खुलना / खोलना
Paired Verbs Like खुलना and खोलना
Pairs like खुलना and खोलना split one English verb in two: something opens, or someone opens it.
How It Works
English often uses one verb for both meanings: the door opened, and I opened the door. Hindi uses two related verbs. The first one has no object; the thing just changes. The second one has someone doing it to something.
| No doer named | Someone does it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| खुलना | खोलना | open |
| बनना | बनाना | be made / make |
| टूटना | तोड़ना | break |
| गिरना | गिराना | fall / drop |
| रुकना | रोकना | stop |
| जलना | जलाना | burn / light |
Look at the shape of each pair. Often the second verb adds -आ (बनना, बनाना). Sometimes the vowel changes (खुलना, खोलना) or ट becomes ड़ (टूटना, तोड़ना).
The difference matters in the past. The first verb never takes ने: गिलास टूट गया (The glass broke). The second one does: राहुल ने गिलास तोड़ा (Rahul broke the glass).
The first verb often comes with जाना to show the change: खाना बन गया है (The food is ready).
Examples (5)
- दुकान सुबह दस बजे खुलती है।
The shop opens at ten in the morning.
खुलना: the shop opens, and no doer is named.
- दुकानदार सुबह दस बजे दुकान खोलता है।
The shopkeeper opens the shop at ten in the morning.
खोलना: someone opens something.
- खाना बन गया है।
The food is ready.
बनना: the food has been made, and no cook is named.
- गिलास किसने तोड़ा?
Who broke the glass?
तोड़ना has a doer, so the question uses किसने.
- ड्राइवर ने अचानक गाड़ी रोकी।
The driver suddenly stopped the car.
रोकना takes ने; compare गाड़ी रुकी (the car stopped).
Common Mistakes
Using the doing verb when nobody is doing it.
दरवाज़ा अपने आप खोल गया।दरवाज़ा अपने आप खुल गया।The door opened by itself, so use खुलना. खोलना needs someone who opens it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Verb pairs build the object difference into the verb itself, with consequences for ने.
Related Patterns
- Verbs With and Without Objects
This is the general idea behind each pair.
Foundations - जाना as a Helper VerbCompound Verbs with जाना
The happening verb often takes जाना: टूट गया, खुल गया.
Level 3 - कराना / करवानाHaving Something Done
A -वाना form such as बनवाना means having something made by someone else.
Level 4 - ख़ुद / अपने आपBy Oneself
अपने आप (by itself) often goes with the happening verb.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice खुलना / खोलना in Bubblegum
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