वेळ लागणे
Taking Time
The verb matches the time word, so तीन तास takes लागतात, while अर्धा तास and वेळ take लागतो.
How It Works
Marathi says "three hours attach to going" for "it takes three hours". The time word is the subject, and लागणे agrees with it.
| Time word | Present | Past |
|---|---|---|
| तीन तास | लागतात | लागले |
| अर्धा तास | लागतो | लागला |
| दहा मिनिटे | लागतात | लागली |
| वेळ | लागतो | लागला |
| एक दिवस | लागतो | लागला |
The action that takes time usually ends in -ायला: जायला, शिजायला, तयार व्हायला. The person who needs the time can take -ला: तिला शाळेत पोहोचायला अर्धा तास लागतो. (It takes her half an hour to reach school.)
To ask how long, use किती वेळ: या कामाला किती वेळ लागेल? (How long will this job take?)
Check the gender of the time word. तास is masculine and मिनिट is neuter. In the sense of how long something takes, वेळ takes a masculine verb, although the word is feminine elsewhere (वेळेवर). For a plain "it takes time", use वेळ: वेळ लागतो. A longer wait is खूप वेळ लागतो.
Examples (5)
- पुण्याला जायला तीन तास लागतात.
It takes three hours to get to Pune.
तीन तास is plural, so the verb is लागतात.
- मला तयार व्हायला दहा मिनिटे लागली.
It took me ten minutes to get ready.
मिनिटे is neuter plural, so the past verb is लागली.
- भाजी शिजायला खूप वेळ लागतो.
The vegetable takes a long time to cook.
वेळ is masculine, so the verb is लागतो.
- तिला शाळेत पोहोचायला अर्धा तास लागतो.
It takes her half an hour to reach school.
अर्धा तास is singular and masculine.
- या कामाला किती वेळ लागेल?
How long will this job take?
The job takes -ला, and वेळ decides the verb लागेल.
Common Mistakes
Using a singular verb with plural hours.
तीन तास लागते.तीन तास लागतात.तीन तास is plural, so the verb is plural.
Using the wrong past ending for मिनिटे.
मला दहा मिनिटे लागले.मला दहा मिनिटे लागली.मिनिटे is neuter plural, so the past verb ends in -ली.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Taking time uses लागणे.
Related Patterns
- -ायलाGoing to Do Something and Liking to Do It
This ending links the action to the time.
Level 3 - मला … लागेलNeeding Something
Another use of लागणे, for needing something.
Level 3 - -ण्यासाठीIn Order to Do Something
This ending gives a purpose.
Level 3 - … वाजता / वाजलेClock Times
These tell the clock time.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice वेळ लागणे in Bubblegum
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