Hindi grammar · Beginner · Lesson 3
Hona Conjugation: Hoon, Hai, Ho and Hain in Hindi
Use हूँ, है, हो, and हैं for the present of होना, and compare basic past forms था, थी, थे, and थीं.
Updated October 10, 2026 · Free lesson and exercises
Learn the present forms of to be
होना is the infinitive to be. Its present forms connect a subject to an identity, description, or location. मैं हूँ is I am, while वह है is he/she/it is. The present copula changes by person and number, not simply by masculine versus feminine gender.
Use respectful agreement
आप takes हैं even when referring to one addressee. A respected third person can also take plural agreement. Keep nasalization in हूँ and हैं: it is part of the spoken distinction, not an optional spelling mark.
Recognize gender in the past
The common past forms are था for masculine singular, थी for feminine singular, थे for masculine plural or respectful masculine reference, and थीं for feminine plural or respectful feminine reference. This makes gender visible in the past where the present copula alone did not show it.
Present copula by subject
| Subject | Present | English |
|---|---|---|
| मैं (main) | हूँ (hoon) | I am |
| तू (too) | है (hai) | intimate you are |
| तुम (tum) | हो (ho) | familiar you are |
| यह / वह (yah / vah) | है (hai) | he / she / it is |
| हम (ham) | हैं (hain) | we are |
| आप (aap) | हैं (hain) | respectful you are |
| ये / वे (ye / ve) | हैं (hain) | they are |
Past reference: था (tha), थी (thi), थे (the), थीं (theen). Agreement depends on gender, number, and respect.
See the pattern in a sentence
मैं घर में हूँ।main ghar mein hoon.
I am in the house.
मैं selects हूँ; में follows घर.
आप तैयार हैं।aap taiyaar hain.
You are ready.
Respectful आप selects हैं.
सीता कल यहाँ थी।seeta kal yahaan thi.
Sita was here yesterday.
थी is feminine singular.
Common mistakes to notice
To fix: मैं घर में है।
Use: मैं घर में हूँ।
मैं requires हूँ in this present sentence.
To fix: आप तैयार है।
Use: आप तैयार हैं।
Use respectful हैं with आप.
Try it yourself
Say or write an answer before opening the explanation.
1. Complete: वह यहाँ ___.
Show answer and explanation
वह यहाँ है।vah yahaan hai.
The ordinary singular third-person form is है.
2. Complete: हम तैयार ___.
Show answer and explanation
हम तैयार हैं।ham taiyaar hain.
हम takes हैं.
3. Say Sita was at home.
Show answer and explanation
सीता घर पर थी।seeta ghar par thi.
थी agrees with a feminine singular subject.
Use it in a conversation
Say who you are, where you are, and whether you are ready. Then describe where you were yesterday, choosing tha or thi appropriately.
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Questions about this pattern
Do men and women use different present forms of hona?
Not for the copula alone: both say मैं हूँ, main hoon. Adjectives or participles around it may show gender.
What is the difference between hai and hain?
है (hai) is singular in the ordinary third person and with intimate तू. हैं (hain) is plural or respectful, including with आप.
Why does thi appear with Sita?
थी is the feminine singular past form. The past copula shows gender as well as number and respect.
Keep building your sentences
Words to practice with
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.