Tense and Aspect

FoundationsSounds Like kāḷa āṇi pakṣa

The same verb gives four shapes, so learn each shape as one piece with its meaning.

How It Works

Most verbs have this set of shapes, and each one answers a question about time. असणे (to be) has its own present: आहे.

QuestionShapeExample
Does it happen as a habit?-तो / -तेमी लिहितो (I write)
Is it happening now?-त आहेमी लिहीत आहे (I am writing)
Is it finished?-लेमी लिहिले (I wrote)
Will it happen later?-ईन / -ेलमी लिहीन (I will write)

The habit shape and the future shape change with the doer: मी करतो, तू करतोस. In the -ले past, the shape depends on whether the verb has an object. The page सकर्मक / अकर्मक क्रियापदे shows how.

Time words like रोज, आता, काल and उद्या go with these shapes: मी काल गेलो, मी उद्या जाईन.

Examples (5)

  1. मी रोज चहा पिते.

    I drink tea every day. A woman is speaking.

    पिते is the habit shape.

  2. तो आता जेवण करत आहे.

    He is having a meal now.

    करत आहे shows an action in progress.

  3. मी काल पुण्याला गेलो.

    I went to Pune yesterday. A man is speaking.

    गेलो is the done shape.

  4. आम्ही उद्या नाशिकला जाऊ.

    We will go to Nashik tomorrow.

    जाऊ is the shape for later.

  5. तिने काल पत्र लिहिले.

    She wrote a letter yesterday.

    लिहिले shows a finished action.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Hindi progressive.

    तो जेवण करत रहा आहे.
    तो जेवण करत आहे.

    Marathi says करत आहे, with no रहा.

  • Using the habit shape for a finished action.

    मी काल पत्र लिहितो.
    मी काल पत्र लिहिले.

    काल means yesterday, so the verb takes the done shape.

How It Connects

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

Tense and AspectFoundations