ताकि

So That

Level 4Sounds Like tāki

ताकि means so that. It introduces the goal behind an action.

How It Works

ताकि links an action to the goal behind it. The action comes first and the goal follows ताकि: मैंने अलार्म लगाया ताकि सुबह जल्दी उठ सकूँ। (I set an alarm so that I could wake up early.)

The verb after ताकि is in the subjunctive, the verb form for wishes and possibilities. It stays in the subjunctive even when the main clause is in the past, so English could or would has no separate Hindi form here.

SubjectSubjunctive
मैंआऊँ, सकूँ
तुमआओ, सको
वहआए, सके
हम, आप, वेआएँ, सकें

To say so that ... not, put न before the verb: ताकि बच्चा न जागे.

When both parts have the same subject, -ने के लिए is often shorter: मैं पैसे बचा रहा हूँ ताकि घर ख़रीद सकूँ means much the same as मैं घर ख़रीदने के लिए पैसे बचा रहा हूँ. When the subjects differ, use ताकि: धीरे बोलिए ताकि सब समझ सकें.

ताकि gives a goal. For a reason that already exists, use क्योंकि.

Examples (5)

  1. धीरे बोलिए ताकि सब समझ सकें।

    Please speak slowly so that everyone can understand.

    The subjects differ (you and everyone), so ताकि fits; सकें is subjunctive.

  2. मैंने अलार्म लगाया ताकि सुबह जल्दी उठ सकूँ।

    I set an alarm so that I could wake up early.

    The main clause is past, but सकूँ stays in the subjunctive.

  3. दरवाज़ा धीरे से बंद करो ताकि बच्चा न जागे।

    Close the door gently so the baby doesn't wake up.

    न before जागे gives so that ... not.

  4. वह रोज़ हिंदी अख़बार पढ़ती है ताकि उसकी हिंदी अच्छी हो जाए।

    She reads a Hindi newspaper every day so that her Hindi gets better.

    हो जाए is the subjunctive of हो जाना.

  5. हम जल्दी निकले ताकि ट्रैफ़िक में न फँसें।

    We left early so we wouldn't get stuck in traffic.

    फँसें agrees with हम, the understood subject.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the present tense after ताकि.

    धीरे बोलिए ताकि सब समझते हैं।
    धीरे बोलिए ताकि सब समझें।

    The goal has not happened yet, so the verb after ताकि is in the subjunctive, not the present tense.

How It Connects

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

ताकिLevel 4So That

Learn This First

So that is the clause version of in order to, with the subjunctive.

Words in This Pattern

ताकि