कहीं ... न
Worrying Something Might Happen
कहीं ... न plus the subjunctive means I'm worried that ... might happen.
How It Works
Use this pattern when you fear that something unwanted might happen. It is very common right after a piece of advice or a warning: जल्दी चलो, कहीं ट्रेन न छूट जाए (Hurry, or we might miss the train).
How to build it:
- कहीं comes first in the worry. Here it does not mean somewhere.
- न comes right before the verb.
- The verb is in the subjunctive: हो, आए, भूल जाएँ. A compound verb with जाना is very common, because the worry is usually about something suddenly happening.
The न can look confusing. Read the whole clause as may it not happen: the speaker is afraid that it will.
The worry can also follow मुझे डर है कि (I'm afraid that): मुझे डर है कि कहीं वह रास्ता न भूल जाए।
For a worried question about something that may already be true, use कहीं ... तो नहीं with an ordinary verb: कहीं वह नाराज़ तो नहीं है? (She isn't upset, is she?)
Examples (5)
- छाता ले लो, कहीं बारिश न हो जाए।
Take an umbrella in case it rains.
The advice comes first; कहीं ... न हो जाए gives the worry.
- जल्दी चलो, कहीं ट्रेन न छूट जाए।
Hurry up, or we might miss the train.
छूट जाए is the subjunctive of the compound verb छूट जाना.
- सँभलकर चलिए, कहीं आप फिसल न जाएँ।
Watch your step, or you might slip.
With आप, the subjunctive is जाएँ.
- मुझे डर है कि कहीं वह रास्ता न भूल जाए।
I'm afraid he might get lost.
मुझे डर है कि introduces the worry, and the same कहीं ... न frame follows.
- धीरे बोलो, कहीं बच्चे जाग न जाएँ।
Speak quietly, or the children might wake up.
बच्चे is plural, so the subjunctive is जाएँ.
Common Mistakes
Using the future instead of the subjunctive.
कहीं बारिश न होगी।कहीं बारिश न हो जाए।A worry about what might happen needs the subjunctive, not the future.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Worrying combines कहीं with a negative subjunctive.
Related Patterns
- जाना as a Helper VerbCompound Verbs with जाना
Worries often use compound verbs with जाना, such as हो जाए and छूट जाए.
Level 3 - वरना / नहीं तोOtherwise
वरना states the bad result plainly; कहीं ... न frames it as a worry.
Level 3 - इससे पहले किBefore Something Can Happen
इससे पहले कि also takes the subjunctive, to act before something happens.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice कहीं ... न in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Hindi lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
