V-आ/ई + था (Had done)

For actions completed before another past event — 'I had eaten', 'she had left'

Examples

masculine (आया था)

वह आया था

He had come

feminine (आई थी)

वह आई थी

She had come

Usage Notes

Used for the "earlier" of two past events. जब मैं पहुँचा, वह जा चुका था (when I arrived, he had already left). The leaving happened before the arriving.

In casual conversation, this tense is often replaced by the simple past. Many Hindi speakers say वह गया (he went) even when they mean "he had gone."

Automatically detected by the Desi Lingo browser extension when you click Hindi words on any webpage.

Related — Verb Tenses & Aspects

V-ता/ती/ते + है (I do / He does)

For things that happen regularly — 'he drinks', 'she works', 'I eat'

V-ता/ती/ते + था (Used to)

For things that used to happen regularly — 'he used to drink', 'she used to work'

V + रहा/रही + है (Is doing)

For actions happening right now — 'he is eating', 'she is going'

V + रहा/रही + था (Was doing)

For actions that were happening at a past moment — 'he was eating', 'she was going'

V-आ/ई/ए/या (Did)

For actions that are done and finished — 'he ate', 'she went', 'they came'

All Grammar Points