-تا / -تی / -تے ہوا

Describing an Ongoing Action

Level 3

Build a describing phrase before the noun.

How It Works

The construction is a noun description, not by itself a full present-tense sentence. A later copula or main verb completes the statement.

Masculine plural or oblique forms use تے ہوئے. In بھاگتے ہوئے لڑکے کو, the singular noun and its describing phrase are oblique before کو.

Distinguish this agreement from the adverbial “while doing” construction. وہ ہنستے ہوئے بولی can use the adverbial form even though the speaker is feminine.

Examples (4)

  1. ہنستا ہوا لڑکا میرا بھائی ہے۔

    The laughing boy is my brother.

    The describing phrase agrees with masculine singular لڑکا.

  2. ہنستی ہوئی لڑکی میری بہن ہے۔

    The laughing girl is my sister.

    Both participial words take feminine forms.

  3. ہم نے بھاگتے ہوئے لڑکے کو دیکھا۔

    We saw the running boy.

    The singular phrase is oblique before کو.

  4. بہتا ہوا پانی صاف ہے۔

    The flowing water is clear.

    The phrase describes masculine پانی through an ongoing process.

Common Mistakes

  • Using masculine agreement for a feminine described noun.

    ہنستا ہوا لڑکی میری بہن ہے۔
    ہنستی ہوئی لڑکی میری بہن ہے۔

    Both parts of this noun description agree with لڑکی.

How It Connects

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

-تا / -تی / -تے ہواLevel 3Describing an Ongoing Action

Learn This First

Recognize a habitual participle. Use a participial description with a noun.

Words in This Pattern

ہونا