बल देने वाले कण: ही, भी, तो

A2 — अव्यय

ही, भी और तो — छोटे शब्द जो अर्थ बदल देते हैं

I can place hi, bhi and to correctly and hear what they add

Examples

— It's this book I want.
— He'll come too.
— Do at least eat something.

अव्ययA2

Emphatic Particles: hi, bhi, to

hi, bhi and to: small words that change the meaning

Learning Goal

I can place hi, bhi and to correctly and hear what they add

Exam Skills:बोलनालिखना

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

It's this book I want.

He'll come too.

Do at least eat something.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Three particles, each following its word

ही	only, exactly, precisely	मैं ही गया। - I was the one who went.
भी	also, even	मैं भी गया। - I went too.
तो	as for, at least, contrast	मैं तो गया। - I did go (whatever others did).

All three follow the word they apply to, and moving them moves the meaning:

आज ही जाइए। - Go today (and not another day).
आज भी बारिश है। - It's raining today as well.
चाय तो पीजिए। - Do at least have some tea.

ही fuses

ही merges with some words: यह + ही = यही, वह + ही = वही, अब + ही = अभी, वहाँ + ही = वहीं.

Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Placing the particle before its word instead of after it.

Common Error Patterns

Particle placed before its word

hi, bhi and to always follow the word they apply to.

Writing yah hi instead of yahi

hi fuses: yahi, vahi, abhi, vahin.

It's this book I want.

yah + hi fuses into yahi.

He'll come too.

bhi follows the word it applies to.

Do at least eat something.

to concedes and contrasts, like the Russian clitic -to.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises

A2 Course

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Frequently asked questions

When is बल देने वाले कण: ही, भी, तो used?: All three follow the word they apply to, and moving them moves the meaning:
How is बल देने वाले कण: ही, भी, तो formed?: ही merges with some words: यह + ही = यही, वह + ही = वही, अब + ही = अभी, वहाँ + ही = वहीं.
What are common mistakes with बल देने वाले कण: ही, भी, तो?: Placing the particle before its word instead of after it. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian particles are mobile and some are clitics attached with a hyphen, so learners over-trust word order they would get away with at home.

Sources

हिन्दी व्याकरण — काशी नागरी प्रचारिणी सभा, 1920
Kamta Prasad Guru's grammar, the standard prescriptive reference for Hindi verb and particle usage.
Hindi (London Oriental and African Language Library 12) — John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2006
Yamuna Kachru's reference grammar; the descriptive account of modality, particles and reported speech used here.

Three particles, each following its word

ही	only, exactly, precisely	मैं ही गया। - I was the one who went.
भी	also, even	मैं भी गया। - I went too.
तो	as for, at least, contrast	मैं तो गया। - I did go (whatever others did).

All three follow the word they apply to, and moving them moves the meaning:

आज ही जाइए। - Go today (and not another day).
आज भी बारिश है। - It's raining today as well.
चाय तो पीजिए। - Do at least have some tea.

ही fuses

ही merges with some words: यह + ही = यही, वह + ही = वही, अब + ही = अभी, वहाँ + ही = वहीं.

Frequently asked questions

When is बल देने वाले कण: ही, भी, तो used?

All three follow the word they apply to, and moving them moves the meaning:

How is बल देने वाले कण: ही, भी, तो formed?

ही merges with some words: यह + ही = यही, वह + ही = वही, अब + ही = अभी, वहाँ + ही = वहीं.

What are common mistakes with बल देने वाले कण: ही, भी, तो?

Placing the particle before its word instead of after it. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian particles are mobile and some are clitics attached with a hyphen, so learners over-trust word order they would get away with at home.

Sources

हिन्दी व्याकरण — काशी नागरी प्रचारिणी सभा, 1920

Kamta Prasad Guru's grammar, the standard prescriptive reference for Hindi verb and particle usage.

Hindi (London Oriental and African Language Library 12) — John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2006

Yamuna Kachru's reference grammar; the descriptive account of modality, particles and reported speech used here.