Correlative Adverbs of
Relative adverbs (J-words) set the scene, and correlative adverbs (V/T-words) deliver the result or conclusion.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Pairs link two related clauses.
- Starts with 'J', answers with 'V'/'T'.
- Covers time, place, manner, quantity.
- Never use question words (Kab/Kahaan) here.
Quick Reference
| Category | Relative (The Setup) | Correlative (The Response) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | jab (`जब`) | tab (`तब`) | When... then |
| Place | jahaan (`जहाँ`) | vahaan (`वहाँ`) | Where... there |
| Direction | jidhar (`जिधर`) | udhar (`उधर`) | Whither... thither (Where... there) |
| Manner | jaisa (`जैसा`) | vaisa (`वैसा`) | As/Like... so/like that |
| Quantity | jitna (`जितना`) | utna (`उतना`) | As much... that much |
| Hypothetical | yadi/agar (`यदि`/`अगर`) | to (`तो`) | If... then |
Key Examples
3 of 9जब बारिश रुकेगी, तब हम जाएँगे।
When the rain stops, then we will go.
जहाँ चाह, वहाँ राह।
Where there is a will, there is a way.
जैसा देश, वैसा भेष।
Like country, like dress. (In Rome, do as Romans do).
The 'To' Hack
In casual conversation, Hindi speakers often replace 'tab' with 'to' (so). Example: 'Jab tum aaoge, to hum jaayenge.' It sounds very natural and less rigid.
Don't Ask with 'J'
Never start a question with a J-word. You can't say 'Jab aayega?' to ask 'When will he come?' You MUST use 'Kab'.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Pairs link two related clauses.
- Starts with 'J', answers with 'V'/'T'.
- Covers time, place, manner, quantity.
- Never use question words (Kab/Kahaan) here.
Overview
Welcome to the world of "paired words" in Hindi! Correlative adverbs are basically the glue that holds complex thoughts together. In English, you might say "When I go, I will call you." In Hindi, we make it a double act: "When I go, then I will call you." These pairs are the secret sauce to sounding fluent and connected, rather than just spitting out simple, choppy sentences. Think of them as a 'Buy One, Get One Free' deal—you rarely see one without the potential for the other.
How This Grammar Works
It's all about the "J-V" (or sometimes "J-T") connection.
- The first part of the pair usually starts with the letter j (like
jab,jahaan,jaisa). This sets up the situation. - The second part responds to it, usually starting with v (like
vahaan,vaisa) or t (liketab).
It’s like a call and response. The "J" word opens the door, and the "V/T" word walks through it. If you only use one half, the sentence feels like a dropped phone call—incomplete and awkward.
Formation Pattern
- 1Start with the 'J' word: This begins your dependent clause (the setup).
- 2State the condition/situation: Add your subject and verb.
- 3Add a comma: This is crucial for pacing.
- 4Follow with the 'V' or 'T' word: This starts the main clause (the result).
- 5Finish the thought: Add the rest of your sentence.
- 6*Example*:
Jab(When) you arrive,tab(then) we will eat.
When To Use It
Use this whenever you want to link two ideas based on:
- Time: When... then (
jab... tab) - Place: Where... there (
jahaan... vahaan) - Manner: As... so/like (
jaisa... vaisa) - Quantity/Degree: As much... that much (
jitna... utna)
It's perfect for storytelling, giving instructions, or making comparisons. "Where there is smoke, there is fire" fits perfectly here (Jahaan smoke, vahaan fire).
When Not To Use It
Don't force it into simple sentences. If you just want to ask a question like "When are you coming?", you just use kab. You don't need a pair. Also, in very casual, rapid-fire slang, speakers might drop the second word (the tab or vahaan), but as a B2 learner, you should stick to the pairs until you master the rhythm. It's safer to be too grammatically correct than to sound like you forgot a word.
Common Mistakes
- Mixing your pairs: Using
jab(time) withvahaan(place). It’s like wearing one sneaker and one formal shoe. Keep them in their families! - Using 'question words': Beginners often use
kab(when?) instead ofjab(when) to start a sentence. Remember:kabasks,jabtells. - Word Order: Putting the
tabbefore thejab. The relative part (J-word) almost always comes first in standard Hindi structure.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
In English, we often skip the second part. We say, "Where you go, I go." We don't usually say, "Where you go, there I go." Hindi *loves* that second part. It adds emphasis and balance. Also, don't confuse these with relative pronouns (like jo - who/which). While jo works similarly, these adverbs focus specifically on time, place, and manner, not people or things.
Quick FAQ
Q: Can I ever drop the second word?
Yes! In spoken Hindi, tab is often dropped or replaced with to. But jahaan usually keeps vahaan.
Q: Do I always have to start with the 'J' word?
Mostly, yes. You *can* flip it ("I will eat tab, jab you arrive"), but it sounds more poetic or dramatic. Stick to J-then-T for now.
Q: Is this formal?
It's neutral. You'll hear it in Bollywood movies, read it in news, and use it to argue with a rickshaw driver. It's universal grammar.
Reference Table
| Category | Relative (The Setup) | Correlative (The Response) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | jab (`जब`) | tab (`तब`) | When... then |
| Place | jahaan (`जहाँ`) | vahaan (`वहाँ`) | Where... there |
| Direction | jidhar (`जिधर`) | udhar (`उधर`) | Whither... thither (Where... there) |
| Manner | jaisa (`जैसा`) | vaisa (`वैसा`) | As/Like... so/like that |
| Quantity | jitna (`जितना`) | utna (`उतना`) | As much... that much |
| Hypothetical | yadi/agar (`यदि`/`अगर`) | to (`तो`) | If... then |
The 'To' Hack
In casual conversation, Hindi speakers often replace 'tab' with 'to' (so). Example: 'Jab tum aaoge, to hum jaayenge.' It sounds very natural and less rigid.
Don't Ask with 'J'
Never start a question with a J-word. You can't say 'Jab aayega?' to ask 'When will he come?' You MUST use 'Kab'.
Poetic Drama
Bollywood songs love mixing the order for dramatic effect: 'Vahaan tera basera hai, jahaan mera savera hai' (There is your dwelling, where is my morning). Don't talk like this to your boss though!
The Mirror Trick
Think of the V/T word as a mirror reflection of the J word. They usually rhyme or sound similar (Jab-Tab, Jaisa-Vaisa). Use the sound to help you remember the match.
Examples
9जब बारिश रुकेगी, तब हम जाएँगे।
Focus: Jab... tab
When the rain stops, then we will go.
Standard time-based correlation.
जहाँ चाह, वहाँ राह।
Focus: Jahaan... vahaan
Where there is a will, there is a way.
A very famous idiom using this structure.
जैसा देश, वैसा भेष।
Focus: Jaisa... vaisa
Like country, like dress. (In Rome, do as Romans do).
Manner correlation used in proverbs.
जितना गुड़ डालोगे, उतना मीठा होगा।
Focus: Jitna... utna
As much jaggery as you put, that much sweeter it will be.
Used for quantity/degree.
जिधर देखो, उधर भीड़ है।
Focus: Jidhar... udhar
Wherever (direction) you look, there is a crowd.
Directional correlation.
✗ कब तुम आओगे, तब मैं खाना खाऊँगा।
Focus: Kab
INCORRECT: Uses question word 'kab' instead of relative 'jab'.
Common mistake: never use 'kab' for statements.
✓ जब तुम आओगे, तब मैं खाना खाऊँगा।
Focus: Jab
CORRECT: When you come, then I will eat.
Correct usage of J-word.
जब भी मैं वहाँ जाता हूँ, मुझे शांति मिलती है।
Focus: Jab bhi
Whenever I go there, I find peace.
'Jab bhi' adds emphasis (whenever). Note 'tab' is implied/omitted here.
जैसे ही पुलिस आई, चोर भाग गया।
Focus: Jaise hi
As soon as the police came, the thief ran away.
'Jaise hi' means 'as soon as'. The correlative 'vaise hi' is often dropped.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct correlative word to complete the proverb.
___ boyoge, vaisa kaatoge. (As you sow, so shall you reap)
Since the second part is 'vaisa' (manner), the first part must be 'jaisa'. You can't mix time (jab) with manner.
Select the correct pair for a time-based sentence.
___ main pahuncha, ___ train chali gayi.
Arrival implies a specific time, so we need the Time pair: Jab (when) and Tab (then).
Fix the mistake in this sentence structure.
___ paise doge, utna kaam hoga.
'Utna' refers to quantity/amount. 'Kitna' is a question word. 'Jitna' is the correct relative adverb for amount.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Relative vs. Interrogative (Don't Confuse!)
Choosing the Right Pair
Is it about Time?
Is it about Place?
Use Jab... Tab
Use Jahaan... Vahaan
Usage Scenarios
Proverbs
- • Jaisa desh vaisa bhesh
- • Jahaan chaah vahaan raah
Directions
- • Jidhar bheed hai...
- • Jahaan mod hai...
Bargaining
- • Jitna kam karoge...
- • Jaisa maal vaisa daam
Frequently Asked Questions
21 questionsJab is relative (used to tell: 'When I was young...'). Kab is interrogative (used to ask: 'When are you coming?').
Not exactly. Agar means 'If' (condition), while Jab means 'When' (time). However, both often trigger to or tab in the second half.
Grammatically, yes. In casual speech, sometimes people drop it if the meaning is obvious, but keeping it makes you sound clearer and more deliberate.
Close, but no. Jahaan is for a static location (where). Jidhar is for direction (whither/in which direction).
It means 'Whenever'. Adding bhi emphasizes frequency or randomness. Jab bhi aana, phone karna (Whenever you come, call me).
Yes, you can say 'Main tab jaaunga jab tum aaoge' (I will go then, when you come). It shifts the focus to the action rather than the time.
Use Jaise hi. The pair is technically Jaise hi... vaise hi, but we often just say Jaise hi... and then the result.
No, these are adverbs (invariable words). Jab, Tab, Jahaan do not change based on gender or number.
Tahaan is the older, poetic match for Jahaan, but in modern Hindi, we use Vahaan. You'll only hear Tahaan in old literature or religious texts.
Absolutely. Jab main chhota tha, tab main rota tha (When I was small, [then] I used to cry).
Jaisa ki means 'As' or 'Like'. It's often used to introduce examples or quote someone: Jaisa ki Gandhi ji ne kaha... (As Gandhi ji said...).
Jaisa is often used alone as a filler, like 'like' in English. 'Woh... jaisa... ajeeb tha' (He was... like... weird).
Jitna works for both countable and uncountable. Jitna paani (as much water) or Jitne log (as many people - note the slight vowel change to 'e' for plural nouns).
Mostly, but in 'Jab... Tab' context. On its own, Tab can also mean 'at that time' in the past.
Pause and say to. It's a universal connector that works in 90% of these situations as a backup.
Great catch! No. Jahaan (Where) is a Hindi/Sanskrit derivative. Jahaan (World, as in Shah Jahan) is Persian. They sound the same but are different words.
Yes. Jab aur jahaan zaroorat hogi... (When and where it will be needed...). You would follow up with tab aur vahaan.
They rarely mix the pairs (like Jab-Vahaan), but they frequently drop the second word entirely in fast speech.
Yes, highly recommended. It structures arguments logically. Jab tak... tab tak (Until... until then) is very common in formal texts.
Repeat the word or add 'bhi'. Jahaan jahaan or Jahaan bhi.
This is an older/formal version of Jaise... vaise (As... so). You might see it in proverbs: Jyon hi... tyon hi (The moment that... just then...).
Learn These First
Understanding these concepts will help you master this grammar rule.
Related Grammar Rules
First Causative Verbs
Overview Ever wish you could get someone else to do your work for you? Or maybe you just want to say you 'fed' the dog i...
Second Causatives: Having Someone Do
Overview Let's be honest: doing everything yourself is exhausting. Sometimes, you just want to sit back and let someone...
Verb + Rakhna: Maintaining
Overview Ever done something just to be ready for later? Like buying tickets months in advance or cooking dinner at 4 PM...
Expressing Sudden
Overview Ever had a moment where you just *burst* out laughing? or a bird suddenly *flew* away before you could snap a p...
Expressing Poss
Overview Life isn't always black and white, right? Sometimes you're not 100% sure. That's where **Expressing Possibility...
Comments (0)
Login to CommentStart learning languages for free
Start Learning Free