Hindi grammar · Upper intermediate (B2)
Linking ideas: although, because of, therefore
Hindi words for conceding, cause and effect and structuring an argument, from spoken हालाँकि and की वजह से to written अतः and किंतु.
Conceding: although, even if
(haalaanki), although, starts the first part, and the second part often begins with (phir bhee), still. In speech, …, … (maanaa ki …, lekin …), granted that …, but …, does the same job.
(bhale hee), even if, and (chaahe), no matter, whatever, take the subjunctive when they talk about something that may or may not be true. (balki), but rather, only follows a negative.
| Hindi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| … (haalaanki jagah kam hai, phir bhee …) | Although space is short, still … |
| …, … (maanaa ki …, lekin …) | Granted that …, but … |
| , … (bhale hee kuchh logon ko dikkat ho, …) | Even if some people have trouble, … |
| , … (chaahe faislaa kuchh bhee ho, …) | Whatever the decision is, … |
| … (main iske khilaaf naheen hoon, balki …) | I'm not against it; on the contrary, … |
Cause and effect
(kee vajah se) and the more formal (ke kaaran) mean “because of” and follow a noun. (kyonki), because, is followed by a whole clause. (jisse), which means, so that, starts a clause with the result, and the -ने (-ne) form + (se) says what an action leads to.
| Hindi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (esee kee vajah se bil badh gayaa.) | The bill went up because of the AC. |
| (baarish ke kaaran skool band rahenge.) | Schools will stay closed because of the rain. |
| (yahaan tez dhoop hotee hai, jisse painal achchhaa kaam karte hain.) | There's strong sun here, which means the panels work well. |
| (painal saaf karne se bijlee zyaadaa bantee hai.) | Cleaning the panels produces more electricity. |
| … (iskaa nateejaa yah hotaa hai ki …) | The result is that … |
Structuring an argument or a talk
These phrases put your points in order, in a discussion or a presentation. (kul milaakar) is the everyday way to sum up; (sankshep men) is more formal.
| Hindi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| … (pahlee baat to yah hai ki …) | The first point is that … |
| … (doosree baat yah hai ki …) | Secondly, … |
| … (iske alaavaa …) | Besides, apart from that … |
| …, … (ek taraf …, doosree taraf …) | On the one hand …, on the other hand … |
| … / (ab main … par aataa / aatee hoon.) | Now I come to … |
| … (kul milaakar …) | All in all … |
| … (sankshep men …) | In short … |
Connectors for writing
Formal writing prefers Sanskrit-based connectors. Use them in letters, reports and essays; in conversation the everyday words sound more natural.
| Everyday | Formal writing | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| (aur) | , (tathaa, evam) | and |
| (lekin) | , (kintu, parantu) | but |
| (isliye) | (atah) | therefore |
| (haalaanki) | (yadyapi) | although |
| (iske alaavaa) | (iske atirikt) | in addition |
| (kee vajah se) | (ke kaaran) | because of |