Perfective Verb + ہے / ہیں

A Completed Event Relevant Now

Level 3

Start with the completed event, then choose the present copula.

How It Works

Compare میں پہنچی ہوں and میں نے تصویر بھیجی ہے. In the first sentence the feminine speaker controls پہنچی ہوں. In the second, نے marks the speaker and feminine تصویر controls بھیجی; the copula is ہے.

An unmarked plural object can select ہیں: ہم نے دو خط لکھے ہیں. If the direct object itself has کو, use the construction’s default agreement instead: ہم نے ان بچوں کو بلایا ہے.

The present connection does not mean that the action is still happening. A person who has written a letter may already have stopped writing. Use a progressive form for an action underway now.

Examples (4)

  1. میں ابھی پہنچی ہوں۔

    I have just arrived.

    The feminine speaker is unmarked and selects پہنچی ہوں.

  2. میں نے تصویر بھیجی ہے۔

    I have sent the picture.

    The feminine object selects بھیجی; the marked speaker does not select ہوں.

  3. ہم نے دو خط لکھے ہیں۔

    We have written two letters.

    The unmarked masculine plural object selects لکھے ہیں.

  4. ہم نے ان بچوں کو بلایا ہے۔

    We have invited those children.

    Both subject and direct object are marked, so بلایا ہے has default agreement.

Common Mistakes

  • Making the copula agree with a speaker marked by نے.

    میں نے تصویر بھیجی ہوں۔
    میں نے تصویر بھیجی ہے۔

    میں نے does not control agreement in this construction.

How It Connects

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

Perfective Verb + ہے / ہیںLevel 3A Completed Event Relevant Now

Learn This First

Select object or default agreement in a transitive perfective before adding a present auxiliary. Locate the completed event relative to a present state.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

ہونا