Negative Commands Using the Particle Mat
For all direct commands—whether you're begging, ordering, or advising—swap out `nahin` for `mat` to say 'don't'.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use `mat` only for commands/imperatives.
- Place `mat` directly before the verb.
- Never use `nahin` for orders.
- Works for strict orders and polite requests.
Quick Reference
| Subject (Implied) | Formality | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tu | Intimate/Rude | mat + verb root + (o) | Tu mat ja (Don't go) |
| Tum | Familiar | mat + verb root + o | Tum mat jao (Don't go) |
| Aap | Formal/Polite | mat + verb root + iye | Aap mat jaiye (Please don't go) |
| None (Infinitive) | Public Sign/General | mat + verb infinitive | Yahan mat thookna (Don't spit here) |
| Any | Emphatic | verb + mat | Bholo mat! (Don't forget!) |
| Tum/Aap | Compound Verb | mat + stem + operator | Use mat jaane do (Don't let him go) |
Ejemplos clave
3 de 10तुम वहाँ मत जाओ।
Don't go there. (Familiar)
कृपया शोर मत मचाइए।
Please don't make noise. (Formal)
मुझे फ़ोन मत करना।
Don't call me. (Casual/Future implication)
The Fact vs. Act Rule
If you are stating a **fact** (he isn't eating), use `nahin`. If you are blocking an **act** (don't eat!), use `mat`.
Don't Fear the 'Mat'
Some learners feel `mat` sounds rude. It's not! The rudeness is determined by the verb ending (`ja` vs `jaiye`), not the word `mat`.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use `mat` only for commands/imperatives.
- Place `mat` directly before the verb.
- Never use `nahin` for orders.
- Works for strict orders and polite requests.
Overview
Meet mat, the traffic cop of Hindi sentences. While you might already know nahin (no/not) as the go-to word for negation, mat has a very specific, high-authority job: it stops actions from happening. It’s strictly for commands, requests, and prohibitions. If you want to tell someone *not* to do something—whether it's "Don't go!" or "Please don't worry"—mat is your word. Think of it as the difference between saying "He doesn't eat" (fact) vs. "Don't eat!" (order).
How This Grammar Works
In Hindi, negation isn't one-size-fits-all. You use nahin for statements of fact (indicative mood), but you swap it out for mat whenever you enter the "Imperative Mood" (commands). This particle works with all levels of formality—tu, tum, and aap. It doesn't change form; it sits there looking stern and doing its job regardless of who you are talking to. It typically hangs out right before the verb.
Formation Pattern
- 1The structure is refreshingly simple. You don't need to conjugate
matitself. It usually slots in immediately before the main verb. - 2Identify the subject (often implied):
tu(intimate),tum(familiar), oraap(formal). - 3Conjugate the verb into the corresponding imperative form.
- 4Place
matdirectly before that verb. - 5Standard: (Subject) + Object +
mat+ Verb (Imperative) - 6Emphatic: (Subject) + Object + Verb (Imperative) +
mat(less common, adds punch)
When To Use It
Use mat whenever you are directly addressing someone and asking them to refrain from an action. This covers:
- Strict orders: "Don't touch that!"
- Friendly advice: "Don't stay up too late."
- Polite requests: "Please don't bother yourself."
- Emergency warnings: "Don't run!"
When Not To Use It
This is where students often trip up. Do not use mat if you are describing a situation rather than commanding it.
- If you are saying "He isn't going," use
nahin(vah nahin ja raha hai). - If you are saying "I won't eat," use
nahin(main nahin khaunga). - If you are using the future tense to mean "won't" rather than a command, stick to
nahin.
Common Mistakes
The biggest blunder is the "Nahin Trap." Beginners often say yahan nahin aao (Don't come here). While a native speaker will understand you, it sounds weirdly disjointed—like you're stating a fact about the universe instead of giving an order. Another mistake is mixing levels of formality, like using a respectful mat with a rude verb form. That's just confusing for everyone.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
matvs.nahin:Mat= Stop the action! (Command).Nahin= The action isn't happening (Fact).matvs.na:Nais the softer cousin. In polite or poetic contexts (especially with the Subjunctive mood), you might hearaisa na karein(Please don't do this).Nais polite suggestion;matis direct prohibition. In standard spoken Hindi,matis the default for "don't."
Quick FAQ
Q: Can I put mat at the end of the sentence?
Occasionally, for dramatic effect or casual emphasis, like Daro mat! (Don't be scared!). It sounds punchy.
Q: Is mat rude?
Not by itself! The rudeness comes from the verb ending (tu form). Aap chinta mat kijiye is perfectly polite.
Reference Table
| Subject (Implied) | Formality | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tu | Intimate/Rude | mat + verb root + (o) | Tu mat ja (Don't go) |
| Tum | Familiar | mat + verb root + o | Tum mat jao (Don't go) |
| Aap | Formal/Polite | mat + verb root + iye | Aap mat jaiye (Please don't go) |
| None (Infinitive) | Public Sign/General | mat + verb infinitive | Yahan mat thookna (Don't spit here) |
| Any | Emphatic | verb + mat | Bholo mat! (Don't forget!) |
| Tum/Aap | Compound Verb | mat + stem + operator | Use mat jaane do (Don't let him go) |
The Fact vs. Act Rule
If you are stating a **fact** (he isn't eating), use `nahin`. If you are blocking an **act** (don't eat!), use `mat`.
Don't Fear the 'Mat'
Some learners feel `mat` sounds rude. It's not! The rudeness is determined by the verb ending (`ja` vs `jaiye`), not the word `mat`.
The Soft 'Na'
In very formal Urdu-influenced Hindi or poetry, you might hear `na` instead of `mat` (e.g., `Aisa na karein`). It's softer, but `mat` is the standard 'daily driver' for prohibition.
The Bouncer Analogy
Think of `mat` as a nightclub bouncer. It stands right in front of the verb and says, 'Not tonight, buddy.' It blocks the verb from happening.
Ejemplos
10तुम वहाँ मत जाओ।
Focus: mat
Don't go there. (Familiar)
Standard usage with 'tum'.
कृपया शोर मत मचाइए।
Focus: shor mat machaiye
Please don't make noise. (Formal)
Even with 'please', we use 'mat'.
मुझे फ़ोन मत करना।
Focus: mat karna
Don't call me. (Casual/Future implication)
Using the infinitive 'karna' acts as a casual command.
डरो मत, मैं हूँ ना।
Focus: Daro mat
Don't be afraid, I'm here. (Reassuring)
Post-verbal 'mat' for emphasis/comfort.
उसे मत बताओ!
Focus: mat batao
Don't tell him/her!
Direct prohibition.
✗ तुम वहाँ नहीं जाओ।
Focus: nahin
Don't go there. (Incorrect)
Using 'nahin' with an imperative is grammatically wrong.
✓ तुम वहाँ मत जाओ।
Focus: mat
Don't go there. (Correct)
Corrected with 'mat'.
ज़्यादा मत सोचो।
Focus: mat socho
Don't think too much.
Advice context.
मेरे लिए इंतज़ार मत कीजिये।
Focus: mat kijiye
Please don't wait for me.
Polite refusal/consideration.
बच्चे को मत रुलाओ।
Focus: mat rulao
Don't make the child cry.
Causative verb usage.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct negative particle for this command.
Please don't eat this. = Kripaya yeh ___ khaiye.
Since 'khaiye' is a command (imperative), we must use 'mat', not 'nahin'.
Select the correct sentence structure for 'Don't speak'.
___ !
'Bolo mat' is a common, emphatic way to say 'Don't speak'. 'Nahin bolo' is incorrect grammar for a command.
Complete the warning.
Tez gaadi ___ chalao. (Don't drive fast)
We use 'mat' to prohibit the action of driving fast.
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Ayudas visuales
Nahin vs. Mat
Which Negative to Use?
Are you giving an order or advice?
Is it a polite request or strict command?
Result
Common Contexts for Mat
Traffic/Safety
- • Ruko mat (Don't stop)
- • Tez mat chalao
Classroom
- • Baat mat karo
- • Mat likho
Emotions
- • Chinta mat karo
- • Ghabrao mat
Preguntas frecuentes
20 preguntasGenerally, no. If you say tum nahin aaoge (you won't come), that's a prediction/fact, so use nahin. If you want to order them not to come in the future, you still use the imperative: kal mat aana.
People will understand you, but it sounds foreign. Saying wahan nahin jao sounds like 'You do not go there' (descriptive) rather than 'Don't go there!' (directive).
Rarely. You wouldn't say 'Do you mat go?' You would use kya and nahin for facts. However, in rhetorical tags like 'Don't do that, okay?' you might hear mat karna, theek hai?.
Nope! Mat is indeclinable. It stays mat whether you are talking to a man, a woman, or a group. The verb after it might change (mat jao vs mat jaiye), but mat stays rock solid.
You can, but na is often considered either very formal/literary or just a soft suggestion. Mat is the clear, unambiguous 'Do Not'. Stick to mat for clarity.
It hugs the verb. Even in a long sentence like 'Please don't eat the spicy food on the table,' mat will stay right next to 'eat' (...khana mat khaiye).
It translates strictly to 'Don't'. It doesn't mean 'no' (that's nahin or ji nahin). It is purely the 'do not' part of a command.
No. For 'should not', we use nahin. Tumhe nahin jana chahiye (You should not go). Mat is for direct orders, not suggestions of duty.
No. 'You cannot go' is a capability statement, so use nahin: Tum nahin ja sakte. Mat implies you have the choice, but I'm telling you not to.
Chinta mat karo (informal) or Chinta mat kijiye (formal). This is a very common phrase where mat is essential.
Yes! Wahan mat jana (Don't go there). Using the infinitive (-na form) as an imperative is very common for general or future instructions.
Not really. If someone asks 'Can I go?', you usually answer nahin (no) or mat jao (don't go). Saying just mat sounds incomplete.
Not at all. It is standard Hindi grammar used in everything from ancient texts to modern street signs.
Yes, it relates to the Sanskrit prohibitive particle maa. You find similar sounds in other Indo-Aryan languages too.
You can place mat after the verb: Jao mat! (Don't go!). It sounds like you are shouting or pleading effectively.
No, because you don't give commands to yourself (usually). You'd use nahin for your own intentions: Main nahin karunga.
In some colloquial dialects (like Bambaiya Hindi), people might use nako or other words, but standard Hindi always uses mat.
Yes! Use jane mat do (Don't let him go). Mat comes before the 'give/allow' verb.
Pagal mat bano. Here mat negates the state of 'becoming' silly.
All the time! 'Chhuyo mat' (Don't touch), 'Jao mat' (Don't go). It fits rhythmically well because it's short.
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