-ला कि

Worrying Something Might Happen

Level 4Sounds Like lā ki

-ला कि भनेर means in case.

How It Works

-ला is the form for something that may happen. Followed by कि भनेर, it becomes the reason behind an action: in case, for fear that, hoping that.

Build it in three parts:

  • The possible event: पानी पर्ला (it may rain).
  • The link: कि भनेर.
  • What you did: मैले छाता लिएँ.

Put together: पानी पर्ला कि भनेर मैले छाता लिएँ (I took an umbrella in case it rained).

The event sits in the -ला form, which has its own entry. A third-person doer takes -ला or -लान्, a woman takes -ली as ऊ or -लिन् as उनी, and a respected person takes -नुहोला: साथीले फोन गर्ला कि भनेर. Do not leave out भनेर: कि alone does not link the worry to the action.

Examples (5)

  1. बस छुट्ला कि भनेर म हतारिएँ।

    I hurried in case I missed the bus.

    छुट्ला is the possible event.

  2. पानी पर्ला कि भनेर मैले छाता लिएँ।

    I took an umbrella in case it rained.

    The action follows कि भनेर.

  3. साथीले फोन गर्ला कि भनेर म घरमै बसेँ।

    I stayed home in case a friend phoned.

    फोन गर्ला is what I hoped for.

  4. उसले बिर्सला कि भनेर मैले उसलाई सम्झाएँ।

    I reminded him in case he forgot.

    बिर्सला is the feared event.

  5. ढिलो होला कि भनेर हामी चाँडै निस्क्यौँ।

    We left early in case we would be late.

    होला is the -ला form of हुनु.

Common Mistakes

  • A learner leaves out भनेर.

    बस छुट्ला कि म हतारिएँ।
    बस छुट्ला कि भनेर म हतारिएँ।

    The reason needs कि भनेर, not कि alone.

How It Connects

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

-ला किLevel 4Worrying Something Might Happen

Learn This First

-ला कि worries about what might happen.