पिता मेज़ से पत्र ले रहे हैं।

to be

Breakdown of पिता मेज़ से पत्र ले रहे हैं।

• पिता: father
• रहना: to stay
• मेज़: table

Questions & Answers about पिता मेज़ से पत्र ले रहे हैं।

Why is there no ने after पिता?

Because ले रहे हैं is a progressive/imperfective verb form, not a perfective one.

In Hindi, the postposition ने is typically used with the subject of a transitive verb in the perfective aspect, for example:

• पिता ने पत्र लिया। = Father took the letter.

But in the sentence:

• पिता मेज़ से पत्र ले रहे हैं।

the verb means are taking, which is ongoing, so ने is not used.

A useful contrast:

• पिता पत्र लेते हैं। = Father takes letters / Father takes the letter(s).
• पिता पत्र ले रहे हैं। = Father is taking the letter.
• पिता ने पत्र लिया। = Father took the letter.

Why does ले रहे हैं have three parts?

This is a very common Hindi pattern.

ले रहे हैं breaks down like this:

• ले = the stem of लेना (to take) used before another verb element
• रहे = the progressive marker, showing an ongoing action
• हैं = the present tense form of to be

So together, ले रहे हैं means are taking or is taking.

This structure is extremely common in Hindi:

• खा रहा है = is eating
• पढ़ रही है = is reading
• लिख रहे हैं = are writing / is writing (respectful)