-ावे / -ू नये

Formal Advice and Rules

Level 5Sounds Like ̔āvē / -̔ū nayē

A noun for the person who should act takes -ने or -नी, as in नागरिकांनी. The words मी, आपण and तुम्ही take no ending.

How It Works

Use -ावे for "should" and -ू नये for "should not". When the object has no ending, the ending of -ावे matches it: अर्ज वेळेत सादर करावा. With no object, the verb stays -ावे: नागरिकांनी घरीच राहावे. (The application should be submitted on time.)

ThingWith -ावे
अर्ज (m)सादर करावा
काळजी (f)घ्यावी
पाणी (n)उकळून प्यावे

-ू नये does not change: अफवांवर विश्वास ठेवू नये. (People should not believe rumours.) It goes after the verb stem, with no matching.

Name the group that should act with -नी: नागरिकांनी काळजी घ्यावी. (Citizens should take care.) वाहनचालकांनी वेगमर्यादा ओलांडू नये. (Drivers should not exceed the speed limit.)

The forms are formal and used in writing. When you speak to one person, say काळजी घे and विश्वास ठेवू नकोस. Notices and news use -ावे and -ू नये for everyone.

Notices use -ावे for polite requests: कृपया शांतता राखावी. (Please keep quiet.) A sign says what is not allowed with -ू नये: येथे थुंकू नये. (Do not spit here.)

With -ना, as in नागरिकांना, the form changes: नागरिकांना काळजी घ्यावी लागेल. (Citizens will have to take care.) That form is a different pattern.

Examples (5)

  1. नागरिकांनी काळजी घ्यावी.

    Citizens should take care.

    -ावी matches the feminine word काळजी.

  2. अफवांवर विश्वास ठेवू नये.

    People should not believe rumours.

    -ू नये says what must not be done.

  3. पाणी उकळून प्यावे.

    Water should be boiled before drinking.

    -ावे matches the neuter word पाणी.

  4. अर्ज वेळेत सादर करावा.

    The application should be submitted on time.

    -ावा matches the masculine word अर्ज.

  5. वाहनचालकांनी वेगमर्यादा ओलांडू नये.

    Drivers should not exceed the speed limit.

    -ू नये follows the verb stem ओलांड-.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -ना for the person who should act.

    नागरिकांना काळजी घ्यावी.
    नागरिकांनी काळजी घ्यावी.

    With plain -ावे, a noun for the person who should act takes -ने or -नी, not -ना.

  • Not matching -ावे to the thing.

    अर्ज वेळेत सादर करावे.
    अर्ज वेळेत सादर करावा.

    अर्ज is masculine, so the ending is -ावा.

How It Connects

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-ावे / -ू नयेLevel 5Formal Advice and Rules

Learn This First

Rules and advice use -ावे and the negative -ू नये.