What are common mistakes with स्वत्ववाचक सर्वनाम?

The most common error is making the possessive agree with the possessor instead of the possessed noun. 🇬🇧 English: 'my' never changes — 'my book', 'my house'. Hindi मेरा/मेरी depends on the noun's gender. 🇩🇪 German: German mein/meine also agrees with the noun — good parallel! But Hindi has 3 forms (M/F/PL) vs German 4 cases. 🇷🇺 Russian: Russian мой/моя/моё/мои also agrees with the noun — similar system. The का/की/के pattern is easy for Russians. 🇨🇿 Czech: Czech můj/moje/mí also agrees — familiar concept. But Hindi has no case changes on possessives.

स्वत्ववाचक सर्वनाम: rules, examples & exercises | Hindi Grammar A1

स्वत्ववाचक सर्वनाम

A1 — सर्वनाम

Possessives: मेरा/तेरा/तुम्हारा/आपका/उसका/हमारा + agreement

Can express possession using Hindi possessive pronouns with correct gender/number agreement

Examples

मेरा नाम राज है। — My name is Raj.
तुम्हारी बहन कहाँ है? — Where is your sister?
उसके दोस्त अच्छे हैं। — His/her friends are good.
आपकी चाय तैयार है। — Your tea is ready.

सर्वनामA1

Possessives

Possessives: मेरा/तेरा/तुम्हारा/आपका/उसका/हमारा + agreement

Learning Goal

Can express possession using Hindi possessive pronouns with correct gender/number agreement

Exam Skills:बोलनालिखना

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

मेरा नाम राज है।

My name is Raj.

तुम्हारी बहन कहाँ है?

Where is your sister?

उसके दोस्त अच्छे हैं।

His/her friends are good.

आपकी चाय तैयार है।

Your tea is ready.

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

स्वत्ववाचक — Possessives

Hindi possessives agree with the possessed noun in gender and number, NOT with the possessor.

Pronoun	M.Sg	F.Sg	M.Pl	F.Pl
मैं	मेरा	मेरी	मेरे	मेरी
तू	तेरा	तेरी	तेरे	तेरी
तुम	तुम्हारा	तुम्हारी	तुम्हारे	तुम्हारी
आप	आपका	आपकी	आपके	आपकी
वह	उसका	उसकी	उसके	उसकी
हम	हमारा	हमारी	हमारे	हमारी

Key: मेरा घर (M) but मेरी किताब (F). The ending matches the noun!

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

The most common error is making the possessive agree with the possessor instead of the possessed noun. 🇬🇧 English: 'my' never changes — 'my book', 'my house'. Hindi मेरा/मेरी depends on the noun's gender.

मेरा नाम राज है।

My name is Raj.

नाम is masculine → मेरा (M.Sg).

तुम्हारी बहन कहाँ है?

Where is your sister?

बहन is feminine → तुम्हारी (F).

उसके दोस्त अच्छे हैं।

His/her friends are good.

दोस्त is M.PL → उसके (PL). Note: उसका doesn't reveal possessor's gender.

आपकी चाय तैयार है।

Your tea is ready.

चाय is feminine → आपकी (F). Formal 'your'.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

Try a free exercise from the course

2. Numbers, age and belonging

Frequently asked questions

When is स्वत्ववाचक सर्वनाम used?: Hindi possessives agree with the possessed noun in gender and number, NOT with the possessor.
How is स्वत्ववाचक सर्वनाम formed?: Key: मेर ा घर (M) but मेर ी किताब (F). The ending matches the noun!
What are common mistakes with स्वत्ववाचक सर्वनाम?: The most common error is making the possessive agree with the possessor instead of the possessed noun. 🇬🇧 English: 'my' never changes — 'my book', 'my house'. Hindi मेरा/मेरी depends on the noun's gender. 🇩🇪 German: German mein/meine also agrees with the noun — good parallel! But Hindi has 3 forms (M/F/PL) vs German 4 cases. 🇷🇺 Russian: Russian мой/моя/моё/мои also agrees with the noun — similar system. The का/की/के pattern is easy for Russians. 🇨🇿 Czech: Czech můj/moje/mí also agrees — familiar concept. But Hindi has no case changes on possessives.