Habitual Actions Using Verb Stem

This grammar focuses entirely on the verb stem. In Hindi, verbs usually end in na, like bolna (to speak). To use the habitual aspect, you strip that na away. What remains is your "stem." You then attach a suffix that matches the gender and number of the subject. Finally, you add a helping verb (auxiliary) like hun or hai. It is a bit like building a Lego set. You have the base (the stem), the connector (the suffix), and the final piece (the auxiliary). If you change the subject, you change the connector. It is logical and predictable once you see the pattern. Think of the suffix as a GPS tag. it tells the listener exactly who is performing the action.

1. 1Building these sentences is a simple three-step process.
2. 2Find the verb stem by removing na from the infinitive. For khana (to eat), the stem is kha.
3. 3Add the correct habitual suffix based on the subject:
4. 4-ta for masculine singular (I/You/He/It)
5. 5-te for masculine plural or formal (We/You/They)
6. 6-ti for feminine singular and plural (I/You/She/We/They)
7. 7Add the present tense auxiliary verb hona (hun, ho, hai, hain).
8. 8Example: Main (I) + likh (write) + ta + hun = Main likhta hun (I write).
9. 9If you are a woman, it becomes Main likhti hun. Easy, right? It is like matching your socks to your outfit.

Use this pattern for anything that happens regularly.

• Daily Routines: "I wake up at 6 AM" or "He drinks chai every morning."
• General Truths: "The sun rises in the east" or "Water boils at 100 degrees."
• Habits and Hobbies: "I play cricket on weekends" or "She reads mystery novels."
• Professional Roles: "I work at a bank" or "They teach Hindi."
• Preferences: "I like spicy food" or "We prefer the metro."

Imagine you are in a job interview. You would use this to describe your daily responsibilities. Or, if you are on a first date, you would use this to talk about your interests. It is the "default" setting for your life story.

Do not use this for things happening right now. If you are currently holding a cup of coffee, do not say Main chai pita hun. That means you are a tea drinker in general. Instead, use the continuous form pi raha hun.

Also, avoid this for one-time future plans. "I will go tomorrow" needs a different tense.

Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Green light for habits and general facts. Red light for specific, one-off moments. If it is a "one-time deal," the habitual aspect is not your friend. Using it for a specific moment sounds like you are describing a permanent state of being. It is a bit like saying "I am a person who eats" while someone is asking what you want for lunch.

1. 1The Gender Trap: Many people use -ta for everyone. If you are female, you must use -ti.
2. 2Dropping the Auxiliary: In casual speech, people sometimes drop hai or hun. In B2 level Hindi, keep them in. It sounds more polished and professional.
3. 3Mixing with Continuous: Do not add raha to this pattern. It is either karta hun (habit) or kar raha hun (now). Never karta raha hun.
4. 4Plural Feminine: Remember that for feminine plural, the suffix stays -ti, but the auxiliary hain gets a nasal sound.

Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are tired. Think of it like a grammar speed bump. Just slow down and check your subject.

The biggest rival to this rule is the Present Continuous (raha hai).

• Habitual: Main Hindi bolta hun (I speak Hindi—I know the language).
• Continuous: Main Hindi bol raha hun (I am speaking Hindi—right this second).

Another contrast is the Simple Past.

• Habitual: Main jata hun (I go regularly).
• Past: Main gaya (I went once).

If you use the habitual when you mean the continuous, people will understand you. However, you will sound like you are reciting a dictionary. To sound like a local, you need to draw a sharp line between "usually" and "currently."