-ते हुए

Doing Two Things at Once

Level 4Sounds Like tē hu'ē

-ते हुए says what else the subject is doing at the same time, or how they do something.

How It Works

-ते हुए adds a second, background action to the main one. It answers while doing what? or how?

  • मैं गाना सुनते हुए काम करता हूँ. I work while listening to music.
  • वह मुस्कुराते हुए बोली. She spoke with a smile.

Build it from the stem plus -ते हुए: पढ़ते हुए, चलते हुए, सोचते हुए. In everyday use this form does not change: रीना चलते हुए बात कर रही थी. The main verb at the end carries the tense and agrees with the subject as usual.

In stories and careful writing you will also see the participle agree with the subject: वह मुस्कुराती हुई बोली. Both are correct.

The -ते हुए action normally belongs to the subject. After verbs of seeing and hearing, it describes the other person: मैंने उसे रोते हुए देखा (I saw him crying).

-ते हुए and -ते समय are close. -ते हुए often shows how something is done; -ते समय names the time: खाना खाते समय बात मत करो (Don't talk while you're eating).

Examples (5)

  1. रीना चलते हुए बात कर रही थी।

    Reena was talking as she walked.

    चलते हुए stays the same; रही थी agrees with Reena.

  2. मैंने खाना बनाते हुए रेडियो सुना।

    I listened to the radio while I was cooking.

    Cooking is the background action; सुना is the main verb.

  3. बच्चे गाते हुए घर लौटे।

    The children came home singing.

    गाते हुए describes how they came back.

  4. पापा अख़बार पढ़ते हुए चाय पीते हैं।

    Dad drinks his tea while reading the paper.

    Both actions belong to the subject, पापा.

  5. उसने मुस्कुराते हुए जवाब दिया।

    She answered with a smile.

    मुस्कुराते हुए shows the manner of answering.

How It Connects

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

-ते हुएLevel 4Doing Two Things at Once

Learn This First

-ते हुए is the manner form of -ता हुआ and describes two things done at once.

Words in This Pattern

-ताहोना