The Past Indefinite Tense, also known as the Simple Past Tense, is essential for expressing actions that were completed in the past. This guide is specially designed for students and learners who want to translate Past Indefinite Tense sentences from Hindi to English with ease and accuracy. You’ll find sentence structures, examples, fill-in-the-blank exercises, tips, and practice worksheets to sharpen your grammar skills.
What Is the Past Indefinite Tense?
The Past Indefinite Tense describes an action that happened and was completed in the past, often at a specific point in time.
Structure in English
Subject + V2 (second form of verb)
Structure in Hindi
Subject + ने + verb (past root) + या/ई/ए + था/थी/थे
Examples of Hindi to English Translation
1. Positive Sentences
| Hindi Sentence | English Translation |
| मैंने किताब पढ़ी। | I read the book. |
| उसने खाना बनाया। | He cooked the food. |
| वे स्कूल गए। | They went to school. |
| तुमने गाना गाया। | You sang a song. |
Rule: Use the past form (V2) of the verb in English.
2. Negative Sentences
| Hindi Sentence | English Translation |
| मैंने फिल्म नहीं देखी। | I did not watch the movie. |
| उसने जवाब नहीं दिया। | He did not answer. |
| वे नहीं आए। | They did not come. |
Rule: Use did not + base form (V1) of the verb.
3. Interrogative Sentences
| Hindi Sentence | English Translation |
| क्या तुम बाजार गए? | Did you go to the market? |
| क्या उसने मदद की? | Did he help? |
| क्या उन्होंने जवाब दिया? | Did they reply? |
Rule: Use Did + subject + base form (V1) of the verb.
Sentence Pattern Summary
| Sentence Type | Hindi Pattern | English Pattern |
| Positive | Subject + ने + verb (V2) + था/थी/थे | Subject + V2 |
| Negative | Subject + ने + verb + नहीं + किया/की/थे | Subject + did not + V1 |
| Interrogative | क्या + Subject + ने + verb + किया/की/थे? | Did + Subject + V1? |
Practice Exercise: Hindi to English Translation
Translate the following sentences into English:
- मैंने पत्र लिखा।
- उसने दरवाजा बंद किया।
- क्या तुमने पानी पिया?
- उन्होंने परीक्षा नहीं दी।
- क्या वह पार्टी में गया?
Sample Answers
- I wrote a letter.
- He closed the door.
- Did you drink water?
- They did not take the exam.
- Did he go to the party?
Fill in the Blanks (Past Indefinite Tense)
- He ___ (visited) his grandmother yesterday.
- I ___ (not see) the message.
- Did she ___ (complete) her homework?
- They ___ (win) the match.
- We ___ (go) to the zoo last week.
Answers:
- visited
- did not see
- complete
- won
- went
Common Verbs and Their Past Forms
| Base Verb (V1) | Past Form (V2) |
| go | went |
| eat | ate |
| see | saw |
| write | wrote |
| come | came |
| take | took |
| play | played |
| open | opened |
Useful Time Markers for Past Indefinite
- कल (yesterday) → I met him yesterday.
- पिछले सप्ताह (last week) → They arrived last week.
- एक दिन पहले (a day ago) → She left a day ago.
- 2010 में (in 2010) → He graduated in 2010.
- सुबह (in the morning) → We called them in the morning.
Tips for Hindi to English Translation in Past Indefinite
- Identify “ने” in the Hindi sentence. This signals Past Indefinite.
- Check for verb endings like किया, की, गया, आई, etc.
- In English, use V2 for affirmative, and “did not + V1” for negatives.
- Start questions with “Did”, followed by the subject and base verb.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between V1 and V2?
V1 is the base form of the verb (e.g., go), and V2 is the past form (e.g., went).
Can I use “did + V2” in a sentence?
No. Always use V1 with “did.”
Wrong: Did he go?
Correct: Did he go?
How can I identify Past Indefinite in Hindi?
Look for “ने” after the subject and past action verbs like खाया, गया, लिखा.
What is the correct structure of negative sentences in Past Indefinite?
Subject + did not + V1 (without using V2)
Do time markers like “yesterday” always indicate Past Indefinite?
Mostly yes. Time expressions such as yesterday, last week, ago, in 2010 often signal Past Indefinite usage.
Master Past Indefinite Translation from Hindi to English
Translating Past Indefinite Tense sentences from Hindi to English becomes easy with a clear understanding of structure, verb forms, and time markers. Practice with real examples, pay attention to grammar rules, and soon you’ll gain confidence in both writing and speaking.