Learning Hindi can be an enriching experience, offering insight into one of the world’s most spoken languages. Among the various aspects of Hindi grammar, understanding imperative sentences is crucial for effective communication. Imperative sentences are used to give commands, make requests, or offer invitations, and they play a vital role in daily conversations. This article aims to guide you through the formation and usage of imperative sentences in Hindi, making it easier for you to incorporate them into your language skills.
Understanding Imperative Sentences
Imperative sentences are essentially commands or requests directed at someone. They can be used to tell someone what to do or to suggest an action. In English, imperative sentences often begin with the verb in its base form, such as “Sit,” “Listen,” or “Go.” Hindi imperative sentences function similarly but have their unique structure and forms.
Basic Structure
The basic structure of an imperative sentence in Hindi involves the verb followed by the subject, although the subject is often implied rather than explicitly stated. For instance:
– बैठो (baitho) – Sit
– सुनो (suno) – Listen
– जाओ (jao) – Go
In these examples, the verbs बैठो (baitho), सुनो (suno), and जाओ (jao) are in their imperative forms.
Verb Conjugation in Imperative Sentences
In Hindi, verbs change their forms based on the level of politeness and the number of people being addressed. Here are the three levels of politeness:
1. Informal (तू – tu): Used with close friends, younger people, or those with whom you have a very informal relationship.
– Example: बैठ (baith) – Sit
2. Familiar (तुम – tum): Used with friends, peers, or those who are younger than you but with whom you maintain a respectful distance.
– Example: बैठो (baitho) – Sit
3. Formal (आप – aap): Used in formal situations or when addressing elders or those in positions of authority.
– Example: बैठिए (baithiye) – Sit
Forming Imperative Sentences
To form imperative sentences, you need to conjugate the verb according to the level of politeness you wish to convey. Here are some examples to illustrate how verbs change in different imperative forms:
Verb: करना (karna) – To do
– तू (tu): कर (kar) – Do
– तुम (tum): करो (karo) – Do
– आप (aap): कीजिए (kijiye) – Do
Verb: आना (aana) – To come
– तू (tu): आ (aa) – Come
– तुम (tum): आओ (aao) – Come
– आप (aap): आइए (aaiye) – Come
Verb: कहना (kahana) – To say
– तू (tu): कह (kah) – Say
– तुम (tum): कहो (kaho) – Say
– आप (aap): कहिए (kahiye) – Say
Usage of Imperative Sentences
Imperative sentences in Hindi can be used in various contexts, such as giving commands, making requests, offering suggestions, and extending invitations. Here are some examples to demonstrate their usage:
Giving Commands
Commands are direct and often use the informal or familiar form. However, in formal situations, the formal imperative is used.
– Informal: दरवाज़ा बंद कर (darwaza band kar) – Close the door.
– Familiar: दरवाज़ा बंद करो (darwaza band karo) – Close the door.
– Formal: दरवाज़ा बंद कीजिए (darwaza band kijiye) – Please close the door.
Making Requests
Requests are generally more polite and use the familiar or formal forms.
– Familiar: कृपया मेरी मदद करो (kripaya meri madad karo) – Please help me.
– Formal: कृपया मेरी मदद कीजिए (kripaya meri madad kijiye) – Please help me.
Offering Suggestions
Suggestions can be informal, familiar, or formal, depending on the relationship and context.
– Informal: इसे आज़माकर देख (ise azmaakar dekh) – Try this out.
– Familiar: इसे आज़माकर देखो (ise azmaakar dekho) – Try this out.
– Formal: इसे आज़माकर देखिए (ise azmaakar dekhiye) – Please try this out.
Extending Invitations
Invitations are often extended using the familiar or formal forms to show politeness.
– Familiar: हमारे साथ चलो (hamare saath chalo) – Come with us.
– Formal: हमारे साथ चलिए (hamare saath chaliye) – Please come with us.
Negative Imperative Sentences
To form negative imperative sentences in Hindi, you typically add “मत” (mat) before the verb in informal and familiar forms, and “न” (na) before the verb in formal forms. Here are some examples:
Verb: करना (karna) – To do
– Informal: मत कर (mat kar) – Don’t do
– Familiar: मत करो (mat karo) – Don’t do
– Formal: न कीजिए (na kijiye) – Please don’t do
Verb: आना (aana) – To come
– Informal: मत आ (mat aa) – Don’t come
– Familiar: मत आओ (mat aao) – Don’t come
– Formal: न आइए (na aaiye) – Please don’t come
Verb: कहना (kahana) – To say
– Informal: मत कह (mat kah) – Don’t say
– Familiar: मत कहो (mat kaho) – Don’t say
– Formal: न कहिए (na kahiye) – Please don’t say
Common Imperative Expressions in Hindi
Here are some common imperative expressions in Hindi that you might find useful in everyday conversations:
1. ध्यान दो (dhyaan do) – Pay attention:
– Familiar: ध्यान दो (dhyaan do)
– Formal: ध्यान दीजिए (dhyaan dijiye)
2. जल्दी करो (jaldi karo) – Hurry up:
– Familiar: जल्दी करो (jaldi karo)
– Formal: जल्दी कीजिए (jaldi kijiye)
3. शांत रहो (shaant raho) – Be quiet:
– Familiar: शांत रहो (shaant raho)
– Formal: शांत रहिए (shaant rahiye)
4. सुनो (suno) – Listen:
– Informal: सुन (sun)
– Familiar: सुनो (suno)
– Formal: सुनिए (suniye)
5. इधर आओ (idhar aao) – Come here:
– Familiar: इधर आओ (idhar aao)
– Formal: इधर आइए (idhar aaiye)
Practice Exercises
To help you master imperative sentences in Hindi, here are some practice exercises. Try to form imperative sentences using the given verbs and contexts.
1. Verb: खाना (khana) – To eat
– Informal: Tell a child to eat.
– Familiar: Ask your friend to eat.
– Formal: Request a guest to eat.
2. Verb: बैठना (baithna) – To sit
– Informal: Tell your sibling to sit.
– Familiar: Ask your colleague to sit.
– Formal: Request an elder to sit.
3. Verb: देखना (dekhna) – To see
– Informal: Tell your pet to look.
– Familiar: Ask your friend to see something.
– Formal: Request your teacher to look at your work.
4. Verb: पढ़ना (padhna) – To read
– Informal: Tell a child to read.
– Familiar: Ask your classmate to read.
– Formal: Request a librarian to read a document.
Conclusion
Understanding the formation and usage of imperative sentences in Hindi is essential for effective communication. By mastering the different levels of politeness and the appropriate verb conjugations, you can give commands, make requests, offer suggestions, and extend invitations with confidence. Practice regularly, and soon you will find yourself using imperative sentences naturally in your Hindi conversations.
Remember, language learning is a journey, and every step you take brings you closer to fluency. Keep practicing, stay curious, and enjoy the process of mastering Hindi!
