करके / -कर

Linking Actions with -कर

Level 3Sounds Like karakē aura -kara

Stem + -कर = having done: खाना खाकर सो जाओ (Eat, then go to sleep).

How It Works

Hindi often joins actions in a row with -कर instead of and. खाना खाकर सो जाओ literally says having eaten, go to sleep.

Verb-कर form
खानाखाकर
देखनादेखकर
बैठनाबैठकर
करनाकरके

The -कर form never changes for gender, number or tense. The last verb does all that: मीरा दरवाज़ा खोलकर अंदर आई. The last verb also decides about ने. सोना never takes ने, so the subject stays plain: वह खाना खाकर सो गया.

Usually one person does both actions, and the -कर action comes first in time.

The -कर form can also say how something is done: मैं बैठकर पढ़ता हूँ (I read sitting down), रीमा ने मुस्कुराकर जवाब दिया (Reema answered with a smile).

In everyday speech, people often say -के instead of -कर: खा के, देख के. In writing, -कर is standard. For करना, always use करके.

Examples (5)

  1. खाना खाकर सो जाओ।

    Eat, and then go to sleep.

    खाकर names the first action.

  2. मीरा दरवाज़ा खोलकर अंदर आई।

    Meera opened the door and came in.

    Only the last verb, आई, shows that Meera is female.

  3. यह काम करके आराम करो।

    Finish this work, then rest.

    करना gives करके.

  4. मैं बैठकर पढ़ता हूँ।

    I read sitting down.

    बैठकर says how I read.

  5. रीमा ने मुस्कुराकर जवाब दिया।

    Reema answered with a smile.

    The last verb, जवाब देना, takes ने.

Common Mistakes

  • Saying करकर.

    यह काम करकर आराम करो।
    यह काम करके आराम करो।

    करना always gives करके, never करकर.

  • Letting the first verb decide about ने.

    उसने खाना खाकर सो गया।
    वह खाना खाकर सो गया।

    The last verb decides. सोना does not take ने, so the subject is वह.

How It Connects

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

करके / -करLevel 3Linking Actions with -कर

Learn This First

The -कर form links a first action to a second, replacing a फिर clause.

Words in This Pattern

-कर-केकरना