Oblique Infinit

You already know that masculine nouns ending in -ā change to -e when they are in the oblique case (e.g., laṛkā becomes laṛke when you say "to the boy" - laṛke ko).

Hindi infinitives are actually verbal nouns. They act just like those masculine -ā nouns. So, logically, when you use a verb followed by a postposition, karnā behaves exactly like laṛkā.

• laṛkā + ko = laṛke ko
• karnā + ko = karne ko

It’s not a new rule; it’s an old rule applied to verbs!

1. 1Creating the oblique infinitive is the easiest part of your day. Seriously, don't overthink it.
2. 2Take the infinitive verb (e.g., bolnā - to speak).
3. 3Drop the final -ā.
4. 4Add -e.
5. 5bolnā (to speak) → bolne
6. 6dekhnā (to see) → dekhne
7. 7ānā (to come) → āne
8. 8That’s it. No exceptions. No irregular verbs exploding in your face.

This is the bread and butter of intermediate Hindi. You use the Oblique Infinitive (-ne form) in three main scenarios:

1. 1Before ANY Postposition: If you see kā, ke, kī, meṁ, par, se, ko, or ke liye after a verb, change it to -ne.

• "For going" = jāne ke liye (Not jānā ke liye)
• "After eating" = khāne ke bād
• "About doing" = karne ke bāre meṁ

1. 1With Specific Auxiliary Verbs:

• lagnā (to begin): Vah hasne lagā (He began to laugh).
• denā (to allow/let): Mujhe sone do (Let me sleep).
• pānā (to manage/be able to): Main nahīn ā pāyā (I couldn't manage to come).
• vālā (the doer/about to): gāne vālā (the singer/one about to sing).

1. 1Purpose (Short for ko): Sometimes ko is dropped, but the effect remains.

• Main āp se milne āyā hūn (I have come to meet you). Here, milne implies milne ke liye or milne ko.

Don't get trigger-happy with the -ne! Keep the default -nā or use the root in these cases:

• With sakanā (can): Use the root only. Main jā saktā hūn (NOT jāne saktā).
• With chuknā (to finish): Use the root only. Vah khā chukā (NOT khāne chukā).
• With chāhnā (to want): Usually takes the direct infinitive. Main jānā chāhtā hūn (I want to go).
• With paṛnā / chāhiye (compulsion): Use the direct infinitive. Mujhe jānā hai (I have to go).

• The "Ke Liye" Trap: Learners often forget the oblique change when the postposition is compound. They say kām karnā ke liye ✗ instead of kām karne ke liye ✓.
• The lagnā Mix-up: A classic blunder is saying vah roneā lagā or vah royā lagā. Remember, lagnā implies entering a state of action, so it needs the oblique rone.
• Gender Confusion: Even if the subject is female, the oblique infinitive stays -ne. Vah (girl) rone lagī. NOT ronī lagī. The verb changes (lagī), but the oblique infinitive (rone) is frozen.

Compare sakanā (can) vs. pānā (manage to).

• Main kar saktā hūn (Root + saktā) = Capacity/Ability.
• Main kar pātā hūn (Root + pātā) = Managing to do it (often used in negative).
• Wait, actually pānā often takes the oblique in some dialects or old texts, but in modern standard Hindi, pānā actually uses the ROOT (like sakanā).

Let's look at denā (let) vs chāhnā (want).

• Mujhe jāne do (Let me go) -> Oblique required.
• Mujhe jānā chāhiye (I should go) -> Direct infinitive required.

Q: Is there a feminine oblique infinitive? like karnī?

Technically yes, in very specific possessive constructions (like karnī kī), but for 99% of B2 usage (with lagnā, denā, ke liye), it is ALWAYS -ne. Treat it as masculine oblique.

Q: Can I use this for future tense?

Not directly, but adding vālā to the oblique infinitive (āne vālā) creates the "immediate future" (about to come). It's a handy hack!