को
Marking Objects and Recipients
को marks the person who receives or is told something, and a direct object that is a person or a specific thing.
How It Works
को has two main jobs with verbs.
The receiver. With verbs like देना (give), भेजना (send), बताना (tell) and दिखाना (show), the person who receives takes को: माँ को फ़ोन दो, रीमा को सच बताओ.
A person as the object. When you see, call, know or recognize a person, that person takes को: मैं अमित को जानता हूँ, डॉक्टर को बुलाइए.
Things usually stand alone: मैं चाय पीता हूँ, वह अख़बार पढ़ रही है. Adding को points to a particular one that both speakers know: इस खिड़की को बंद कीजिए.
The noun before को changes as before any postposition (बच्चा → बच्चे को), and pronouns often shorten: मुझे, उसे, उन्हें.
Not every English to becomes को. The place you go to needs no postposition: मैं घर जा रहा हूँ. With कहना (to say), the person usually takes से: माँ से कहो. With बताना (to tell), it takes को: माँ को बताओ.
को also marks the person who feels something (मुझे भूख लगी है) and days and times (सोमवार को). Those uses have their own entries.
Examples (5)
- मीरा को पानी दीजिए।
Please give Meera some water.
को marks Meera, who receives the water.
- मैं रवि को जानता हूँ।
I know Ravi.
A person as the object takes को.
- माँ को बताओ कि मैं देर से आऊँगा।
Tell Mom I'll be late.
With बताना, the person told takes को.
- इस खिड़की को बंद कीजिए।
Please close this window.
को points to a particular window.
- मैंने कल रीमा को बाज़ार में देखा।
I saw Reema at the market yesterday.
The person seen takes को.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out को with a person as the object.
मैं रवि जानता हूँ।मैं रवि को जानता हूँ।When the object is a person, add को.
How It Connects
Learn This First
को marks recipients and specific objects, extending the को pronouns to nouns.
Related Patterns
- Nouns Before Postpositions
The noun before को takes its form before a postposition.
Foundations - ने ... को ... कियाPast Verbs When the Object Has को
When the object has को, a past verb with ने does not agree with it.
Level 3 - से कहना / से पूछनाSaying and Asking Someone
With कहना and पूछना, the person takes से, not को.
Level 2 - सोमवार कोDays and Times with को
को also marks days and parts of the day.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice को in Bubblegum
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