Infinitive Agreement With Its Object

Level 5

Unmarked object → the infinitive may carry its gender and number.

How It Works

In a requirement with کو and ہونا, an unmarked object can control the infinitive and copula. Compare a feminine book with masculine plural letters: کتاب پڑھنی ہے and خط لکھنے ہیں.

A کو-marked object does not control this agreement. With both the person and the object marked, the masculine singular default appears, as in مجھے مریم کو بلانا ہے.

Other environments differ. An infinitive after a postposition uses its own oblique form, while complements of چاہنا can vary in agreement. Do not change every -نا to match a nearby noun; learn the rule for the whole construction.

Examples (5)

  1. مجھے یہ کتاب پڑھنی ہے۔

    I have to read this book.

    The unmarked feminine book controls پڑھنی ہے.

  2. ہمیں دو خط لکھنے ہیں۔

    We have to write two letters.

    The masculine plural letters control لکھنے ہیں; -نے here reflects plural agreement.

  3. مریم کو یہ چابیاں واپس کرنی ہیں۔

    Maryam has to return these keys.

    The unmarked feminine plural object controls کرنی ہیں, not the کو-marked person.

  4. مجھے مریم کو بلانا ہے۔

    I have to call Maryam.

    The کو-marked object leaves default masculine singular بلانا ہے.

  5. میں یہ کتاب پڑھنا چاہتا ہوں۔

    I want to read this book.

    This wanting construction permits the unchanged infinitive; object agreement is not a universal obligation.

Common Mistakes

  • Letting a کو-marked female object force feminine infinitive agreement.

    مجھے مریم کو بلانی ہے۔
    مجھے مریم کو بلانا ہے۔

    مریم کو cannot control agreement in this construction. The infinitive uses masculine singular default بلانا.

How It Connects

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

Infinitive Agreement With Its ObjectLevel 5

Learn This First

Recognize an infinitive as a noun-like activity expression. Distinguish unmarked-object agreement from the effect of a marked object. Recognize the wanting complement whose agreement can differ.