डालना as a Helper Verb

Compound Verbs with डालना

Level 4Sounds Like ḍālanā sahāyaka kriyā kē rūpa mēṁ

डालना after a verb stem makes the action sound complete, forceful or done in one go.

How It Works

On its own, डालना means to put in or pour. After another verb's stem, it adds weight to the action. It suggests the action was done completely, with force, or in one sweep, often more than expected.

  • मैंने किताब पढ़ी. I read the book. (neutral)
  • मैंने पूरी किताब एक दिन में पढ़ डाली. I got through the whole book in a single day.

It fits verbs of finishing off, destroying and changing: खा डालना (eat up), तोड़ डालना (smash), बदल डालना (change completely), फाड़ डालना (tear up). मार डालना is the everyday way to say to kill.

डालना takes an object, so completed forms use ने and agree with the object: उसने सारी चिट्ठियाँ फाड़ डालीं. In commands it urges someone to get on with it: जो कहना है, कह डालो (Say whatever you have to say).

For ordinary completion, use the plain verb or a compound with देना or लेना. डालना can sound rough in a neutral report.

Examples (5)

  1. उसने पूरा लेख पढ़ डाला।

    She read the whole article right through.

    पढ़ डाला: read all of it; डाला agrees with masculine लेख.

  2. रीना ने सारी योजना बदल डाली।

    Reena changed the whole plan.

    बदल डाली: a complete change; डाली agrees with feminine योजना.

  3. बच्चे ने पुरानी कुर्सी तोड़ डाली।

    The child smashed the old chair.

    तोड़ डाली stresses the damage.

  4. भूख के मारे मैंने चार रोटियाँ खा डालीं।

    I was so hungry I polished off four rotis.

    खा डालीं agrees with feminine plural रोटियाँ.

  5. जो कहना है, आज ही कह डालो।

    Whatever you need to say, just say it today.

    In a command, डालो urges the listener to get it done.

Common Mistakes

  • Using डालना with a verb that takes no object.

    बच्चा जल्दी सो डाला।
    बच्चा जल्दी सो गया।

    डालना goes with verbs that take an object. For a change that just happens, use जाना.

How It Connects

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

डालना as a Helper VerbLevel 4Compound Verbs with डालना

Learn This First

डालना compounds make a देना-style completion more forceful.

Words in This Pattern

डालना