Basic sentence with है: [Subject] [Noun/Adjective] है

In Hindi, the sentence structure is strictly Subject + Object/Adjective + Verb. This is often abbreviated as SOV. Unlike English, where the verb "is" sits comfortably between the subject and the description, Hindi pushes the verb hai right to the very end.

Think of hai as a period or full stop that you pronounce. It signals that the thought is complete. If you stop before hai, listeners are left hanging, waiting for the other shoe to drop. It’s used for singular subjects in the third person (he, she, it, this, that, name).

1. 1Building a sentence is as easy as 1-2-3:
2. 2Identify the Subject: Who or what are we talking about? (e.g., yeh = this, woh = that/he/she, Raj).
3. 3Choose the Description: What are they? A noun (doctor, cat) or an adjective (happy, tall)?
4. 4Seal it with hai: Place hai at the very end.
5. 5Structure: [Subject] + [Noun/Adjective] + hai

Use this pattern whenever you want to:

• Identify something: "This is a pen" (Yeh kalam hai).
• Describe a quality: "The food is good" (Khana achha hai).
• State a profession: "He is a singer" (Woh gayak hai).
• Talk about names: "His name is Amit" (Uska naam Amit hai).

It’s your go-to for defining the world around you. If you can point at it and describe it, you need this rule.

Don't get hai happy and use it everywhere!

• Don't use for "I am": That's Main ... hoon.
• Don't use for "You are" (informal/formal): That's Tum ... ho or Aap ... hain.
• Don't use for Plurals: "They are" uses the nasalized hain (with a dot on top in script), not the sharp hai.
• Don't use for Possession: "I have a car" uses a different structure (Mere paas...), even though it translates to "is" in some contexts.

• The English Hangover: Beginners often try to put hai in the middle: Yeh hai kitaab (This is book). While poetic, it sounds distinctively like Yoda. Keep the verb at the end: Yeh kitaab hai.
• Gender Bending: Hai itself doesn't change for gender, but the adjective before it might! Ladka lamba hai (Boy is tall) vs Ladki lambi hai (Girl is tall). Hai stays cool and constant.
• Missing the Polite Plural: Using hai for someone you respect (like a teacher or elder) can sound rude. Even if they are one person, we use the plural hain for respect. Using hai is like calling your boss "dude."

• Hai vs Tha: Hai is present tense (is). Tha is past tense (was). Woh khush hai (He is happy) vs Woh khush tha (He was happy).
• Hai vs Hota hai: Hai is for right now or specific states. Hota hai is for general truths. Chai garam hai (The tea is hot right now) vs Chai garam hoti hai (Tea is generally hot).

Q: Can I drop the subject like in Spanish?

Sometimes, if context is clear. Achha hai (It's good) is a very common complete sentence in conversation.

Q: Is hai pronounced like 'Hi'?

Close! It's more like the 'he' in 'hen', but stretches a bit like 'hey' without the 'y' glide. Short and sharp.

Q: Does hai change if the subject is a thing or a person?

Nope! Yeh phone hai (It's a phone) and Woh Ravi hai (He is Ravi). The verb treats everyone equally.