former
/ˈfɔːmə(r)/adjective
उच्चारण फ़ॉर्मर
पूर्व, भूतपूर्व, पहले का
Core wordPYP · asked 4 times
Asked in previous papers
as synonym
- 1
that used to have a particular position or status in the past
पूर्व, भूतपूर्व, पहले का
- the former Prime Minister
- a former student of this school
- The former president spoke at the book launch.
+ 2 more examples
- She is a former pupil of this school.
- My former neighbour has moved to Bengaluru.
Synonyms previous ex- past erstwhile one-time
Opposite current present future subsequent
- 2
belonging to an earlier time
पुराना, बीते समय का
- The old fort has been restored to its former glory.
- The former captain now coaches the junior team.
- The town has lost its former charm.
+ 2 more examples
- In its former days, the building was a palace.
- The company returned to its former size within a year.
- 1
the former
the first of two people or things mentioned
(दो में से) पहला
- Of tea and coffee, I prefer the former.
- Given the choice between a bus and a train, I chose the former.
- Of Hindi and English, the former is my mother tongue.
+ 2 more examples
- Rohan and Kabir are cousins; the former lives in Pune.
- I like both options, but I would choose the former.
Synonyms the first the first-mentioned
Opposite the latter
§Structures (grammar patterns) 5
the former + noun / former + noun
Former before a noun means earlier, but no longer so.
Noun से पहले 'former' का अर्थ पहले का, पर अब नहीं है।
- Dr Rao is a former principal of this school.
- My former classmate is now a pilot.
the former ... the latter
Of two things mentioned, the former is the first and the latter the second.
दो चीज़ों में 'the former' पहली और 'the latter' दूसरी होती है।
- Radhika likes tea and coffee, the former hot and the latter iced.
former + position
With titles, former stresses that the person no longer holds it.
पदनामों के साथ 'former' बताता है कि व्यक्ति अब वह पद नहीं रखता।
- The former Prime Minister addressed the students.
a former self / former glory
Former can describe an earlier state of a thing or person.
'Former' किसी व्यक्ति या वस्तु की पहले की अवस्था का वर्णन भी करता है।
- The old fort is a shadow of its former glory.
former vs ex- / previous
Ex- joins to titles with a hyphen; former is a separate word.
'Ex-' hyphen से जुड़ता है; 'former' अलग शब्द है।
- The ex-captain trains the team.
+Collocations 5
former + title
presidentministercaptainprincipalstudent
- The former captain gave the pep talk.
former + noun
gloryselfcolleaguehomecolony
- The town has lost its former glory.
the former + latter
the formerthe latterin the formerof the formerthe former of
- He chose the former.
former + relationship
wifehusbandemployerteacherpartner
- She wrote a letter to her former teacher.
former + status
Soviet Unioncolonycapitalkingchampion
- Kolkata was the former capital of British India.
“More examples 5
- The former Chief Minister opened the library.
पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री ने पुस्तकालय का उद्घाटन किया।
- I met my former neighbour at the railway station.
मैं अपने पूर्व पड़ोसी से रेलवे स्टेशन पर मिला।
- Of the two plans, the former is cheaper.
दोनों योजनाओं में पहली योजना सस्ती है।
- The building was once a school, but is now a hospital.
यह इमारत पहले विद्यालय थी, पर अब अस्पताल है।
- The former champion returned to the ring at forty.
पूर्व चैंपियन चालीस वर्ष की आयु में फिर से रिंग में लौटा।
!Common mistakes 3
✗ Mr Sharma is the former principal of this school now.
✓ Mr Sharma is a former principal of this school.
Former already means not now; adding now contradicts it.
'Former' का अर्थ पहले से 'अब नहीं' है, इसलिए 'now' जोड़ना गलत है।
✗ I like tea and coffee; the former is hot and the later is cold.
✓ I like tea and coffee; the former is hot and the latter is cold.
The pair is former and latter; later means after.
जोड़ी 'former' और 'latter' की है; 'later' का अर्थ बाद में है।
✗ Among the three, the former is the best.
✓ Among the three, the first is the best.
Former and latter are used for two things only.
'Former' और 'latter' केवल दो चीज़ों के लिए आते हैं।
◇Word family
≈Synonyms and antonyms
AaSpelling
for·mer
With -mer (not 'formar'); the adverb formerly, not to be confused with formally.
अंत में -mer ('formar' गलत है); adverb formerly, जिसे formally से भ्रमित न करें।
?Which word?
the former and the latter
Use the former and the latter only when two things have been mentioned: 'Ravi and Arjun applied; the former was selected.' For three or more, say 'the first' and 'the last'. Keep apart formerly (in the past) and formally (officially or properly): 'formerly a village', 'formally dressed'.
The former और the latter तभी कहिए जब दो चीज़ों का उल्लेख हुआ हो: 'Ravi and Arjun applied; the former was selected.' तीन या अधिक के लिए 'the first' और 'the last' कहिए। Formerly (पहले) और formally (आधिकारिक रूप से या ठीक ढंग से) को अलग रखिए: 'formerly a village', 'formally dressed'।
§Grammar and usage
'the former' and 'the latter' only for two items.
'the former' और 'the latter' केवल दो चीज़ों के लिए।
“Collocations, idioms and sayings
Former glory, former president, in former times.
Collocations: former glory (पहले की शान या गौरव), former president (भूतपूर्व राष्ट्रपति), in former times (पुराने ज़माने में)। 'former' का अर्थ है पहले का या पूर्व।