9

In chapter

Emphasis and Direct Communication

Rule 5 of 5 in this chapter
B2 sentence_structure 4 min read

Left Dislocation

Mark as Learned

To highlight a specific topic, move it to the very front of the sentence, optionally referring back to it with a pronoun.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Move important topic to sentence start.
  • Often followed by a 'shadow' pronoun.
  • Used to switch topics or emphasize.
  • Common in speech, less in formal writing.

Quick Reference

Structure Type Hindi Pattern English Equivalent Vibe
Standard (SOV) `Main woh film dekh raha hoon` I am watching that film. Neutral / Fact-based
Simple Dislocation `Woh film, main dekh raha hoon` That film, I am watching. Focus on the film
With 'Shadow' Pronoun `Ravi, usko maine call kiya` Ravi, him I called. Strong emphasis on person
With `Toh` (Contrast) `Pizza toh thanda hai` The pizza (as for it) is cold. Complaining / Contrasting
Object Fronting `Yeh kaam tum karoge?` This work you will do? Challenging / Direct
Possessive Fronting `Mera phone, woh kahan hai?` My phone, where is it? Searching / Anxious

Key Examples

3 of 9
1

This book, इ have read before.

I have read this book before.

2

My brother, he lives इन London.

My brother lives in London.

3

थे tea, have आप made it?

Have you made the tea?

🎯

The 'Toh' Hack

If you are ever unsure how to emphasize something, just say the word, add `तो` (`toh`), and pause. `Cricket तो...` (`Cricket toh...`) (As for cricket...). It buys you thinking time and sounds super native.

⚠️

Pronoun Overload

Don't use a 'shadow' pronoun if the sentence is very short. `पानी, वो गरम है` (`Paani, woh garam hai`) sounds a bit childish. Just say `पानी गरम है` (`Paani garam hai`) or `पानी तो गरम है` (`Paani toh garam hai`).

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Move important topic to sentence start.
  • Often followed by a 'shadow' pronoun.
  • Used to switch topics or emphasize.
  • Common in speech, less in formal writing.

Overview

Ever feel like standard sentences are just too... flat? You want to grab someone's attention *immediately* before you even finish your thought. Enter Left Dislocation. It’s a fancy term for a simple trick: taking the most important thing you want to talk about (the topic) and shoving it right to the front of the sentence. It’s like clearing your throat and saying, "Hey, speaking of this thing..." before you actually say what happened to it. Hindi speakers do this *constantly*. It makes your speech sound natural, fluid, and confident.

How This Grammar Works

In a standard Hindi sentence, the word order is usually Subject-Object-Verb (SOV). "Ram eats an apple." Boring, right? But in real life, our brains don't always work in that linear order. Sometimes the "apple" is the main character of our thought. So, we move it to the left (the start of the sentence). Often, we leave a little "shadow" of it behind in the main sentence using a pronoun (like वो (woh), उसने (usne), इसको (isko)). This tells the listener, "Hold that thought, here comes the details."

Formation Pattern

  1. 1It’s easier than making chai. Here is the recipe:
  2. 2Pick your Topic: Identify the noun or phrase you want to emphasize.
  3. 3Move it to the Front: Place it at the very beginning of the sentence.
  4. 4Add a Pause (Optional but good): In speech, there's a tiny pause. In writing, maybe a comma.
  5. 5The Echo (Resumptive Pronoun): *Optional but common.* Use a pronoun later in the sentence that refers back to that topic.
  6. 6Example:
  7. 7Standard: मैंने वो किताब नहीं padhi. (Maine woh kitaab nahin padhi.) (I haven't read that book.)
  8. 8Left Dislocation: वो किताब, मैंने नहीं padhi. (Woh kitaab, maine nahin padhi.) (That book, I haven't read.)
  9. 9With Echo: Ravi, उसको मैंने नहीं dekha. (Ravi, usko maine nahin dekha.) (Ravi, him I didn't see.)

When To Use It

Use this when you are switching topics. Imagine you are talking about food, and suddenly you want to ask about the bill. "The bill, did you pay it?" (Bill, क्या तुमने bhar दिया? (Bill, kya tumne bhar diya?)). It’s also great for contrast. "Tea I like, but coffee I hate." (चाय तो मुझे pasand है, लेकिन coffee... (Chai toh mujhe pasand hai, lekin coffee...)). Use it when the object is old news (definite) and you want to anchor the conversation on it.

When Not To Use It

Don't use this for brand new information that the listener doesn't know exists yet. If you are introducing a completely new subject, keep it standard. Also, avoid it in strictly formal writing (like a legal document or a very stiff exam essay) unless you are quoting dialogue. It’s a creature of speech and relaxed writing.

Common Mistakes

  • forgetting the case marker: If the topic moves to the front, sometimes people forget if it needs को (ko) or ने (ne). Usually, in simple dislocation, you keep the topic in the nominative (base form) and put the case marker on the "echo" pronoun.
  • Overusing it: If you dislocate *every* sentence, you sound like a broken robot. Use it for emphasis, not as a default setting.
  • Wrong Pronoun: Making the echo pronoun mismatch the gender or number of the topic. If your topic is लड़कियाँ (larkiyan) (girls), your echo better be उन्हें (unhein) (them), not उसको (usko) (him/her).

Contrast With Similar Patterns

  • Passive Voice: Passive hides the doer (किताब padhi गयी (Kitaab padhi gayi) - The book was read). Left Dislocation keeps the doer but spotlights the object (किताब, मैंने padhi (Kitaab, maine padhi) - The book, I read it).
  • Scrambling: Hindi has free word order. You can say Padhi मैंने किताब (Padhi maine kitaab). That’s scrambling for poetic or frantic effect. Left Dislocation is more structured—it sets a topic first, then comments on it.

Quick FAQ

Q. Is this slang?

A. No! It's perfectly grammatical spoken Hindi. Even your professor uses it.

Q. Do I always need the comma?

A. In writing, it helps clarity. In speech, it's a breath pause.

Q. Can I move the verb to the start?

A. That's a different rule (Right Dislocation or emotive emphasis). Stick to nouns for now.

Reference Table

Structure Type Hindi Pattern English Equivalent Vibe
Standard (SOV) `Main woh film dekh raha hoon` I am watching that film. Neutral / Fact-based
Simple Dislocation `Woh film, main dekh raha hoon` That film, I am watching. Focus on the film
With 'Shadow' Pronoun `Ravi, usko maine call kiya` Ravi, him I called. Strong emphasis on person
With `Toh` (Contrast) `Pizza toh thanda hai` The pizza (as for it) is cold. Complaining / Contrasting
Object Fronting `Yeh kaam tum karoge?` This work you will do? Challenging / Direct
Possessive Fronting `Mera phone, woh kahan hai?` My phone, where is it? Searching / Anxious
🎯

The 'Toh' Hack

If you are ever unsure how to emphasize something, just say the word, add `तो` (`toh`), and pause. `Cricket तो...` (`Cricket toh...`) (As for cricket...). It buys you thinking time and sounds super native.

⚠️

Pronoun Overload

Don't use a 'shadow' pronoun if the sentence is very short. `पानी, वो गरम है` (`Paani, woh garam hai`) sounds a bit childish. Just say `पानी गरम है` (`Paani garam hai`) or `पानी तो गरम है` (`Paani toh garam hai`).

💬

Argument Starter

Left Dislocation is the favorite tool of Indian aunties scolding someone. `तुम्हारा कमरा, safai कौन karega?` (`Tumhara kamra, safai kaun karega?`) (Your room, who will clean it?). It carries a tone of authority.

💡

Traffic Light Logic

Think of the Topic at the start as a Red Light. You stop everyone's attention there. Then the rest of the sentence is the Green Light to go ahead with the info.

Examples

9
#1 `Yeh किताब, मैंने pehle padhi है.` (`Yeh kitab, maine pehle padhi hai.`)

This book, इ have read before.

Focus: यह किताब (Yeh kitab)

I have read this book before.

Standard topicalization without a pronoun copy.

#2 `Mera भाई, वो London में rehta है.` (`Mera bhai, woh London mein rehta hai.`)

My brother, he lives इन London.

Focus: मेरा भाई (Mera bhai)

My brother lives in London.

Uses 'woh' as a resumptive pronoun for clarity.

#3 `Chai, क्या तुमने bana ली?` (`Chai, kya tumne bana li?`)

थे tea, have आप made it?

Focus: चाय (Chai)

Have you made the tea?

Common in household questions.

#4 `Jo लड़का वहाँ खड़ा है, उसे मैं janta हूँ.` (`Jo ladka wahan khada hai, use main janta hoon.`)

थे boy who इस standing there, him इ know.

Focus: उसे (use)

I know the boy who is standing there.

Complex sentence dislocation (Relative clause).

#5 `Paise तो मेरे पास नहीं हैं.` (`Paise toh mere paas nahin hain.`)

Money, (as for it) इ don't have.

Focus: तो (toh)

I don't have money (specifically).

Using `toh` is the ultimate Left Dislocation marker.

#6 `Tumhara boss, usse baat करना मुश्किल है.` (`Tumhara boss, usse baat karna mushkil hai.`)

Your boss, talking तो him इस difficult.

Focus: usse (usse)

It's hard to talk to your boss.

Topic is 'Your boss', but grammatically unconnected to 'baat karna' until 'usse'.

#7 ✗ `Maine, वो किताब padhi.` (✗ `Maine, woh kitab padhi.`)

इ, that book read.

Focus: मैंने (Maine)

Incorrect phrasing.

Don't dislocate the Subject unnecessarily if it's already at the start. It sounds weird.

#8 ✓ `Main, मैंने वो किताब padhi.` (✓ `Main, maine woh kitab padhi.`)

Me, इ read that book.

Focus: मैं (Main)

As for me, I read that book.

Only used for extreme contrast (Me vs. You).

#9 ✗ `Kitab, मैं उसको padh रहा हूँ.` (✗ `Kitab, main usko padh raha hoon.`)

Book, इ am reading it.

Focus: उसको (usko)

Clunky phrasing.

For inanimate objects like books, we usually skip the 'usko' unless emphasizing specifically THAT book.

Test Yourself

Complete the sentence to emphasize 'the keys' using left dislocation.

___, क्या तुमने dekhi हैं? (___, kya tumne dekhi hain?)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Chabiyan (Chabiyan)

We want to talk about 'The Keys' (plural), so we move `Chabiyan` to the front. `मैंने` (`Maine`) would emphasize 'I'.

Choose the correct pronoun echo for 'Mere pitaji' (My father).

मेरे pitaji, ___ आज bimar हैं. (Mere pitaji, ___ aaj bimar hain.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: वो (woh)

Because 'My father' is the topic and he is not right here (implied context) or simply strictly 3rd person, `वो` (`woh`) is the standard pronoun copy. `यह` (`Yeh`) implies 'this one here'.

Identify the particle used for contrastive emphasis.

Hindi __ मैं samajhta हूँ, पर बोल नहीं सकता. (Hindi __ main samajhta hoon, par bol nahin sakta.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: तो (toh)

`तो` (`Toh`) is the classic marker for Left Dislocation when contrasting: 'As for Hindi, I understand it...'

🎉 Score: /3

Visual Learning Aids

Standard vs. Dislocated

Standard Order
Maine seb khaya I ate the apple
Left Dislocated
Seb, maine khaya The apple, I ate it

Should I Dislocate?

1

Is this the NEW main topic?

YES ↓
NO
Keep Standard Order
2

Do you want to contrast it?

YES ↓
NO
Just move to front
3

Is it a person?

YES ↓
NO
Use 'Toh' particle
4

Consider Resumptive Pronoun

YES ↓
NO
Done

Common Dislocation Markers

👉

Pronouns

  • • Woh (He/It)
  • • Usne (He-erg)
  • • Unhein (Them)
✨

Particles

  • • Toh (As for)
  • • Wahi (That specific)

Frequently Asked Questions

21 questions

Not directly in the same way. You can't say Run, इ did (Run, I did). But you can nominalize the verb: Daudna तो मुझे pasand है (Daudna toh mujhe pasand hai) (Running, I like it).

It is acceptable in spoken formal contexts (like speeches), but in written formal Hindi (like a job application), stick to standard SOV order to be safe.

The *factual* meaning stays the same, but the *focus* changes completely. मैंने cake khaya (Maine cake khaya) answers 'What did you do?'. Cake मैंने khaya (Cake maine khaya) answers 'Who ate the cake?'.

Try to stick to one main topic. कल, Ravi, स्कूल... (Kal, Ravi, school...) gets messy. Pick the one star of the show.

Just ensure your verb or echo pronoun matches. Kapde, वो sookh गये हैं (Kapde, woh sookh gaye hain) (The clothes, they have dried).

No. Passive voice changes the verb form (khaya गया (khaya gaya)). Left Dislocation keeps the active verb but moves the object.

Yes! Pitch up slightly on the topic, pause, then return to normal. यह *sawal*... (pause) मुश्किल है. (Yeh *sawal*... (pause) mushkil hai.)

Yes, Jo constructions often use dislocation. Jo mehnat करता है, वो safal hota है (Jo mehnat karta hai, woh safal hota hai) (He who works hard, he succeeds).

Extremely. Listen for dramatic dialogues like यह dharti, मेरी ma है! (Yeh dharti, meri ma hai!) (This earth, is my mother!).

Look around your room. Name an object, pause, then say something about it. Laptop, chalu है. (Laptop, chalu hai.) पानी, ठंडा है. (Pani, thanda hai.)

Yes! 'That pizza, it was delicious.' Hindi just does it way more often without sounding dramatic.

Absolutely. Ravi, क्या wo aayega? (Ravi, kya wo aayega?) (Ravi, will he come?). It clarifies who you are asking about first.

Depends on the verb in the main sentence. If the main sentence needs Ergative (past tense transitive), use उसने (usne). Ravi, उसने खाना khaya. (Ravi, usne khana khaya.)

Rarely. You don't say Beautiful, she इस. (Beautiful, she is.) You would say सुंदर तो वो है (Sundar toh woh hai) (Beautiful, she IS).

No, but it's the glue that makes dislocation sound smooth. It marks the boundary between Topic and Comment.

Usually, no. The topic sits naked (nominative) at the front, and the case marker sits on the pronoun inside the sentence. Ravi, उसको bukhaar है (Ravi, usko bukhaar hai) (not Ravi को, उसको... (Ravi ko, usko...)).

Be careful. Apna refers to the subject. Apna घर, मैं वहाँ जा रहा हूँ (Apna ghar, main wahan ja raha hoon) works well.

No, but it can be direct. तुम्हारा paisa, कब doge? (Tumhara paisa, kab doge?) sounds more confronting than तुम paisa कब doge? (Tum paisa kab doge?).

It's usually fine! यह film, मैंने dekhi (Yeh film, maine dekhi) is perfect. The pronoun is just extra flavor for clarity.

Because natives don't speak in standard order. To understand them and sound like them, you need to break the rigid SOV mold.

Yes. कल का match, हम jeetenge. (Kal ka match, hum jeetenge.) (Tomorrow's match, we will win.)

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