Grammar Notes 10.1: Participles: ही and भी

ही participle in Hindi is equivalent to “just,” “only” in English. It expresses the idea of exclusiveness.

For example:

मैं ही हिन्दी पढ़ता हूँ|                                   Only I study Hindi.

राम का भाई ही मालिक है|                           Only Ram’s brother is an owner.

मेरे पिता जी ही सारे बड़े फ़ैसले करते हैं| Only my father takes all the big decisions.

भी participle in Hindi is equivalent to “too,” “also” in English. It expresses the idea of inclusiveness.

For example:

मैं भी हिन्दी पढ़ता हूँ|                                  I, also, study Hindi.

राम का भाई भी मालिक है|                          Ram’s brother, also, is an owner.

मेरे पिता जी भी सारे बड़े फ़ैसले करते हैं|       My father, also, takes all the big decisions.

The table below shows the forms of pronouns with The table below shows the forms of pronouns with ही and भी

तो participle in Hindi does not have an English equivalent. It is used right after a noun or a phrase that is compared to something else. It refers to the opposite idea. Additionally, तो is also used as a topic marker.
For example:
चाय तो गरम है| (मगर समोसा ठंडा है|) The tea is hot (but the samosa is cold.).
मैं तो यहाँ हूँ| (मगर तुम कहाँ हो?) I am here (but where are you?).
भारत तो गरीब है| (लेकिन तेजी से आगे बढ़ रहा है|) India is poor (but it is growing faster.).
मैं तो चाय लाऊँगा| I will bring tea. (Here, मैं I is a topic.)
यह कमरा तो बहुत अच्छा है| This room is very good. (Here कमरा room is a topic.)
उसमें दया तो है| He has mercy. (Here दया mercy is a topic.)

Exercise 1.1

Exercise 1.3