Present Progressive with रहना — Hindi Grammar

The present progressive tense describes actions that are happening at the exact moment of speaking. It corresponds to the English construction "is/am/are + verb-ing" (e.g., "I am eating," "She is reading").

To form this tense, Hindi uses a three-part structure:

1. The Verb Stem (the main action).

2. A conjugated form of (rahnārahna), which acts as the progressive marker (like "-ing").

3. The auxiliary verb (honāhona), conjugated to match the subject.

Forming the Verb Stem

To get the stem of a Hindi verb, simply remove the (-nā-na) ending from the infinitive.

(bolnābolna) - to speak becomes (bol).
(jānājana) - to go becomes (jāja).
(karnākarna) - to do becomes (kar).

Gender and Number Agreement

The verb (rahnārahna) changes its form based on the gender and number of the subject. It does not change based on the person (I, you, he/she) directly, but rather on whether that person is male, female, singular, or plural.

Masculine Singular

Use (rahāraha).

वह सो रहा है।
vah so rahā hai.wah so raha hai.
He is sleeping.

Masculine Plural

Use (rahe). This is also used for singular masculine subjects when showing respect (honorific).

वे काम कर रहे हैं।
ve kām kar rahe haĩ.we kam kar rahe haĩ.
They are working.
पिताजी आ रहे हैं।
pitājī ā rahe haĩ.pitaji a rahe haĩ.
Father is coming. (Respectful)

Feminine (Singular and Plural)

Use (rahīrahi). The form remains the same for both singular and plural feminine subjects; only the final auxiliary verb changes to indicate the number.

लड़की पढ़ रही है।
laṛkī paṛh rahī hai.larki parh rahi hai.
The girl is reading.
लड़कियाँ पढ़ रही हैं।
laṛkiyā̃ paṛh rahī haĩ.larkiyan parh rahi haĩ.
The girls are reading.

Using with Pronouns

The final auxiliary verb ( (hū̃, hai, ho, haĩhun, hai, ho, haĩ)) must agree with the subject pronoun.

First Person (I - मैं (ma͠i))

Use (rahā hū̃raha hun) for males and (rahī hū̃rahi hun) for females.

मैं पानी पी रहा हूँ।
ma͠i pānī pī rahā hū̃.main pani pi raha hun.
I am drinking water. (Male speaker)
मैं हिंदी सीख रही हूँ।
ma͠i hindī sīkh rahī hū̃.main hindi sikh rahi hun.
I am learning Hindi. (Female speaker)

Second Person (You)

For (tum) - informal, use (rahe ho) for males and (rahī horahi ho) for females.

For (āpap) - formal, always use the plural marker (rahe haĩ) for males and (rahī haĩrahi haĩ) for females.

तुम क्या कर रहे हो?
tum kyā kar rahe ho?tum kya kar rahe ho?
What are you doing?
आप कहाँ जा रहे हैं?
āp kahā̃ jā rahe haĩ.ap kahan ja rahe haĩ.
Where are you going? (Formal)

Third Person (He/She/It/They)

For (yah/vahyah/wah) - this/that/he/she, use (rahā hairaha hai) or (rahī hairahi hai).

For (ye/veye/we) - these/those/they, use (rahe haĩ) or (rahī haĩrahi haĩ).

वह देख रहा है।
vah dekh rahā hai.wah dekh raha hai.
He is watching.
वे खाना खा रहे हैं।
ve khānā khā rahe haĩ.we khana kha rahe haĩ.
They are eating food.

Future Intent

Similar to English, the present progressive in Hindi can also be used to talk about the immediate future or planned actions.

मैं कल दिल्ली जा रहा हूँ।
ma͠i kal dillī jā rahā hū̃.main kal dilli ja raha hun.
I am going to Delhi tomorrow.
हम शाम को मिल रहे हैं।
ham śām ko mil rahe haĩ.ham sham ko mil rahe haĩ.
We are meeting in the evening.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Hindi course

53 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 6. A few of them, with the words “Present Progressive with रहना” is about in bold:

वह भी सो रहा है। वह नहीं सो रही है।
vah bhī so rahā hai. vah nahī̃ so rahī hai.wah bhi so raha hai. wah nahin so rahi hai.
He is also sleeping. She isn't.
Lesson 16
मैं एक केला और छह अंडे ख़रीद रहा हूँ।
ma͠i ek kelā aur chah aṇḍe xarīd rahā hū̃.main ek kela aur chhah anḍe kharid raha hun.
I am buying one banana and six eggs.
Lesson 43
तुम कैसा महसूस कर रही हो? अच्छा या बुरा?
tum kaisā mahsūs kar rahī ho? acchā yā burā?tum kaisa mahsus kar rahi ho? achchha ya bura?
How are you feeling? Good or bad?
Lesson 61

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