Language/Assamese/Grammar/Plurals

Assamese Grammar - Plurals

Hi Assamese learners! 😊

In this lesson, you will learn about plurals in Assamese grammar. Plurals are used to denote more than one person, object, or thing. In Assamese, the concept of plurals is relatively simple, as compared to other languages.

Basic rule

The basic rule for plurals in Assamese is to add the suffix "-বা" ("-ba") to the singular form of the noun. For example,

Assamese	Pronunciation	English
কথা ('kotha')	Template:IPA	Word
কথাবা ('kothaba')	Template:IPA	Words

In the above example, the singular form of the noun is "কথা" ("kotha"), which means "word". To make it plural, we add the suffix "-বা" ("-ba") to get "কথাবা" ("kothaba"), which means "words".

Exceptions

Although the basic rule works for most nouns in Assamese, there are some exceptions. Some nouns don't follow the "-বা" ("-ba") pattern, and have their own unique plural forms. Some common examples are:

Assamese	Pronunciation	English
মানুহ ('manuh')	Template:IPA	Human
লগা ('loga')	Template:IPA	Deer
দিন ('din')	Template:IPA	Day

In the above examples, the plurals are formed by changing the stem of the noun itself, instead of adding a suffix.

Compound Nouns

When a noun is a compound of two or more words, only the last word takes the plural form. For example:

Assamese	Pronunciation	English
বাৰুধ ('baru-dh')	Template:IPA	Rainy season
বছৰবা ('bosor-ba')	Template:IPA	Rainy seasons

In the above example, the plural of "বাৰুধ" ("baru-dh"), which means "rainy season", is "বছৰবা" ("bosor-ba"), which means "rainy seasons".

Vocabulary

Some common nouns with their singular and plural forms are:

Assamese	Pronunciation	English
কাঠ ('kath')	Template:IPA	Wood
কাঠাবা ('kathaba')	Template:IPA	Woods
গৰু ('goru')	Template:IPA	Cow
গৰুবা ('goruba')	Template:IPA	Cows
মই ('moi')	Template:IPA	I/me
মইবা ('moiba')	Template:IPA	We/us
নদী ('nodi')	Template:IPA	River
নদীবা ('nodiba')	Template:IPA	Rivers

Dialogue

To see plurals in context, here's a dialogue:

• Person 1: তুমি কথা বিচাৰে। ('Tumi kotha bicharé.')

 * (You are thinking about words.)

• Person 2: নাহকে, মই কথাবাবোৰ বিচাৰুছো। ('Nahoké, moi kothababor bicharucho.')

 * (No, I am thinking about words.)

In the above dialogue, "কথা" ("kotha"), the singular form of "words", changes to "কথাবা" ("kothaba"), the plural form, to indicate that more than one word is being referred to.

Cultural Insight

Assam, known as the Gateway of North East India, is a land of diverse cultures and traditions. The Assamese language is deeply rooted in the state's history and identity.

The Assamese language has been greatly influenced by Sanskrit, which has resulted in the use of a number of Sanskrit words in Assamese literature, especially in religious texts.

Assamese cuisine is known for its unique flavors and ranges from simple, rustic dishes to more elaborate ones. Some famous Assamese dishes include "masor tenga" (sour fish curry), "bamboo shoot pickle", "pitha" (rice cakes), and "khaar" (a preparation made with vegetables and pulses).

Assamese folk music and dance are an integral part of the state's culture. The "Bihu" dance, performed during the Bihu festival, is a popular folk dance that is enjoyed by people of all ages.

Improve your Assamese

To improve your Assamese Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Assam
• Assamese language
• Assamese literature

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