کو + Infinitive + ہونا

Having Something to Do

Level 2

Name an action that is on someone’s agenda.

How It Works

The person is marked with کو or an equivalent pronoun form such as مجھے. The form of to be belongs to this action-to-do pattern; it does not agree with the person marked by کو.

With an unmarked feminine object, agreement can appear on the infinitive: مجھے ایک کہانی لکھنی ہے. This differs from a feminine person forcing every infinitive to change.

A past form of to be can place the plan earlier: جانا تھا. That form says what was intended or required then; context must tell you whether the action happened.

Examples (4)

  1. مجھے آج جانا ہے۔

    I have to go today.

    The context supplies the strength and source of the requirement.

  2. ہمیں کل یہاں آنا ہے۔

    We are to come here tomorrow.

    ہمیں identifies the people with the plan.

  3. بلال کو ایک کہانی لکھنی ہے۔

    Bilal has to write a story.

    Feminine کہانی selects لکھنی even though Bilal is male.

  4. مجھے کل دفتر جانا تھا۔

    I was supposed to go to the office yesterday.

    تھا places the plan in the past; completion is not asserted.

How It Connects

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

کو + Infinitive + ہوناLevel 2Having Something to Do

Learn This First

Compare advice or need with an assigned or expected action. Use the appropriate copula in the obligation statement.

Words in This Pattern

ہوناکو