Hindi grammar · Beginner · Lesson 9
Hindi Present Habitual: Ta, Ti, Te + Hona
Describe routines in Hindi with verb stem + ता, ती, or ते and a present form of होना.
Updated October 10, 2026 · Free lesson and exercises
Choose this pattern for habits
The habitual present describes routines and general activities, such as drinking tea or speaking Hindi. Remove -ना from an infinitive to obtain the stem, add the habitual ending, then use a present copula: बोलना → बोलता हूँ for a male speaker saying I speak.
Match the participle to the subject
Use -ता for masculine singular, -ती for feminine subjects, and -ते for masculine plural or respectful masculine reference in the common pattern. The auxiliary still follows person and number: मैं बोलती हूँ, वह बोलती है, हम बोलती हैं for an all-female we.
Distinguish a routine from an action now
मैं रोज़ चाय पीता हूँ describes a daily routine. For an action happening now, the progressive pattern uses रहा, रही, or रहे instead: मैं अभी चाय पी रहा हूँ. Learn both with a time word so the intended meaning is clear.
Habitual forms of बोलना
| Subject context | Phrase | English |
|---|---|---|
| I, male | मैं बोलता हूँ (main bolta hoon) | I speak |
| I, female | मैं बोलती हूँ (main bolti hoon) | I speak |
| He | वह बोलता है (vah bolta hai) | He speaks |
| She | वह बोलती है (vah bolti hai) | She speaks |
| We, male or mixed | हम बोलते हैं (ham bolte hain) | We speak |
| You, respectful male | आप बोलते हैं (aap bolte hain) | You speak |
With respectful feminine आप, use आप बोलती हैं (aap bolti hain). The copula and participle carry different agreement information.
See the pattern in a sentence
मैं रोज़ चाय पीती हूँ।main roz chaay peeti hoon.
I drink tea every day.
The female speaker uses पीती हूँ for a routine.
राम हिंदी बोलता है।raam hindi bolta hai.
Ram speaks Hindi.
The masculine singular subject takes बोलता है.
हम यहाँ काम करते हैं।ham yahaan kaam karte hain.
We work here.
करना becomes करते with a male or mixed plural subject.
Common mistakes to notice
To fix: मैं हिंदी बोलना हूँ।
Use: मैं हिंदी बोलता हूँ / बोलती हूँ।
Use the habitual participle, not the infinitive before हूँ.
To fix: सीता चाय पीता है।
Use: सीता चाय पीती है।
The participle agrees with feminine Sita; the copula remains है.
Try it yourself
Say or write an answer before opening the explanation.
1. Say I speak Hindi as a female speaker.
Show answer and explanation
मैं हिंदी बोलती हूँ।main hindi bolti hoon.
Use the feminine participle and first-person copula.
2. Say Ram drinks tea every day.
Show answer and explanation
राम रोज़ चाय पीता है।raam roz chaay peeta hai.
A habit uses the habitual form.
3. Say we work here for a mixed group.
Show answer and explanation
हम यहाँ काम करते हैं।ham yahaan kaam karte hain.
Use masculine plural करते and हैं.
Use it in a conversation
Describe two daily routines, including how often you do them. Choose habitual forms that match the subject of each sentence.
Read the examples aloud, then try your own sentences. In ChatPal, practice a real scenario and get personalized feedback on what you say.
Practice Hindi out loudFAQ
Questions about this pattern
Does the habitual present mean an action is happening right now?
It usually presents a habit, routine, or general activity. Use the progressive to emphasize an action in progress now.
Why does bolta become bolti?
The participle agrees with a feminine subject. The person-based auxiliary is chosen separately.
What is the stem of bolna?
Remove -ना from बोलना to get बोल-. Add the habitual ending and a form of होना: बोलता है, बोलती हूँ, and so on.
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.