-आ करना
Making a Habit of Something
The -आ form of a verb plus करना describes a regular habit: मैं वहाँ जाया करती थी (I used to go there).
How It Works
This pattern stresses that something happened again and again as a regular practice. It is most common in the past, where it is close to -ता था: मैं गाँव जाता था and मैं गाँव जाया करता था both mean I used to go to the village, but the second one stresses the routine and often sounds a little nostalgic.
The first verb is frozen in the -आ form. It does not agree with anyone. All the agreement goes on करना.
| Verb | Frozen form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| आना | आया | वह आया करती थी |
| पढ़ना | पढ़ा | हम रोज़ पढ़ा करते हैं |
| करना | किया | वे फ़ोन किया करते थे |
| जाना | जाया (not गया) | मैं वहाँ जाया करता था |
With a command, the pattern gives advice about a habit: रोज़ पानी पिया करो (Make a habit of drinking water every day), आया कीजिए (Do come and visit). Because करना is in a habit or command form here, the subject never takes ने.
Examples (5)
- दादाजी हर रविवार हमारे घर आया करते थे।
Grandfather used to come to our house every Sunday.
आया stays the same; करते थे is plural to show respect.
- बचपन में मैं नानी के गाँव जाया करती थी।
As a child, I used to go to my grandmother's village.
जाना becomes जाया; करती थी shows a female speaker.
- रीमा हर शाम अपनी माँ को फ़ोन किया करती है।
Reema calls her mother every evening.
The present form करती है describes a habit that still goes on.
- रोज़ सुबह थोड़ी देर टहला करो।
Make a habit of walking a little every morning.
With करो, the pattern gives advice about a regular habit.
- कभी-कभी हमसे मिलने आया कीजिए।
Do come and see us from time to time.
आया कीजिए is a warm, polite invitation to visit regularly.
Common Mistakes
Making the first verb agree with the subject.
वह हर रविवार आई करती थी।वह हर रविवार आया करती थी।The first verb always stays in the -आ form. Only करना shows that the subject is female.
Using गया for जाना.
मैं वहाँ गया करता था।मैं वहाँ जाया करता था।In this pattern जाना takes the special form जाया.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Regular practice uses the past form with करना.
Related Patterns
- -ते रहनाContinuing an Action
-ते रहना says an action keeps going; -आ करना says it happens again and again.
Level 3 - हमेशा / अक्सर / कभी-कभीHow Often
Frequency words such as हर रविवार and कभी-कभी often go with this pattern.
Level 2 - करो / कीजिएCommands and Polite Requests
The command forms of करना turn the pattern into advice: पढ़ा करो.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice -आ करना in Bubblegum
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