Oblique Case with Hindi Postpositions

Postpositions always come after the noun. That is why they are not called "prepositions." When a postposition follows a noun, it triggers a change. This change only happens to the noun right before it. It does not affect the whole sentence. It is a local reaction. Imagine a chemical reaction in a lab. You add a drop of "postposition" and the noun changes color. This color change is the oblique form. It prepares the noun to connect with the rest of the sentence. Without it, the postposition just floats there. It has nothing to grab onto. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Red means stop, green means go, and postpositions mean change your ending. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes when they speak fast. But for you, it is the key to sounding like a pro.

1. 1Identify the noun's gender and ending first.
2. 2For Singular Masculine nouns ending in -ā: Change -ā to -e. kamrā (room) becomes kamre. So, "in the room" is kamre meṃ.
3. 3For other Singular Masculine nouns: No change happens. ghar (house) stays ghar. "In the house" is ghar meṃ.
4. 4For Singular Feminine nouns: No change happens. laṛkī (girl) stays laṛkī. "To the girl" is laṛkī ko.
5. 5For Plural Masculine nouns: All of them end in -oṃ. laṛke (boys) becomes laṛkoṃ. "To the boys" is laṛkoṃ ko.
6. 6For Plural Feminine nouns: These also end in -oṃ or -iyoṃ. kitābeṃ (books) becomes kitāboṃ. "In the books" is kitāboṃ meṃ.
7. 7Pro tip: Every plural oblique form ends in a nasalized "o" sound. Just add that little hum at the end.

Use it every single time a postposition follows a noun. Are you ordering food? Use it for is par (on this). Asking for a discount at a market? Use it for is dām meṃ (at this price). Talking to a colleague? Use it for rāhul ko (to Rahul). It is a constant rule. Even some names can change if they end in -ā. However, most people keep names the same to avoid confusion. Common nouns are the real targets here. If you are describing a location, a direction, or a recipient, the oblique case is your best friend. It acts as the bridge between the object and the action.

Don't use it if there is no postposition. If the noun is just the subject doing something, leave it alone. laṛkā jātā hai (The boy goes) has no postposition. So, laṛkā stays in its direct form. Also, do not use it for adjectives unless they are standing in for a noun. If you see a noun standing alone, it is resting. Do not disturb it. This is the most common place where learners over-correct. They start changing every -ā to -e just because they feel like it. Stay strong and only change when you see a postposition coming.

The biggest trap is the plural masculine form. People see laṛke (boys) and think it is already oblique. It is not! laṛke is the plural subject. laṛkoṃ is the oblique plural. Another mistake is changing feminine nouns in the singular. laṛkī does not become laṛke. Keep the singular feminine nouns exactly as they are. Finally, don't forget the dot on the -oṃ. That nasalization is the difference between a correct sentence and a confusing one. It is like forgetting the salt in a recipe. The structure is there, but the flavor is off.

Compare this to the Direct Case. The Direct Case is the dictionary form. It is the "showroom" version of the word. The Oblique Case is the "working" version. It is like the difference between a car in a garage and a car on the highway. The car on the highway has a driver (the postposition). In English, we only do this with pronouns. We say "I" (direct) but "to me" (oblique). Hindi just does this for every single noun. It is actually more consistent than English once you get the hang of it.