The Focus of This Lesson is Describing your Interests and Goals In the Active Voice

हम बिलकुल अपने युवा कर्मचारियों को सिखाकर अच्छे से तैयार करना पसंद करते है, और यह आशा रखते है कि वो भी निष्ठां से काम करे।

ham biLkuL apNe yuvaa karmcaariyon ko Sikhaakar acche Se Taiyaar karNaa paSaND karTe hain, aur yah aasaa rakhTe hain ki vo bhii Nisthaa Se kaam kare.
"We definitely like to train our young staff, and expect that they work with dedication as welll."

In this lesson, we will learn how to:

1. Compare the passive voice and active voice
2. Write sentences in active voice—sentence pattern
3. Use vocabulary for talking about interests and goals

1. How to Compare the Passive Voice and Active Voice

In Hindi there are several ways of making a sentence passive. This is most common when talking about likes and dislikes.

In this lesson, we focus on the present tense, talking about likes and dislikes in an active voice and using different verb conjugations.

When talking about likes and dislikes in Hindi, we usually use the format:

1) I like doing X

[pronoun-inflected verb-present continuous form  पसंद है ]

[mujhe verb-Naa paSaND hai]

For example:

1. "I like singing." (closer to: "Singing is appealing to me")
   मुझे गाना पसंद है।
   mujhe gaaNaa paSaND hai

This is the passive voice. The pronoun is inflected and becomes the subject instead of the object (मुझे mujhe "Me" instead of मैं main "I"). पसंद paSaND which means "like" is akin to a noun, and the only verb applied is the intransitive है hai ("is") from होना hoNaa ("to be"). The second object, "singing," is in the present continuous form of the verb.

The same can be expressed in an active voice, in the simple present tense, where the verb is in the infinitive form, in the following way:

2) I like to do X.

[pronoun X verb-infinitive form पसंद  करता हूँ ]

[pronoun X verb-infinitive form paSaND karTaa huun]

For example:

1. "I like to sing."
   मैं गाना पसंद करता हूँ।
   main gaaNaa paSaND karaTaa huun.

Here the object pronoun is active ("I," not "me"), and the main verb is transitive (करना karNaa - "to do").

This type of sentence is better suited to describing your hobbies and interests in formal situations, and for taking a more active tone in describing. The regular way of talking about likes makes the personal pronoun (मैं main- "I") into the subject (मुझे mujhe - "Me"), and so it's a passive way of talking about your likes, even though that is the common way. Switching to the present continuous tense makes the tone more active.

Beyond just talking about your likes, this type of sentence is also used to describe your process of working and skills, how you work etc. and is particularly suited to professional situations, where we use the format "I like to do X" to talk about work habits and discipline as well.

2. How to Write Sentences in Present Continuous Tense for "liking."

The basic sentence structure is the following:

पसंद paSaND: "like"

करना karNaa: "to do"

हूँ huun: "am" (in this case "do" in the first person)

The object [X] has to be in the infinitive form for verbs, and if the object is a noun, it has to be paired with a transitive verb in the infinitive form, usually करना karNaa ("to do").

1. Object is a verb: Verb-infinitive [verb root-Naa]
2. Object is a noun: Noun + verb infinitive [noun + verb root-Naa]

Here are some examples with verb objects:

-       "To read": पढ़ना parhNaa

-       "To write": लिखना LikhNaa

-       "To build/make": बनाना baNaaNaa

-       "To take/stick": लगना LagNaa

Here are some examples with noun-verb objects:

-       "To exercise": व्यायाम करना vyaayaam karNaa ("do exercise")

-       "To summarize": संक्षेप लिखना Sanksep LikhNaa "(write summary")

-       "To paint": चित्र बनाना ciTra baNaaNaa ("make painting")

-       "To blog": ब्लॉग लिखना bLaug LikhNaa ("write blog")

-       "To serve/to care for": सेवा करना Sevaa karNaa ("do service")

-       "To check/inspect": जांच करना jaanc karNaa ("do checking")

In many cases, the verb exists on its own, but it's changed to a noun form and combined with the verb करना karNaa. In the examples below, "sewing" or "stitching" सीना SiiNaa is an action that is awkward to use in the continuous tense "I like sewing," so we change it to a noun सिलाई SiLaai ("sewing/stitching"), used along with करना karNaa (to do), and the sentence changes to "I like to sew/stitch," so it's clear that you are referring to many tasks, not one prolonged action of sewing.

Since the infinitive form for verbs in Hindi is the same as the present tense conjugation -- "to do" and "doing" are both करना karNaa -- this distinction has to be made. These are nuances particular to Hindi grammar, and also idiomatic, so you develop an instinct for where it is better to use this over time.

-     सीना SiiNaa ("sewing/stitching") → सिलाई करना SiLaaii karNaa ("to do sewing/stitching"): "To Sew/Stitch"

-     दौड़ना DaudNaa ("running") → दौड़ लगाना Daud LagaaNaa ("to go running"): "To run"

-     खरीदना khariiDNaa ("buying") → खरीदारी करना khariDaarii karNaa ("to do shopping"): "To shop"

-     झगड़ना jhagadNaa ("arguing/fighting") → झगड़ा करना jhagdaa karNaa ("to do fighting/arguing"): "To argue/fight"

For example:

1. मैं लिखना पसंद करती हूँ।
   main LikhaNaa paSaND karaTii huun. (feminine)
   "I like to write."
2. मैं व्यायाम करना पसंद करता हूँ।
   main vyaayaam karNaa paSaND karTaa huun.(masculine)
   "I like to exercise." (instead of "I like exercising")
3. मैं डरपोक नहीं हूँ लेकिन मैं खामखा झगड़ा करना पसंद नहीं करता।
   main darpok Nahiin huun, LekiN main khamakhaa jhagdaa karNaa paSaND Nahiin karTaa. (masculine)
   "I am not a coward, but I don't like to get into fights unnecessarily."

3. How to Use Vocabulary for Talking About Interests and Goals

The following are similar formats and words used for talking about goals and interests.

- पसंद paSaND("like," "taste")

For example: मैं कार्य शुरू करने से पहले सम्पूर्णता से रीसर्च करना पसंद करता हूँ। main karya suru karNe Se pahLe SampuurnTaa Se riiSarc karNaa paSaND karTaa huun. (masculine) - "I like to research fully before starting the task."

- आकांक्षा aakaNksaa ("desire," "ambition")

For example: मैं अपनी कम्पनी बनाने की आकांक्षा रखता हूँ। main apNii kampaNii baNaaNe kii aakanksaa rakhTaa huun (masculine)- "I hope to create my own company" (more literally: I nurse the desire of creating my own company).

- इच्छा icchaa ("wish")

For example: परीक्षा के बाद आपकी क्या करने की इच्छा है? pariiksaa ke baaD aapkii kyaa karNe kii icchaa hai? - "What do you wish to do after your exams?"

- कामना kaamNaa ("hope," "prayer")

For example: मेरी हमेशा से ही वकील बनने की कामना रही है। merii hamesaa Se hii vakiiL baNNe kii kaamNaa rahii hai. - "I've always wanted to become a lawyer."

- इरादा iraaDaa ("intention")

मेरा इरादा पूरे टीम के जोड़ को मज़बूत बनाने का है। - meraa iraaDaa puure tiim ke jod ko mazbuuT baNaaNe kaa hai. - "My intention is to make the team bonding stronger."

Sample Sentences

1. मैं लिखना पसंद करती हूँ। (feminine)
   main LikhaNaa paSaND karaTii huun.
   "I like to write."
2. मैं व्यायाम करना पसंद करता हूँ| (masculine)
   main vyaayaam karNaa paSaND karTaa huun.
   "I like to exercise."
3. मैं डरपोक नहीं हूँ लेकिन मुझे खामखा झगड़ा करना पसंद नहीं।
   main darpok Nahiin huun LekiN mujhe khaamakhaa jhagdaa karNaa paSaND Nahiin.
   "I am not a coward, but I don't like to get into fights unnecessarily."

शुरुआत में  ("in the beginning")

शुरुआत suruaaT is a noun which means 'beginning', and में mein is a particle, meaning 'in', which follows the noun

Together the phrase is "in the beginning" or "at the start." This is the most common way to refer to the start of any process or phenomenon. This can also be used as 'initially', or 'to start off'.शुरुआत SuruaaT can also be used on its own, as "beginning." It is derived from the word suru which means 'start'.

For example:

1. शुरुआत में मुझे ऐप्पल सॉफ्टवेयर इस्तेमाल करने में बहुत मुश्किल होती थी।
   suruaaT mein mujhe aipaL Sauftwair iSTemaaL karNe mein bahuT muskiL hoTii THii.
   "Initially, I used to have a lot of trouble using Apple software."

ग्रेजुएशन करना  ("to complete post-secondary studies")

ग्रेजुएशन graijuesaN is an English loan word—"graduation"—and is used in common lingo in Hindi in India, to refer to post-secondary education.करना karNaa is a transitive verb which means "to do."

Together ग्रेजुएशन करना graijuesaN karNaa means "to complete undergraduate studies." Even though, literally, it means "to graduate, "it basically means "to complete" or simply, "to do your undergraduate studies." "Graduation" here doesn't only refer to the "graduation ceremony," but refers to the whole process of undergraduate studies to get to the graduation.

Traditionally, there are no high school graduation ceremonies in India, and so the term "graduation" has become linked to post-secondary education—mainly Bachelor's or undergraduate studies.

For example:

1. मेरी बेटी रांची के विश्वविद्यालय से ग्रेजुएशन कर रही है।
   Merii betii raancii ke viswaviDyaaLay Se graijuesaN kar rahii hai.
   "My daughter is doing her undergraduate studies at Ranchi University."

में दिलचस्पी होना  ("to be interested in")

में Mein is a particle which means 'in', and दिलचस्पी DiLcaSpii is a noun which means "interest" - describing a more emotional kind of interest, rather than merely intellectual interest. होना HoNaa is a intransitive verb meaning "to be." Altogether, में दिलचस्पी होना mein DiLcaSpii hoNaa, means "to have interest in."

दिलचस्पी DiLcaSpii can be used to describe a zest for topics close to your heart or even academic interest, so it is something that is more than just a passing interest.

For example:

1. क्या आपको भी प्राचीन चीन के इतिहास में दिलचस्पी है?
   kyaa aapko bhii praaciiN ciiN ke iTihaaS mein DiLcaSpii hai?
   "Do you also have a passion for the history of ancient Chinese?"

The Education System in India

Post-secondary education in India follows the older British system that it was modeled after. Though there are also universities, and colleges within universities, as a whole, people in India commonly refer to post-secondary education as "college." Being in college or going to college is the same as university in other countries. Generally, Bachelor studies last three years, although in some places, the final two years of high school are combined with a Bachelor's education to make it five years. From high school, students start specializing in particular fields; the Arts, Commerce and Science. The Arts include mostly social sciences and humanities, Commerce is all economics, business and statistics, and Sciences combines the life and medical sciences and engineering. From 10th grade onwards students have to choose one of those fields and study only related subjects. This continues on in their bachelor's studies as well, where students can study and specialize in a subject within their chosen field. Because of this early division, it is generally quite difficult to switch fields later. Those studying History, for example, will not be able to switch to pre-medical studies in university easily. However, it is possible for Engineering graduates to study Business after their Bachelor degree is completed. This has become the new trend among young Indians - to study engineering in during their undergraduate, and then enter an MBA program to go on to work in a multinational company.