था / थी / थे / थीं

Being in the Past

Level 1Sounds Like thā, thī, thē aura thīṁ

The past of to be changes for gender and number: था, थी, थे, थीं.

How It Works

The past of to be has four forms. The present forms (हूँ, है, हो, हैं) never show gender, but these change for gender and number.

OneMore than one
Masculineथाथे
Feminineथीथीं

A man says मैं बीमार था and a woman says मैं बीमार थी (I was ill). वह works the same way: वह घर पर था (he was at home), वह घर पर थी (she was at home).

Use थे for men, mixed groups and masculine things, and थीं for groups of women and feminine things: बच्चे यहाँ थे (the children were here), लड़कियाँ स्कूल में थीं (the girls were at school).

Things have gender too: कल बहुत गर्मी थी (it was very hot yesterday) uses थी because गर्मी is feminine.

तुम, आप and anyone you speak of with respect take the plural forms: तुम कहाँ थे? (Where were you?), माँ घर पर थीं (Mom was at home).

थीं has a nasal mark and थी does not. That mark is the only written difference.

Examples (5)

  1. रवि घर पर था।

    Ravi was at home.

    One man: था.

  2. मीरा घर पर थी।

    Meera was at home.

    One woman: थी.

  3. बच्चे यहाँ थे।

    The children were here.

    A group of children: थे.

  4. माँ घर पर थीं।

    Mom was at home.

    One mother, with respect: थीं.

  5. कल बहुत गर्मी थी।

    It was very hot yesterday.

    गर्मी (heat) is feminine, so the verb is थी.

Common Mistakes

  • Using था for every subject.

    मीरा घर पर था।
    मीरा घर पर थी।

    था is only for one man or one masculine thing. मीरा needs थी.

How It Connects

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था / थी / थे / थींLevel 1Being in the Past

Learn This First

The past of to be changes for gender and number like an -आ adjective, so it follows both the present forms and adjective agreement.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

होना