रखना as a Helper Verb

Compound Verbs with रखना

Level 4Sounds Like rakhanā sahāyaka kriyā kē rūpa mēṁ

रखना after a verb stem shows something done beforehand whose result is still in place.

How It Works

On its own, रखना means to put or keep. After another verb's stem, it says the action was done in advance and its result is still there, ready to use.

  • मैंने खाना बना लिया है. I've made the food. (it's done)
  • मैंने खाना बना रखा है. I've made the food, and it's ready and waiting.

The main verb stays a bare stem. रखना carries the tense, most often with है or था. In these completed forms the doer takes ने and रखना agrees with the object: मैंने टिकट ले रखे हैं, उसने चाय बना रखी थी. It also works in requests and plans: टिकट पहले से ले रखना (Get the tickets in advance).

It also describes long-term arrangements: उन्होंने एक कुत्ता पाल रखा है (They keep a dog). With सुनना it means to have heard of: मैंने यह नाम सुन रखा है (I've heard this name before).

When both verbs are रखना, as in रख रखा है, the first is the action (put) and the second adds the kept-ready meaning.

Examples (5)

  1. मैंने आपका पता लिख रखा है।

    I've got your address written down.

    रखा agrees with masculine पता; the note is still there.

  2. रीना ने चाय बना रखी है।

    Reena has tea ready.

    बना रखी: made earlier and waiting; रखी agrees with feminine चाय.

  3. हमने सभी ज़रूरी काग़ज़ अलग रख रखे हैं।

    We've set aside all the papers we'll need.

    The first रख is the action; रखे agrees with plural काग़ज़.

  4. मैंने ट्रेन के टिकट पहले से ले रखे हैं।

    I've already got the train tickets.

    ले रखे हैं: bought in advance; रखे agrees with plural टिकट.

  5. मैंने इस रेस्टोरेंट का नाम सुन रखा है।

    I've heard of this restaurant.

    सुन रखा है means to have heard of something.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out ने, as with चुकना or बैठना.

    मैं खाना बना रखा है।
    मैंने खाना बना रखा है।

    रखना takes an object, so the doer takes ने and the verb agrees with the object.

How It Connects

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

रखना as a Helper VerbLevel 4Compound Verbs with रखना

Learn This First

रखना compounds describe lasting results of actions done earlier.

Words in This Pattern

रखना