Asking 'When' in Hindi (Kab)
kab before the verb to ask 'when' in any social, formal, or digital context.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'kab' (कब) to ask about time; it usually sits right before the verb in a Hindi sentence.
- Place 'kab' before the verb: 'Tum kab aaoge?' (When will you come?)
- It does not change based on gender or number: 'Woh kab gaya?' (When did he go?)
- Use it to ask about past, present, or future time: 'Train kab aayegi?' (When will the train arrive?)
Overview
Kab (कब) functions as the primary interrogative adverb in Hindi, directly translating to 'when' in English. It is an indispensable component for inquiries pertaining to time, duration, and scheduling within the language. Unlike many Hindi nouns or adjectives, kab is indeclinable, meaning its form remains constant regardless of gender, number, or case of the subject or object in the sentence.
This grammatical stability simplifies its application for learners at the A2 CEFR level.
Its significance extends to its membership in the 'K-family' of Hindi interrogative words, which includes kya (क्या - what), kaun (कौन - who), kahan (कहाँ - where), and kyon (क्यों - why). Understanding kab is foundational for constructing temporal questions and navigating daily conversations, from arranging appointments to discussing past events or future plans. Mastery of this adverb facilitates clearer communication and a more natural-sounding command of Hindi sentence structures.
How This Grammar Works
kab modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs by providing temporal context to the action or state described. Its primary role is to elicit information about the time at which an event occurs or occurred. In Hindi, the placement of interrogative words like kab typically deviates from English sentence structures, where 'when' often initiates a question.kab, generally appear closer to the verb they modify, often just before it, rather than at the beginning of the sentence. This placement is not arbitrary; it adheres to the grammatical principle of focusing the question on the specific element being queried, which, in this case, is the time of the action.kab is asking about the verb's timing. Placing it immediately preceding the verb जाना (jānā - to go) in तुम कब जाओगे? (tum kab jāoge? - When will you go?) directly links the inquiry to the act of going.कब तुम जाओगे? (kab tum jāoge?), which, while understandable, sounds less natural and may imply a stronger emphasis on 'when' itself, potentially creating a slightly more dramatic or inquisitive tone. Standard placement, therefore, is crucial for idiomatic Hindi expression.kab does not inflect. As an adverb, it describes how or when an action occurs, rather than being an entity whose grammatical properties (gender, number, case) need to align with other sentence components. Its unchanging form underscores its function as a fixed question particle.आप (āp) to informal address using तू (tū) or तुम (tum).Formation Pattern
kab involves a relatively consistent pattern in Hindi. The general structure places kab before the main verb, irrespective of the tense or the politeness level of the address. This ensures the interrogative focus remains on the temporal aspect of the action. The basic formula can be outlined as follows:
[Subject] + [Object/Place/Adverbial Phrase (optional)] + kab (कब) + [Main Verb (conjugated)] + [Auxiliary Verb/Tense Marker (optional)]?
Subject + (Object/Place) + कब + Verb Stem + Future Tense Ending?
आप कब आएँगे? (āp kab āeṅge?) – When will you come (formal/masculine plural)?
वह कब जाएगी? (vah kab jāegī?) – When will she go?
हम कब मिलेंगे? (ham kab mileṅge?) – When will we meet?
कब itself remains unchanged. For example:
तुम अपनी पढ़ाई कब शुरू करोगे? (tum apnī paṛhāī kab shurū karoge?) – When will you start your studies (informal/masculine singular)?
Subject + (Object/Place) + कब + Verb Stem + ता/ती/ते + है/हैं/हो?
बस कब आती है? (bas kab ātī hai?) – When does the bus come (feminine singular)?
दुकान कब खुलती है? (dukān kab khultī hai?) – When does the shop open (feminine singular)?
आप काम से कब लौटते हैं? (āp kām se kab lauṭte haiṅ?) – When do you return from work (formal/masculine plural)?
ne postposition for transitive verbs):
Subject + (Object/Place) + कब + Verb (past participle) + था/थी/थे?
वह कब आया था? (vah kab āyā thā?) – When had he come?
वे कब गए थे? (ve kab gae the?) – When had they gone?
ne: Subject + ने + (Object) + कब + Verb (past participle agreed with object) + था/थी/थे?
तुमने यह कब सीखा था? (tumne yah kab sīkhā thā?) – When had you learned this?
उसने कब खाना खाया था? (usne kab khānā khāyā thā?) – When had he/she eaten food?
kab immediately before the verb is the most common and natural, in very informal or emphatic speech, its position can shift. However, for learners at the A2 level, adherence to the pre-verb placement is highly recommended to establish correct linguistic intuition. Rarely, kab might appear at the very beginning for strong emphasis, but this is less common than in English.
When To Use It
Kab is utilized in a broad spectrum of temporal inquiries, making it one of the most versatile interrogative adverbs in Hindi. Its applications range from simple scheduling questions to more complex expressions of duration or past events. Understanding these specific contexts enhances both comprehension and natural usage.- 1General Inquiries about Time of Event: This is the most straightforward use, asking for the specific point in time an action occurs.
परीक्षा कब है?(parīkṣā kab hai?) – When is the exam? (Note:है(hai) acts as the verb 'to be' here)आपकी ट्रेन कब आएगी?(āpkī ṭren kab āegī?) – When will your train arrive?मीटिंग कब ख़त्म होगी?(mīṭiṅg kab ḵẖatm hogī?) – When will the meeting finish?
- 1Asking about Schedules and Routines: When inquiring about recurring events or established timings,
kabis appropriate, often used with the present habitual tense.
आपका स्कूल कब खुलता है?(āpkā skūl kab khultā hai?) – When does your school open?यह शो कब शुरू होता है?(yah sho kab shurū hotā hai?) – When does this show start?
- 1Inquiring about Duration (with
seandtak):kabcombines with postpositionsसे(se – from/since) andतक(tak – until/up to) to form questions about the start and end points of a duration.
कब से(kab se) – Since when / From when / For how long (start point): Used to ask about the beginning of a state or action that continues into the present or a specified past point.आप कब से यहाँ रह रहे हैं?(āp kab se yahāṅ rah rahe haiṅ?) – Since when have you been living here? / For how long have you been living here?वह कब से बीमार है?(vah kab se bīmār hai?) – Since when has he/she been ill?कब तक(kab tak) – Until when / By when / How long (end point): Used to ask about the expected completion or end of an action or state.आप कब तक इंतज़ार करेंगे?(āp kab tak intazār kareṅge?) – Until when will you wait?यह काम कब तक पूरा होगा?(yah kām kab tak pūrā hogā?) – By when will this work be completed?
- 1Asking about Frequency (with reduplication): Reduplicating
kabtoकब-कब(kab-kab) transforms its meaning from 'when' to 'how often' or 'at what times/days'. This is crucial for asking about habitual actions' frequency.
तुम कब-कब व्यायाम करते हो?(tum kab-kab vyāyām karte ho?) – How often do you exercise? / At what times do you exercise?वह कब-कब अपने घर जाती है?(vah kab-kab apne ghar jātī hai?) – How often does she go to her home?
- 1Idiomatic Expressions:
Kabalso appears in set phrases with nuanced meanings.
कब का(kab kā / ke / kī): This phrase indicates
Kab in Context
| Type | Hindi | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Basic
|
तुम कब आओगे?
|
Tum kab aaoge?
|
When will you come?
|
|
Past
|
वह कब गया?
|
Woh kab gaya?
|
When did he go?
|
|
Present
|
तुम कब सोते हो?
|
Tum kab sote ho?
|
When do you sleep?
|
|
Future
|
हम कब मिलेंगे?
|
Hum kab milenge?
|
When will we meet?
|
|
Duration
|
तुम कब से यहाँ हो?
|
Tum kab se yahan ho?
|
Since when are you here?
|
|
Deadline
|
यह कब तक होगा?
|
Yeh kab tak hoga?
|
Until when will this happen?
|
Meanings
The interrogative adverb 'kab' is used to inquire about the time of an action or event.
Direct Question
Asking for a specific time or point in time.
“तुम कब सोए थे? (Tum kab soye the?)”
“वह कब घर जाएगा? (Woh kab ghar jaaega?)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Simple Question
|
Sub + Kab + Verb
|
Tum kab aaoge?
|
|
Past Tense
|
Sub + Kab + Verb
|
Woh kab gaya?
|
|
Present Tense
|
Sub + Kab + Verb
|
Woh kab aata hai?
|
|
Future Tense
|
Sub + Kab + Verb
|
Woh kab aaega?
|
|
Duration
|
Sub + Kab se + Verb
|
Tum kab se yahan ho?
|
|
Deadline
|
Sub + Kab tak + Verb
|
Tum kab tak aaoge?
|
Formality Spectrum
आप कब आएंगे? (Asking for arrival time.)
तुम कब आओगे? (Asking for arrival time.)
तू कब आएगा? (Asking for arrival time.)
कब आ रहा है? (Asking for arrival time.)
The Kab Family
Time
- कब When
Duration
- कब से Since when
Deadline
- कब तक Until when
Examples by Level
तुम कब आओगे?
When will you come?
परीक्षा कब है?
When is the exam?
ट्रेन कब आएगी?
When will the train come?
वह कब सोता है?
When does he sleep?
आप कल कब फ्री होंगे?
When will you be free tomorrow?
तुमने यह काम कब किया?
When did you do this work?
दुकान कब खुलती है?
When does the shop open?
हम कब खाना खाएंगे?
When will we eat food?
मुझे नहीं पता कि वह कब आएगा।
I don't know when he will come.
तुमने मुझे कब बताया था?
When did you tell me?
क्या तुम जानते हो कि बस कब चलेगी?
Do you know when the bus will leave?
वह कब से यहाँ रह रहा है?
Since when has he been living here?
आखिर तुम कब तक इंतज़ार करोगे?
After all, until when will you wait?
मुझे समझ नहीं आ रहा कि यह कब खत्म होगा।
I don't understand when this will end.
तुमने कब से हिंदी सीखना शुरू किया?
Since when did you start learning Hindi?
पता नहीं, कब क्या हो जाए।
Who knows, when what might happen.
तुमने कब का सोचा था कि तुम जाओगे?
Since when had you planned that you would go?
जाने कब वो दिन आएगा।
Who knows when that day will come.
कब से कह रहा हूँ, मेरी बात सुनो।
I have been telling you for so long, listen to me.
कब तक हम चुप रहेंगे?
Until when will we remain silent?
कब का काम अभी तक अधूरा है।
The work from long ago is still incomplete.
जाने कब से यह परंपरा चली आ रही है।
Who knows since when this tradition has been going on.
कब क्या हो जाए, कोई नहीं जानता।
No one knows when what might happen.
तुमने कब का यह छोड़ दिया होता।
You would have left this long ago.
Easily Confused
Both mean 'when' but have different functions.
Both relate to time.
Both relate to time.
Common Mistakes
Kab tum jaoge?
Tum kab jaoge?
Tum jaoge kab?
Tum kab jaoge?
Kab hai party?
Party kab hai?
Kab tumne khaya?
Tumne kab khaya?
Jab tum aaoge?
Tum kab aaoge?
Kab se tum yahan ho?
Tum kab se yahan ho?
Tum kab tak aaoge?
Tum kab tak aaoge?
Main janta hoon kab woh aaega.
Main janta hoon ki woh kab aaega.
Kab ka woh gaya.
Woh kab ka gaya.
Kab se tumne socha?
Tumne kab se socha?
Kab tak tumne kaam kiya?
Tumne kab tak kaam kiya?
Kab se main wait kar raha hoon.
Main kab se wait kar raha hoon.
Kab ka main aa gaya.
Main kab ka aa gaya.
Sentence Patterns
Tum ___ kab aaoge?
___ kab se seekh rahe ho?
Yeh kaam kab tak ___?
Mujhe nahi pata ki woh kab ___.
Real World Usage
Train kab aayegi?
Kab mil rahe ho?
Aap kab join kar sakte hain?
Order kab tak aayega?
Kab aa rahe ho India?
Exam kab hai?
Verb Placement
Don't start with Kab
Kab vs Jab
Politeness
Smart Tips
Place 'kab' right before the verb.
Add 'ki' before 'kab'.
Use 'kab se' instead of just 'kab'.
Use 'kab tak' instead of just 'kab'.
Pronunciation
Kab
The 'k' is aspirated, 'a' is like 'cup', 'b' is standard.
Rising
Tum kab aaoge? ↑
Standard question intonation.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
KAB is the CAB that arrives at a specific time.
Visual Association
Imagine a taxi (CAB) arriving at your house. You ask the driver, 'KAB (CAB) aaoge?' (When will you arrive?)
Rhyme
When you want to know the time, use KAB in your rhyme.
Story
Rohan is waiting for his friend. He checks his watch and asks, 'Party kab hai?' His friend replies, 'Soon!' Rohan asks, 'Kab tak?' (Until when?).
Word Web
Challenge
Ask 5 people today 'Aap kab free hain?' (When are you free?)
Cultural Notes
Used constantly in daily life for transport and meetings.
Always use 'aap' with 'kab'.
Often shortened in speech.
Derived from Sanskrit 'kada'.
Conversation Starters
Aap kab free hain?
Train kab aayegi?
Aapne Hindi kab se seekhna shuru kiya?
Aapka kaam kab tak khatam hoga?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Tum ___ aaoge?
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Jab tum jaoge?
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
When is the party?
Answer starts with: Par...
Since when are you here?
Yeh kaam kab ___ hoga?
Find and fix the mistake:
Kab tak tumne kaam kiya?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesTum ___ aaoge?
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Jab tum jaoge?
aaoge / kab / tum
When is the party?
Since when are you here?
Yeh kaam kab ___ hoga?
Find and fix the mistake:
Kab tak tumne kaam kiya?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesWhen did you call?
hai / kab / birthday / tumhara
Match the pairs:
Meeting ___ tak chalegi?
Select the correct sentence:
Wo kab ka chali gaya.
Translate to Hindi:
hoge / free / kab / tum
Select the frequency question:
Main ___ ka aa gaya tha.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, 'kab' is invariable.
It is possible for emphasis, but not standard.
Kab is for questions, Jab is for statements.
Use 'kab se'.
Use 'kab tak'.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
It follows English word order; Hindi prefers Subject-Kab-Verb.
Yes, but use 'ki' before it.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Cuándo
Spanish uses accents; Hindi does not.
Quand
French word order is more flexible.
Wann
German verb placement is different.
Itsu
Japanese uses particles.
Mata
Arabic has gendered forms.
Shenme shihou
Chinese uses a phrase.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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