Hindi SOV word order and basic patterns
I can form basic Hindi sentences in SOV order
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
मैं चाय पीता हूँ।
I drink tea.
वह स्कूल जाता है।
He goes to school.
तुम क्या खाते हो?
What do you eat?
मैं नहीं जाता।
I don't go.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Hindi follows SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) order — the verb comes last.
| Hindi | Pattern | English |
|---|---|---|
| राम सेब खाता है। | S + O + V | Ram eats an apple. |
| मैं पानी पीता हूँ। | S + O + V | I drink water. |
Key rules:
Hindi sentences end with । (pūrṇ virām), not a period.
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesUsing SVO instead of SOV
Remember: verb always last in Hindi. Think 'I tea drink' not 'I drink tea'
Placing नहीं after the verb
नहीं comes right before the main verb: मैं नहीं जाता
मैं चाय पीता हूँ।
I drink tea.
SOV: मैं (I) + चाय (tea) + पीता हूँ (drink).
वह स्कूल जाता है।
He goes to school.
Subject वह (he) + स्कूल (school) + verb जाता है (goes).
तुम क्या खाते हो?
What do you eat?
Question word क्या stays in object position — no inversion.
मैं नहीं जाता।
I don't go.
Negation नहीं goes right before the verb.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises