Advanced Complement Clauses and Complex Subordination
Mastering `ki` clauses allows you to nest complex ideas and express subtle nuances of doubt and desire.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use `ki` to connect a main thought to a detailed subordinate clause.
- Main verbs of emotion or doubt often trigger the subjunctive mood.
- Never confuse the short `ki` (that) with the long `kī` (possessive).
- Complement clauses allow for complex reporting and nuanced expression of opinions.
Quick Reference
| Main Verb Category | Example Verb | Mood Triggered | Sample Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perception | `lagtā hai` (seems) | Indicative | `ki vah bīmār hai` |
| Desire | `chāhnā` (to want) | Subjunctive | `ki tum ruko` |
| Doubt | `shak honā` (to doubt) | Subjunctive | `ki vah sach bole` |
| Knowledge | `jānnā` (to know) | Indicative | `ki rāstā band hai` |
| Necessity | `zarūrī hai` (is needed) | Subjunctive | `ki ham milen` |
| Reporting | `kahnā` (to say) | Indicative/Subj. | `ki usne kiyā` |
Exemples clés
3 sur 8Mujhe lagtā hai ki āp thak gaye hain.
I feel that you have become tired.
Main chāhtā hūn ki ham sāth kām karen.
I want us to work together.
Mujhe nahīn patā ki vah āyegā yā nahīn.
I don't know whether he will come or not.
The Short-I Rule
Always remember: `ki` (short sound) connects ideas. `kī` (long sound) connects nouns. If you can replace it with 'that', use the short one.
The Subjunctive Trap
If you use `chāhnā` (to want), the following verb MUST change. Don't say 'I want that you go' using the normal present tense.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use `ki` to connect a main thought to a detailed subordinate clause.
- Main verbs of emotion or doubt often trigger the subjunctive mood.
- Never confuse the short `ki` (that) with the long `kī` (possessive).
- Complement clauses allow for complex reporting and nuanced expression of opinions.
Overview
You have reached the big leagues of Hindi syntax. Advanced complement clauses are like linguistic Russian dolls. You are nesting one complete thought inside another. At the C1 level, you are not just stating facts. You are expressing doubts, hopes, and complex reports. Think of it as the difference between saying "I know" and "I know that you know that I know."
How This Grammar Works
In Hindi, the heavy lifter here is the word ki. It acts as a bridge between your main idea and the detail. It is the equivalent of the English word "that." However, in Hindi, it triggers specific moods in the subordinate clause. If the main verb expresses a wish or doubt, the second part often shifts into the subjunctive. It is a hierarchy. The main clause is the boss. The complement clause is the employee following orders.
Formation Pattern
- 1Start with your main subject and verb. For example,
mujhe lagtā hai(I feel). - 2Add the connector
ki(that). - 3Follow with the subordinate clause. For example,
bāris͟h hogī(it will rain). - 4Combine:
mujhe lagtā hai ki bāris͟h hogī. - 5For subjunctive triggers, change the second verb:
main chāhtā hūn ki vah āye(I want that he come).
When To Use It
Use this when you are reporting what someone said. It is perfect for job interviews when explaining your goals. Use it when you are expressing a possibility that is not 100% certain. It is essential for debating complex topics like politics or philosophy. You will need it to say "It is important that..." or "I suspect that..."
When Not To Use It
Do not use ki when you are just listing items. Avoid it for simple commands like "Go home." If you can use an infinitive instead, it is often smoother. For example, mujhe jānā hai is better than a complex ki clause for simple needs. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Do not go if the path is already clear and simple.
Common Mistakes
Mixing up ki (that) and kī (of/feminine possessive) is the most common trap. Even native speakers mess this up in writing sometimes! Another mistake is forgetting the subjunctive mood after verbs of desire. If you say main chāhtā hūn ki tū jātā hai, it sounds very clunky. It should be jāye. Do not let the English "to" infinitive trick you into using the wrong Hindi structure.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Compare ki with kyonki. ki introduces a complement (what you think). kyonki introduces a reason (why you think it). Also, contrast it with the vālā construction. vālā describes a noun's quality. ki describes an entire action or state. One is a label; the other is a story.
Quick FAQ
Q. Can I drop the ki?
A. Sometimes in fast speech, but keep it for clarity at C1.
Q. Does it always mean "that"?
A. Usually, but it can also mean "whether" in questions.
Q. Is it formal?
A. It is standard. You will use it in both cafes and boardrooms.
Reference Table
| Main Verb Category | Example Verb | Mood Triggered | Sample Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perception | `lagtā hai` (seems) | Indicative | `ki vah bīmār hai` |
| Desire | `chāhnā` (to want) | Subjunctive | `ki tum ruko` |
| Doubt | `shak honā` (to doubt) | Subjunctive | `ki vah sach bole` |
| Knowledge | `jānnā` (to know) | Indicative | `ki rāstā band hai` |
| Necessity | `zarūrī hai` (is needed) | Subjunctive | `ki ham milen` |
| Reporting | `kahnā` (to say) | Indicative/Subj. | `ki usne kiyā` |
The Short-I Rule
Always remember: `ki` (short sound) connects ideas. `kī` (long sound) connects nouns. If you can replace it with 'that', use the short one.
The Subjunctive Trap
If you use `chāhnā` (to want), the following verb MUST change. Don't say 'I want that you go' using the normal present tense.
Softening Requests
In Hindi culture, using `mujhe lagtā hai ki...` is a polite way to give advice without sounding too bossy.
Think in Blocks
Treat the `ki` clause as a single block of information. It makes complex sentences feel less like a puzzle and more like Lego bricks.
Exemples
8Mujhe lagtā hai ki āp thak gaye hain.
Focus: ki āp thak gaye hain
I feel that you have become tired.
A standard indicative complement clause.
Main chāhtā hūn ki ham sāth kām karen.
Focus: ki ham sāth kām karen
I want us to work together.
Notice the subjunctive 'karen' after 'chāhtā hūn'.
Mujhe nahīn patā ki vah āyegā yā nahīn.
Focus: ki vah āyegā yā nahīn
I don't know whether he will come or not.
Here 'ki' functions like 'whether'.
Yah āvashyak hai ki dastaivezoñ kī jānch kī jāye.
Focus: ki dastaivezoñ kī jānch kī jāye
It is necessary that the documents be inspected.
Passive subjunctive in a formal complement clause.
✗ Main chāhtā hūn ki tum jātā hai. → ✓ Main chāhtā hūn ki tum jāo.
Focus: ki tum jāo
I want you to go.
You must use the subjunctive mood for desires.
✗ Usne kahā kī vah āyegā. → ✓ Usne kahā ki vah āyegā.
Focus: ki
He said that he will come.
Never use the long 'kī' as a connector.
Kyā tumhen lagtā hai ki usne kahā ki ham galat hain?
Focus: ki usne kahā ki ham galat hain
Do you feel that he said that we are wrong?
Double nesting is common in advanced debate.
Shāyad hī aisā ho ki vah vaqt par pahuñche.
Focus: ki vah vaqt par pahuñche
It is unlikely that he arrives on time.
The main clause 'shāyad hī' triggers a subjunctive complement.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct verb form for the desire-based complement clause.
Māñ chāhtī hai ki bacchā dūdh ___.
Verbs of wanting like 'chāhnā' require the subjunctive 'piye' in the complement clause.
Select the correct connector for the sentence.
Mujhe mālūm thā ___ tum jītoge.
'ki' is the connector for 'that', whereas 'kī' is possessive and 'kyonki' means 'because'.
Complete the sentence with the appropriate mood.
Zarūrī hai ki ham samay par ___.
Phrases like 'zarūrī hai' (it is necessary) trigger the subjunctive mood.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Indicative vs. Subjunctive Complements
Choosing the Right Mood
Is the main verb a fact or perception?
Is it a reported statement?
Common Trigger Phrases
Opinion
- • Mujhe lagtā hai ki...
- • Merā mānnā hai ki...
Necessity
- • Zarūrī hai ki...
- • Chāhiye ki...
Questions fréquentes
22 questionsIt is a part of a sentence that completes the meaning of a verb. For example, in 'I know that you are here,' the phrase 'that you are here' is the complement.
It is the most common way. You can also use infinitive forms like unke āne kī ummīd (hope of their coming), but ki is more flexible.
No, that is a common mistake. Use kyonki for 'because' and ki for 'that'.
You use the pattern Main chāhtā hūn ki tum... followed by a subjunctive verb. For example, Main chāhtā hūn ki tum paṛho.
Usually, no. The subordinate clause follows the standard Subject-Object-Verb order of Hindi.
The ki clause usually stays in the tense it originally happened in. Usne kahā ki vah āyegā (He said that he will come).
Yes! You can say Mujhe lagā ki usne kahā ki.... It is perfectly grammatical, though it can get confusing.
The connector ki is very short, like the 'i' in 'bit'. The possessive kī is long, like the 'ee' in 'see'.
In modern Hindi writing, a comma is often omitted before ki, but some writers use it for breath pauses.
Yes, in some contexts like yah ki vah (this or that), but this is less common than yā.
Use it to express an opinion. Lagtā hai ki bāris͟h hogī means 'It seems that it will rain'.
No, only if the main verb expresses a wish, doubt, or hypothetical situation. Facts use the indicative.
Rarely. It usually follows a main verb. Starting with ki is usually only done in poetic or very informal contexts.
You still use ki. Mujhe patā hai ki vah āyegā yā nahīn (I know whether he will come or not).
Absolutely. It is the standard way to link complex legal or administrative thoughts.
No, ki is an indeclinable particle. It never changes form.
Yes, like Mujhe nahīn patā ki vah kahāñ hai (I don't know where he is).
In very fast, informal speech, the pause alone can imply the connection, but as a learner, you should use it.
ki links clauses to verbs. jo is a relative pronoun linking clauses to nouns. They are not interchangeable.
Try translating your opinions. Start every sentence with Mujhe lagtā hai ki... and add a thought!
Trying to use the 'to + verb' structure. In Hindi, you must use ki + a full clause for verbs of wanting.
Yes, it is related to the Sanskrit 'kim', which is an interrogative base.
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