Language/Nepali-individual-language/Grammar/Present-Tense-in-Nepali
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As a Nepali language teacher with 20 years of experience, I am excited to introduce my students to the present tense in Nepali. In this lesson, we will explore how the present tense is used in different types of sentences. It's important to understand that the present tense is one of the most frequently used tenses in Nepali, hence it's essential to learn it well. Let's dive into it!
Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Future Tense in Nepali & Past Tense in Nepali.
Introduction[edit | edit source]
The present tense is used to describe actions that are happening right now or are habitual. In Nepali, the present tense usually doesn't require any specific markers or auxiliary verbs. Nonetheless, the verb conjugation changes according to the subject of the sentence. We express the present tense by dropping the infinitive form's "नु/nu" at the end of the verb, and depending on the subject, add different conjugated forms of that verb. For example:
| Nepali (individual language) | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| मैं खान्छु। | Main khan-chhu. | I eat. |
| हामी खान्छौ। | Hami khan-chhau. | We eat. |
| तिनी खान्छिन्। | Tini khan-chhin. | She eats. |
| तपाईं खानुहुन्छ। | Tapai khaanuhunchha. | You eat. |
Please note that the verb "खानु khānu" means "to eat," and it was changed according to the conjugation rules.
Usage with Different Types of Sentences[edit | edit source]
Now let's look at how the present tense is used in different types of Nepali sentences, such as affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences.
Affirmative Sentences[edit | edit source]
Affirmative sentences in Nepali use the present tense as it is without any modification. For example:
- म घरमा छु। (Ma gharma chhu.) - I am at home.
- हामी फुटबल खेल्दछौ। (Hami futbal kheldachhau.) - We play football.
- तपाईं सफल नै हुनुहुन्छ। (Tapai safal nai hunuhunchha.) - You are bound to succeed.
- तिनी नेपाली सङ्ग बोल्छिन्। (Tini Nepali sang bolchhin.) - She speaks Nepali.
Negative Sentences[edit | edit source]
To make the negative present tense, we add "छैन्/chain" a morpheme at the end of the verb. For example:
- म घरमा छैन्। (Ma gharma chain.) - I am not at home.
- हामी फुटबल खेल्दैनौ। (Hami futbal kheldainau.) - We don't play football.
- तिनी नेपाली सङ्ग बोल्दैन। (Tini Nepali sang boldain.) - She doesn't speak Nepali.
- तपाईं सफल नै हुन्नुहुन्नै गर्नुहोस्। (Tapai safal nai hunnuhunna garuhos.) - You are not bound to succeed.
- तपल हुनुहुन्न। (Tapai safal hunuhunna.) - You are not successful.
Interrogative Sentences[edit | edit source]
Interrogative sentences require the verb "छ/cha" at the end of the sentence, which indicates a question. For example:
- के तपाईं घरमा हुनुहुन्छ? (Ke tapai gharma hunuhunchha?) - Are you at home?
- हामी फुटबल खेल्दछौ? (Hami futbal kheldachhau?) - Do we play football?
- तिनी नेपाली सङ्ग बोल्छिन्? (Tini Nepali sang bolchin?) - Does she speak Nepali?
Practice Phrases:[edit | edit source]
- म बिहान दौडान्छु। (Ma bihan daudanchhu.) - I run in the morning.
- हामी नेपाली भाषा सिक्दछौ। (Hami Nepali bhasha sikdachhau.) - We are learning the Nepali language.
- तिनीहरू सडकमा हिंड्दछन्। (Tiniharu sadakma hinddachhan.) - They are walking on the street.
- उहाँ संगीत सुन्दैनन्। (Uhan sangit sundainan.) - He doesn't listen to music.
- तपाईं किताब पढ्नुहुन्छ? (Tapai kitab padhnuhunchha?) - Are you reading a book?
- तिमी कहाँ गएर आउनुभयो? (Timi kahan gayer aunu bhayo?) - Where did you go?
- यो समूह आफ्नो काम गर्दछ। (Yo samuh afno kam gardachha.) - This group is doing their work.
- के हाम्रो साथी भेट्ने गर्दछन्? (Ke hamro sathi bhetne gardachhan?) - Do our friends meet?
- तिनीहरू बाटोमा हाँस्दैनन्। (Tiniharu batoma hasdainan.) - They don't laugh on the road.
- तपाईं कसरी गर्दछौ? (Tapai kasari gardachhau?) - How are you doing?
Quiz:[edit | edit source]
- How do you say "I eat" in Nepali?
- What is the meaning of "म घरमा छु।" in English?
- How do you make a sentence negative in the present tense in Nepali?
- What is the verb for "to listen" in Nepali?
- Translate the following sentence to Nepali: "We don't play football."
- How do you form interrogative sentences in Nepali?
- Translate the following sentence to English: "तिनी नेपाली सङ्ग बोल्दैनन्।"
- What is the meaning of "तपाईं सफल हुनुहुन्छ?" in English?
- How do you say "They are walking on the street" in Nepali?
- Translate the following sentence to Nepali: "Are you reading a book?"
Answers[edit | edit source]
- "I eat" in Nepali is "मैं खान्छु।" (Main khan-chhu).
- The meaning of "म घरमा छु।" in English is "I am at home."
- To make a sentence negative in the present tense in Nepali, add "छैन्/chain" at the end of the verb.
- The verb for "to listen" in Nepali is "सुन्नु" (sunnū).
- "We don't play football" in Nepali is "हामी फुटबल खेल्दैनौ।" (Hami futbal kheldainau).
- To form interrogative sentences in Nepali, add the verb "छ/cha" at the end of the sentence.
- The English translation of "तिनी नेपाली सङ्ग बोल्दैनन्।" is "She doesn't speak Nepali."
- The meaning of "तपाईं सफल हुनुहुन्छ?" in English is "Will you succeed?"
- "They are walking on the street" in Nepali is "तिनीहरू सडकमा हिंड्दछन्।" (Tiniharu sadakma hinddachhan).
- "Are you reading a book?" in Nepali is "तपाईं किताब पढ्नुहुन्छ?" (Tapai kitab padhnuhunchha?).
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In conclusion, the present tense in Nepali is straightforward, and with practice, you will be able to master it in no time. In this lesson, we learned how to use the present tense in different types of sentences, such as affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences. Keep practicing and don't hesitate to speak Nepali as much as possible. As the famous Nepali saying goes, "सफलताको रहस्य होत, सिकिर र कठिन परिश्रम।" - "The secret to success is grit and hard work." Happy learning!
Excellent job on conquering this lesson! Consider delving into these related pages: Verbs kriyaharu क्रियाहरू & Future Tense.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Future Tense
- Noun Cases in Nepali
- Adjectives
- How to Use Be
- Pronouns
- How to Use Have
- Verbs kriyaharu क्रियाहरू
- Past Tense in Nepali
- Nouns
- Interrogatives in Nepali
| ◀️ Introduction to Nepali Verbs — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Past Tense in Nepali ▶️ |