What are common mistakes with वर्तमान काल?

Learners forget that -ता/-ती/-ते agrees with subject gender, not just number. Using है for all persons instead of हूँ/हो/हैं. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English present simple has minimal conjugation (I do / he does). Hindi requires tracking both gender agreement (-ता/-ती) AND person (हूँ/है/हो/हैं). 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian present tense conjugates by person but not gender. Hindi adds gender to the mix. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Czech conjugates by person like Hindi but lacks gender agreement in present tense; the -ता/-ती pattern is new.

वर्तमान काल: rules, examples & exercises | Hindi Grammar A1

वर्तमान काल

A1 — क्रिया

Present habitual tense: stem + ता/ती/ते + हूँ/है/हैं

Can describe habitual actions and daily routines

Present habitual tense: stem + ता/ती/ते + हूँ/है/हैं

Examples

मैं हिन्दी पढ़ता हूँ। — I study Hindi.
वह रोज़ चाय पीती है। — She drinks tea every day.
हम स्कूल जाते हैं। — We go to school.
तुम क्या करते हो? — What do you do?

क्रियाA1

वर्तमान काल

Present habitual tense: stem + ता/ती/ते + हूँ/है/हैं

Learning Goal

Can describe habitual actions and daily routines

Exam Skills:WritingSpeaking

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

मैं हिन्दी पढ़ता हूँ।

I study Hindi.

वह रोज़ चाय पीती है।

She drinks tea every day.

हम स्कूल जाते हैं।

We go to school.

तुम क्या करते हो?

What do you do?

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

वर्तमान काल — Present Habitual

The Hindi present tense expresses habitual actions. Formation: verb stem + ता/ती/ते + होना.

Subject	Masc.	Fem.
मैं	करता हूँ	करती हूँ
तू	करता है	करती है
तुम	करते हो	करती हो
यह/वह	करता है	करती है
हम	करते हैं	करती हैं
आप/ये/वे	करते हैं	करती हैं

The -ता/-ती/-ते suffix agrees with the subject's gender and number, while होना agrees with person.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Learners forget that -ता/-ती/-ते agrees with subject gender, not just number. Using है for all persons instead of हूँ/हो/हैं. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English present simple has minimal conjugation (I do / he does). Hindi requires tracking both gender agreement (-ता/-ती) AND person (हूँ/है/हो/हैं).

Common Error Patterns

Wrong -ता/-ती/-ते suffix for subject gender

Match -ता (m.sg.), -ती (f.), -ते (m.pl.) to the subject's gender and number

Wrong form of होना for the person

Use हूँ (मैं), है (तू/यह/वह), हो (तुम), हैं (हम/आप/ये/वे)

मैं हिन्दी पढ़ता हूँ।

I study Hindi.

पढ़ (stem) + ता (m.sg.) + हूँ (1st person) = I study (male speaker).

वह रोज़ चाय पीती है।

She drinks tea every day.

पी (drink) + ती (f.sg.) + है (3rd person) — feminine subject वह.

हम स्कूल जाते हैं।

We go to school.

जा (go) + ते (m.pl.) + हैं (1st pl.) — हम takes plural masculine form.

तुम क्या करते हो?

What do you do?

कर (do) + ते (m.pl. for तुम) + हो (2nd person तुम).

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

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Frequently asked questions

When is वर्तमान काल used?: The Hindi present tense expresses habitual actions . Formation: verb stem + ता/ती/ते + होना .
How is वर्तमान काल formed?: The -ता/-ती/-ते suffix agrees with the subject's gender and number , while होना agrees with person.
What are common mistakes with वर्तमान काल?: Learners forget that -ता/-ती/-ते agrees with subject gender, not just number. Using है for all persons instead of हूँ/हो/हैं. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English present simple has minimal conjugation (I do / he does). Hindi requires tracking both gender agreement (-ता/-ती) AND person (हूँ/है/हो/हैं). 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian present tense conjugates by person but not gender. Hindi adds gender to the mix. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Czech conjugates by person like Hindi but lacks gender agreement in present tense; the -ता/-ती pattern is new.