Temporal Relationships: Using
Master temporal relationships by using oblique infinitives followed by specific postpositions like 'ke baad' or 'se pehle'.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use oblique verbs (ending in -e) before temporal postpositions.
- Pair 'baad' with 'ke' and 'pehle' with 'se' consistently.
- Place the temporal marker after the noun or modified verb.
- Use 'ke dauran' for actions happening simultaneously over time.
Quick Reference
| Relationship | Hindi Phrase | English Equivalent | Verb Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| After | के बाद (ke baad) | After doing... | Oblique (-e) |
| Before | से पहले (se pehle) | Before doing... | Oblique (-e) |
| During | के दौरान (ke dauran) | During / While | Noun / Oblique |
| At the time of | के समय (ke samay) | At the time of... | Noun / Oblique |
| As soon as | जैसे ही (jaise hi) | As soon as... | Perfective Stem |
| Since | जब से (jab se) | Since the time... | Past Tense |
Key Examples
3 of 8खाना खाने के बाद हम टहलने गए।
After eating food, we went for a walk.
सोने से पहले मैं किताब पढ़ता हूँ।
Before sleeping, I read a book.
बारिश के दौरान बिजली कट गई।
During the rain, the power went out.
The 'E' Rule
Always remember that verbs love to end in 'e' when they are followed by time words. It's their party outfit!
Location vs Time
Don't use 'baad' for physical space. If you are standing behind someone, use 'peeche'. 'Baad' is only for the clock.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use oblique verbs (ending in -e) before temporal postpositions.
- Pair 'baad' with 'ke' and 'pehle' with 'se' consistently.
- Place the temporal marker after the noun or modified verb.
- Use 'ke dauran' for actions happening simultaneously over time.
Overview
Time is a sneaky thing. It slips away while you study. In Hindi, we pin time down with postpositions. These words act like anchors for your sentences. They tell us when things happen. Did you eat before the meeting? Or did you sleep after the movie? At the B2 level, you need precision. You want to sound natural and fluid. This guide covers how to link events. We will look at sequence and duration. Think of these as the glue of your stories. Without them, your sentences are just lonely islands. Let's build some bridges together.
How This Grammar Works
Hindi uses postpositions to show temporal relationships. Most of these follow a noun or a verb. If you use a verb, it changes. This is the most important part. You must use the oblique infinitive form. For example, खाना (to eat) becomes खाने. This change allows the postposition to attach. It is like a grammar handshake. The word के often acts as a bridge. It connects the action to the time word. Words like बाद (after) or पहले (before) are common. They always sit after the word they modify. This is the opposite of English. It might feel backwards at first. Just remember: action first, time word second. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. It tells the listener when to go.
Formation Pattern
- 1Start with your base noun or verb.
- 2If it is a verb, change it to the oblique form. Change the
-aaending to-e. - 3Add the required bridge word, usually
केorसे. - 4Add the temporal postposition like
बाद,पहले, orदौरान. - 5Complete the sentence with the main action.
- 6Example:
काम(Work) +के बाद(After) +मैं घर गया(I went home). - 7Result:
काम के बाद मैं घर गया।(After work, I went home.)
When To Use It
Use these patterns when sequencing your day. Use them in job interviews to explain your history. They are perfect for giving directions with timing. Use के बाद for things that happen later. Use से पहले for things that happen earlier. If two things happen at once, use के दौरान. This is great for "during the flight" or "during the meeting." You can also use जब (when) for specific moments. These are essential for professional storytelling. Even native speakers mess this up sometimes, so take your time. It makes your Hindi sound sophisticated and clear.
When Not To Use It
Do not use के बाद for physical location. If someone is behind you, use के पीछे. के बाद is strictly for time sequences. Do not use the direct infinitive with these words. Saying खाना के बाद sounds very clunky and wrong. It must be खाने के बाद. Also, avoid using जब when a simple noun works better. If you can say "after lunch," don't say "when lunch was finished." Keep it simple where you can. Over-complicating things is a common trap for advanced learners.
Common Mistakes
Many people forget the oblique case for verbs. They say जाना के पहले instead of जाने से पहले. This is a classic mistake. Another error is mixing up के and से. पहले always takes से. बाद always takes के. Think of them as inseparable couples. Some learners also forget the के entirely. They might say काम बाद which sounds like "work after" in English. In Hindi, that bridge is mandatory. Don't let your sentences collapse without it! It is like forgetting to put fuel in a car.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Compare के बाद with के उपरांत. Both mean "after," but उपरांत is very formal. You will see it in books or news. In daily life, stick to के बाद. Compare जब with जब से. जब means "when" for a point in time. जब से means "since" for a starting point. For example, "Since I came to India" uses जब से. Also, look at के समय versus के दौरान. के समय is for a specific point. के दौरान implies a longer duration or process. Choosing the right one shows your B2 mastery.
Quick FAQ
Q. Can I use बाद without के?
A. No, it needs the bridge word to function correctly.
Q. Is से पहले the only way to say before?
A. You can use के पहले, but से पहले is more common.
Q. What if I use two verbs?
A. Both verbs will follow their own timing rules.
Q. Does the gender of the speaker matter?
A. No, these temporal markers stay the same for everyone.
Reference Table
| Relationship | Hindi Phrase | English Equivalent | Verb Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| After | के बाद (ke baad) | After doing... | Oblique (-e) |
| Before | से पहले (se pehle) | Before doing... | Oblique (-e) |
| During | के दौरान (ke dauran) | During / While | Noun / Oblique |
| At the time of | के समय (ke samay) | At the time of... | Noun / Oblique |
| As soon as | जैसे ही (jaise hi) | As soon as... | Perfective Stem |
| Since | जब से (jab se) | Since the time... | Past Tense |
The 'E' Rule
Always remember that verbs love to end in 'e' when they are followed by time words. It's their party outfit!
Location vs Time
Don't use 'baad' for physical space. If you are standing behind someone, use 'peeche'. 'Baad' is only for the clock.
Natural Flow
In fast speech, 'ke baad' can sound like 'ke-baad'. Practice saying it as one unit to sound like a local.
Polite Timing
When making plans, using 'ke baad' is more flexible and polite than setting a strict time. It allows for 'Indian Stretchable Time'!
Exemples
8खाना खाने के बाद हम टहलने गए।
Focus: खाने के बाद
After eating food, we went for a walk.
Notice 'khana' changes to 'khane' before 'ke baad'.
सोने से पहले मैं किताब पढ़ता हूँ।
Focus: सोने से पहले
Before sleeping, I read a book.
Use 'se pehle' for routines happening earlier.
बारिश के दौरान बिजली कट गई।
Focus: के दौरान
During the rain, the power went out.
Nouns like 'barish' don't change to oblique unless they end in -aa.
परीक्षा के उपरांत परिणाम घोषित होंगे।
Focus: के उपरांत
After the exam, results will be announced.
'Uprant' is a formal alternative to 'baad'.
✗ घर जाना के पहले रुकना। → ✓ घर जाने से पहले रुकना।
Focus: जाने से पहले
Stop before going home.
Always use the oblique form 'jaane', never 'jaana'.
✗ क्लास बाद मिलते हैं। → ✓ क्लास के बाद मिलते हैं।
Focus: के बाद
Let's meet after class.
You cannot omit the bridge word 'ke'.
जैसे ही वह आया, शोर मच गया।
Focus: जैसे ही
As soon as he arrived, there was a noise.
'Jaise hi' creates an immediate temporal link.
डिग्री मिलने के बाद मैंने इंटर्नशिप की।
Focus: मिलने के बाद
After getting the degree, I did an internship.
Perfect for explaining career timelines.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct temporal phrase for the sentence.
दवा ___ कुछ मत खाना।
We need the oblique form 'lene' and the postposition 'ke baad' to mean 'after taking'.
Complete the sentence to show a prior action.
फिल्म शुरू ___ हम पहुँच गए।
'Hone se pehle' means 'before starting', which fits the context of arriving early.
Select the best word for duration.
सफ़र ___ मैंने बहुत सारी तस्वीरें खींचीं।
'Ke dauran' is used to show that actions happened throughout the journey.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Before vs After Construction
Choosing the Right Form
Are you using a verb?
Is it the oblique form (-e)?
Is the action happening earlier?
Result: Use 'से पहले'
Temporal Contexts
Daily Routine
- • उठने के बाद
- • नाश्ते से पहले
Travel
- • सफ़र के दौरान
- • पहुँचने के समय
Frequently Asked Questions
21 questionsIt means 'after'. You use it to show that one event follows another, like खाने के बाद (after eating).
This is the oblique case. Whenever a postposition like के follows a verb, the -aa changes to -e.
Yes! You can say दिवाली से पहले (before Diwali). It works for both nouns and verbs.
They are mostly interchangeable. However, से पहले is much more common in spoken Hindi.
You use के दौरान. So, it would be मीटिंग के दौरान.
जब is a conjunction used with a full clause. के समय is a postposition used with a noun or oblique verb.
Yes, but बाद में means 'later on' without a specific reference. के बाद needs an object before it.
Use जैसे ही. For example, जैसे ही मैं पहुँचा (as soon as I arrived).
It can also follow an oblique verb. For example, पढ़ने के दौरान (during the process of reading).
Not really. It is very formal and usually found in literature or official documents.
Yes, if you mean 'previously'. But if you mean 'before [something]', it must come after that something.
The opposite would be तब तक (until then) or simply focusing on the end point.
Yes, you say सोने के वक़्त (at the time of sleeping). It acts just like के समय.
The sentence will sound broken. It's like saying 'afternoon work' when you mean 'after work'.
Only if you mean their turn in a sequence. मेरे बाद तुम (After me, you).
Use कल से. For time duration starting in the past, से is the go-to word.
Yes! जब तुम आओगे (When you come). It works for past, present, and future.
It is slightly more formal than के समय, but very common in standard speech.
You would say मेरे बोलने से पहले. It uses the possessive मेरे with the oblique verb.
No, that is a common mistake. Use पीछे for physical location.
Mixing up the bridge words के and से. Just remember: से पहले but के बाद.
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