The present continuous tense indicates that an action or condition is happening now, frequently, and may continue into the future. Ex: I am playing cricket, Ram is listening to music, They are sleeping now etc.
In Hindi, the present continuous tense sentence has three parts:
1. The root verb
2. The endings as shown in the table below which corresponds to “ing” of English
3. The appropriate present tense of “be verb” to specify the tense of the action.
Refer to the below table to know what suffixes are used with different subjects.
| Subject | Masculine suffix | Feminine suffix | Present tense indicator |
|---|---|---|---|
| मैं | रहा - raha | रही - rahee | हूँ – hoon |
| तू | रहा - raha | रही - rahee | है – hai |
| तुम | रहे - rahe | रही - rahee | हो – ho |
| यह, वह | रहा - raha | रही - rahee | है – hai |
| हम, आप, ये, वे | रहे - rahe | रहीं - raheen | हैं – hain |
Note:
1. All masculine plurals have the same ending रहे हैं (rahe hain).
2. All feminine subjects (except feminine plural) have the रही (rahee).
3. For making the sentence negative, नहीं (naheen) is placed before the verb.
Example verb: eat – kha खा
I am eating – मैं खा रहा हूँ – main kha raha hoon – said by a male
I am eating – मैं खा रही हूँ – main kha rahee hoon – said by a female
You are eating – तू खा रहा है – tu kha raha hai – said to a male
You are eating – तू खा रही है – tu kha rahee hai – said to a female
You are eating – तुम खा रहे हो – tum kha rahe ho – said to a male
You are eating – तुम खा रही हो – tum kha rahee ho – said to a female
You are eating – आप खा रहे हैं – aap kha rahe hain – said to a male or a group of males (this sentence can be used in both singular and plural meaning). The same sentence can also be said to a group of males and females.
You are eating – आप खा रही हैं – aap kha rahee hain – said to a female or a group of females (this sentence can be used in both singular and plural meaning)
He is eating – यह/वह खा रहा है – yah kha raha hai – said to a male
She is eating – यह/वह खा रही है – yah/vah kha rahee hai – said to a female
We are eating – हम खा रहे हैं – hum kha rahe hain – said by a group of males. The same sentence can also be said by a group of males and females.
We are eating – हम खा रहीं हैं – hum kha rehee hain – said by a group of females
They are eating – ये/वे खा रहे हैं – ye/ve kha rahe hain – said to a group of males. The same sentence can also be said to a group of males and females.
They are eating – ये/वे खा रहीं हैं – ye/ve kha raheen hain – said to a group of females
In negative sentences, the present tense indicator can be dropped.
I am not eating – मैं नहीं खा रहा हूँ – main naheen kha raha hoon
The above sentence can also be said as
मैं नहीं खा रहा – main naheen kha raha. The present tense indicator is dropped.
We are not eating – हम नहीं खा रहीं – hum naheen kha raheen
The same sentence structure can also be used in future tense sentences.
Ex: I am going to India next week – मैं अगले हफ्ते भारत जा रहा हूँ – main agale haphte bhaarat ja raha hoon.
Practice sentences:
Ram is going to Delhi
राम दिल्ली जा रहा है Ram dilli jaa raha hai.
I am eating food
मैं खाना खा रहा हूँ Main khaana khaa raha hoon.
We are praying to God
हम भगवान से प्रार्थना कर रहे है Ham bhagvaan se praarthana kar rahe hai.
Are you feeling sleepy?
क्या आप नींद महसूस कर रहे हो? Kya aap neend mahasoos kar rahe ho?
Are you waiting for me?
क्या आप मेरा इंतज़ार कर रहे हो? Kya aap mera enthzaar kar rahe ho?
Are the birds flying in the sky?
क्या पक्षी आकाश मे उड़ रहे है? Kya pakshi aakaash me udh rahe hai?
Is the postman delivering the mail?
क्या पोस्टमैन चिठ्ठियाँ बाँट रहा है? Kya postmain chittiyaan baant raha hai?
I am not wasting my time.
मैं अपना समय बर्बाद नही कर रही Main apna samay barbaad nahee kar rahee.
Are you looking after the children?
क्या आप बच्चो की देखभाल कर रहे हो? Kya aap bachcho ki dekhbhaal kar rahe ho?
Who is ringing the door bell?
दरवाजे की घंटी कौन बजा रहा है? Darvaaje kee ghanti koun baja raha hai?
Are you searching for a new candidate?
क्या आप एक नये उम्मीदवार को ढूँढ रहे हो? Kya aap ek naye ummeedwaar ko dhoond rahe ho?
Are you smiling at me?
क्या आप मुझ पर मुस्कुरा रहे हो? Kya aap mujh per muskura rahe ho?
Which book are they reading?
वे कौन सी किताब पढ़ रहे है? Ve koun see kithaab padh rahe hai?
I am giving him a surprise party.
मैं उसे एक सर्पराइज पार्टी दे रहा हूँ Main use ek sarpraaej paarty de raha hoon.
He is traveling by bus.
वह बस से यात्रा कर रहा है Vah bas se yaathra kar raha hai.