Hindi grammar · Elementary (A2)
Commands and requests: आ, आओ, आइए
Tell someone to do something in the right register with the तू, तुम and आप forms, say “don't” with मत, and recognise formal requests.
Three levels of politeness
Hindi has a command form for each word for “you”. For (aap), add -इए (-iye) to the stem: (baithiye), please sit. For (tum), add -ओ (-o): (baitho). For (too), use the bare stem: (baith).
Use the form with strangers, older people and at work; the form with friends, younger relatives and children. The form is for very close family and friends and for small children, and can sound rude to others, so it's best to recognise it but not use it.
| Verb | (too) | (tum) | (aap) |
|---|---|---|---|
| (aanaa) to come | (aa) | (aao) | (aaiye) |
| (jaanaa) to go | (jaa) | (jaao) | (jaaiye) |
| (baithnaa) to sit | (baith) | (baitho) | (baithiye) |
| (dekhnaa) to look | (dekh) | (dekho) | (dekhiye) |
Irregular forms
A few very common verbs have irregular forms, and (peenaa) has an irregular form.
| Verb | (too) | (tum) | (aap) |
|---|---|---|---|
| (denaa) to give | (de) | (do) | (deejiye) |
| (lenaa) to take | (le) | (lo) | (leejiye) |
| (karnaa) to do | (kar) | (karo) | (keejiye) |
| (peenaa) to drink | (pee) | (piyo) | (peejiye) |
- एक कप चाय दीजिए।Ek kap chaay deejiye.A cup of tea, please.
- पानी पियो।Paanee piyo.Drink some water.
Don't: मत
To tell someone not to do something, add (mat) before or after the command: or (mat jaao, jaao mat), don't go. It works with all three forms: (chintaa mat keejiye), please don't worry. Don't use (naheen) with commands.
- भागो मत।Bhaago mat.Don't run.
- चिंता मत कीजिए।Chintaa mat keejiye.Please don't worry.
Softer and more formal requests
-इएगा (-iyegaa) makes a request extra polite, often for later: (kal fon keejiyegaa), please call tomorrow. Signs and announcements use the -एँ (-en) form, with (na) for “not”: (kripyaa dhyaan den), please pay attention; (yahaan na baithen), please do not sit here.
Friendly requests often use a compound verb: (de deejiye), please give (it to me). To say “let's go”, use (chalo) or, politely, (chaliye).
In casual speech, the plain -ना (-naa) form is a friendly request for later: (padhkar bataanaa), tell me once you've read it; (ant mat bataanaa), don't give away the ending.
- कल फ़ोन कीजिएगा।Kal fon keejiyegaa.Please call tomorrow.
- यात्रीगण कृपया ध्यान दें।Yaatreegan kripyaa dhyaan den.Passengers, please note.
- चलिए, खाना खाते हैं।Chaliye, khaanaa khaate hain.Come on, let's eat.