This is just 1 example to show how the meaning of the sentence changes depending upon which word You stress upon while saying it. If you stress upon ( emphasize) थोड़ा --- It means perhaps people are talking among themselves that they should eat a little ( and not more!) if you stress upon खाना -- It means some people are asking someone to give them a little food ( and nothing else, perhaps!) -- correct me if I am wrong. This is how learning a language becomes more interesting. :):)
I think the emphasis is on the word खाना because खाना can be used as both verb and noun.
हमे थोड़ा खाना* चाहिए = WE Should eat a little In this case खाना is used as a VERB.
हमे थोड़ा खाना* चाहिए = We want a little food In this case खाना is used as a NOUN.
खा = eat.(base form of verb and imperative form for तू as well )
खा + ना = खाना जा + ना = जाना (to go).
खाना = to eat.(verb). खाना = food.(noun).
an other example of word that can be used as both noun and verb is सोना
मुझे सोना चाहिए। I need to sleep. I want Gold.
The given word is a noun or verb can be inferred from the situation.
Infact there are so many words like this and can be found in many languages. English and Hindi is no exception.
Best example of a word in English which can be used as noun and verb as well is WATCH.
I have a watch. I have to watch.
Articles and preposition in English are used to indicate it is a verb or a noun.
Hope you got it.
I was eagerly waiting for this course Hindi for English speakers. After a long time my comment on Duolingo.I thank You and Duolingo.
Hi Pierre, if you really want to be correct on these three uses, you would need to go a little deeper into the language than Duolingo does right now.
"Mujhe neend kee avakshyakta hai" means "I need to sleep". Here "avakshyakta" = need and "neend" = sleep (noun). Literal translation - "I have the need for sleep". I know a lot of people will object and say you can use the word "zarurat" for "need" because it is easier, but that is an Urdu word, not Hindi.
"Mujhe sona hai" means "I want to sleep". "sona" = to sleep (verb)
"mujhe neend aa rahi hai" means "I am feeling sleepy". Literal translation - "Sleep is coming to me"
"mujhe so jaana chahiye" - This is the correct way of saying "I should sleep" and not the sentence below. Here "jaana" = "to go". Literal translation - "I should go to sleep"
"Mujhe sona chahiye" means "I want gold". Here "sona" = "gold" and ≠ "to sleep"
I hope this helps