B2 verb_system 3 min de lectura

Using the Hindi Post

Hindi 'prepositions' sit after the noun and force that noun to change its shape into the Oblique case.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Postpositions come AFTER the noun.
  • They trigger the Oblique case change.
  • Includes small words like me, par, se, ko.
  • Pronouns change form (maĩ -> mujh).

Quick Reference

Postposition Meaning Effect on Noun (Example) Pronoun Change (Example)
me (`mẽ`) in, inside kamrā → kamre me vah → us me
par (`par`) on, at rastā → raste par ye → in par
se (`se`) from, with, by dost → dost se maĩ → mujh se
ko (`ko`) to, (specific object marker) laḍkā → laḍke ko tum → tumko / tumhẽ
ne (`ne`) agent marker (Past Tense) laḍkī → laḍkī ne ham → hamne
kā / ke / kī of, 's ghar → ghar kā kaun → kis kā

Ejemplos clave

3 de 10
1

मेरा फ़ोन मेज़ पर है।

My phone is on the table.

2

मैं चम्मच से खाता हूँ।

I eat with a spoon.

3

उसने मुझे देखा।

He/She saw me.

💡

The Velcro Theory

Imagine the postposition is a piece of velcro. It needs to stick to the noun. To make it stick, you have to roughen up the noun first (change it to Oblique case)!

⚠️

The 'Ne' Trap

The postposition `ne` is special. It only appears in the Past Tense. Don't use it for present or future sentences like 'I am eating'!

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Postpositions come AFTER the noun.
  • They trigger the Oblique case change.
  • Includes small words like me, par, se, ko.
  • Pronouns change form (maĩ -> mujh).

Overview

Welcome to the world of Hindi Postpositions! If you’ve been wondering why Hindi sentences feel like they’re running in reverse compared to English, this is the main culprit. In English, we use prepositions (in, at, on) that come *before* the noun. Hindi uses postpositions that come *after* the noun. It’s a simple flip, but it changes everything—including the shape of the words before them. Think of them as the glue that holds Hindi sentences together.

How This Grammar Works

The golden rule is simple: Position is everything. Instead of saying "in Delhi," Hindi says Delhi me (Delhi in). Instead of "on the table," it’s mez par (table on). But here’s the twist: these postpositions are bossy. They force the noun (or pronoun) sitting before them to change into its Oblique case. This is why laḍkā (boy) becomes laḍke ko (to the boy) and maĩ (I) becomes mujh se (from me).

Formation Pattern

  1. 1Identify the Noun/Pronoun: Start with your subject or object (e.g., kamrā - room).
  2. 2Choose the Postposition: Select the right marker (me, par, se, ko, kā/ke/kī).
  3. 3Apply the Oblique Case: Change the noun's ending if necessary.
  4. 4Masculine singular ā → e (e.g., kamrā → kamre).
  5. 5Plurals often get an õ suffix (e.g., kamrõ).
  6. 6Combine: kamrā + me = kamre me (in the room).

When To Use It

You use postpositions for almost every relationship between words:

  • Location: me (in), par (on), tak (up to).
  • Direction/Receiver: ko (to).
  • Source/Instrument: se (from, with, by).
  • Possession: kā, ke, kī (of/'s).
  • Agents: ne (used in the Past Tense – the famous "ne" rule).

When Not To Use It

Don't use them with:

  • Direct Objects (Non-Specific): If you are buying *an* apple (any apple), you don't need ko. maĩ seb kharīd rahā hū̃.
  • Adverbs of Time (Sometimes): "Today" (aaj) or "Tomorrow" (kal) don't usually need a postposition like "on" in English.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the Oblique: Saying laḍkā ko instead of laḍke ko. This is the #1 dead giveaway of a learner.
  • Gender mismatch with kā: Remember, kā/ke/kī agrees with the *possessed* object, not the owner. Rām kī gāḍī (Ram's car), even though Ram is male.
  • Overusing ko: Putting ko on every object. Only use it for specific, definite people or things.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

  • English Prepositions: English says "with me." Hindi says mere sāth (my company/with). Note how sāth often requires the possessive ke or re before it (ke sāth).
  • Compound Postpositions: These are two-word phrases like ke pāas (near), ke bād (after). They almost always start with ke or kī.

Quick FAQ

Q. Why does maĩ become mujh?

A. Pronouns have special oblique forms. maĩ → mujh, vah → us, yah → is.

Q. Does se mean "from" or "with"?

A. Both! Dillī se (from Delhi) and chammach se (with a spoon). Context is king.

Reference Table

Postposition Meaning Effect on Noun (Example) Pronoun Change (Example)
me (`mẽ`) in, inside kamrā → kamre me vah → us me
par (`par`) on, at rastā → raste par ye → in par
se (`se`) from, with, by dost → dost se maĩ → mujh se
ko (`ko`) to, (specific object marker) laḍkā → laḍke ko tum → tumko / tumhẽ
ne (`ne`) agent marker (Past Tense) laḍkī → laḍkī ne ham → hamne
kā / ke / kī of, 's ghar → ghar kā kaun → kis kā
💡

The Velcro Theory

Imagine the postposition is a piece of velcro. It needs to stick to the noun. To make it stick, you have to roughen up the noun first (change it to Oblique case)!

⚠️

The 'Ne' Trap

The postposition `ne` is special. It only appears in the Past Tense. Don't use it for present or future sentences like 'I am eating'!

🎯

Shortening 'Ko'

With pronouns, `ko` often fuses. `Mujh ko` becomes `Mujhe`. `Ham ko` becomes `Hamein`. These sound much more natural.

💬

Respect Levels

Using `Aap` (formal you)? The oblique form is also `Aap`. It doesn't change! `Aap se`, `Aap ko`. Easy win.

Ejemplos

10
#1 Mera phone mez par hai.

मेरा फ़ोन मेज़ पर है।

Focus: mez par

My phone is on the table.

Basic location usage.

#2 Main chammach se khata hoon.

मैं चम्मच से खाता हूँ।

Focus: chammach se

I eat with a spoon.

Instrumental usage of 'se'.

#3 Usne mujhe dekha.

उसने मुझे देखा।

Focus: Usne

He/She saw me.

Pronoun 'vah' becomes 'us' + 'ne'. 'Mai' becomes 'mujhe' (mujh+ko).

#4 Bache ko paani do.

बच्चे को पानी दो।

Focus: Bache ko

Give water to the child.

'Bacha' changes to oblique 'Bache' because of 'ko'.

#5 ❌ Larka ko bulao. → ✅ Larke ko bulao.

लड़के को बुलाओ।

Focus: Larke ko

Call the boy.

Correction: 'Larka' must change to 'Larke' before 'ko'.

#6 ❌ Vah se pucho. → ✅ Us se pucho.

उस से पूछो।

Focus: Us se

Ask him/her.

Correction: 'Vah' must become oblique 'Us'.

#7 Aapke paas pen hai?

आपके पास पेन है?

Focus: Aapke paas

Do you have a pen? (Literally: Is a pen near you?)

Possession logic using compound postposition 'ke paas'.

#8 Ghar ke bahar milte hain.

घर के बाहर मिलते हैं।

Focus: Ghar ke bahar

Let's meet outside the house.

Compound postposition 'ke bahar'.

#9 Train samay par aayi.

ट्रेन समय पर आयी।

Focus: samay par

The train came on time.

Abstract usage of 'par' for time.

#10 Mujh par bharosa rakho.

मुझ पर भरोसा रखो।

Focus: Mujh par

Trust me. (Literally: Keep trust on me).

Abstract metaphorical location.

Ponte a prueba

Choose the correct oblique form of the noun.

___ par kitab hai. (kamra - room)

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Kamre

Because 'par' follows the noun, 'kamra' (masc. ending in -a) changes to 'kamre'.

Select the correct pronoun form.

___ ko pani chahiye. (yah - this person)

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Is

'Yah' becomes 'Is' in the oblique case (singular).

Identify the correct postposition for 'instrument'.

Main pen ___ likhta hoon.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: se

'Se' is used for instruments (with/by means of).

🎉 Puntuación: /3

Ayudas visuales

Pre (English) vs Post (Hindi)

English (Pre-position)
IN the room Pre + Noun
ON the table Pre + Noun
Hindi (Post-position)
Kamre ME Noun(obl) + Post
Mez PAR Noun + Post

Do I need to change the noun?

1

Is there a postposition (me, par, ko, etc.)?

YES ↓
NO
Stop. Keep noun as is.
2

Is the noun Masculine ending in -ā?

YES ↓
NO
Check if Plural.
3

Change -ā to -e.

YES ↓
NO
Done.

Pronoun Transformations

😐

Main Form

  • • Mai (I)
  • • Tum (You)
  • • Vah (He/She)
  • • Yah (This)
😎

Oblique Form

  • • Mujh...
  • • Tum...
  • • Us...
  • • Is...

Preguntas frecuentes

20 preguntas

It's just a preposition that sits *after* the word it modifies. Instead of 'in London', Hindi logic is 'London in' (London me).

This is called the **Oblique Case**. The postposition exerts an influence on the noun, bending its shape. Kamra becomes Kamre before me.

No! Feminine nouns like mez (table) don't change in the singular. Mez par. Only masculine nouns ending in ā change drastically in the singular.

Usually, no. Proper nouns are often left alone, but in very correct Hindi, names ending in 'a' might change (Raja -> Raje ko), but casually, 'Raja ko' is fine.

Ko marks the receiver (Give **to** Ram). Se marks the source or instrument (Talk **to/with** Ram, Coming **from** Ram).

Paas (near) is a compound postposition that technically means 'in the nearness **of**'. That hidden 'of' (ke) turns mai into mere.

Yes! It's the 'Agentive' postposition. It marks the subject in the past tense for transitive verbs. Ram ne khaya (Ram ate).

Use ke liye. This is a compound postposition. Mere liye (For me), Rupa ke liye (For Rupa).

Rarely. You don't usually say 'in from'. But you might see me se (from inside). Box me se nikalo (Take it out from inside the box).

It becomes kis. Kis me? (In what?), Kis ko? (To whom/what?).

Yes. Tak (up to/until) is a postposition. Kal tak (Until tomorrow), Ghar tak (Up to the house).

Mere is possessive. You only use possessive forms with compound postpositions (like ke saath). With simple ones like se, use the oblique base mujh.

Plurals in oblique always end in õ. Larke (boys) -> Larkõ ko (to the boys).

Yes, it marks possession. But it's unique because it acts like an adjective and changes gender (ka/ke/ki).

Me is for inside/enclosed (in a room, in a bag). Par is for surface/at (on a table, at the station).

Indirectly! Verbs like 'talk' (baat karna) usually take se. 'Love' (pyar karna) takes se. 'Help' (madad karna) takes ki. You have to memorize which verb wants which postposition.

It means 'by means of' or 'through'. It's formal. Post ke dwara (By/Through the post).

Not really. They are essential for meaning. If you drop me in Delhi me, you just say 'Delhi', which sounds like the subject, not the location.

Kis. Kis ne? (Who did it?), Kis ko? (Whom?).

Yes, usually ke bina. Paani ke bina (Without water).

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