Finding a Verb Stem
The stem is the dictionary form minus -ना: करना gives कर, खाना gives खा.
How It Works
Dictionaries list every Hindi verb in its -ना form: करना (to do), खाना (to eat), पढ़ना (to read). Take off -ना and the rest is the stem: कर, खा, पढ़.
Most verb forms are the stem plus an ending or helper words:
| Added to the stem | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| -ता है | वह पढ़ता है | he reads |
| रहा है | वह पढ़ रहा है | he is reading |
| -एगा | वह पढ़ेगा | he will read |
| -ओ | पढ़ो | read! (to तुम) |
Remove only ना, nothing more. खाना keeps its vowel and gives खा. Some stems end in a vowel, like खा, आ and पी. Others end in a consonant, like कर, पढ़ and बोल.
A few common verbs have irregular forms that you learn one by one. करना has the regular stem कर, but its past form is किया. जाना gives जा, but its past form is गया.
Examples (5)
- रवि रोज़ पढ़ता है।
Ravi studies every day.
Stem पढ़ plus -ता है.
- मैं हिंदी सीख रहा हूँ।
I am learning Hindi.
Stem सीख plus रहा हूँ.
- अब खाना खाओ।
Eat your food now.
Stem खा plus -ओ. The first खाना is the noun food.
- नेहा कल आएगी।
Neha will come tomorrow.
Stem आ plus -एगी.
- रीना ने काम किया।
Reena did the work.
करना gives the stem कर, but its past form किया is irregular.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Finding a stem means spotting and removing the written -ना ending.
Related Patterns
- -नाThe Infinitive
The dictionary form you start from.
Level 1 - -ता है / -ती है / -ते हैंPresent Habits and Routines
The first tense most learners build on the stem.
Level 1 - रहा है / रही है / रहे हैंActions Happening Now
Stem plus रहा shows an action in progress.
Level 1 - करो / कीजिएCommands and Polite Requests
Commands are the stem plus an ending.
Level 1 - Tense and Aspect
An overview of the tenses built on the stem.
Foundations
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Finding a Verb Stem in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Hindi lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
