Verbs: Infinitives — Hindi Grammar

The infinitive is the basic, dictionary form of a verb in Hindi. It is composed of the verb stem followed by the suffix (-nā-na). In English, this corresponds to "to + verb" (e.g., to go, to eat) or the gerund form ending in "-ing" (e.g., going, eating).

Formation and Usage as Nouns

To form an infinitive, simply add (-nā-na) to the verb root.

(bol) + (nāna) = (bolnābolna) - to speak
(jāja) + (nāna) = (jānājana) - to go

Infinitives function as masculine singular nouns. They can be the subject of a sentence, often expressing general truths or activities.

हिंदी सीखना आसान है।
hindī sīkhnā āsān hai.hindi sikhna asan hai.
Learning Hindi is easy.
वहाँ जाना मना है।
vahā̃ jānā manā hai.wahan jana mana hai.
Going there is forbidden.

Expressing Desire (Want to...)

To say you want to do something, use the infinitive followed by the verb (cāhnāchahna) - to want. The verb (cāhnāchahna) changes according to the gender and number of the subject, while the infinitive usually remains in its basic form.

मैं पानी पीना चाहता हूँ।
ma͠i pānī pīnā cāhtā hū̃.main pani pina chahta hun.
I want to drink water. (Male speaker)
वह भारत देखना चाहती है।
vah bhārat dekhnā cāhtī hai.wah bharat dekhna chahti hai.
She wants to see India.

Expressing Compulsion (Have to...)

To express that someone "has to" do something, Hindi uses a specific construction:

Subject + को (ko) + Object (optional) + Infinitive + है (hai)

In this structure, the infinitive agrees with the object of the sentence, not the subject.

If there is no object, the infinitive stays masculine singular (-nā-na).
If the object is feminine, the infinitive changes to end in (-nī-ni).
If the object is masculine plural, the infinitive changes to end in (-ne).

मुझे घर जाना है।
mujhe ghar jānā hai.mujhe ghar jana hai.
I have to go home. (No direct object affecting the verb)
राज को चाय बनानी है।
rāj ko cāy banānī hai.raj ko chay banani hai.
Raj has to make tea. (Tea is feminine, so banānī)
हमें कपड़े धोने हैं।
hameṃ kapṛe dhone haiṃ.hameṃ kapre dhone haiṃ.
We have to wash clothes. (Clothes are masculine plural, so dhone)

The Oblique Infinitive (-ने (-ne))

When an infinitive is followed by a postposition (like (kāka), (ke lie), (meṃ)), the ending (-nā-na) changes to (-ne). This is called the oblique form.

This is commonly used to express purpose (in order to do something).

यह सोने का समय है।
yah sone kā samay hai.yah sone ka samay hai.
This is time to sleep. (sone + kā)
मैं पढ़ने के लिए जा रहा हूँ।
ma͠i paṛhne ke lie jā rahā hū̃.main parhne ke lie ja raha hun.
I am going (in order) to read. (paṛhne + ke lie)
वह तैरने में अच्छा है।
vah tairne meṃ acchā hai.wah tairne meṃ achchha hai.
He is good at swimming. (tairne + meṃ)

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Hindi course

71 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 8. A few of them, with the words “Verbs: Infinitives” is about in bold:

मैं अब घर जाना चाहती हूँ।
ma͠i ab ghar jānā cāhtī hū̃.main ab ghar jana chahti hun.
I want to go home now.
Lesson 71
जब तक मैं नई कार नहीं लेता, मुझे अपनी बाइक चलानी होगी।
jab tak ma͠i naī kār nahī̃ letā, mujhe apnī bāik calānī hogī.jab tak main nai kar nahin leta, mujhe apni baik chalani hogi.
I have to ride my bike until I get a new car.
Lesson 301
काश आप थोड़े बचाने वाले होते।
kāś āp thoṛe bacāne vāle hote.kash ap thore bachane wale hote.
I wish you were more frugal.
Lesson 328

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