… की …
Joining a Clause with की
The clause after की keeps its own tense, so the two parts can be in different times.
How It Works
की is the word for "that". It sits between the two clauses and is not part of either one. The first clause has a verb like माहीत आहे, म्हणाला, पाहिले, कळले or आशा आहे.
| First clause | Meaning |
|---|---|
| मला माहीत आहे की | I know that |
| तो म्हणाला की | he said that |
| सईला कळले की | Sai found out that |
| मला आशा आहे की | I hope that |
Each clause has its own tense. मला माहीत आहे की तो काल आला. (I know that he came yesterday.) The first part is present and the second is past.
Write की with a long ई. It is a separate word, and a comma before it is not needed. In questions like बरोबर की चूक? (right or wrong?), की means "or". It also appears in the patterns असे … की and इतका … की.
With a direct quotation, Marathi writes the exact words in quotation marks and does not need की.
Examples (5)
- मला माहीत आहे की ती व्यस्त आहे.
I know that she is busy.
की opens what the speaker knows.
- तो म्हणाला की आई उद्या येणार आहे.
He said that Mom is coming tomorrow.
की opens what was said.
- मला आशा आहे की उद्या ऊन पडेल.
I hope it will be sunny tomorrow.
की opens the hope.
- सईला कळले की परीक्षा उद्या आहे.
Sai found out that the exam is tomorrow.
की opens what Sai learned; कळले takes Sai in -ला.
- मी पाहिले की दार उघडे होते.
I saw that the door was open.
The second clause is in the past, joined by की.
Common Mistakes
Putting की in the wrong place.
मला की माहीत आहे ती व्यस्त आहे.मला माहीत आहे की ती व्यस्त आहे.की comes after the main clause, right before the second clause.
Writing कि with a short vowel.
तो म्हणाला कि तो येईल.तो म्हणाला की तो येईल.Marathi writes the long ई: की.
How It Connects
Learn This First
की joins a whole statement to another.
Related Patterns
- मला वाटते कीSaying What You Think
The most common sentence that uses की.
Level 3 - असे सांगितलेReporting Official Statements
This is the formal way to report what someone said.
Level 5 - इतका … कीSo Much That
Here की gives the result.
Level 4 - माहीत आहे / माहीत नाहीKnowing a Fact
This is the usual first clause for knowing.
Level 2 - आठवणे / कळणेRemembering and Understanding
These verbs also take की.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice … की … in Bubblegum
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