Hindi grammar · Beginner · Lesson 5
Hindi Adjective Agreement: Achha, Achhi and Achhe
Choose अच्छा, अच्छी, or अच्छे to match Hindi noun gender, number, and case, and recognize adjectives that stay unchanged.
Updated October 10, 2026 · Free lesson and exercises
Change many adjectives ending in -aa
Adjectives such as अच्छा and बड़ा have changing endings. Use अच्छा with a masculine singular direct noun, अच्छे with a masculine plural direct noun, and अच्छी with feminine nouns. The feminine form stays the same for singular and plural in this pattern.
Leave many other adjectives unchanged
Adjectives such as सुंदर and साफ़ generally do not change for gender or number. सुंदर लड़का and सुंदर लड़की therefore use the same adjective. Do not add a feminine ending to every describing word.
Match the case of the whole phrase
Before a postposition, a changing masculine adjective uses its oblique form in -े. बड़ा कमरा becomes बड़े कमरे में, in the big room. The noun and the adjective both adapt; feminine adjectives like बड़ी remain बड़ी in comparable phrases.
Common adjective forms
| Context | Good | Big |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine singular, direct | अच्छा (achha) | बड़ा (bada) |
| Masculine plural, direct | अच्छे (achhe) | बड़े (bade) |
| Feminine singular or plural | अच्छी (achhi) | बड़ी (badi) |
| Masculine before a postposition | अच्छे (achhe) | बड़े (bade) |
सुंदर (sundar) and साफ़ (saaf) do not follow this changing -ा pattern.
See the pattern in a sentence
यह अच्छा कमरा है।yah achha kamra hai.
This is a good room.
कमरा is masculine singular in the direct case.
ये अच्छी किताबें हैं।ye achhi kitaabein hain.
These are good books.
अच्छी stays feminine even with plural किताबें.
मैं बड़े कमरे में हूँ।main bade kamre mein hoon.
I am in the big room.
में triggers oblique बड़े कमरे.
Common mistakes to notice
To fix: अच्छा लड़की
Use: अच्छी लड़की
The adjective must match feminine लड़की.
To fix: बड़ा कमरे में
Use: बड़े कमरे में
The masculine adjective and noun are oblique before में.
Try it yourself
Say or write an answer before opening the explanation.
1. Describe किताब as big.
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बड़ी किताब।badi kitaab.
किताब is feminine.
2. Describe two masculine rooms as good.
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दो अच्छे कमरे।do achhe kamre.
Both words are masculine direct plural.
3. Say in the big room.
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बड़े कमरे में।bade kamre mein.
Use the masculine oblique forms before में.
Use it in a conversation
Describe a room and a book. Then say you are in the big room, changing both words before mein.
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Questions about this pattern
Do all Hindi adjectives change their ending?
No. Many adjectives ending in -ा change; adjectives like सुंदर and साफ़ generally stay unchanged.
Is achhi also used for feminine plural nouns?
Yes. अच्छी is the feminine form for both singular and plural in this pattern.
Why is bade used with one room?
In बड़े कमरे में, the phrase is oblique because of में. The -े form does not always mean plural.
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References and corrections
Original explanations and practice examples for beginners. References help check the grammar; this page covers the patterns shown rather than every exception.