-ायला

Going to Do Something and Liking to Do It

Level 3Sounds Like ̔āyalā

-ायला never changes, and the verb after it follows the usual rules.

How It Works

-ायला turns a verb into "to do". It combines with a few common verbs.

UseExample
going or coming to doमी भाजी आणायला जाते.
liking to doमला पोहायला आवडते.
sitting down to doआम्ही चहा प्यायला बसलो.
being late to doयायला उशीर झाला.

The verb पिणे becomes प्यायला. Most stems add the ending directly: खेळायला, भेटायला, वाचायला. A few change, such as येणे to यायला and घेणे to घ्यायला.

Only the main verb agrees with the person: ती मला भेटायला आली, and मी मित्राला भेटायला जातो (man).

With आवडणे, the verb stays neuter: मला पोहायला आवडते. Use the singular आवडते, because the action is one thing.

-ायला also follows feelings: मला मराठी बोलायला भीती वाटते. (I am afraid to speak Marathi.)

For a purpose with a longer, more formal sound, use -ण्यासाठी.

Examples (5)

  1. मी भाजी आणायला जाते.

    I'm going to buy vegetables. A woman is speaking.

    -ायला gives the purpose of going, and जाते shows a woman.

  2. मला पोहायला आवडते.

    I like swimming.

    -ायला names the action that is liked.

  3. ती मला भेटायला आली.

    She came to meet me.

    -ायला gives the purpose of coming.

  4. आम्ही चहा प्यायला बसलो.

    We sat down to have tea.

    प्यायला is the form of पिणे.

  5. मी मित्राला भेटायला जातो.

    I'm going to meet a friend. A man is speaking.

    -ायला gives the purpose, and जातो shows a man.

Common Mistakes

  • Making आवडणे agree with the doer.

    मला पोहायला आवडतो.
    मला पोहायला आवडते.

    The action is one neuter thing, so use आवडते.

How It Connects

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

-ायलाLevel 3Going to Do Something and Liking to Do It

Learn This First

-ायला is the to-form of the verb used with likes and abilities.