A Door Into Hindi: Lesson 18

1. Expressing opinions, disagreeing

2. Hopes, fears, beliefs, feelings

3. Past subjunctive / past conditional

4. More postpositions

5. Past participles as adjectives

6. Big numbers

7. Birth and death

Culture Notes

Exercises

Quiz

Supplemental Materials

Devanagari Writing System

Digital Dictionaries

Other Resources

18.5	Past Participles as Adjectives

The perfect form of a verb is also called the past participle. Past participles can be used as adjectives. They are often accompanied by an optional “helper” verb (हुआ, हुए, हुई, हुईं).

verb (infinitive)	past particple with helper verb	meaning in English
बैठना	बैठा (हुआ)	seated
खड़ना (not used in modern Hindi)	खड़ा (हुआ)	standing
पहनना	पहना (हुआ)	wearing
थकना	थका (हुआ)	tired

These participial adjectives and their helper verbs follow the same agreement rules as normal adjectives.

Examples:

यहाँ क्यों खड़े हुए हैं?	Why are you standing there?
मैं आज बहुत थकी हुई हूँ।	I’m very tired today.
मेरी बहिन बाहर बैठी है।	My sister is sitting outside.
चोर क्या पहना हुआ था?	What was the thief wearing?