Im Kapitel
Ongoing Actions and Future Plans
Using "कब" for Time
Use 'kab' to ASK about time, but never to connect sentences like 'When I was young'.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Means 'When' for asking questions only.
- Place it before the verb usually.
- Do NOT use for 'when' statements (use 'jab').
- Combine with 'se' or 'tak' for duration range.
Quick Reference
| English Type | Hindi Phrase | Usage Context | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple When | कब (Kab) | Geने (ne)ral ती (ti)me quesती (ti)ons | तुम (Tum) कब (kab) जा (ja)oge? (When will you go?) |
| Since When | कब से (Kab se) | Sता (ta)rt point of acती (ti)on | तुम (Tum) कब से (kab se) yahan हो (ho)? (Since when are you here?) |
| उन (Un)ती (ti)l When | कब तक (Kab tak) | End point / Deadliने (ne) | दुकान (Dukaan) कब तक (kab tak) khuli है (hai)? (उन (Un)ती (ti)l when is the sहो (ho)p oपेन (pen)?) |
| Specific ती (Ti)me | कितने बजे (Kitne baje) | Clock ती (ti)me only | ट्रेन (Train) कितने बजे (kitne baje) है (hai)? (What ती (ti)me is the ट्रेन (train)?) |
| Relaती (ti)वे (ve) When | जब (Jab) | Sता (ta)ते (te)ments (NOT quesती (ti)ons) | जब (Jab) मैं (main)a aaya... (When I came...) |
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 10आप (Aap)ka जन्मदिन (janamdin) कब (kab) है (hai)?
When is your birthday?
तुम (Tum) कब (kab) फ़्री (free) हो (ho)?
When are you free?
बस (Bus) कब (kab) आएगी (aayegi)?
When will the bus come?
The 'K' Rule
Notice a pattern? Kya (what), Kahan (where), Kyun (why), Kab (when). Most Hindi question words start with 'K'. If it starts with 'J' (Jab, Jahan, Jo), it's usually a statement connector!
Don't Translate Directly
Avoid saying 'Kab main school gaya...' for 'When I went to school'. If you aren't asking a question, `कब` (`कब` (`Kab`)) is the wrong word. You want `जब` (`जब` (`Jab`)).
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Means 'When' for asking questions only.
- Place it before the verb usually.
- Do NOT use for 'when' statements (use 'jab').
- Combine with 'se' or 'tak' for duration range.
Overview
So, you want to coordinate plans, catch a train, or just figure out *when* lunch is? You need कब (kab). It’s your go-to word for asking about time in Hindi. Think of it as the key that unlocks the clock. Without it, you’re just floating in a timeless void, and nobody wants that—especially when waiting for a chai break.
How This Grammar Works
In English, we usually throw "When" right at the start of a sentence: "When are you coming?" Hindi is a bit more chill. The question word कब (kab) likes to hang out right in the middle of the action, usually just before the verb or where the time answer would naturally go. It doesn't demand the spotlight at the front of the sentence (though it can stand there if it wants to be dramatic).
Formation Pattern
- 1Here is the secret sauce to building a
कब(kab) sentence without sounding like a broken robot: - 2Start with the Subject (who are we talking about?).
- 3Drop in
कब(kab) (the magic word). - 4Finish with the Verb (the action).
- 5*Standard Structure:*
Subject+कब(kab) +Verb? - 6*Example:*
तुम(Tum) (You) +कब(kab) (when) +आओगे(aaoge) (will come)?
When To Use It
Use कब (kab) whenever you are looking for a specific point in time. Dates, hours, days, years—if it’s on a calendar or a watch, कब (kab) asks for it.
- Asking about future plans: "Tum
कब(kab) free ho?" (When are you free?) - Investigating the past: "Ye
कब(kab) hua?" (When did this happen?) - Asking about habits: "Aap
कब(kab) uthte hain?" (When do you wake up?)
When Not To Use It
This is where things get sticky. Do NOT use कब (kab) if you aren't asking a question. In English, we use "when" for statements too, like "I smile *when* I see pizza." In Hindi, that "when" is जब (jab), not कब (kab). If you use कब (kab) there, you sound like you're asking a question in the middle of a statement. "I smile *when?* I see pizza." Weird, right?
Common Mistakes
- The
जब(Jab)/कब(Kab) Mix-up: Usingकब(kab) to connect two sentences. *Wrong:* "Main khush hota hoonकब(kab) main cricket khelta hoon." (I get happy *when?* I play cricket). *Right:* Useजब(jab). - The "For How Long" Trap:
कब(Kab) is a point in time, not a duration. Don't use it to ask "how long" something takes. Usekitni derfor that. - Word Order Anxiety: Putting
कब(kab) at the very start (Kab tum aaoge?) isn't grammatically illegal, but it sounds super poetic or dramatic, like a Bollywood song. Stick to the middle for normal chats.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
कब(Kab) vs.Kitne baje:कब(Kab) is general (When?).Kitne bajeis specific (At what o'clock?).- *Q:* "Kab aaoge?" *A:* "Monday ko." (Monday.)
- *Q:* "Kitne baje aaoge?" *A:* "2 baje." (At 2 o'clock.)
कब(Kab) vs.जब(Jab):कब(Kab) asks.जब(Jab) tells.
Quick FAQ
Q. Can I use कब (kab) for "Since when"?
A. Not alone! Add से (se) (from). कब से (Kab se) = Since when.
Q. Can I use it for "Until when"?
A. Add tak (up to). कब तक (Kab tak) = Until when.
Q. Is कब (kab) formal or informal?
A. It's totally neutral. It wears jeans and a tuxedo equally well. The politeness comes from your verb endings (aaiye vs aao), not the word कब (kab) itself.
Reference Table
| English Type | Hindi Phrase | Usage Context | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple When | कब (Kab) | Geने (ne)ral ती (ti)me quesती (ti)ons | तुम (Tum) कब (kab) जा (ja)oge? (When will you go?) |
| Since When | कब से (Kab se) | Sता (ta)rt point of acती (ti)on | तुम (Tum) कब से (kab se) yahan हो (ho)? (Since when are you here?) |
| उन (Un)ती (ti)l When | कब तक (Kab tak) | End point / Deadliने (ne) | दुकान (Dukaan) कब तक (kab tak) khuli है (hai)? (उन (Un)ती (ti)l when is the sहो (ho)p oपेन (pen)?) |
| Specific ती (Ti)me | कितने बजे (Kitne baje) | Clock ती (ti)me only | ट्रेन (Train) कितने बजे (kitne baje) है (hai)? (What ती (ti)me is the ट्रेन (train)?) |
| Relaती (ti)वे (ve) When | जब (Jab) | Sता (ta)ते (te)ments (NOT quesती (ti)ons) | जब (Jab) मैं (main)a aaya... (When I came...) |
The 'K' Rule
Notice a pattern? Kya (what), Kahan (where), Kyun (why), Kab (when). Most Hindi question words start with 'K'. If it starts with 'J' (Jab, Jahan, Jo), it's usually a statement connector!
Don't Translate Directly
Avoid saying 'Kab main school gaya...' for 'When I went to school'. If you aren't asking a question, `कब` (`कब` (`Kab`)) is the wrong word. You want `जब` (`जब` (`Jab`)).
Indian Standard Time
If you ask 'Kab aaoge?' (When will you come?) and hear 'Bas 5 minute mein' (In just 5 mins), take a deep breath. In India, 5 minutes can be a very flexible concept!
Placement Matters
You can put `कब` (`कब` (`Kab`)) at the start for drama: 'Kab kholega ye darwaza?!' (When will this door open?!). But for polite chat, keep it inside: 'Darwaza kab kholega?'
Beispiele
10आप (Aap)ka जन्मदिन (janamdin) कब (kab) है (hai)?
Focus: कब (kab)
When is your birthday?
Standard identification question.
तुम (Tum) कब (kab) फ़्री (free) हो (ho)?
Focus: कब (kab)
When are you free?
Casual asking for availability.
बस (Bus) कब (kab) आएगी (aayegi)?
Focus: कब (kab)
When will the bus come?
Future tense event.
तुमने (Tumne) ye मूवी (movie) कब (kab) देखी (dekhi)?
Focus: कब (kab)
When did you see this movie?
Past tense usage.
आप (Aap) इंडिया (India) कब (kab) जा (ja) रहे (rahe) हैं (hain)?
Focus: कब (kab)
When are you going to India?
Present continuous for future plan.
तुम (Tum) कब से (kab se) वेट (wait) कर रहे हो (kar rahe ho)?
Focus: कब से (kab se)
Since when have you been waiting?
Using 'kab se' for duration start.
ऑफ़िस (Office) कब तक (kab tak) खुला (khula) है (hai)?
Focus: कब तक (kab tak)
Until when is the office open?
Using 'kab tak' for deadline.
✗ मैं (Main) कब (kab) छोटा (chhota) था (tha), मैं (main) रोता (rota) था (tha).
Focus: कब (kab)
Incorrect: When I was small, I cried.
MISTAKE: Using question word for statement. Use 'Jab' instead.
✓ जब (Jab) मैं (main) छोटा (chhota) था (tha), मैं (main) रोता (rota) था (tha).
Focus: जब (Jab)
Correct: When I was small, I cried.
Correction showing relative pronoun.
पार्टी (Party) शुरू (shuru) कब (kab) होगी (hogi)?
Focus: कब (kab)
When will the party start?
Alternative word order (Verb part 1 + kab + Verb part 2).
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct word to ask about the train schedule.
ट्रेन (Train) ___ आएगी (aayegi)?
We are asking a question about time, so 'kab' is the correct choice. 'Jab' is for statements, 'kahan' is for place.
You want to ask 'Until when' are you staying.
तुम (Tum) yahan ___ रुको (ruko)ge?
'Kab tak' means 'until when'. 'Kab se' means 'since when'.
Identify the mistake: 'I eat when I am hungry.'
मैं (Main) खाता (khata) हूं (hoon) ___ मैं (main) bहो (ho)okha हूं (hoon).
This is a statement, not a question. Use 'jab' for relative clauses.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Kab vs Jab
Which 'When' do I use?
Is it a question?
Asking for specific clock time?
Use 'Kitne baje'
Kab Combinations
Simple
- • Kab hai?
- • Kab tha?
Duration
- • Kab se?
- • Kab tak?
Specific
- • Kis din?
- • Kitne baje?
Colloquial
- • Aur kab?
- • Kab ka!
Häufig gestellte Fragen
20 FragenTechnically yes, in spoken slang, like 'Tum aaoge kab?'. But it sounds a bit impatient or demanding, like 'You're coming... *when* exactly?'. Stick to the middle for safety.
कब (कब (Kab)) is for asking questions (When?). जब (जब (Jab)) is for making statements (When I did this...). If there is no question mark involved, you probably need जब (जब (Jab)).
You combine कब (कब (Kab)) + से (se). Tum kab se yahan ho? (Since when are you here?).
You combine कब (कब (Kab)) + tak. Dukaan kab tak khuli hai? (Until when is the shop open?).
Yes! कब (कब (Kab)) covers dates, months, years, and general times. For specific clock time (like 5:00 PM), कितने बजे (kitne baje) is more precise, but कब (कब (Kab)) is understood.
Both! The verb tense changes, but कब (कब (Kab)) stays the same. Kab gaye the? (When did you go?) and Kab jaoge? (When will you go?).
Nope. कब (कब (Kab)) is invariant. It doesn't care if you are a boy, girl, or a group. It stays कब (कब (Kab)).
Meeting kab hai? Simple as that.
Yes. Kab hai? (When is it?), Kab tha? (When was it?).
कब (कब (Kab)) doesn't work for frequency. Use kitni baar (how many times) or kab-kab (when occasionally) if you mean intermittent times.
If you double it, kab-kab, it implies 'when exactly' or 'on which various occasions'. e.g., 'Woh kab-kab aata hai?' (On which occasions does he come?).
No, कब (कब (Kab)) itself is neutral. To be polite, you change the 'you' word to आप (आप (Aap)) and the verb ending. Tum kab aaoge vs Aap kab aaenge.
It's a bit Hinglish, but people say it! Better is Kab free ho? or Waqt kab hai?.
Replace कब (कब (Kab)) with the time. Q: Kab aaoge? A: Kal aaunga (I will come tomorrow).
In the phrase kab ka, yes. 'Maine ye kab ka kar liya' (I did this long ago/ages ago).
Usually Subject first. Ram kab jayega?. But Kab jayega Ram? is also understandable, just less standard.
Aapka janam kab hua? or Aap kab paida huye?.
Yes! कभी (kabhi) means 'sometime' or 'ever'. It's derived from the same root. Kabhi kabhi means 'sometimes'.
Not really. You don't usually command someone *when* to do something with a question word. You'd give them a time: 'Abhi karo' (Do it now).
Using it as a conjunction. 'I know kab he will come'. No! Say 'Mujhe pata hai ki woh kab aayega' (indirect question) is okay, but 'I will go kab he comes' is wrong.
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