard order.
Translate to Hindi. Translation

As much effort, that much success.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jitnī mehnat, utnī safaltā.
Both are feminine.
Match the pairs. Match Pairs

Jitnā - Utnā, Jitnī - ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Utnī
Gender matching.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use 'jitnā' and 'utnā' with 'kaam'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Jitnā kaam, utnā paisa.
Logical order.
Choose the correct emphasis. Multiple Choice

Jitnā hi chahiye, ___ hi lo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: utnā
Utnā hi is the emphatic form.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Choose the matching correlative. Fill in the Blank

जितना ज़्यादा तुम हंसते हो, ____ (उतना/उतनी) मुझे ख़ुशी होती है।

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: उतनी
Translate to Hindi: 'As much as I sleep, I feel tired.' Translation

As much as I sleep, I feel tired.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: जितना मैं सोता हूँ, उतना थका हुआ लगता हूँ।
Match the relative form with its likely noun. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: जितना : पानी, जितनी : चीनी, जितने : लोग
Order the words: 'The more you drink, the more you like.' Sentence Reorder

Order these:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: जितना पिओगे उतना पसंद आएगा
Fix the missing correlative. Error Correction

जितना तुम चाहो खाओ।

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: जितना तुम चाहो उतना खाओ।
Which one uses 'bhī' for emphasis correctly? Multiple Choice

Select the correct emphatic sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: जितना भी तुम बोलो, वह नहीं सुनेगा।
Modern context: Social media likes. Fill in the Blank

जितने ज़्यादा व्यूज़ मिलेंगे, ____ (उतनी/उतने) ज़्यादा पैसे मिलेंगे।

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: उतने
Translate to Hindi: 'The sooner the better.' Translation

The sooner the better.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: जितनी जल्दी उतना अच्छा।
Order the words: 'As many books as you read...' Sentence Reorder

Order these:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: जितनी किताबें पढ़ोगे उतना सीखोगे
Correct the agreement. Error Correction

जितनी आम खाओगे, उतने बीमार होगे।

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: जितने आम खाओगे, उतने बीमार होगे।

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Usually no, as it leaves the sentence hanging. You need both to complete the correlation.

Yes, use 'jitne' and 'utne' for masculine plural nouns.

Yes, it is common in formal and literary Hindi.

Because 'chāy' is a feminine noun in Hindi.

Yes, 'Jitnā samay hai, utnā use karo'.

It sounds unnatural, but people will understand you.

Jitnā is 'as much', itnā is 'this much'.

Add 'hi' to both: 'Jitnā hi... utnā hi'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Tanto... como

Spanish uses 'como' as the second part, while Hindi uses 'utnā'.

French high

Autant... que

French does not change 'autant' for gender/number.

German moderate

So viel... wie

German uses 'wie' as the second part.

Japanese moderate

Hodo... hodo

Japanese word order is different.

Arabic moderate

Qadra... qadra

Arabic uses the same word twice.

Chinese partial

Yuè... yuè

Chinese does not use gender/number.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Manner Correlatives: Comparing Actions with `jaisā... vaisā...`

Learn These First

A2 Requires

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