Marking Information Sources and Evidential

Hindi uses specific verb moods and particles to mark evidence. You do not just use one word for everything. You choose a marker based on your source. If you saw the action, you use the direct indicative. If you are guessing based on logic, you use the presumptive mood. If someone told you the news, you use reported speech markers. You can also use sensory verbs like लगना (to feel/seem). These markers act like a filter for your information. They tell the listener how much they should trust your statement. It is a subtle dance of words that locals use every day.

1. 1There are four main ways to mark your sources in Hindi:
2. 2Presumptive Mood (Logic/Inference):
3. 3Take the verb root + ता/ते/ती + होगा/होगी/होंगे. Example: वह आता होगा (He must be coming).
4. 4Reported Speech (Hearsay):
5. 5Use सुना है कि (I have heard that) or कहते हैं कि (They say that) before the main clause.
6. 6Sensory Evidence (Appearance):
7. 7Use लगता है कि (It seems that) or मालूम पड़ता है (It appears).
8. 8Discovery (New Knowledge):
9. 9Use पता चला है कि (It has come to light that) when you just found out something.

Use these markers when you want to be precise about your knowledge. Use the presumptive होगा when you are 90% sure but did not see it. It is perfect for guessing why a friend is late to dinner. Use सुना है when you are sharing office gossip or news from the TV. It protects you if the information is wrong! Use लगता है when the clouds look gray and you think it might rain. In a job interview, use पता चला है to show you did your research about the company. It sounds much more professional than just saying "I know."

Do not use these markers for things you are looking at right now. If you see a blue car, do not say वह नीली कार होगी. That sounds like you are blindfolded and guessing! Avoid using hearsay markers for personal feelings. You would not say "I heard that I am hungry." That is just weird. Also, do not over-stack them. Using शायद (maybe) and होगा (must be) together is often redundant. It is like wearing two hats at the same time. Pick one and stick with it for clarity.

A big mistake is using the future tense होगा only for the future. In this context, it marks a present guess. If you say वह सो रहा होगा, you mean he is sleeping right now. Another trap is forgetting the कि after सुना है. Without it, the sentence falls apart like a bad samosa. Many people also confuse लगता है (it seems) with चाहता हूँ (I want). Make sure you are describing the situation, not your desires. Yes, even native speakers get lazy with these, but as a C1 learner, you should be sharp.

Let us compare है vs होगा vs शायद. वह घर पर है is a cold, hard fact. You are 100% sure. वह घर पर होगा is a logical guess. You know he usually stays home at this hour. शायद वह घर पर है is more about doubt. It is a 50/50 coin toss. While होगा focuses on your inference, सुना है shifts the responsibility to someone else. It is the ultimate "don't blame me if I'm wrong" card. Using लगता है is more about your personal intuition or physical senses.