चुकना

Having Already Done Something

Level 4Sounds Like cukanā

चुकना after a verb stem says an action is already finished.

How It Works

TimeFormMeaning
Nowमैं खा चुका हूँI've already eaten
Earlierवह जा चुकी थीShe had already left
Laterवे पहुँच चुके होंगेThey will have arrived (or must have arrived)

The main verb stays a bare stem. चुकना agrees with the doer: a woman says मैं यह किताब पढ़ चुकी हूँ. The feminine चुकी comes from her, not from किताब. There is no ने, even though पढ़ना takes ने in the plain past: मैंने किताब पढ़ी, but मैं किताब पढ़ चुकी हूँ.

चुकना stresses that the action is over and done. Said with feeling, it can mean enough already: मैं तुम्हें तीन बार बता चुका हूँ! (I've already told you three times!)

It is rarely used in the negative. For not yet, use the plain past with अभी तक नहीं: मैंने अभी तक किताब नहीं पढ़ी.

Examples (5)

  1. मैं यह किताब पढ़ चुकी हूँ।

    I've already read this book.

    चुकी agrees with the woman speaking, not with किताब.

  2. वह स्टेशन पहुँच चुका था।

    He had already reached the station.

    चुका था: done before a moment in the past.

  3. हम खाना खा चुके हैं।

    We've already eaten.

    No ने: हम stays plain and चुके agrees with it.

  4. कल तक रीमा काम कर चुकी होगी।

    Reema will have finished the work by tomorrow.

    चुकी होगी: done by a moment in the future.

  5. मैं तुम्हें तीन बार बता चुका हूँ!

    I've already told you three times!

    Said with feeling, चुका हूँ means enough already.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding ने because the main verb takes an object.

    मैंने खाना खा चुका हूँ।
    मैं खाना खा चुका हूँ।

    चुकना never takes ने; the doer stays plain and चुका agrees with it.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

चुकनाLevel 4Having Already Done Something

Learn This First

Already done follows the सकना pattern and overlaps the present perfect.

Words in This Pattern

चुकनाहोना