कोणीतरी / काहीतरी
Someone and Something
The words mean someone, something, somewhere and sometime, and they join into one word.
How It Works
-तरी turns a question word into a word for "some". It joins the question word, and the whole word is written without a space.
| Question word | With -तरी | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कोणी | कोणीतरी | someone |
| काही | काहीतरी | something |
| कुठे | कुठेतरी | somewhere |
| कधी | कधीतरी | sometime |
The case ending comes first, and -तरी is last: कोणाला becomes कोणालातरी (to someone), and कोणाशी becomes कोणाशीतरी (with someone).
Do not mix this word up with कोणीही. कोणीतरी means one person who exists but is not named. कोणीही means any person at all, whoever it is. काहीतरी can also point at a problem: काहीतरी चुकले आहे. (Something is wrong.)
For a person you do not know, the verb usually takes the neuter: कोणीतरी आले आहे. (Someone has come.) Once you know it is a woman or a man, the verb shows it: कोणीतरी आली होती. (A woman had come.) कोणीतरी आला होता. (A man had come.) काहीतरी takes the neuter.
Examples (5)
- कोणीतरी दार वाजवत आहे.
Someone is knocking at the door.
कोणीतरी names a person who is not known.
- मला काहीतरी गोड खायचे आहे.
I want to eat something sweet.
काहीतरी means some sweet thing, not named.
- कुठेतरी पाऊस पडत आहे.
It is raining somewhere.
कुठेतरी means some place.
- सई कोणालातरी फोन करत आहे.
Sai is calling someone.
-ला comes before -तरी in कोणालातरी.
- तो कधीतरी येईल.
He will come sometime.
कधीतरी means at some time.
Common Mistakes
Using कोणीही for someone.
कोणीही दार वाजवत आहे.कोणीतरी दार वाजवत आहे.कोणीही means anyone at all. Someone who is knocking is कोणीतरी.
Putting -तरी before the case ending.
सई कोणीतरीला फोन करत आहे.सई कोणालातरी फोन करत आहे.The case ending comes first, and -तरी is last.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Someone and something add तरी.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice कोणीतरी / काहीतरी in Bubblegum
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