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The Most Common Urdu Mistakes a Learner Makes

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“The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of making a mistake.” — Meister Eckhart

As a learner of a foreign language, you should always opt to make mistakes instead of keeping quiet. While no one enjoys making mistakes, they’re an inevitable part of language-learning, and every successful learner has made them. Just remember that it’s important to learn from those mistakes so as not to repeat them! 

In this article, we’ll outline the most common mistakes Urdu-learners make and how to avoid them. 

But before we start, a quick note:

If you’re an Urdu-learner, you’ll come to know at some point that even native Pakistanis are susceptible to making mistakes in their own language. For example, many Pakistanis are unable to differentiate between غلط العام (ghalat-ul-aam), which are Urdu words that are incorrect but accepted by the academics due to their overuse, and غلط العوام (ghalat-ul-awam), which are incorrect Urdu words that are frequently used in public but are not accepted by the academics as correct.

So don’t be discouraged if you make the occasional error in Urdu—you’re not alone!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. The Incorrect Use of Gender Cases
  2. Beware of False Friends
  3. Some Common Mistakes in the Conjugation of Urdu Verbs
  4. Common Word Order Mistakes in Urdu
  5. Some Common Urdu Pronunciation Mistakes
  6. Other Urdu Mistakes
  7. Conclusion

1. The Incorrect Use of Gender Cases

Gender Symbols Signifying Masculine, Feminine, and Neutral Icons

Native speakers almost never make this mistake in Urdu, but new learners make it all the time! For example, in Pakistani society, a native Urdu-speaker will never say:

کیا آپ نے دودھ پی؟
kia aap nay doodh pi?

It’s an incorrect sentence because دودھ (doodh), meaning “milk,” is always masculine. The correct sentence is:

کیا آپ نے دودھ پیا؟
kia aap nay doodh piya?
“Did you drink milk?”

A non-native may also say:

کیا آپ نے چائے پیا؟
kia aap nay chaye piya?

This is also incorrect, for the noun چائے (chaye), meaning “tea,” is always treated as feminine in the Urdu language. The correct sentence is:

کیا آپ نے چائے پی؟
kia aap nay chaye pi?
“Did you take tea?”

We recommend that you always learn the Urdu nouns along with their gender so you can use them correctly in terms of gender agreement.

Appropriate use of تاہے/تی ہے and تاہوں/تی ہوں

Another set of common Urdu-learner mistakes involves using the inappropriate words for masculine and feminine subjects. Here’s an example of how a non-native female may speak incorrectly in this regard:

میں ٹی-وی دیکھنا پسند کرتا ہوں۔
mei TV dekhna pasand karta hu.
“I like to watch TV.”

The sentence above is incorrect when spoken by a female, but is correct when spoken by a male. The following sentence is the correct way for a female to say this sentence:

میں ٹی-وی دیکھنا پسند کرتی ہوں۔
mei TV dekhna pasand karti hu.
“I like to watch TV.”

Here, the key is to learn the appropriate usage of تا ہوں (masculine) and تی ہوں (feminine). This will help you avoid making gender agreement mistakes in Urdu.

2. Beware of False Friends

A Woman with Two Faces Who is Quite Deceptive

Common Urdu mistakes often arise from “false friends,” which you’ll find plenty of while studying the language. False friends are words which appear to be similar to each other, but communicate different meanings. This may result in confusion and complicate the communication process. 

Below is a list of words that are often mistaken for one another in Urdu:

  • محرم (moharam) – first month of the Islamic calendar / محرم (mehram) – “one who knows”
  • پیڑ (peerr) – “pain” / پیڑ (pairr) – “tree”
  • دانہ (dana) – “grain” / داناء (danaa) – “wise”
  • ریت (rait) – “sand” / ریت (reet) – “tradition”
  • پریت (preet) – “love” / پریت (prait) – “apparition”
  • کھاتہ (khata) – “account” / کھاتا (khata) – “eats” [conjugation of the Urdu verb کھانا (khana), meaning “eat”]
  • پتہ (pata) – “address” / پتا (patta) – “leaf”

3. Some Common Mistakes in the Conjugation of Urdu Verbs

Making it through the labyrinth of Urdu verb conjugation is an uphill task for any foreign learner. However, it is achievable once you understand the rules and how they work. Before we continue, you may want to read our article all about Urdu Verb Conjugation to brush up on the basics. 

Below, we’ll introduce you to some very basic Urdu mistakes that one may make while conjugating verbs.

میں یہ کرے گا
mei yeh karay ga.

وہ یہ کروں گی
woh yeh karu gi.

تم یہ کرے گی
tum yeh karay gi.

In each of these three sentences, the Urdu verb  کرنا (karna), meaning “to do,” is incorrectly conjugated. Now, let’s see how to conjugate this verb correctly:

میں یہ کروں گا۔
mei yeh karun ga.
“I will do this.”

وہ یہ کرے گی۔
woh yeh karay gi.
“She will do this.”

تم یہ کرو گے۔
tum yeh karo gay.
“You will do this.”


4. Common Word Order Mistakes in Urdu

Different Vegetables Arranged on the Floor in an Orderly Manner

Did you ever have to complete sentence diagrams in school? Well, believe it or not, those exercises probably gave you a good idea of how word order and sentence structure work in your language. Better still, you can transfer this knowledge over to Urdu! Here, we’ll introduce you to the basic concepts pertaining to proper Urdu word order.

If you want to have an even deeper understanding of Urdu word order, see our dedicated Urdu Word Order article!

A- SVO vs. SOV

One unique distinction of Urdu script is that it’s written from right to left; its syntactic word order is Subject + Object + Verb. On the other hand, the word order of English is Subject + Verb + Object. To understand the difference, have a look at this sentence:

وہ بانسری بجاتا ہے۔

V     O     S

woh bansuri bajata hai.

V     O      S

“He plays the flute.”

S     V     O

B- Placement of Adjectives and Pronouns

In Urdu, pronouns are usually placed at the beginning of the sentence. Here are some examples:

ہم فلم دیکھتے ہیں۔
hum film daikhtay hain.
“We watch a film.”

تم گانا گاتے ہو۔
tum gana gatay ho.
“You sing a song.”

As for the placement of adjectives in Urdu sentences, note that they’re always placed before the noun they describe:

وہ نیلی کار چلاتا ہے۔
woh neeli car chalata hai.
“He drives a blue car.”

وہ سرخ سیب پسند کرتا ہے۔
woh surkh saib pasand karta hai.
“He likes red apples.”


5. Some Common Urdu Pronunciation Mistakes

A Female Teacher Trying to Explain the Pronunciation of Some Words Transcribed on a White Board

Among all of the Urdu language mistakes that learners make, incorrect pronunciation is at the top of the list. That said, the best way to improve your pronunciation is to practice and learn from your mistakes as you go. If you want to dig deeper into the topic of pronunciation, feel free to read our article all about Urdu Pronunciation

Now, let’s see a few of the most common pronunciation mistakes for Urdu-learners.

ا (alif) vs. ع (ain)

Urdu-learners often confuse the sounds ا (alif) and ع (ain). 

The pronunciation of آم (aam) and عام (aam) are quite similar in English, but they tend to sound different when spoken by natives. Since, in English, there’s no sound equal to the consonant ع, it’s very common for native English-speakers to say it incorrectly. 

ت (tay) vs. ط (to’e)

On a similar note, non-natives tend to confuse the sounds of ت (tay) and ط (to’e). The latter sound is absent in English as well. Let’s see how these two sounds are most often confused.

  • تارک (tarik) – “the one who denounces”
  • طارق (tariq) – “morning star”

Due to the absence of the latter sound in English, it’s much more commonly mispronounced by English-speakers than the former sound. 

ک (kaaf) vs. ق (qaaf)

Another pair of sounds that often confuses Urdu-learners is ک (kaaf) and ق (qaaf). However, there’s a big difference in the pronunciation of these two sounds; the former is much closer to the ‘k’ sound and the latter is equivalent to the ‘q’ sound. Here’s an example of how these sounds are often confused:

  • کاش (kaash) – “would that”
  • قاش (qaash) – “piece”

6. Other Urdu Mistakes

Two Girls Sitting on a Sea-side, Experiencing an Embarrassing Situation

Finally, some of the most common embarrassing mistakes in Urdu have to do with using the wrong word! Following are some examples of mistakes you should avoid. 

A- Replacing سوکھی with سکھی

سدا سکھی رہو۔
sada sukhi raho.
“May you be happy forever.”

سدا سُوکھی رہو۔
sada sookhi raho.
“May you be thin forever.”

B- Replacing مرض with مرد 

اسے ایک مرض لگا ہوا ہے۔
Usay aik marz laga hua hai.
“She is suffering from an illness.”

اسے ایک مرد لگا ہوا ہے۔
Usay aik mard laga hua hai.
“A man is attached to her.” OR “A man is using her.” (sexual connotation)

7. Conclusion

In this article, you’ve learned about the most common mistakes in learning Urdu along with some common Urdu grammar mistakes. With this knowledge in mind, and an abundant source of vocabulary tools and other language lessons, you should be able to avoid these Urdu mistakes with few problems. 

Did we miss any particular Urdu mistakes that you wanted to know about? Let us know in the comments! 

Remember to visit UrduPod101.com—a storehouse saturated with resources about the Urdu language. We always take pleasure in extending our helping hand to you in your efforts to learn Urdu.

Until next time, very happy Urdu-learning!

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An Up-to-Date Guide on Common Questions and Answers in Urdu

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“To be or not to be, that is the question.” 

Prince Hamlet’s famous question not only immortalized his theatrical character, but also eternalized the dialogic brilliance of Shakespeare in the world of English drama. This question further elevates the character of Hamlet when you consider the proposal rightly put forward by Voltaire: “Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.”

In this article, you’ll learn the most common questions and answers in Urdu. For asking questions and understanding the answers you receive is a vital element of communication. This knowledge will help eliminate ignorance, increase your understanding, and strengthen your bonds with others.  

A Man Stacking Cubes, with the Top Cube Having a Lightbulb Picture

With this in mind, muscle up and learn how to ask smart and simple questions in Urdu, and become far more comfortable talking with native Urdu speakers. Never underestimate the significance of asking the right question at the right place in Urdu, for it may open multiple avenues of conversation and help you achieve your goals.

UrduPod101.com seeks to make your learning experience both painless and effective! So let’s go ahead and unearth the most common questions and answers in Urdu, both simple and more complex.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. Urdu Question Words
  2. Digging for Personal Information
  3. Conclusion

1. Urdu Question Words

First, let’s familiarize you with Urdu questioning words—also called interrogative words—so that you can more aptly ask questions in a variety of situations. 

  • کیا (kya) – “what”
  • کیوں (kyun) – “why”
  •  کب (kab) – “when”
  •  کہاں (kahan) – “where”
  • کیسے (kaisay) – “how”
  • کتنا/کتنی (kitna/kitni) – “how much”/”how many”

Having learned these basic question words in Urdu, it’s time to learn how to use these words in different real-life situations. We’ll introduce you to certain fundamental patterns of questions in Urdu, so that you’ll be able to improvise and tailor them according to the context. 

2. Digging for Personal Information

In Pakistani society, it’s generally best not to ask very private questions during your first conversation with someone. Therefore, we’ll start with some logical questions and answers in Urdu that you can use or expect to hear while first getting to know someone.

First Encounter

1.    How to Ask Someone’s Name in Urdu

The most general questions and answers in Urdu are those used to ask for someone’s name (or give your own). 

a)  Formal

If you’re meeting someone in an official environment, it’s recommended that you use the formal format to ask for that person’s name.

آپ کا نام کیا ہے؟
aap ka naam kya hai?
“What is your name?”

b)  Literary

If you find someone who has a deep understanding of Urdu, you can always surprise him or her by adding a literary touch to your question.

آپ کا اسم گرامی کیا ہے؟
aap ka ism-e-girami kya hai?
“What is your name?”

c)  Casual

If you’re in a more casual or informal situation, you can ask the question this way:

تمھارا نام کیا ہے؟
tumhara naam kya hai?
“What is your name?”

Answer

Now, here’s the most common answer pattern you can expect to hear in reply:

میرا نام عمران ہے
mera naam Imran hai.
“My name is Imran.”

2.    How to Ask Someone’s Age in Urdu

In this section of the article, we’ll let you know how to ask someone’s age in Urdu. You’ll find both formal and casual ways of asking the question in the Urdu language, so you can utilize them according to your needs.

a)  Formal

آپ کی عمر کیا ہے؟
aap ki umr kya hai?
“What is your age?”

آپ کتنے سال کے ہو؟
aap kitnay saal kay ho?
“How old are you?”

b)  Casual

تمھاری عمر کیا ہے؟
tumhari umr kya hai?
“What is your age?”

In response to this question, you’ll usually get the following answer. Don’t forget that you can use the same pattern to answer the question yourself. 

Answer

میری عمر پانچ سال ہے
meri umr paanch saal hai.
“I am five years old.”

3. Asking About Someone’s Family

A Family Sitting Around a dining Table and Enjoying a Feast

If you’ve gotten someone to feel comfortable talking with you, you can always take the liberty of asking about his family.

a) Formal

آپ کے کتنے بہن بھائی ہیں؟
aap kay kitnay behan bhai hain?
“How many siblings do you have?”

b)  Casual

تمھارے کتنے بہن بھائی ہیں؟
tumharay kitnay behan bhai hain?
“How many siblings do you have?”

Following is a possible answer to this question in Urdu.

Answer

میرے دو بھائی اور ایک بہن ہے
meray do bhai aur ek behan hai.
“I have two brothers and a sister.”


4. Asking Where Someone’s From

The following questions and answers in Urdu come up very often when natives speak with foreigners in Pakistan, so they’re certainly worth learning.

Different Flags from All Over the World

a) Formal

 آپ کہاں سے ہیں؟
aap kahan say hain?
“Where are you from?”

b) Casual

تم کہاں سے ہو؟
tum kahan say ho?
“Where are you from?”

The following pattern is the most common way to answer this question. Simply insert your own nationality into the given pattern.

Answer

میں جاپانی ہوں
mei japani hun.
“I am Japanese.”

Using this next question, you can inquire about someone’s country of origin specifically. This question is interchangeable with the one above.

Question

آپ کون سے ملک سے ہیں؟
aap kon say mulk say hain?
“What country are you from?”

Answer

میں پاکستان سے ہوں
mei Pakistan say hun.
“I am from Pakistan.”

Introducing Yourself

5. Asking About Languages in Urdu

As a foreigner in Pakistan, you can rest easy in the knowledge that native Pakistanis will give you due respect and space. Enjoy your foreigner status, and bring an awe factor into your communication with your Urdu skills. This will make your communication effective and strengthen your bond with natives.

Here are some examples of how you can ask someone in Urdu about his competence in a particular language.

Question

کیا آپ جاپانی بولتے ہیں؟
kya aap japani boltay hain?
“Do you speak Japanese?”

Answer

Here’s how you could answer if you have limited knowledge of the given language.

جی میں تھوڑی بہت جاپانی بول لیتا ہوں
ji mei thori bohat japani bol leta hun.
“Yes, I can speak a little Japanese.”

Question

You can use this question to ask about how long someone has been studying a certain language.

آپ کتنی دیر سے جاپانی پڑھ رہے ہیں؟
aap kitni dair say japani parh rahay hain?
“For how long have you been studying Japanese?”

Answer

Here’s a brief and apt answer to the question above.

میں نے جاپانی دو سال پڑھی ہے
mei nay japani do saal parhi hai.
“I have studied Japanese for two years.”

6. Questions About Travel

As a traveler in Pakistan, you should always be ready to encounter the following questions in Urdu. People take pleasure in listening to the accounts of others’ travels, making it a good topic for spending quality time with someone.

Question

کیا آپ ٹوکیو گئے ہیں؟
kya aap Tokyo gaye hain?
“Have you been to Tokyo?”

Answer

جی ہاں، میں ٹوکیو جا چکا ہوں۔
ji han, mei Tokyo ja chuka hun.
“Yes, I have been to Tokyo.”

7. Asking About Someone’s Profession

If you’re able to indulge a Pakistani Urdu-speaker for a reasonable amount of time, expect a question about your job or profession at some point in the conversation. Pakistanis love to share their professional details and experiences with others.

Question

آپ کا پیشہ کیا ہے؟
aap ka paysha kya hai?
“What is your profession?”

Answer

Here’s the answer pattern you can use in reply. Just replace “doctor” with your own profession.

میں ڈاکٹر ہوں۔
mei doctor hun.
“I am a doctor.”



8. Asking About Someone’s Preferences & Well-Being

If you’ve made it to this point in your conversation, give yourself a pat on the back. You’ve clearly made way with your strong Urdu skills and made a good impression on your interlocutor. Following are the best questions and answers in the Urdu language to keep the conversation going.

Question

آپ کو جاپان کیسا لگا؟
aap ko Japan kaisa laga?
“How do you find Japan?”

Answer

مجھے جاپان بہت اچھا لگا
mujhe Japan bohat acha laga.
“I like Japan very much.”

Question

Cultural cuisine is another favorite topic among foreign visitors and travelers. Inquire about someone’s food preferences as follows.

کیا آپ کو پاکستانی کھانے پسند ہیں؟
kya aap ko Pakistani khanay pasand hain?
“Do you like Pakistani cuisine?”

Asian Foods or Desi Cuisine

Answer

Appreciating local cuisine is always appreciated!

جی ہاں، مجھے پاکستانی کھانے بہت پسند ہیں
ji han, mujhe Pakistani khanay bohat pasand hain.
“I like Pakistani cuisine very much.”

9. Asking About Someone’s Studies

If you and your interlocutor have gotten truly comfortable talking with each other, it may be a good time to talk about each other’s hobbies, personal interests, or studies. The question below will focus specifically on one’s studies.

Question

آپ کیا پڑھ رہے ہیں؟
aap kya parh rahay hain?
“What are you studying?”

Answer

میں انگریزی ادب میں ماسٹرز کر رہا ہوں
mei angrezi adab mei masters kar raha hun.
“I am doing my Master’s in English literature.”

A Student Sitting Inside a Library and Concentrating on a Book

10. Asking About Someone’s Problems in Urdu

Showing concern for someone will help you win the attention and empathy of Pakistanis. People share their problems only with those who are able to show sympathy or empathy toward them.

Question

First, here’s how you can ask about someone’s health.

آپ کی صحت کے ساتھ کیا مسئلہ ہے؟
aap ki sehat kay sath kya masla hai?
“What’s wrong with your health?”

Answer

میں بالکل ٹھیک ہوں
mei bilkul theek hun.
“I am perfectly alright.”

Question

Here’s how you can ask about someone’s general well-being.

آپ کی زندگی کیسی گذر رہی ہے؟
aap kis zindagi kaisi guzar rahi hai?
“How is your life going on?”

Answer

میری زندگی بہت اچھی گذر رہی ہے
meri zindagi bohat achi guzar rahi hai.
“My life is going on very well.”

11. Asking for the Cost of Something

While traveling in Pakistan, you’ll find yourself needing to ask about the price of something. Here’s an easy way to do that.

Question

اس کی قیمت کیا ہے؟
iss ki qeemat kya hai?
“How much is it?”

A Woman Buying a Book from a Store and Asking about the Price of the Book from a Salesgirl

Answer

یہ سو روپے کا ہے
yeh so rupay ka hai.
“It costs a hundred rupees.”

12. Conclusion

By now, you should know how to ask different questions in the Urdu language, and how to understand the answers you’re likely to be given. Asking questions in Urdu conversations should be much simpler for you now than it was before you read this article!

If there’s anything we didn’t cover in this article, or if you want more information on something we did cover, leave us a comment and we’ll do our best to help! 

In addition, don’t forget to surf through UrduPod101.com. If you haven’t yet explored this online resource for learning Urdu, delay no further! Start benefiting from our exceptional content right away; you’ll feel the difference and see major improvement in your Urdu skills.

Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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The Latest Companion to an Urdu Language Proficiency Test

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Imagine you’ve boarded a plane and fastened your seat belt. A few moments before takeoff, an announcement is made that the pilot is extremely good at the theory of flying, but is entirely bad at practical flying with zero flying hours under his belt. 

Yes, you can very well anticipate the subsequent nightmare and the agony of the passengers. And you can probably anticipate where this is going. 

To avoid such chaotic situations, and to assess one’s practical capacity for using a language, one must take a language proficiency test (in this case, an Urdu exam). The sole purpose of any language proficiency test is to evaluate how adept a person is at using the target language in daily life, in a variety of situations and contexts. 

This is, of course, true for Urdu language proficiency tests as well. In addition, passing such a test is often a prerequisite for certain academic and professional ventures. Due to the significance and gravity of the matter, UrduPod101.com is here with the help you need. 

After going through this article and reading our tips for Urdu test preparation, you’ll be ready for your upcoming exam in Urdu when the big day comes. We’ll also share with you some advice on how to pass an Urdu exam with flying colors! 

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Study Strategies in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. General Information About Urdu Proficiency Tests
  2. Introduction to the Listening Section
  3. Introduction to the Reading Section
  4. Introduction to the Writing Section
  5. Introduction to the Speaking Section
  6. Some Additional Tips on Preparing for an Urdu Proficiency Exam
  7. Conclusion

1. General Information About Urdu Proficiency Tests

Language Skills

The content and expectations of an Urdu language proficiency test may vary depending on the nature of the test you’re taking. Nevertheless, there are generally four skills that a given exam will test you on: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. 

Furthermore, before taking an official Urdu proficiency test, we recommend that you practice by taking a mock test. This will give you a much better idea of what you can expect to see on a real Urdu proficiency exam and allow you to be better-prepared. 

A- Who Should Take an Urdu Language Exam?

The reasons for taking an Urdu proficiency test may differ, though there are a few reasons that are very common:  

  • Wanting to pursue a higher education at an Urdu university
  • Seeking a job in an Urdu-speaking country
  • Applying for a visa 
  • Looking for opportunities, asylum, or residence in an Urdu-speaking country

B- Things to Consider

Before you set out to take your Urdu proficiency exam of choice, there are a few things that we think you should consider. We’ll outline each one in the following sections.

1- Keep the Sole Purpose in Mind

Before sitting for your Urdu language proficiency test, don’t forget to revisit your basic purpose for taking the test and reset your priorities. This will reignite your interest and give you more motivation to do well on the exam.

An Asian Man Doing Meditation to Focus and Concentrate

2- Become Familiar with the Structure of the Test in Advance

Becoming familiar with the structure of the test will allow you to know exactly what to expect on the day of the test. In addition, keeping up-to-date with the test’s structure will ensure that you know about any recent changes the test may have undergone, saving you quite a shock! 

As mentioned earlier, an Urdu proficiency test customarily consists of four separate sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Each one has a certain time limit and is directed at evaluating the relevant linguistic competence.  

3- Dealing with Anxiety

Exam anxiety is a common experience shared by many aspiring test-takers. Under the bouts of anxiety, one can begin to lack focus and do poorly on their test. Remember to deal with your anxiety in a healthy manner, and come well-prepared by keeping the following factors in mind. 

2. Introduction to the Listening Section

A Man Trying to Listen to Sound Waves by Keeping His Hand Beside His Ear

Since listening is key to effective communication, it generally comes first in any language test. It examines one’s capacity to receive and interpret messages while listening to spoken language. Here’s what to expect in an Urdu listening exam.

A- Duration 

The ideal duration for such a test is thirty minutes. It will generally consist of twenty-five points and contain three questions.

B- Description of the Test

In the listening section, you’ll listen to three pre-recorded files. These files may contain discussions, speeches, conversations, directions, news, commentaries, etc.

At the beginning of the test, you’ll be given one minute to go through the questions. After that, you’ll listen to the first file for two minutes. Remember that you’ll have only a single opportunity to listen to the file, and it will not be repeated under any circumstances. After you’ve heard the audio file, you’ll be given three minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheets provided to you prior to the start of the test.

Before listening to the second file, you’ll have another minute to read the questions. After that, you’ll listen to the second file for six minutes, and you’ll be given three minutes to answer the questions.

In the third stage of this listening test, you’ll hear the third audio file for four minutes. You’ll have one minute to read the questions before listening, and four minutes to answer the questions.

C- Tips to Succeed

A Multitasker Person Busy in Different Task to Manage the Time

Manage your time well. This is essential for doing well on any test. One minute may not seem like enough time to review the questions, but utilizing this time well can give you incredible insight into what you should listen for. 

Wait until the audio is over to answer. Don’t fall victim to hasty judgements; listen until the end before answering. Due to the high standards of the test, the questions are often deceptive. So pay close attention to the entire audio, and don’t jump to conclusions! 

Answer cautiously and clearly. While transferring your answers to the answer sheet, be careful and write your answers clearly. Your answers should be grammatically correct and follow the guidelines. If you’re left with some time, remember to revisit your answers and fix any mistakes you find.

D- Rehearsal Strategies

Of course, the best Urdu listening exam practice is to do a lot of listening! 

UrduPod101.com is a supreme website for brushing up on your Urdu listening skills. In addition, try listening to some other audio/visual Urdu resources such as Radio Pakistan, Pakistan Television, talk shows, etc.

3. Introduction to the Reading Section

A Girl Reading a Book with the Help of a Magnifying Glass to Focus

There’s a common assumption that passing a reading test is easy. But there’s a lot more to it than one may think! 

When reading Urdu for an exam like this, you’re expected to not only showcase your rich vocabulary and decoding skills, but also to see how sentences and embedded ideas relate to each other.

A- Duration

The average duration of an Urdu reading test is sixty minutes. Such a test usually comprises three exercises for a total of twenty-five points.

B- Description of the Test

In order to evaluate your Urdu reading skills, you’ll be tested with questions that are based on three written documents. The first will be an informational document (possibly an essay or similar piece) written in the Urdu language. The second and third documents may vary in their subject matter and be expository and argumentative in nature.

C- Tips to Succeed

Have a strategy. For this section of the test, it’s good to have a strategy in place. For example, you can decide to read either the questions or the text first, depending on what you’re most comfortable with. The most important thing in this regard is to execute your plan flawlessly.

Skim and scan. In addition, use the skimming and scanning techniques to identify the answers quickly. Due to time constraints, you can’t afford to waste it on small details. 

Keep your answers neat. Last but not least, it’s always important to write down the answers in an orderly manner. In the end, it’s a test with a certain format and formalities.

D- Rehearsal

To practice for the reading portion of your Urdu language exam, we recommend that you explore all of the available Urdu language reading resources at UrduPod101.com.

Try to read as much Urdu as you can. These may include Urdu essays, fiction, non-fiction, political writings, the news, blog posts, etc. Whatever interests you! 

4. Introduction to the Writing Section

Some Students Sitting Inside an Examination Hall, Busy Writing

Writing is just as essential a skill as face-to-face communication, and Urdu writing exams are an integral part of any Urdu language proficiency test.  

A- Duration 

The total duration of an Urdu writing test will be sixty minutes, and it will comprise two writing tasks.

B- Description of the Test

For this portion of the test, you’ll need to write about two topics within the allotted time. You may be required to adopt a particular form of writing (narrative, descriptive, discursive, etc.) depending on the topics you write about.

Due to the time constraints, you should ideally spend half an hour on each topic. Each topic should also contain at least two-hundred words.

C- Tips to Succeed

Brainstorm. Don’t start writing right away; spend a little time brainstorming. This will help you craft your response in an organized manner and according to the question’s guidelines.

Keep your answers relevant. Your answers should be question-specific. This is a test of your Urdu writing skills, NOT of your personal opinions, likes, or dislikes.

Use good grammar and syntax. Use the appropriate Urdu writing system to answer the questions.

Revise your work. It’s always advisable to revise your writing after completing it. Take some time to proofread your writing and correct mistakes if there are any.

D- Rehearsal

UrduPod101.com is the number-one place to begin your writing practice, with numerous resources for aspiring language-learners. 

Further, expand your Urdu reading and become a voracious reader. This will enrich your Urdu vocabulary, increase your knowledge of Urdu grammar, and enhance your Urdu sentence formulation skills.

Try to rehearse Urdu dictation, as this will help make your expression in Urdu error-free.

5. Introduction to the Speaking Section

A Man Pronouncing Different Letters

Speaking is the most commonly used communication skill, and thus has a place in any good Urdu proficiency test. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about a typical Urdu speaking exam.

A- Duration 

The total duration of this test is thirty minutes. During this time, you’ll have to jot down certain points to prepare for an oral presentation (worth twenty-five points).

B- Description of the Test

In this section of the Urdu language proficiency test, you’ll be given a topic and asked to give an oral presentation that’s eight to ten minutes long. So you should prepare your presentation within the first twenty minutes, and present it within the remaining ten minutes. After your presentation, there will be a question-answer session too.

C- Tips to Succeed

Know your topic. Put all of your effort into comprehending the topic well; this is the first step in preparing and giving an effective presentation.

Have a clear position and argument. Take a clear line in support of or against the topic. Your position should be substantiated with solid arguments.

Use bullet points. Try to write down your presentation in bullet-list format. The time constraint won’t allow you to write it down in a proper speech format.

Include examples. Add apt illustrations, examples, and anecdotes when and where required. But remember that they should not sound far-fetched or out of context.

D- Rehearsal

You guessed it: UrduPod101.com should be your first resource for improving your Urdu speaking skills.

You should also try to have frequent conversations with native speakers (or good non-native speakers). This will motivate you and make you feel much more confident in your speaking abilities. 

In case you can’t find any good Urdu speakers, start recording your own speech and try to identify and fix your mistakes.

6. Some Additional Tips on Preparing for an Urdu Proficiency Exam

A Man Keeping His Finger on His Wristwatch Emphasizing the Significance of Being on Time

In addition to the tips we’ve given you throughout the article, there are a few more that apply to just about any test you can take: 

  • Always reach the test center well before the time of the test. This allows you to become familiar with the atmosphere and conditions well in advance.
  • Try to manage and utilize your time proportionately. This can have a huge impact on your test score! 
  • Take care of your physical and mental health before the test. Sleep tight, have a proper diet, and try to maintain a positive mindset.

7. Conclusion

You’ve made it to the end of our complete guide to the Urdu language proficiency test. We hope you’re now well-equipped with the tips and tricks you need to ace your upcoming exam! 

Did we miss any information regarding Urdu language proficiency tests? If so, don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments; we’ll do our best to answer any questions you have. 

To keep yourself abreast of all the developments in the field of Urdu language learning, become a frequent visitor of UrduPod101.com. A huge resource for all of your Urdu language-learning needs is just a click away.

Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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A Smart Kick-Start: 10 Most Useful Urdu Sentence Patterns


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Do you think that the cut-and-dry grammar and complex syntaxes are the only important aspects of learning a language? If so, let us introduce you to an equally effective linguistic approach that will help you start using Urdu faster: learning the most common Urdu language sentence structures and patterns. 

Without undermining the due significance of traditional language-learning methods, it’s important to be flexible and tailor your studies to your personal needs. This is a small step that can have huge results! 

As a smart Urdu student, think outside the box and learn some widely used sentence patterns in English and Urdu for everyday communications. Once you’ve learned these well, you can even start improvising to craft your own unique sentences per situation.

This article will inform you of the ten most productive and easy Urdu sentence patterns that will help you articulate your thoughts into crisp, comprehensible Urdu sentences. Remember that it’s not a shortcut; it’s the smart cut, guaranteeing a better understanding of Urdu sentence formation with pleasing results. 

Let’s begin.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. Linking Two Nouns: A is B
  2. Using Adjectives to Describe: A is [Adjective]
  3. Expressing “Want”: I Want (to)…
  4. Expressing “Need”: I Need (to)… / I Have to …
  5. Expressing “Like”: I Like (to)…
  6. Politely Asking Someone to Do Something: Please…
  7. Asking for Permission: May I…? / Can I…?
  8. Asking for Information About Something: What is…?
  9. Asking About Time: When is…?
  10. Asking About Location or Position: Where is…?
  11. Conclusion

1. Linking Two Nouns: A is B

Sentence Pattern

We’ll start with a simple Urdu sentence pattern for describing a noun by linking it to another noun. Before you look at the examples below, we recommend that you study our articles about Urdu Nouns and Urdu Verbs so you can better understand how they work. In particular, you should familiarize yourself with the verb “to be” in Urdu.

  • عمران میرا بھائی ہے
    Imran mera bhai hai.
    “Imran is my brother.”
  • ہاکی ہمارا قومی کھیل ہے
    Hockey hamara qomi khel hai.
    “Hockey is our national sport.”
  • لاہور میرا شہر ہے
    Lahore mera shehar hai.
    “Lahore is my city.”

2. Using Adjectives to Describe: A is [Adjective]

Now that you know how to use nouns in Urdu sentences, it’s pertinent to step forward and learn how to describe nouns using Urdu adjectives.

  • محمد ایک سچا انسان ہے
    Muhammad aik sacha insaan hai.
    “Muhammad is an honest man.”
  • یہ ایک اہم موقع ہے
    Yeh aik aham moqa hai.
    “It is an important opportunity.”
  • یہ کتاب بالکل نئی ہے
    Yeh kitab bilkul naiye hai.
    “This is a brand-new book.”

UrduPod101.com has a page about high-frequency Urdu adjectives that you should familiarize yourself with. Check it out! 


3. Expressing “Want”: I Want (to)…

A Child Pointing His Finger Towards Something He Wants

Expressing one’s wishes or desires is an extremely important matter in any language. In Urdu, we use the verb چاہنا (chah-na) to express any such feelings. Below are some examples of how to use a proper Urdu sentence pattern with this verb.

  • میں ایک کامیاب بزنس مین بننا چاہتا ہوں
    Mei aik kamyab businessman ban-na chahta hun.
    “I want to become a successful businessman.”
  • میں مزید پڑھنا چاہتا ہوں
    Mei mazeed parhna chahta hun.
    “I want to study further.”
  • تم سب سے آگے نکلنا چاہتے ہو
    Tum sab say aagay nikalna chahtay ho.
    “You want to lead everyone.”

To learn more about how to properly conjugate Urdu verbs, including this one, check out our article about Urdu Conjugations


4. Expressing “Need”: I Need (to)… / I Have to …

Sentence Components

If you want something, it may underlie a luxury; if you need something, it signifies a necessity. Needs are more important than wants, so let’s learn the best Urdu sentence structure for expressing needs.

ضرورت (zaroorat) is the word we use to convey needs in Urdu. 

Below, you’ll find some sentences in Urdu to emphasize or express your needs. Be sure to focus on the various changes undergone by this word. 

  • میرا آج واپس لوٹنا ضروری ہے
    Mera aaj wapis lotna zaroori hai.
    “I have to return today, definitely.”
  • تمھیں یہ امتحان ہر صورت میں ضرور پاس کرنا ہے
    Tumhain yeh imtihan her surat mein zaroor pass karna hai.
    “You need to pass this exam at any cost.”
  • ہمیں اپنا رویہ بدلنے کی ضرورت ہے
    Hamein apna rawaiyya badalnay ki zaroorat hai.
    “We need to change our attitude.”

5. Expressing “Like”: I Like (to)…

A Woman Posing to Think about the Things She Likes

Now, let’s aim at learning how to express our likes in Urdu. پسند کرنا (pasand karna) is the true translation of “to like” in Urdu. پیار کرنا (pyaar karna) is another verb used to express love, as it’s translated as “to love” in English. However, پسند کرنا also has an implied meaning of loving someone when used in a particular context. 

  • مجھے سینما جانا پسند ہے
    Mujhay cinema jana pasand hai.
    “I like to go to the cinema.”
  • میں پڑھانا پسند کرتا ہوں
    Mei parhana pasand karta hun.
    “I like to teach.”
  • مجھے ٹرین کا سفر اچھا لگتا ہے
    Mujhay train ka safar acha lagta hai.
    “I like to travel by train.”

6. Politely Asking Someone to Do Something: Please…

Courtesy is among the seven pillars of effective communication in Pakistani society, and around the world. In Pakistan, people like to give and receive respect while communicating with each other. In this section of the article, we’ll show you an Urdu sentence pattern used to ask for something (or for a favor).

  • مہربانی فرما کر میری بات سنیں
    Meharbani farma kar meri baat sunein.
    “Please, listen to me.”
  • براہ مہربانی اپنا لہجہ درست کریں
    Barah-e-meharbani apna lehja durust karein.
    “Please, mind your tone.”
  • ازراہ کرم میرے پیسے واپس کر دیں
    Azrah-e-karam meray paisay wapis kar dein.
    “Please, return my money.”
A Person Collecting Money with Both Hands and Another Delivering It to Him

7. Asking for Permission: May I…? / Can I…?

In every culture, asking permission is an essential rule of etiquette. In Urdu, we use modal verbs to ask certain questions and seek permission, along with many other functions. Below, we’ll show you how to incorporate modal verbs in your sentences by following a particular Urdu sentence pattern.   

  • کیا میں اندرآسکتا ہوں؟
    Kia mei ander aa sakta hun?
    “May I come in?”
  • کیا میں آپ کے گھر آ سکتا ہوں؟
    Kia mei aap kay ghar aa sakta hun.
    “May I visit your house?”
  • کیا میں آپ کا تھوڑا سا وقت لے سکتا ہوں؟
    Kia mei aap ka thora sa waqt lay sakta hun.
    “Can I take a little bit of your time?”
A Couple Having Wine and the Man Signaling to a Waiter to Get a Menu

8. Asking for Information About Something: What is…?

When visiting a foreign country, you’re probably going to have some questions for the natives. This makes learning the Urdu sentence patterns for asking questions essential for any Urdu learner.

کیا ہے (kia hai) is a basic phrase used to ask a question in Urdu. In English, it’s translated as “what is.” You can always place کیا ہے at the end of a sentence, preceded by the relevant words. Let’s see some examples:

  • آپ کا ارادہ کیا ہے؟
    Aap ka irada kia hai?
    “What is your plan?”
  • آپ کا سوال کیا ہے؟
    Aap ka sawal kia hai?
    “What is your question?”
  • آپ کے سکول کا نام کیا ہے؟
    Aap kay school ka nam kia hai.
    “What is the name of your school?”

9. Asking About Time: When is…?

Now it’s time to learn “when is,” or کب ہے (kab hai). You can always place کب ہے at the end of a sentence. Let’s see some examples:

  • آپ کی شادی کی اینیورسری کب ہے؟
    Aap ki shadi ki anniversary kab hai?
    “When is your marriage anniversary?”
  • دونوں ٹیموں کے مابین اگلا میچ کب ہے؟
    Dono teemo kay maabain agla match kab hai?
    “When will the next match be played between both teams?”
  • آپ کی منگنی کب ہو رہی ہے؟
    Aap ki mangni kab ho rahi hai?
    “When is your engagement taking place?”
Calendar Pages Showing Different Months and Dates

10. Asking About Location or Position: Where is…?

Asking about someone’s location is another important inquiry. کہاں ہے (kahan is) is the expression used in Urdu to do this. Here are examples of how to use this phrase in an Urdu sentence pattern: 

  • لاہور میں یادگار پاکستان کہاں ہے؟
    Lahore mein Yaadgar-e-Pakistan kahan hai?
    “Where is Yaadgar-e-Pakistan located in Lahore?”
  • آپ کا کالج کہاں واقع ہے؟
    Aap ka college kahan waqia hai?
    “Where is your college situated?”
  • ہماری ذاتی گاڑی کہاں ہے؟
    Hamari zati gari kahan hai?
    “Where is our personal vehicle?”

11. Conclusion

In this article, you learned the basics of how to form sentences in Urdu by focusing on basic Urdu sentence patterns. We recommend that you choose an Urdu sentence pattern to practice, and work until you master it before moving on to another one.

Do you have any questions about a sentence pattern that you want to discuss with us? Are you better prepared to interact with native Urdu-speakers with this handful of language material you learned today with UrduPod101.com?

Be sure to keep exploring UrduPod101, a rich repository of Urdu language-learning resources for students at every level. 

Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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The Adverb in Urdu: 100+ Must-Know Urdu Adverbs

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Why learn about the adverb in Urdu?

To expect someone to write or speak without allowing him to use adverbs in his writing is just like asking an astronaut to embark on a space journey without having his oxygen supply on. Adverbs are the life-line of any writer when it comes to the art portraying how something happened. 

Adverbs are economical in that they allow people to express more detail and make clearer statements. Thus, knowing the most important adverbs in Urdu will remove many linguistic constraints from your speech and writing as you learn the language.

a man facing the sky with open arms, celebrating some sense of liberty

In Pakistan, you can’t think of becoming a good conversationalist without using Urdu adverbs from time to time. Adverbs will act as the mouthwatering garnish on the main course of your speech. UrduPod101.com will help you achieve this mandatory Urdu language skill to ensure that you may benefit from adverbs in Urdu language learning for vivid and clear conversations.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Useful Verbs in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. What is an Adverb in Urdu?
  2. Our List of the 100+ Most Useful Urdu Adverbs
  3. Adverbs of Time in Urdu
  4. Adverbs of Frequency in Urdu
  5. Adverbs of Place in Urdu
  6. Adverbs of Manner in Urdu
  7. Adverbs of Degree in Urdu
  8. Conclusion

1. What is an Adverb in Urdu?

Before jumping into our list of Urdu adverbs, it’s important that you know the adverb definition in Urdu. Thus, in the following sections, we’ll go over the basics for you with examples. 

1- Defining the Urdu Adverb

In Urdu, an adverb is called متعلق فعل (mutaliq fail). 

The adverb in Urdu grammar modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb in a sentence. The addition or subtraction of this single word will make a great impact on the meaning of the sentence. It will cause some sort of change in the verb, adjective, or adverb it relates to.

Find below a few sentences illustrating some varying forms and functions of adverbs in the Urdu language.

1.    وہ تیز دوڑتا ہے۔

woh taiz dorta hai.

“He runs fast.”

In this sentence, the word تیز (taiz) modifies the meaning of the verb دوڑتا ہے (dorta hai). Hence, it acts as an adverb in the sentence.

2.    وہ بہت تیز دوڑتا ہے۔

woh bohat taiz dorta hai.

“He runs very fast.”

Here, the word بہت (bohat) modifies the meaning of the adverb تیز (taiz). Therefore, it’s also an adverb.

3.    وہ بہت میٹھا آم کھاتا ہے۔

woh bohat meetha aam khata hai.

“He eats a very sweet mango.”In the sentence above, the word بہت (bohat) modifies the adjective میٹھا (meetha). Thus, here it also functions as an adverb in Urdu.

A list of some English adverbs

2- Syntactic Placement of Adverbs in Urdu

While learning where to place adverbs in Urdu sentences isn’t very easy for beginners, understanding the basics of Urdu syntax can give you a good foundation. 

Till now, you’ve learned that in Urdu syntax, the verb usually goes at the end of a sentence. Keeping this in mind, you can make your job easier by remembering a simple rule: an adverb, generally, precedes a verb, adverb, or adjective in Urdu sentences. 

You may have noticed this tendency in the Urdu adverb examples you saw earlier.

2. Our List of the 100+ Most Useful Urdu Adverbs

Top Verbs

Having learned the basic concepts about the adverb in Urdu, let’s proceed to our list of adverbs with Urdu meanings. To help your comprehension, we’ve divided the Urdu adverbs into a few categories based on their functions. Let’s begin with the adverbs of time in Urdu.

3. Adverbs of Time in Urdu

a transcendental connection between clock arms and the human brain

An adverb of time in Urdu informs someone of how often or how long an action took place or happened. Take a look at this Urdu adverbs list:

1.    تب

tab

“Then”

2.    کب

kab

“When”

3.    جب

jab

“When”

4.    اس وقت

iss waqt

“At this time”

5.    اس وقت

uss waqt

“At that time”

6.    کس وقت

kis waqt

“At what time”

7.    جس وقت

jis waqt

“At the time that”

8.    جلد

jald

“Soon”

9.    دیر سے

dair say

“Late”

10.  آج

aaj

“Today”

11. (کل (آنے والا

kal (aanay wala)

“Tomorrow”

12.   (کل (گزرا ہوا

kal (guzra hua)

“Yesterday”

13.  پہلے

pehaly

“Before”

14.  بعد میں

baad mein

“After”

15.  اب

ab

“Now”

16.  گذشتہ

guzishta

“Previously”

17.  حالیہ

haalia

“Currently”

18.  پہلا

pehla

“First”

19.  آخری

aakhri

“Last”

20.  پچھلے سال

pichlay saal

“Last year”

1- Use in Sentences

 میں کل جاپان جاؤں گا۔

mei kal Japan jaon ga.

“I will go to Japan tomorrow.”

 میں کل یونیورسٹی گیا۔

mei kal university gaya.

“I went to the university yesterday.”

 میں نے اپنا کام پہلے ہی مکمل کر لیا تھا۔

mei nay apna kaam pehlay hi mukammal kar liya tha.

“I had completed my work earlier.”

4. Adverbs of Frequency in Urdu

More essential verbs

The adverb of frequency in Urdu is a word that tells us how frequently something takes place or happens.

Below is a list of some frequently used Urdu adverbs of frequency.

21.  گاہے بگاہے

gahay bagahay

“Occasionally”

22.  وقتاً فوقتاً

waqtan fawaqtan

“Sometimes”

23.  شاید ہی کبھی

sahayad hi kabhi

“Hardly ever”

24.  اکثر

aksar

“Often”

25.  ہمیشہ

hamesha

“Always”

26.  کبھی کبھار

kabhi kabhar

“Seldom”

27.  شاذونادر

shaz-o-nadir

“Rarely”

28.  روزانہ

rozana

“Daily”

29.  بالعموم

bil-amoom

“Usually”

30.  حسب معمول

hasb-e-mamool

“Normally”

31.  کبھی نہیں

kabhi nahi

“Never”

32.  ہر وقت

har waqt

“All the time”

33.  سالانہ

salana

“Annually”

34.  ہفتہ وار

hafta-war

“Weekly”

35.  گھنٹہ وار

ghanta-war

“Hourly”

36.  متواتر

matwatar

“Frequently”

37.  عام طور پر

aam tor per

“Generally”

38.  ماہانہ

mahana

“Monthly”

39.  کبھی کبھی

kabhi kabhi

“Once in a while”

1- Use in Sentences

 وہ روزانہ بس پر سفر کرتا ہے۔

woh rozana bus per safar karta hai.

“He commutes by bus daily.”

 وہ اکثر ورزش کرتی ہے۔

woh aksar warzish karti hai.

“She exercises often.”

 اسے گھنٹہ وار ادائیگی کی جاتی تھی۔

ussay ghanta-war adaigi ki jati thi.

“He was paid hourly.”

 وہ باقاعدگی سے سبق یاد کرتا ہے۔

woh baqaidgi say sabaq yaad karta hai.

“He learns his lesson regularly.”

 وہ کبھی بھی ہار نہیں مانتا۔

woh kabhi bhi haar nahi manta.

“He never accepts defeat.”

 وہ کبھی کبھار بات کرتا ہے۔

woh kabhi kabhar baat karta hai.

“He seldom talks.”

5. Adverbs of Place in Urdu

arrows pointing toward a plus sign

An adverb of place in Urdu gives information about the location where an action took place. It may also give information about distance. Below are some commonly used adverbs of place in the Urdu language.

40.  کہیں بھی

kaheen bhi

“Anywhere”

41.  کہیں اور

kaheen aur

“Elsewhere”

42.  اندرونی

androoni

“Indoor”

43.  تلے

talay

“Below”

44.  عقب میں

aqab mei

“Behind”

45.  بہت قریب

bohat qareeb

“Nearby”

46.  ارد گرد

ird-gird

“Around”

47.  یہاں

yahan

“Here”

48.  وہاں

wahan

“There”

49.  ہر جگہ

har jagha

“Everywhere”

50.  اندر

ander

“Inside”

51.  باہر

bahir

“Outside”

52.  اوپر

ooper

“Up”

53.  نیچے

neechay

“Down”

54.  بالائی منزل

balai manzil

“Upstairs”

55.  نیچے کی منزل

neechay ki manzil

“Downstairs”

56.  دور

dur

“Away”

57.  بیرون ملک

bairoon-e-mulk

“Abroad”

58.  گھر

ghar

“Home”

59.  کی جانب

ki janib

“Towards”

1- Use in Sentences

میرے گھر کے قریب ایک سکول ہے۔

meray ghar kay qareeb aik school hai.

“Nearby my house, there is a school.”

اس کا گھر شہر سے باہر ہے۔

uss ka ghar shehar say bahir hai.

“His house is situated outside the city.”

وہ بالائی منزل پر رہتی ہے۔

woh balai manzil per rehti hai.

“She lives upstairs.”

میرا فلیٹ ہوٹل کے اوپر واقع ہے۔

mera flat hotel kay ooper waqia hai.

“My flat lies above the hotel.”

ہوائی جہاز آہستہ سے اوپر بڑھا۔

hawai jahaz aahista say ooper barha

“The plane moved upward slowly.”

6. Adverbs of Manner in Urdu

a lady bowing in Thai manner

An Urdu adverb of manner is a word which provides us with information about how and in what manner the action was executed. To give you a deeper understanding, we’ve arranged a list of some widely used adverbs of manner in the Urdu language.

60.  ایسے

aisay

“This way”

61.  ویسے

waisay

“In the same way”

62.  زور سے

zor say

“Forcefully”

63.  بخوشی

bakhushi

“Gladly”

64.  بالخصوص

bilkhasoos

“Specifically”

65.  مضطربانہ

muztarbana

“Frantically”

66.  ڈرامائی انداز سے

dramai andaz say

“Dramatically”

67.  جوش و خروش سے

josh o kharosh say

“Enthusiastically”

68.  آہستہ آہستہ

aahista aahista

“Slowly”

69.  تیزی سے

taizi say

“Quickly”

70.  احتیاط سے

ehtiat say

“Carefully”

71.  خاموشی سے

khamoshi say

“Quietly”

72.  خوشی سے

khushi say

“Happily”

73.  آسانی سے

aasani say

“Easily”

74.  حقیقت میں

haqeeqat mein

“Really”

75.  حقیقی معنی میں

haqeeqi mani mein

“Literally”

76.  سادگی سے

saadgi say

“Simply”

77.  بری طرح

buri tarha

“Badly”

78.  اچھا

acha

“Well”

79.  نرمی سے

narmi say

“Gently”

 80. خودبخود

Khud-ba-khud

“Automatically”

1- Use in Sentences

وہ غصے سے چلائی۔

woh ghussay say chillai.

“She screamed angrily.”

گاڑی احتیاط سے چلاؤ۔

garri ehtiat say chalao.

“Drive carefully.”

ہمیں  آسانی سے ٹکٹیں مل گئیں۔

hamain aasani say ticktain mil gaien.

“We got the tickets easily.”

وہ جلدی سے باہر گیا۔

woh jaldi say bahir gaya.

“He went out hurriedly.”

 اس نے معصومیت سے جواب دیا۔

uss nay masoomiat say jawab diya.

“He replied innocently.”

یہ پنکھا خودبخود چلتا ہے۔

Yeh pankha khud-ba-khud chalta hai.

This fan runs automatically. 

7. Adverbs of Degree in Urdu

a chart to explain the intensity or degree

Adverbs of degree are those which give information on the degree or intensity of an action. Have a critical look at our Urdu adverbs list below.

81.  تقریباً

taqreeban

“Almost”

82.  حتمی

hatmi

“Absolutely”

83.  مکمل طور پر

mukamal tor per

“Completely”

84.  قطعاً

qat-ann

“Decidedly”

85.  گہرائی میں

gehrai mei

“Deeply”

86.  کافی

kaafi

“Enough”

87.  بے پناہ

be panah

“Enormously”

88.  تمام تر

tamam tar

“Entirely”

89.  جائز طور پر

jaiz tor per

“Fairly”

90.  کھلم کھلا

khulam khula

“Openly”

91.  تھوڑا

thora

“Less”

92.  کسی حد تک

kisi had tak

“Somewhat”

93.  مضبوطی سے

mazbooti say

“Strongly”

94.  درحقیقت

dar haqeeqat

“Indeed”

95.  کم

kam

“Little”

96.  بہت

bohat

“Very”

97.  قدرے

qadray

“Rather”

98.  بالکل

bilkul

“Quite”

99.  یوں

yun

“Like this”

100.  بھی

bhi

“Too”

1- Use in Sentences

میرا کام تقریباً مکمل ہو چکا ہے۔

mera kaam taqreeban mukammal ho chukka hai.

“My job is almost completed.”

وہ مکمل طور پر تباہ ہو چکا ہے۔

woh mukammal tor per tabah ho chuka hai.

“He has been destroyed completely.”

میں اس سے گہرا متاثر ہوا۔

mei uss say gehra mutasir hua.

“I was deeply influenced by him.”

وہ کافی کما لیتا ہے۔

woh kaafi kama leta hai.

“He earns enough.”

میں نے اس کو مضبوطی سے پکڑا۔

mei nay uss ko mazbooti say pakra.

“I held him strongly.”

8. Conclusion

This article has taught you all the basics about Urdu adverbs. It has also removed any misconceptions you may have had about adverbs and provided you with useful examples of how to use them. Is something lacking still? Is there something else that you need to learn about adverbs in Urdu? Feel free to reach out in the comments with questions or feedback for us!

a paper clip chain showing connectivity

In addition, UrduPod101.com provides numerous Urdu learning resources to enhance your Urdu vocabulary and grammar! In this way, you’ll be able to make an Urdu adverbs list of your own to surprise native Urdu speakers with your language skills in Pakistan.

Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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Urdu Keyboard: How to Install and Type in Urdu

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You asked, so we provided—easy-to-follow instructions on how to set up your electronic devices to write in Urdu! We’ll also give you a few excellent tips on how to use this keyboard, as well as some online and app alternatives if you prefer not to set up a Urdu keyboard.

Log in to Download Your Free Urdu Alphabet Worksheet Table of Contents
  1. Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Urdu
  2. Setting up Your Computer and Mobile Devices for Urdu
  3. How to Activate an Onscreen Keyboard on Your Computer
  4. How to Change the Language Settings to Urdu on Your Computer
  5. Activating the Urdu Keyboard on Your Mobile Phone and Tablet
  6. Urdu Keyboard Typing Tips
  7. How to Practice Typing Urdu

1. Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Urdu

A keyboard

Learning a new language is made so much easier when you’re able to read and write/type it. This way, you will:

  • Get the most out of any dictionary and Urdu language apps on your devices
  • Expand your ability to find Urdu websites and use the various search engines
  • Be able to communicate much better online with your Urdu teachers and friends, and look super cool in the process! 

2. Setting up Your Computer and Mobile Devices for Urdu

A phone charging on a dock

It takes only a few steps to set up any of your devices to read and type in Urdu. It’s super-easy on your mobile phone and tablet, and a simple process on your computer.

On your computer, you’ll first activate the onscreen keyboard to work with. You’ll only be using your mouse or touchpad/pointer for this keyboard. Then, you’ll need to change the language setting to Urdu, so all text will appear in Urdu. You could also opt to use online keyboards instead. Read on for the links!

On your mobile devices, it’s even easier—you only have to change the keyboard. We also provide a few alternatives in the form of online keyboards and downloadable apps.

3. How to Activate an Onscreen Keyboard on Your Computer

1- Mac

1. Go to System Preferences > Keyboard.

2. Check the option “Show Keyboard & Character Viewers in Menu Bar.”

3. You’ll see a new icon on the right side of the main bar; click on it and select “Show Keyboard Viewer.”

A screenshot of the keyboard viewer screen

2- Windows

1. Go to Start > Settings > Easy Access > Keyboard.

2. Turn on the option for “Onscreen Keyboard.”

3- Online Keyboards

If you don’t want to activate your computer’s onscreen keyboard, you also have the option to use online keyboards. Here are some good options:

4- Add-ons of Extensions for Browsers

Instead of an online keyboard, you could also choose to download a Google extension to your browser for a language input tool. The Google Input Tools extension allows users to use input tools in Chrome web pages, for example.

4. How to Change the Language Settings to Urdu on Your Computer

Man looking at his computer

Now that you’re all set to work with an onscreen keyboard on your computer, it’s time to download the Urdu language pack for your operating system of choice:

  • Windows 8 (and higher)
  • Windows 7
  • Mac (OS X and higher)

1- Windows 8 (and higher)

  1. Go to “Settings” > “Change PC Settings” > “Time & Language” > “Region & Language.”
  2. Click on “Add a Language” and select “Urdu.” This will add it to your list of languages. It will appear as اردو with the note “language pack available.”
  3. Click on اردو > “Options” > “Download.” It’ll take a few minutes to download and install the language pack.
  4. As a keyboard layout, you’ll only need the one marked as “Urdu – اردو.” You can ignore other keyboard layouts.

2- Windows 7

1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Clock, Language, and Region.

2. On the “Region and Language” option, click on “Change Keyboards or Other Input Methods.”

3. On the “Keyboards and Languages” tab, click on “Change Keyboards” > “Add” > “Urdu.”

4. Expand the option of “Urdu” and then expand the option “Keyboard.” Select the keyboard layout marked as “Urdu.” You can ignore other keyboard layouts. Click “OK” and then “Apply.”

3- Mac (OS X and higher)

If you can’t see the language listed, please make sure to select the right option from System Preferences > Language and Region

1. From the Apple Menu (top left corner of the screen) go to System Preferences > Keyboard.

2. Click the Input Sources tab and a list of available keyboards and input methods will appear.

3. Click on the plus button, select “Urdu,” and add the “Urdu” keyboard.

Adding a system language

5. Activating the Urdu Keyboard on Your Mobile Phone and Tablet

Texting and searching in Urdu will greatly help you master the language! Adding a Urdu keyboard on your mobile phone and/or tablet is super-easy.

You could also opt to download an app instead of adding a keyboard. Read on for our suggestions.

Below are the instructions for both iOS and Android mobile phones and tablets.

1- iOS

1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.

2. Tap “Keyboards” and then “Add New Keyboard.”

3. Select “Urdu” from the list.

4. When typing, you can switch between languages by tapping and holding on the icon to reveal the keyboard language menu.

2- Android

1. Go to Settings > General Management > Language and Input > On-screen Keyboard (or “Virtual Keyboard” on some devices) > Samsung Keyboard.

2. Tap “Language and Types” or “ + Select Input Languages” depending on the device and then “MANAGE INPUT LANGUAGES” if available.

3. Select اردو from the list.

4. When typing, you can switch between languages by swiping the space bar.

3- Applications for Mobile Phones

If you don’t want to add a keyboard on your mobile phone or tablet, this is a good app to consider:

6. Urdu Keyboard Typing Tips

Typing in Urdu can be very challenging at first! Therefore, we added here a few useful tips to make it easier to use your Urdu keyboard.

A man typing on a computer

1- Computer

How you type Urdu depends on the Urdu keyboard you’re using. If the Urdu keyboard displays all the characters, it’s easiest to use. 

However, if all the characters are not displayed at once, then you can always use the Shift button to use the characters that aren’t being displayed. 

2- Mobile Phones

If you’re using the QWERTY keyboard, then it’s identical to any other computer keyboard. Writing Urdu on this keyboard is relatively easy as compared to the shortened version of the keyboard.

7. How to Practice Typing Urdu

As you probably know by now, learning Urdu is all about practice, practice, and more practice! Strengthen your Urdu typing skills by writing comments on any of our lesson pages, and our teacher will answer. If you’re a UrduPod101 Premium PLUS member, you can directly text our teacher via the My Teacher app—use your Urdu keyboard to do this!

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Urdu Verb Conjugation: A Beginner’s Companion

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In this article, we’re going to cover one of the most crucial topics in Urdu language learning: Urdu verb conjugation. Having learned the basics of Urdu verbs, you may be able to hold basic conversations; however, in order to become a non-native advanced Urdu expert, you need to strengthen your grip on verb conjugation in Urdu. You should also become familiar with Urdu grammar tenses. 
 

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Useful Verbs in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. Why is it Important to Study Urdu Verb Conjugation?
  2. What is Conjugation?
  3. Verb Groups
  4. Bonus for the Ambitious Learners
  5. Some Rare Irregular Urdu Verbs
  6. Rehearse with Us
  7. Conclusion

1. Why is it Important to Study Urdu Verb Conjugation?

Thought Communication between Two People

To learn about conjugation in Urdu is a Herculean task. Nevertheless, with enough motivation, you really can gain a strong understanding of this important topic. But why should you?

If you want to master the Urdu language, you absolutely need to understand Urdu verb conjugation. This is especially important when trying to converse with someone in an Urdu-speaking country like Pakistan. If you don’t know anything about Urdu verb conjugation, you’ll have a miserable time trying to communicate.

Finally, when you learn about conjugation, you’re able to study many other aspects of Urdu grammar at the same time. This includes things like tenses, moods, and persons.

A Girl with Headphones on with the Pakistani Flag in the Background

2. What is Conjugation?

Top Verbs

When you conjugate a verb in Urdu, you’re changing that verb to show tense, person, number, and mood. In Urdu, the word for “conjugation” is  فعل کی گردان کرنا  (fail ki girdaan kerna).   

Now, let’s look through each of the different things that affect conjugation in Urdu, starting with the person.

1- Person

In Urdu, we have six different persons:

  •         واحد متکلم (wahid mutkalim) — first person singular
  •         جمع متکلم (jama mutkalim) — first person plural
  •       واحد حاضر (wahid hazir) — second person singular
  •         جمع حاضر (jama hazir) — second person plural
  •        واحد غائب (wahid ghaeb) — third person singular
  •         جمع غائب (jama ghaeb) — third person plural

Study the Urdu conjugation chart below to better understand how the person affects conjugation.

First person singular
 واحد متکلم
میں
(mei)
“I”
 Second person singular
 واحد حاضر
تم / آپ
(tum) / (aap)
“you” (informal) / “you” (formal)
Third person singular
 واحد غائب
وہ / اس نے
(woh) / (uss nay)
“he” or “she”
First person plural
 جمع متکلم
ہم
(hum)
“we”
Second person plural
 جمع حاضر
آپ
(aap)
“you”
Third person plural
 جمع غائب
وہ / انھوں نے
(who) / (unho nay)
“they” for both male and female

In the Urdu language, a verb almost always conjugates according to the person. Here’s an example of what this looks like:

  •         میں کھاتا ہوں
    mei khata hun.
    “I eat.”
  •         ہم کھاتے ہیں۔
    hum khatay hain.
    “We eat.”
  •         تم کھاتے ہو۔
    tum khatay ho.
    “You eat.”
  •         وہ کھاتے ہیں۔
    woh khatay hain.
    “They eat.”

2- Mood

Grammatical mood depicts the intention or feeling of a specific action. Below you’ll find what the verb “play” looks like in each mood.

I- Indicative

  •         میں کھلیتا ہوں
    mei khelta hun.
    “I play.”

II- Subjunctive

  •         کاش میں کھیلتا۔
    kaash mei khelta.
    “I wish that I could play.”

III- Conditional

  •         اگر تم نہ اٹھاتے تو بچہ کھیلتا رہتا۔
    agar tum na uthatay to bacha khelta rehta.
    “The baby might play if you do not pick him up.”

IV- Imperative

  •         روزانہ فٹبال کھیلو۔
    rozana football khelo.
    “Play football daily.”

“Play football daily.”

V- Infinitive

  •         کھیلنا
    Khelna
    “To play”

3- Voice

Grammatical voice is another aspect that affects Urdu verb conjugation. The two voices are active and passive, which we’re sure you’re familiar with. Here’s an example:

I- Active Voice

  •         وہ فٹبال کھیلے۔
    woh football khelay.
    “They played football.”

II- Passive Voice

  •         انھوں نے فٹبال کھیلا۔
    unho nay football khela.
    “Football was played by them.”

4- Gender

Male and Female Signs on a Door

In Urdu verb conjugation, grammatical gender also plays an important role. The two genders in Urdu are masculine and feminine. For example:

I- Masculine

  •         میں کالج جاتا ہوں۔
    mei college jata hun.
    “I go to college.”

II- Feminine

  •         میں کالج جاتی ہوں۔
    mei college jati hun.
    “I go to college.”

In the example sentences, the base form of the verb جانا (jana) changed based on gender. In the first sentence, جاتا ہوں (jata hun) is used to denote the masculinity of the subject; in the second sentence, جاتی ہوں (jati hun) is used to denote the femininity of the subject.

5- Tenses

Finally, the tenses also affect conjugation in Urdu. Let’s take a look:

  •         فعل حال مطلق (fail haal mutliq) — Present Indefinite
  •         فعل ماضی مطلق (fail maazi mutliq) — Past Indefinite
  •         فعل مستقبل مطلق (fail mustaqbil mutliq) — Future Indefinite
  •         فعل حال جاری (fail haal jari) — Present Continuous
  •         فعل ماضی جاری (fail maazi jari) — Past Continuous
  •         فعل مستقبل جاری (fail mustaqbil jari) — Future Continuous
  •         فعل حال مکمل (fail haal mukammal) — Present Perfect
  •         فعل ماضی مکمل (fail maazi muakaaml) — Past Perfect
  •         فعل مستقبل مکمل (fail mustaqbil mukammal) — Future Perfect
  •         فعل حال مکمل جاری (fail haal mukammal jari) — Present Perfect Continuous
  •         فعل ماضی مکمل جاری (fail maazi muakammal jari) — Past Perfect Continuous
  •         فعل مستقبل مکمل جاری (fail mustaqbil mukammal jari) — Future Perfect Continuous

Don’t worry too much about memorizing all of the tenses above. You can get along just fine by simply grouping verbs into three main tenses:

  •  زمانہ ماضی (zamana maazi) — Past Tense
  •  زمانہ حال (zamana haal) — Present Tense
  •  زمانہ مستقبل (zamana mustaqbil) — Future Tense

3. Verb Groups

More Essential Verbs

Okay, now we’re going to look at Urdu verb groups based on verb endings. In the following sections, we’ll provide you with several Urdu verb conjugation charts to help you better understand how conjugation works within each group.

For your convenience, in the following examples, we’ll use a single Urdu verb: لکھنا (likhna), meaning “to write.” This will help you understand the formation of different Urdu verb conjugations more easily. 

1- Verbs with تا ہے / تی ہے / تے ہیں / تاہوں / تی ہو (ta hai / ti hai / tay hain / ta hun / ti ho) at the end

First, we’ll look at an Urdu verb conjugation chart explaining the ending words of the present simple tense. In this case, the sentence in Urdu will always end with a verb having تا ہے / تی ہے / تے ہیں (ta hai / ti hai / tay hain) at the end.

Gender1st person singular
 
 واحد متکلم
1st person plural
 جمع متکلم
2nd person singular
 
 واحد حاضر
2nd person plural
 جمع حاضر
3rd person singular
 
 واحد غائب
3rd person plural
 جمع غائب
Masculineمیں لکھتا ہوں۔
 
mei likhta hun.

“I write.”
ہم لکھتے ہیں۔
 
hum likhtay hain.
 
“We write.”
تم لکھتے ہو۔
 
tum likhtay ho.

“You write.”
آپ لکھتے ہیں۔
 
aap likhtay hain.

“You write.”
وہ لکھتا ہے۔
 
woh likhta hai.

“He writes.”
وہ لکھتے ہیں۔
 
woh likhtay hain.

“They write.”
Feminineمیں لکھتی ہوں۔
 
mei likhti hun.
 
“I write.”
ہم لکھتی ہیں۔
 
hum likhti hain.
 
“We write.”
تم لکھتی ہو۔
 
tum likhti ho.
 
“You write.”
آپ لکھتی ہیں۔
 
aap likhti hain.
 
“You write.”
وہ لکھتی ہے۔
 
who likhti hai.
 
“She writes.”
وہ لکھتی ہیں۔
 
woh likhti hain.
 
“They write.”

2- Verbs ending with ا / یا (alif / ya)

Below is another Urdu verb conjugation chart that shows the Urdu verb in the past simple tense. The ending words of the verb, in this case, are ا /یا  (alif / ya).

Gender1st person singular
 
 واحد متکلم
1st person plural
 جمع متکلم
2nd person singular
 
 واحد حاضر
2nd person plural
 جمع حاضر
3rd person singular
 
 واحد غائب
3rd person plural
 جمع غائب
Masculineمیں نے لکھا۔
 
mei nay likha.
 
“I wrote.”
ہم نے لکھا۔
 
hum nay likha.
 
“We wrote.”
تم نے لکھا۔
 
tum nay likha.
 
“You wrote.”
آپ نے لکھا۔
 
aap nay likha.
 
“You wrote.”
اس نے لکھا۔
 
uss nay likha.
 
“He wrote”.
انھوں نے لکھا۔
 
unho nay likha.
 
“They wrote.”
Feminineمیں نے لکھا۔
 
mei nay likha.
 
“I wrote.”
ہم نے لکھا۔
 
hum nay likha.
 
“We wrote.”
تم نے لکھا۔
 
tum nay likha.
 
“You wrote.”
آپ نے لکھا۔
 
aap nay likha.
 
“You wrote.”
اس نے لکھا۔
 
uss nay likha.
 
“She wrote.”
انھوں نے لکھا۔
 
unho nay likha.
 
“They wrote.”

3- Verbs ending with ے گا / گے (ye ga/gay)

By removing the نا from the end of the infinitive and replacing it with ے گا/گے (ye ga/gay), you’ll get the future simple tense in the Urdu language. This verb group will help you to talk about future plans with others. Study the chart below to see how this works.

Gender1st person singular
 
 واحد متکلم
1st person plural
 جمع متکلم
2nd person singular
 
 واحد حاضر
2nd person plural
 جمع حاضر
3rd person singular
 
 واحد غائب
3rd person plural
 جمع غائب
Masculineمیں لکھوں گا۔
 
mei likhon ga.
 
 
 
“I will write.”
ہم لکھیں گے۔
 
hum likhain gay.
 
“We will write.”
تم لکھو گے۔
 
tum likho gay.
 
 
“You will write.”
آپ لکھیں گے۔
 
aap likhain gay.
 
 
“You will write.”
وہ لکھے گا۔
 
woh likhay ga.
 
 
“He will write.”
وہ لکھیں گے۔
 
woh likhain gay.
 
 
“They will write.”
Feminineمیں لکھوں گی۔
 
mei likhon gi.
 
“I will write.”
ہم لکھیں گی۔
 
hum likhain gay.

“We will write.”
تم لکھو گی۔
 
tum likho gi.
 
“You will write.”
آپ لکھیں گی۔
 
aap likhain gi.

“You will write.”
وہ لکھےگی۔
 
woh likhay gi.

“She will write.”
وہ لکھیں گی۔
 
woh likhain gi.

“They will write.”

As explained earlier, the basic purpose of using the single infinitive لکھنا (likhna), or “to write,” is to show you how the different conjugations work on the same verb. If you successfully learn the basic rules and groups of Urdu conjugations, you’ll be able to utilize them effectively in your Urdu reading, writing, and conversations.

4. Bonus for the Ambitious Learners

Negative Verbs

In order to bring clarity and depth to the topic of Urdu verb conjugation, study the Urdu verb conjugation chart below. It shows the conjugation of لکھنا (likhna) for all tenses. This is for the learners who are ready and willing to go a step further.

Simple PresentSimple PastSimple Future
لکھتا ہے
likhta hai
“Writes”
لکھا
likha
“Wrote”
لکھے گا
likhay ga
“Will write”
Present ContinuousPast ContinuousFuture Continuous
لکھ رہا ہے
likh raha hai
“Is writing”
لکھ رہا تھا
likh raha tha
“Was writing”
لکھ رہا ہو گا
likh raha ho ga
“Will be writing”
Present PerfectPast PerfectFuture Perfect
لکھ چکا ہے
likh chuka hai
“Has written”
لکھ چکا تھا
likh chuka tha
“Had written”
لکھ چکا ہو گا
likh chuka ho ga
“Will have written”
Present Perfect ContinuousPast Perfect ContinuousFuture Perfect Continuous
لکھ رہا ہے
likh raha hai
“Has been writing”
لکھ رہا تھا
likh raha tha
“Had been writing”
لکھ رہا ہو گا
likh raha ho ga
“Will have been writing”

5. Some Rare Irregular Urdu Verbs

Verb List Illustrating Conjugation of Irregular Verbs

Like all languages, Urdu has a few irregular verbs of its own. Fortunately, there aren’t very many of these for you to learn. Below, we’ll cover two verbs that have odd conjugations in the past tense.

  •         جانا
    Jana
    “To go”

The verb جانا (jana) conjugates normally, except in the past case. You can see this change in the table below.

Gender1st person singular
 واحد متکلم
1st person plural
 جمع متکلم
2nd person singular
 واحد حاضر
2nd person plural
 جمع حاضر
3rd person singular 
 واحد غائب
3rd person plural
 جمع غائب
Masculineمیں گیا۔
 
mei gaya.
 
“I went.”
ہم گئے۔
 
hum gaye.
 
“We went.”
تم گئے۔
 
tum gaye.
 
“You went.”
آپ گئے۔
 
aap gaye.
 
“You went.”
وہ گیا۔
 
woh gaya.
 
“He went.”
وہ گئے۔
 
woh gaye.
 
“They went.”
Feminineمیں گئی ۔
 
mei gayi.
 
“I went.”
ہم گئیں۔
 
hum gayein.

“We went.”
تم گئی۔
 
tum gayi.
 
“You went.”
 آپ گئیں۔
 
aap gayein.
 
“You went.”
وہ گئی۔
 
woh gayi.

“She went.”
وہ گئیں۔
 
woh gayein.

“They went.”
  •   کرنا
    Kerna
    “To do”

Similarly, the verb کرنا (kerna) will conjugate normally except in the past case. You can see this change in the table below.

Gender1st person singular 
 واحد متکلم
1st person plural
 جمع متکلم
2nd person singular 
 واحد حاضر
2nd person plural
 جمع حاضر
3rd person singular 
 واحد غائب
3rd person plural
 جمع غائب
Masculineمیں نے کیا۔
 
mei nay kiya.
 
“I did.”
ہم نے کیا۔
 
hum nay kiya.
 
“We did.”
تم نے کیا۔
 
tum nay kiya.
 
“You did.”
آپ نے کیا۔
 
aap nay kiya.
 
“You did.”
اس نے کیا۔
 
uss nay kiya.

“He did.”
انھوں نے کیا۔
 
unho nay kiya.

“They did.”
Feminineمیں نے کیا۔
 
mei nay kiya.
 
“I did.”
ہم نے کیا۔
 
hum nay kiya.
 
“We did.”
تم نے کیا۔
 
tum nay kiya.
 
“You did.”
آپ نے کیا۔
 
aap nay kiya.
 
“You did.”
اس نے کیا۔
 
uss nay kiya.

“She did.”
انھوں نے کیا۔
 
unho nay kiya.

“They did.”

6. Rehearse with Us

Having learned the basics of Urdu verb conjugation, it’s crucial that you practice your skills and test your knowledge. 

1- Conduct Multiple Practice Sessions Yourself

Become the master of your own destiny by practicing Urdu verb conjugation yourself. The best way to start is to pick up a few Urdu verbs from different resources available on UrduPod101.com and use them by imagining several day-to-day situations. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, because every mistake will take you one step closer to your destination.

2- Quiz

Now, here’s a quiz on Urdu verb conjugation! Give the correct conjugation of each verb for the examples below. 

Some Students Sitting Inside an Examination Hall Taking a Test

1.       وہ اچھا گانا ـــــــــــــــــ ۔ 
woh acha gana ________ .
“She sings well.”

The verb to be used in the sentence above is گانا.

2.        جلد ہی تم ایک اچھی خبر ــــــــــــــــ۔ ۔
jald he tum aik achi khabar _____________ .
“You will listen to the good news soon.” (when addressing a man)

The verb to be used in the sentence above is سننا.

  3.    تم ایک غلطی ــــــــــــــــــــــــــ ۔
tum ek ghalti ____________ .
“You were repeating a mistake.” (male speaker)

The verb to be used in the sentence above is دوہرانا.

4.         میں جاپان ــــــــــــــــــ ۔
mei Japan _________.
“I went to Japan.” (male speaker)

The verb to be used in the sentence above is جانا.

5.         وہ مدد ـــــــــــــــــ ۔
woh madad mang raha hai.
“He is asking for help.”

The verb to be used in the sentence above is مانگنا.

If you’ve hit the bull’s eye, congratulations! If you’re confused about the correct answers, though, follow the quiz key below.

3- Key to Quiz

1.         وہ اچھا گانا گاتی ہے۔

(Present Simple Tense)

2.         جلد ہی تم ایک اچھی خبر سنو گے۔

(Future Simple Tense)

3.         تم ایک غلطی دوہرا رہے تھے۔

(Past Continuous Tense)

4.         میں جاپان گیا۔

(Past Simple Tense)

5.         وہ مدد مانگ رہاہے۔

(Present Continuous Tense)

If you’re still a bit confused, feel free to consult the charts and tables from this article. These will empower you to find out the logic behind each answer. You can also reach out to us in the comments if you still have questions! 

7. Conclusion

In this article, you’ve learned about Urdu verb conjugation with various illustrations and examples. Hopefully, you found all the details that you wished for. Nonetheless, if we missed anything, let us know! We’ll give you that information as soon as possible.

In addition, visiting UrduPod101.com is a must. We have tons of Urdu language learning resources, so if you haven’t explored it thoroughly yet, be sure to do so soon. You’ll get access to sumptuous knowledge and information pertaining to the Urdu language.

Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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Urdu Verbs List: 100+ Must-Know Urdu Verbs

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You don’t have to be a practicing grammarian in order to know the significance of the Urdu verb in a sentence or to realize the need to learn English verb tenses in Urdu. As is the case in many other major languages, learning the proper usage of verbs in different sentences or phrases is a huge step toward excellence in the Urdu language. Here, in this article, we’ll wade through a simple Urdu verbs list and give you some information on Urdu verbs conjugation (though we’ll soon have a separate article on the latter).

Are you ready to learn Urdu verbs and enhance your language skills? Let’s get started!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Useful Verbs in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. Why is it Important to Study 100+ Common Verbs?
  2. Verb Grouping According to Ending Syllables
  3. Placement and Usage of Verbs in Urdu
  4. Action Verbs in Urdu
  5. Mental Verbs in Urdu
  6. Urdu Helping Verbs
  7. A List of Some Unavoidable Verbs in Urdu
  8. Conclusion

1. Why is it Important to Study 100+ Common Verbs?

Top Verbs

UrduPod101.com has already introduced you to Urdu nouns, Urdu pronouns, and Urdu adjectives. Having learned these, it’s now imperative to master the Urdu verb—فعل (fail)—so that you can form complete thoughts and ideas in your sentences. 

Knowing different verbs in Urdu and how they work will give you the ability to understand and formulate various Urdu phrases and sentences. Consequently, your skills in every aspect of the language will see great improvement. 

2. Verb Grouping According to Ending Syllables

More Essential Verbs

For a beginner, some Urdu verb forms and variants may prove to be quite intricate, and the learner may become confused. Keeping this in view, the best strategy to avoid this confusion is to know the basic form of Urdu verbs: the infinitive.

A. The Basic Form of Urdu Verbs 

Urdu infinitive verbs always possess the ending syllables نا (na). For instance:

  • چلنا (chalna) — to walk
  • رکنا (rukna) — to stop
  • کھانا (khana) — to eat
  • پینا (peena) — to drink

All such verbs in their basic forms function to mean/represent an act of doing, happening, or being in a state. This is the most basic definition of a verb in Urdu.  

B. Variations Based on Urdu Verb Tenses

Keeping the base form of Urdu verbs in mind, let’s discuss how Urdu verb forms vary based on changing tenses.

Here, it’s appropriate to discuss only three forms of Urdu verbs, which signify three general tenses: present simple, past simple, and future simple.

While the Urdu infinitive verbs end with the syllables نا (na), the ending syllables change according to the tenses: 

  • Present Simple Tense: تا ہے/تی ہے (ta hai) / (ti hai)
  • Past Simple Tense: یا/یی (ya)/(yi) or یا تھا/یی تھی (ya tha) / (yi thi)
  • Future Simple Tense: گا/گی (ga) / (gi)

This also implies that the Urdu language has no irregular verbs! Additionally, as there’s not an extensive use of the intransitive verb in Urdu, you don’t need to bother learning the details about transitive and intransitive verbs in Urdu.

Below is an example illustrating how an Urdu verb conjugates in all of the above-mentioned forms.

  • کرنا (karna) — do [base form]
  • کرتا ہے (karta hai) — does [present simple]
  • کیا (kiya) — did [past simple]
  • کرے گا (karay ga) — will do [future simple]
List of Words in Alphabetical Order

C. How Grammatical Gender Impacts Verbs in Urdu

In Urdu grammar, verbs must match the gender of other words around them. 

While learning about grammatical gender’s impact on Urdu verbs is not the topic of this article, it’s still important to have a general idea of how this works. After reading our explanation, you can look again at the examples above to see the changes for yourself! 

Masculine Ending Syllables:

  • تا ہے (ta hai)
  • یا / یا تھا (ya) / (ya tha)
  • کرے گا (karay ga)

Feminine Ending Syllables:

  • تی ہے (ti hai)
  • یی/یی تھی (yi) / (yi thi)
  • کرے گی (karay gi)

3. Placement and Usage of Verbs in Urdu 

Negative Verbs

Urdu grammar has its own idiosyncrasies when it comes to the placement of a verb in a sentence. For this reason, it’s vital that we go over this topic before proceeding further. 

Basic Urdu Syntax

In English, the Subject + Verb + Object (SVO) sentence pattern is typically used. However, Urdu uses a different sentence pattern structure. Take a look:

وہ کھانا کھاتا ہے۔

V + O + S

(Woh khana khata hai.)

This is the basic Urdu syntax. Note that in Urdu syntax, the subject is followed by the object, and the verb is at the end.

4. Action Verbs in Urdu

A Man Skiing in the Snow

Action verbs are those words that simply express an action, and sometimes possession. Below is a list of the most common Urdu verbs used for this purpose.

  • دوڑنا (dorna) — to run
  • لڑنا (larna) — to fight
  • رونا (rona) — to cry
  • ہنسنا (hansna) — to laugh
  • گانا (gana) — to sing
  • کھیلنا (khelna) — to play
  • پڑھنا (parhna) — to read
  • کھڑے ہونا (kharay hona) — to stand up
  • بیٹھ جانا (baith jana) — to sit down
  • سوار ہونا (swar hona) — to ride
  • سننا (sun-na) — to listen
  • بند کرنا (band karna) — to close
  • کھولنا (kholna) — to open
  • چلانا (chalana) — to turn on
  • بند کرنا (band karna) — to switch off
  • جیتنا (jeetna) — to win
  • ہارنا (harna) — to lose
  • لکھنا (likhna) — to write
  • پکانا (pakana) — to cook
  • دھونا (dhona) — to wash
  • دینا (dena) — to give
  • لینا (lena) — to take
  • انتظار کرنا (intizar karna) — to wait
  • کودنا (kodna) — to jump
  • بات کرنا (baat karna) — to talk
  • چومنا (choomna) — to kiss
  • گلے ملنا (galay milna) — to hug
  • نہانا (nahana) — to bathe
  • خریدنا (khareedna) — to buy
  • بیچنا (bechna) — to sell
  • سونگھنا (soonghna) — to smell
  • تالی بجانا (tali bajana) — to clap
  • بننا (bun-na) — to knit
  • سینا (seena) — to sew
  • دھکیلنا (dhakelna) — to push
  • کھینچنا (khenchna) — to pull
  • چڑھنا (charhna) — to climb
  • کھودنا (khodna) — to dig
  • جھکنا (jhukna) — to bow
  • غوطہ لگانا (ghota lagana) — to dive

Example Sentences 

  • وہ روزانہ پارک میں دوڑتی ہے۔

woh rozana park mei dorti hai.

She runs in the park daily.

  • اس نے دریا میں غوطہ لگایا۔

uss nay darya mein ghota lagaya.

He dived into the river.

  • میں کلاس لوں گا۔

mei class loon ga.

I will take my class.

  • تم نے اس کو کتاب کیوں دی؟

tum nay uss ko kitab kyu di?

Why did you give him the book?

  • میں ایک کار خریدنا چاہتا ہوں۔

mei aik car khareedna chahta hun.

I want to buy a car.

5. Mental Verbs in Urdu

A Woman indulged in a Thinking Activity

Mental verbs show different mental actions. Below you’ll find some examples of common mental verbs in Urdu.

  • سوچنا (sochna) — to think
  • فیصلہ کرنا (faisla karna) — to decide
  • جاننا (jan-na) — to know
  • یقین کرنا (yaqeen karna) — to believe
  • شک کرنا (shak karna) — to doubt
  • فرض کرنا (farz karna) — to suppose
  • پہچاننا (pehchan-na) — to recognize
  • بھولنا (bhoolna) — to forget
  • یاد رکھنا (yaad rakhna) — to remember
  • رد کرنا (rad karna) — to deny
  • وعدہ کرنا (waada karna) — to promise
  • مطمئن کرنا (mutmain karna) — to satisfy
  • احساس کرنا (ahsaas karna) — to realize
  • اتفاق نہ کرنا (itefaq na karna) — to disagree
  • حیران کرنا (hairan karna) — to astonish

Example Sentences

  • میں آپ سے اتفاق نہیں کرتا۔

mei aap say ittefaq nahi karta.

I disagree with you.

  • تم اس کی غلطی بھول گئے۔

tum uss ki ghalati bhool gaye.

You forgot his mistake.

  • کیا تم نے فیصلہ کر لیا ہے؟

kya tum nay faisla kar liya hai?

Have you decided?

6. Urdu Helping Verbs

Helping verbs are significant in that they’re sometimes required to structure a sentence. They’re used to assist the main verb, and can be further divided into two main categories: modal verbs and auxiliary verbs. The exact translation of these verbs in Urdu is امدادی فعل (imdadi fael).

A. Modal Verbs in Urdu with Examples

Modal verbs serve to describe possibility, necessity, or obligation. They also help to modify specific tasks. Following are some Urdu modal verbs, followed by a few examples.

  • سکتا ہے (sakta hai) — can
  • سکا (saka) — could
  • سکتا ہے (sakta hai) — may
  • سکا (saka) — might
  • کرے گا (karay ga) — will
  • کیا (kiya) — would
  • کرے گا (karay ga) — shall
  • چاہئے (chahiye) — should / must / ought to

Example Sentences

  • وہ تیر سکتا ہے۔

woh tair sakta hai.

He can swim.

  • انٹرویو کے بعد آپ جا سکتے ہیں۔

interview kay baad aap ja saktay hain.

You may leave after the interview.

  • وہ آپ کی مدد کرے گا۔

woh aap ki madad karay ga.

He will help you.

  • آپ کو ائیرپورٹ پر وقت پر پہنچنا چاہئے۔

aap ko airport per waqt per pohanchna chahiye.

You should reach the airport on time.

  • اسے یہ کتاب لازمی پڑھنی چاہئے۔

ussay yeh kitab lazmi parhni chahiye.

He must read this book.

B. Auxiliary Verbs in Urdu with Examples

The words “auxiliary” and “helping” are often used interchangeably. However, auxiliary verbs function to articulate the tense or to emphasize something. There are three main Urdu auxiliary verbs which have multiple variants. We’ll introduce them to you below.

 ہونا (hona) — to be

  • ہوں (hun) — am
  • ہے (hai) — is
  • ہیں (hain) — are
  • تھا/تھی (tha/thi) — was
  • تھے (thay) — were

رکھنا/چکنا (rakhna/chukna) — to have

  • چکا ہے/چکی ہے (chuka hai/chuki hai) — has
  • چکے ہیں (chukay hain) — have
  • چکے تھے (chukay thay) — had

کرنا (karna) — to do

  • کرتا ہے/کرتی ہے (karta hai/karti hai) — does
  • کرتے ہیں (karty hain) — do
  • کیا/کیاتھا (kiya/kiya tha) — did
Example Sentences
  • میں خوش ہوں۔

mei khush hun.

I am happy.

  • وہ میرے ساتھ ناراض تھی۔

woh meray saath naraz thi.

She was angry with me.

  • وہ ہاکی کھیل چکے ہیں۔

woh hockey khail chukay hain.

They have played hockey.

  • ہم کیک کاٹ چکے تھے۔

hum cake kaat chukay thay.

We had cut the cake.

  • اس نے جھگڑے کا آغاز کیا۔

uss nay jhaghray ka aaghaz kiya.

He started the fight.

A Brief List Containing Some Modal and Helping Verbs

7. A List of Some Unavoidable Verbs in Urdu

To continue our list and further expand your Urdu verbs vocabulary, let’s look at a few more must-know verbs in Urdu that will make your life more convenient in an Urdu-speaking country. 

  • پیار کرنا (pyar karna) — to love
  • نفرت کرنا (nafrat karna) — to hate
  • کہنا (kehna) — to say
  • بتانا (batana) — to tell
  • ستانا (satana) — to tease
  • عزت کرنا (izat karna) — to respect
  • بے عزت کرنا (bayizat karna) — to humiliate
  • ملنا (milna) — to meet
  • اکٹھا کرنا (ikatha karna) — to collect
  • جدا کرنا (juda karna) — to separate
  • سونا (sona) — to sleep
  • جاگنا (jagna) — to wake up
  • زندہ رہنا (zinda rehna) — to live
  • مرنا (marna) — to die
  • آنا (aana) — to come
  • جانا (jana) — to go
  • مزہ لینا (maza lena) — to enjoy
  • دوڑنا (dorna) — to run
  • مسکرانا (muskurana) — to smile
  • معاف کرنا (maaf karna) — to forgive
  • معافی مانگنا (maafi mangna) — to apologize
  • کھانسنا (khansna) — to cough
  • گرنا (girna) — to fall
  • اٹھنا (uthna) — to get up
  • پڑھانا (parhana) — to teach
  • دبانا (dabana) — to press
  • مارنا (marna) — to beat
  • قتل کرنا (qatl karna) — to kill
  • بچانا (bachana) — to save
  • بولنا (bolna) — to speak
  • شور کرنا (shor karna) — to make a noise
  • پوچھنا (poochna) — to ask
  • سوال کرنا (sawal karna) — to question
  • جواب دینا (jawab dena) — to reply
  • داخل ہونا (dakhil hona) — to enter
  • حاصل کرنا (hasil karna) — to get

Example Sentences

  • اس نے بے گناہ لوگوں کو قتل کیا۔

uss nay baygunah logon ko qatl kiya.

He killed innocent people.

  • آپ نے ایک اچھا سوال پوچھا ہے۔

aap nay aik acha sawal pucha hai.

You have asked a good question.

  • آپ میٹنگ میں کب آؤ گے؟

aap meeting mein kab aao gay?

When will you come to the meeting?

  • وہ بہت اچھا پڑھاتا ہے۔

woh bohat acha parhata hai.

He teaches very well.

  • میں آج ہوٹل میں نہیں جاؤں گا۔

mei aaj hotel mein nahi jaon ga.

I will not go to the hotel today.

8. Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed learning about Urdu verbs with us! Are there any verbs we didn’t cover that you still want to know? Let us know in the comments! 

After reading this article carefully, you should have a better understanding of Urdu verbs and how they work. This will allow you to properly use them in sentences for more effective communication. Practice them well and you’re sure to get desired results! 

At UrduPod101.com, we always do our best to ensure that our content is informative, up-to-date, and easy to understand. For this reason, we always look forward to hearing your feedback and other comments so that we can continually improve. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have—we’ll do our best to help! 

Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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The Pronoun in Urdu: A Comprehensive Guide to Urdu Pronouns

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Learning the must-know pronouns in Urdu is essential because they substitute nouns to avoid unnecessary repetition and increase overall clarity in writing and speaking. As a non-native, being able to correctly use pronouns in Urdu conversations will allow you to sound more natural and reasonable.

In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about this important grammar point. Let’s get started!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Urdu Table of Contents
  1. What is a Pronoun in Urdu?
  2. Urdu Personal Pronouns
  3. Urdu Demonstrative Pronouns
  4. Urdu Interrogative Pronouns
  5. Urdu Indefinite Pronouns
  6. Urdu Relative Pronouns
  7. A Few Socio-Cultural Restraints
  8. Conclusion

1. What is a Pronoun in Urdu?

A pronoun is a word which can be used instead of a noun. In Urdu, a pronoun is called: اسم ضمیر  (Ism-e-zameer). You may notice that the definition of a pronoun in Urdu, as well as its use, is the same as in English. If you struggle with the construction of Urdu pronouns and their appropriate uses, walk with us through this article and you’ll get a pronoun list in Urdu to get you started.

With this in mind, let’s have a look at the most popular kinds of pronouns in Urdu, starting with the personal pronoun.

2. Urdu Personal Pronouns

Basic Questions

There are two words for Urdu personal pronouns: ذاتی اسم ضمیر (zaati ism-e-zameer) / شخصی اسم ضمیر (shakhsi ism-e-zameer). A pronoun which is used to replace a proper noun, such as a person’s name, tends to be a personal pronoun. To illustrate the proper usage of personal pronouns in Urdu, we’ll discuss them one by one, according to their form in particular.

Initially, personal pronouns can be compartmentalized into three types:

  •  ضمیر متکلم  (zameer mutkalam) — First-person
  • ضمیر حاضر (zameer hazir) — Second-person
  • غائب ضمیر  (zameer ghaib) — Third-person

1. 1st-, 2nd-, 3rd-person singular: I, you, he, she, it

1- 1st-Person

To begin, let’s discuss the واحد متکلم (wahid mutkalam) singular first-person. 

میں (mei) is the word that’s used for the first-person pronoun “I” in Urdu. Contrary to how this pronoun is used in English for both male and female speakers, in Urdu, the verb determines the gender of the pronoun. In order to represent a masculine pronoun, the phrase تا ہوں  (ta hun) is used; to represent a feminine pronoun, the phrase تی ہوں  (ti hun) is used. For example:

میں سکول جاتا ہوں۔

mei school jata hun.

I go to school.

میں کھانا کھاتی ہوں۔

mei khana khati hun.

I eat my meal.

A Woman Pointing towards Herself

In the above sentences, the first one refers to a masculine pronoun case and the second one a feminine pronoun case.

2- 2nd-Person

It’s important to keep in mind that there are two Urdu words for the second-person pronoun: تم (tum) and آپ (aap). Both of these words mean the same thing: “you.” 

The former is used in an informal sense, whereas the latter is used in formal conversations. Being a non-native speaker, it’s recommended that you stick to the latter, as it will bring civility and courtesy to your conversations.

Informal usage

تم کہاں ہو؟

tum kahan ho?

Where are you?

Formal usage

آپ کہاں ہو؟

aap kahan ho?

Where are you?

3- 3rd-Person

Talking about the third-person singular pronoun, Urdu speakers simply use the word وہ (woh). However, as discussed above, the appropriate use of تا ہے (ta hai) and تی ہے (ti hai) will determine the gender of the subject in a sentence. Here are a few examples to explain:

وہ فٹبال کھیلتا ہے۔

woh football khelta hai.

He plays football.

وہ کھانا پکاتی ہے۔

woh khana pakati hai.

She cooks food.

So, just remember that the Urdu pronoun وہ (woh) is used for the second-person pronouns in Urdu, irrespective of their genders. 

2. 1st-, 2nd-, 3rd-person plural: we, they, you

Now that you’ve learned how to use the singular pronouns in Urdu, let’s move onto the plural personal pronouns in Urdu. 

1- 1st-Person

We’ll begin with ہم (hum). There’s a little bit of variation in regard to gender-determining words here in comparison to those for singular personal pronouns. That is to say, instead of تا ہے  (ta hai) and تی ہے (ti hai), the phrases تے ہیں (tay hain) and تی ہیں (ti hain) are used. These establish the gender of the masculine and feminine pronouns respectively. Below are a few examples of pronouns in Urdu to better explain.

ہم اردو بولتے ہیں۔

hum urdu boltay hain.

We speak Urdu.

ہم اردو سیکھتی ہیں۔

hum urdu seekhti hain.

We learn Urdu.

The first sentence informs that the first-person plural pronoun is used for masculine subjects, while the second one speaks of the feminine subjects.

2- 2nd-Person

Similarly, the following two sentences will elaborate on the use of the second-person plural in Urdu.

آپ کتنے بجے ریلوے سٹیشن پر پہنچتے ہیں؟

aap kitnay bajay railway station per pohanchtay hain?

At what time do you reach the railway station?

آپ کون سے ملک میں رہتی ہیں؟

aap kon say mulk mein rehti hain?

In which country do you live?

Once again, the former sentence tells about the masculine gender, and the latter about the feminine gender.

3- 3rd-Person

وہ کرکٹ کھیلتے ہیں۔

who cricket khailtay hain.

They play cricket.

Above is an example of the appropriate use of “they” in Urdu.

3. Object forms: me, us, you, his, her, them

Under certain circumstances, Urdu pronouns are also used in the object form. However, they’re used a little differently than they are in English. Nonetheless, you’ll find below a few examples of how best to use the Urdu object forms. 

1- “Me” and “us” / مجھ سے، ہم سے

انھوں نے یہ کام مجھ سے کروایا۔

unhon nay yeh kam mujh say karwaya.

They forced me to do this job.

 ہم سے قتل نہیں ہوا۔

hum say qatl nahi hua.

The murder has not been done by us.

2- “You” / تم سے

 یہ پیپرتم سے پاس کیوں نہیں ہوا۔

yeh paper tum say pass kyu nahin hua.

Why has this paper not been passed by you?

3- “His,” “her,” “them” / اس سے، ان سے

انھوں نے اس کا پیچھا کیا۔

Unhon nay uss ka peecha kiya.

They chased him.

یہ کپڑے اس نے دھوئے۔

yeh kapray uss nay dhoay.

These clothes were washed by her.

اچھے برتاؤ کی ان سے توقع کی جا سکتی ہے۔

achay bartao ki un say tawaqqo ki ja sakti hai.

Good behavior is expected from them.

It’s worth noting that the positioning of the object case or accusative case in Urdu is not in accordance with English grammar; it varies from sentence to sentence. However, the sense and treatment of these forms are similar to those in English.

4. Urdu possessive pronouns: my, our, your, his, her, their, its

Since the role of possessive pronouns in Urdu can’t be underestimated, let’s have a look at them. The possessive pronoun definition in Urdu isn’t much different from the English definition. Below, we’ll list the possessive cases of Urdu pronouns along with an explanation of the possessive pronoun’s meaning in Urdu.

  • میرا (mera) — my / mine
  • آپ کا (aap ka) — your (formal)
  • تمھارا (tumhara) — your (informal)
  • اس کا (uss ka) — his / her
  • ان کا (un ka) — their
  • اس کا (iss ka) — its

Some Illustrations:

یہ میری کار ہے۔

yeh meri car hai.

This is my car.

آپ کا نام کیا ہے؟

aap ka nam kya hai?

What is your name?

تمھارا گھر کہاں واقع ہے؟

tumhara ghar kahan waqia hai?

Where is your house situated?

احمد اس کا بھائی ہے۔

ahmad uss ka bhai hai.

Ahmad is his brother.

ان کا حوصلہ بلند ہے۔

un ka hosla buland hai.

Their morale is high.

Three Children, Two with a Book in Hand and the Third Pointing towards Them

5. Reflexive forms: myself, himself, themselves

Reflexive pronouns refer to the subject. As the suffixes “-self” or -“selves” emphasize the subject in English, in Urdu the phrase بذات خود  (bazat-e-khud) tends to execute the same function. Following are a few varied forms of Urdu reflexive pronouns, along with some sentences to illustrate how they’re used.

  • میں بذات خود (mei bazat-e-khud) — I / myself
  • ہم  بذات خود (hum bazat-e-khud) — we / ourselves
  • آپ بذات خود (aap bazat-e-khud) — you / yourself
  • وہ بذات خود (woh bazat-e-khud) — he / himself

Sentences:

میں بذات خود یہ کلاس پڑھاتا ہوں۔

mei bazat-e-khud yeh class parhata hun.

I myself teach this class.

ہم بذات خود اس اچھے کام کے لئے چندہ اکٹھا کریں گے۔

hum bazat-khud iss achay kam kay liay chanda ikatha karein gay.

We ourselves will raise the fund for this noble cause.

3. Urdu Demonstrative Pronouns

Introducing Yourself

Demonstrative pronouns point toward a recently replaced noun with respect to time, space, and distance. The following examples will help you understand the functionality and positioning of demonstrative pronouns in Urdu sentences.

1- Singular Case

یہ، وہ (this, that)

یہ میری بہن کی کتاب ہے۔

yeh meri behan ki kitab hai.

This is my sister’s book.

وہ میری بائیک سے ملتی جلتی ہے۔

woh meri bike say milti julti hai.

That bike resembles mine.

2- Plural Case

یہ،وہ (these, those)

یہ اچھے اور آرام دہ جوتے ہیں۔

yeh achay aur aaram deh jootay hain.

These shoes are nice and comfortable.

وہ پہاڑ خوبصورت ہیں۔

woh pahar khubsurat hain.

Those mountains are beautiful.

4. Urdu Interrogative Pronouns

Some Question Words in English

Urdu uses interrogative pronouns the same way English does: they’re used to ask questions. The interrogative pronouns in Urdu can be used in a variety of scenarios and situations. Now, let’s practice how to use these Urdu interrogative pronouns in daily conversations.

  • کیا (kya) — what
  • کون سا (kon sa) — which
  • کون (kon) — who
  • کہاں (kahan) — where
  • کیوں (kyun) — why
  • کب (kab) — when
  •  جسے/جس کو (jisay/jis ko) — whom 
  • جس کا/جن کا (jis ka/jin ka) — whose

Sentences:

آپ ناشتے میں کیا پسند کریں گے؟

aap nashtay mein kya pasand karein gay?

What would you like to have for breakfast?

آپ کون سا کھیل پسند کرتے ہیں؟

aap kon sa khel pasand kartay hain?

Which sport do you like?

وہ لڑکا کون ہے؟

woh larka kon hai?

Who is that boy?

5. Urdu Indefinite Pronouns

An indefinite pronoun is used for something that’s not definite or specific. Below, we’ll tell you about some Urdu indefinite pronouns and how to use them under certain circumstances.

1- Everyone / everybody / everywhere / everything

ہرکوئی، ہرجگہ، ہرچیز وغیرہ

  • ہر کوئی (her koi) — everybody / everyone
  • ہر جگہ (her jagah) — everywhere
  • ہر چیز (her cheez) — everything

Sentence:

میٹنگ میں ہر کوئی موجود ہونا چاہئے۔

meeting mein her koi mojood hona chahiye.

Everybody should be present at the meeting.

2- Someone / somebody / somewhere / something

 کوئی شخص، کسی جگہ، کوئی چیز

  • کوئی شخص (koi shakhs) — someone / somebody
  • کسی جگہ (kisi jagah) — somewhere
  • کوئی چیز (koi cheez) — something

Sentence:

اس کو کسی نے زخمی کیا ہے۔

uss ko kisi nay zakhmi kiya hai.

Somebody has wounded him.

3- No one / nobody / nowhere / nothing

کوئی نہیں، کہیں نہیں، کچھ نہیں

کوئی نہیں (koi nahi) — no one / nobody

کہیں نہیں (kahin nahi) — nowhere

کچھ نہیں (kuch nahi) — nothing

Sentence:

میں نے دستک دی لیکن کوئی بھی دروازہ کھولنے نہیں آیا۔

mei nay dastak di lekin koi bhi darwaza kholnay nahi aya.

I knocked on the door, but nobody opened the door.

4- Anyone / anybody / anywhere / anything

کوئی بھی، کہیں بھی، کچھ بھی

کوئی بھی (koi bhi) — anyone / anybody

کہیں بھی (kahin bhi) — anywhere

کچھ بھی (kuch bhi) — anything

Sentence:

کوئی بھی سوال پوچھ سکتا ہے۔

koi bhi sawal pooch sakta hai.

Anyone may ask the question.

6. Urdu Relative Pronouns

Improve Listening

Relative pronouns relate to a previously introduced relative clause. Basically, there are five relative pronouns in Urdu. For deeper insight into relative pronouns in Urdu, have a look at the following examples.

  • جو / جس نے (jo / jis nay) — which / that
  • جس نے (jis nay) — who
  • جسے (jisy) — whom
  • جس کا (jis ka) — whose

Sentences:

میں نے جو کار خریدی وہ نیلی تھی۔

mei nay jo car kharedi woh neeli thi.

The car that I bought was blue.

جس شخص نے مجھے خط لکھا وہ میرا دوست ہے۔

jis shakhs nay mujhe khat likha woh mera dost hai.

The person who wrote me the letter is my friend.

جس شخص کو میں نے کال کی وہ میرا شاگرد تھا۔

jis shakhs ko mei nay call ki woh mera shagird tha.

The person whom I called was my student. 

یہ وہ زمین ہے جو کہ تم نے نہیں خریدی۔

yeh woh zameen hai jo kay tum nay nahi khareedi.

This is the land which you did not purchase.

یہ وہ پہلوان ہے جس کی کِک مشہور ہے۔

Yeh woh pehlwan hai jis ki kick mash-hoor hai.

This is the wrestler whose kick is famous.

7. A Few Socio-Cultural Restraints

The Pakistan Flag

When cruising about the territory of Pakistan, you should use the second-person pronoun with a great deal of care. First, always try to use the formal version, i.e. آپ (aap) instead of the informal تم (tum). Secondly, if you intend to have a conversation with a woman, never ever try to take the liberty of being informal. This has some objectionable cultural connotations and can have serious repercussions.

8. Conclusion

We hope that you had a simple but fruitful learning experience today. Urdu pronouns are essential in learning the language, so be sure to keep working at it! 

This and many other lessons at UrduPod101.com will not only enhance your knowledge of Urdu language pronouns, but also your knowledge about the correct use of Urdu nouns, Urdu adjectives, and many other aspects of the language.

Having learned the most common pronouns in Urdu, it’s now up to you to practice these Urdu pronouns. Once you’re well-versed in this field, you’ll see how much more convenient conversing in Urdu will be!

Do you feel that all the questions you had on Urdu pronouns have been covered? Please let us know in the comments, and we’ll do our best to answer any questions you may still have. 
Very Happy Urdu Learning!

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Language tutors are readily available for homework help. Some writing assignments, for instance, require use of unfamiliar vocabulary. In such cases, my language teachers assist me by forwarding related lessons or vocabulary lists.

In addition to these auto-generated homework tasks, language tutors customize daily assignments. My daily homework assignments include submitting three written sentences that apply the target grammar point of that lesson, and then blindly audio-recording those sentences. My personal language tutor follows up with feedback and corrections, if needed.

Your language tutors also provide assignments upon requests. When I wanted to review grammar, my Korean teacher sent related quizzes and assignments. Thus, you are not only limited to the auto-generated assignments.

Every weekend, I review by re-reading those written sentences. It helps me remember sentence structures, grammar points, and vocabulary to apply in real-world contexts.

Furthermore, I can track my progress with language portfolios every trimester. It’s like a midterm exam that tests my listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

Get Your Own Personal Language Teacher!

A woman teaching pronunciation in a classroom

My language teachers cater to my goals with personalized and achievable learning programs. The tangible support of my online language teachers makes it evident that we share common goals.

Once I share a short-term or long-term goal with my teacher, we establish a plan or pathway that will ultimately result in success. I coordinate with my teachers regularly to ensure the personalized learning programs are prosperous. For example, during my JLPT studies, my Japanese language tutor assigned me practice tests.

Your language tutor is available for outside help as well. When I bought drama CDs in Japan, I had difficulty transliterating the dialogue. My Japanese teacher forwarded me the script to read along as I listened.

Additionally, I often practice Korean and Japanese with music. I memorize one line of the lyrics daily. Every time, I learn a new grammar point and new vocabulary. I add the vocabulary to my SRS flashcards, locate the grammar in the Grammar Bank, and study the associated lessons online.

I send my teachers the name of the songs, making them aware of my new goal. One time, my song for Korean was “If You Do” by GOT7. My Korean teacher revealed that she was a huge fan of GOT7 like me! For Japanese, it was “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA,” also known as the Dragonball Z theme song. My Japanese teacher excitedly told me that she sang the song a lot as a kid!

A remarkable thing happened to me in South Korea. I was stressed about opening a bank account with limited Korean. I sought help from my Korean teacher. She forwarded me a script of a bank conversation.

After two days, I visited the local bank. It all started with my opening sentence:

은행 계좌를 만들고 싶어요

eunhaeng gyejwaleul mandeulgo sip-eoyo.

I want to open a bank account.

Everything went smoothly, and I exited the bank with a new account!

The MyTeacher Messenger allows me to share visuals with my teachers for regular interaction, including videos to critique my pronunciation mechanisms. I improve my listening and speaking skills by exchanging audio with my teachers. In addition to my written homework assignments, I exchange messages with my language teachers in my target language. This connection with my teachers enables me to experience the culture as well as the language.

Why You Should Subscribe to Premium PLUS

It’s impossible for me to imagine my continuous progress with Japanese and Korean without Premium PLUS. Everything—from the SRS flashcards to my language teachers—makes learning languages enjoyable and clear-cut.

You’re assured to undergo the same experience with Premium PLUS. You’ll gain access to the aforementioned features as well as all of the Premium features.

Complete lessons and assignments to advance in your target language. Increase your vocabulary with the “2000 Core Word List” for that language and SRS flashcards. Learn on-the-go with the Innovative Language app and/or Podcasts app for iOS users.

Learning a new language takes dedication and commitment. The Premium PLUS features make learning irresistibly exciting. You’ll look forward to learning daily with your language tutor.

As of right now, your challenge is to subscribe to Premium PLUS! Complete your assessment, and meet your new Urdu teacher.

Have fun learning your target language in the fastest and easiest way!

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