-ا / -ہ → -ے (واحد مغیرہ)

A Common Masculine Oblique Singular

Level 2

Compare one bag by itself with a phrase about that same bag.

How It Works

In میرا بستہ, the noun is in its direct form. In میرے بستے میں, both the possessive and the noun show oblique masculine singular agreement.

The postposition comes after the whole noun phrase. An adjective can therefore change too: بڑا بستہ becomes بڑے بستے میں.

This is a common noun class, not a spelling rule for every word ending in ا or ہ. Some nouns keep a different form. Learn each noun’s forms along with its gender.

Examples (4)

  1. میرے بستے میں ایک قلم ہے۔

    There is a pen in my bag.

    A single بستہ becomes بستے before میں.

  2. بڑے کمرے میں روشنی ہے۔

    There is light in the large room.

    Both بڑا and کمرہ take the oblique e form.

  3. اس دروازے کے پاس رکیے۔

    Stop near that door.

    The reference noun precedes کے پاس.

  4. یہ بستہ نیا ہے۔

    This bag is new.

    Contrast the direct singular form with no following postposition.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping direct بستہ before میں.

    میرے بستہ میں ایک قلم ہے۔
    میرے بستے میں ایک قلم ہے۔

    Use the oblique singular بستے in this phrase.

How It Connects

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

-ا / -ہ → -ے (واحد مغیرہ)Level 2A Common Masculine Oblique Singular

Learn This First

Recognize the -ے surface shape already used in masculine plurals. Distinguish oblique singular from direct plural.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.