के पास (ke paas)
postposition
A compound postposition meaning 'near/at' physically, and, by extension, the standard way to express possession ('have') in Hindi -- both senses are covered below.
Sense
1
:
possession (to have)
postposition Used with होना (honaa) in the frame X के पास Y है (X ke paas Y hai, 'X has Y') -- the possessor takes के पास and the thing possessed is the grammatical subject, agreeing with है/हैं/था etc.
Synonyms: के यहाँ (ke yahaan, less common in this sense)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the classic Hindi way of expressing possession, and it reflects a broader pattern where Hindi prefers 'X is near/with Y' over a direct 'to have' verb -- there's no single verb that means 'to have' the way English does. Think of मेरे पास पैसे हैं (mere paas paise hain, 'I have money') literally as 'near me, money exists' -- once that clicks, the whole construction feels much more natural.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often try to say 'I have' with a direct subject as in English, producing मैं के पास (main ke paas) instead of मेरे पास (mere paas) -- पास (paas) always attaches to the oblique/possessive form of the pronoun, not the plain subject pronoun. 2) The verb agrees with the thing possessed, not with the possessor -- मेरे पास किताबें हैं (mere paas kitaaben hain, 'I have books') takes हैं (hain) because किताबें (kitaaben) is plural, not मैं (main). 3) के पास (ke paas) is used for things you can physically hold or carry (money, books, a car); for relationships, qualities, or abstract things like time or illness, के (ke) alone or other constructions are often more natural -- learners overextend के पास (ke paas) to every 'have' sentence.
Sample Sentences:
उसके पास एक बहुत पुरानी कार है।
He has a very old car.
(uske paas ek bahut puraanii kaar hai।)
Listen: F85
कल मेरे पास वक़्त नहीं था।
I didn't have time yesterday.
(kal mere paas vaqt nahiin thaa।)
Listen: F85
अगर उसके पास डिग्री होती, तो उसे नौकरी मिल जाती।
If he had a degree, he would have gotten the job.
(agar uske paas digrii hotii, to use naukrii mil jaatii।)
Listen: F85
काश मेरे पास इतने पैसे होते।
I wish I had that much money.
(kaash mere paas itne paise hote।)
Listen: M85
अगली सदी तक शायद उनके पास इस समस्या का हल हो।
By next century, they might have a solution to this problem.
(aglii sadii tak shaayad unke paas is samasyaa kaa hal ho।)
Listen: M85
उसके पास हमेशा कोई न कोई बहाना होता है।
He always has some excuse or the other.
(uske paas hameshaa koii n koii bahaanaa hotaa hai।)
Listen: M85
जिनके पास ज्ञान है, उन्हें विनम्र होना चाहिए।
Those who have knowledge should be humble.
(jinke paas gyaan hai, unhen vinamr honaa chaahie।)
Listen: M85
उम्मीद है कि अगले महीने तक हमारे पास पूरी रिपोर्ट होगी।
Hopefully by next month we will have the complete report.
(ummiid hai ki agle mahiine tak hamaare paas poorii riport hogii।)
Listen: F85
गरीबों के पास अक्सर बुनियादी सुविधाएँ भी नहीं होती हैं।
The poor often don't even have basic facilities.
(gariibon ke paas aksar buniyaadii suvidhaaen bhii nahiin hotii hain।)
Listen: F85
Sense
2
:
physical proximity (near, close to)
postposition Takes the oblique form of whatever precedes it, as with all compound postpositions (e.g. स्टेशन के पास (steshan ke paas, 'near the station')).
Synonyms: के नज़दीक (ke nazdiik), के करीब (ke kariib)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Very handy for giving directions in a city like Delhi, where landmarks matter more than street addresses -- e.g. मंदिर के पास (mandir ke paas, 'near the temple') is often a more useful direction than any formal address.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse के पास (ke paas) with के आस-पास (ke aas-paas), which means 'around/in the vicinity of' (a wider, less precise area) rather than 'right next to'.
Sample Sentences:
बस स्टॉप के पास एक चाय की दुकान है।
There's a tea stall near the bus stop.
(bas stop ke paas ek chaay kii dukaan hai।)
Listen: M85
कृपया गाड़ी को स्कूल के पास मत रोकिए।
Please don't stop the car near the school.
(kripyaa gaadii ko skool ke paas mat rokie।)
Listen: F85
हम नदी के पास बैठे थे जब बारिश शुरू हुई।
We were sitting near the river when it started raining.
(ham nadii ke paas baithe the jab baarish shuroo huii।)
Listen: M85
अगर तुम बाज़ार के पास रुकते, तो मैं तुम्हें ढूँढ लेता।
If you had stopped near the market, I would have found you.
(agar tum baazaar ke paas rukte, to main tumhen dhoondh letaa।)
Listen: M85
दफ़्तर के पास एक नया मॉल बन रहा है।
A new mall is being built near the office.
(daftar ke paas ek nayaa mol ban rahaa hai।)
Listen: M85
क्या यहाँ के पास कोई एटीएम है?
Is there an ATM anywhere near here?
(kyaa yahaan ke paas koii etiiem hai?)
Listen: M85
शायद वह होटल स्टेशन के पास ही हो।
Maybe that hotel is right near the station.
(shaayad vah hotal steshan ke paas hii ho।)
Listen: M85
कल हम पार्क के पास मिलेंगे।
We'll meet near the park tomorrow.
(kal ham paark ke paas milenge।)
Listen: F85
गाड़ी को हमेशा मुख्य द्वार के पास ही पार्क करो।
Always park the car near the main gate.
(gaadii ko hameshaa mukhy dvaar ke paas hii paark karo।)
Listen: M85
उसका दफ़्तर अस्पताल के ठीक पास स्थित है।
His office is located right near the hospital.
(uskaa daftar asptaal ke thiik paas sthit hai।)
Listen: F85