-ैत छलहुँ

Used to: Past Habits

Level 2Sounds Like ̔aita chalahum̐

The -ैत form with छलहुँ, छलाह or छल says what used to happen.

How It Works

This is the same -ैत form that makes the present (हम रहैत छी). Only the helper changes, from छी to a past form.

PersonExample
हम, अहाँहम रहैत छलहुँ
a respected manदादा टहलैत छलाह
a respected womanमाय करैत छलीह
a child or a thingबउआ कनैत छल

Many stems with a long vowel get shorter before -ैत: आब gives अबैत, बाज gives बजैत. Short stems stay: करैत, पढ़ैत.

The same form also describes something going on at a past moment, and a speaker can show that with a helper like रहल (see the next entries). Add a time word like रोज (every day) or पहिने (earlier) to make the habit clear.

Examples (5)

  1. हम गाम मे रहैत छलहुँ।

    I used to live in the village.

    रहैत छलहुँ is a past habit.

  2. दादा रोज भोरे टहलैत छलाह।

    Grandfather used to walk every morning.

    छलाह shows respect.

  3. हम सभ छत पर नाचैत छलहुँ।

    We used to dance on the roof.

    छलहुँ goes with हम सभ.

  4. माय रोज भानस करैत छलीह।

    Mother used to cook every day.

    छलीह is for a respected woman.

  5. बउआ राति भरि कनैत छल।

    The little boy used to cry all night.

    छल goes with a plain third person.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the perfect form instead of the habit.

    हम गाम मे रहल छलहुँ।
    हम गाम मे रहैत छलहुँ।

    रहल छलहुँ means had stayed. The habit needs -ैत.

How It Connects

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

-ैत छलहुँLevel 2Used to: Past Habits

Learn This First

This form joins the -ैत verb to a past form of to be, so both parts come first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

छलहुँछलाहछलीहछलछी