Language/Telugu/Grammar/Verbs

Telugu → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Introduction to Telugu → Verbs

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on Telugu verbs! In this lesson, we will explore the different types of verbs in Telugu and learn how to conjugate them. Verbs are an essential part of any language, as they allow us to express actions, states, and occurrences. Understanding verbs will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Telugu.

Throughout this lesson, we will cover various verb forms, including infinitives, participles, and conjugated verb forms. We will also delve into the intricacies of verb conjugation, including the different tenses and moods used in Telugu. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid foundation in Telugu verbs and be able to construct sentences with ease.

So let's dive in and explore the fascinating world of Telugu verbs!

Types of Verbs

In Telugu, verbs can be classified into three main types based on their endings: 1. Ar-dhama Prayoga (Verbs ending in 'అరు' or '-aru') 2. U-dhama Prayoga (Verbs ending in 'ఉ' or '-u') 3. M-dhama Prayoga (Verbs ending in 'ము' or '-mu')

Ar-dhama Prayoga

Ar-dhama Prayoga verbs are the most common type of verbs in Telugu. They are characterized by their endings in 'అరు' or '-aru'. These verbs are used to express actions performed by the subject of a sentence. Let's look at some examples:

Telugu	Pronunciation	English Translation
పాఠం చదవారు	Pāṭhaṁ caḍavāru	They read a book
విద్యా పఠించారు	Vidhyā paṭhiṁcāru	They teach a subject
అవడిని చూసాను	Avaḍini cūsānu	I saw her
పుస్తకం కొందరు కొన్నారు	Pustakaṁ koṇdaru konnaaru	They bought a book

As you can see, these verbs are conjugated based on the subject and tense of the sentence. We will explore verb conjugation in more detail later in this lesson.

U-dhama Prayoga

U-dhama Prayoga verbs are another type of verb in Telugu. They are characterized by their endings in 'ఉ' or '-u'. These verbs are used to express a state or condition of the subject. Let's look at some examples:

Telugu	Pronunciation	English Translation
నాకు ఆకాశం ఇష్టం	Nāku ākāśaṁ iṣṭaṁ	I like the sky
మీరు తెలుగు మాట్లాడేసారు	Mīru telugu māṭlāḍēsāru	You speak Telugu
వారు చదువు చేసినారు	Vāru caduvu cēsināru	They studied
నాకు పఠనం రాస్తుంది	Nāku paṭhanaṁ rāstundi	I am studying

U-dhama Prayoga verbs are often used to describe the subject's emotions, preferences, abilities, and other states.

M-dhama Prayoga

M-dhama Prayoga verbs are the third type of verb in Telugu. They are characterized by their endings in 'ము' or '-mu'. These verbs are used to express actions done to the subject or actions that affect the subject. Let's look at some examples:

Telugu	Pronunciation	English Translation
నాకు పుస్తకం ఇచ్చారు	Nāku pustakaṁ iccāru	They gave me a book
మీరు చదువు చేసారు	Mīru caduvu cēsāru	They taught you
వారు నాన్న కోరారు	Vāru nānna kōrāru	They asked for food
నాకు అర్ధం కావాలి	Nāku ardaṁ kāvāli	I need help

M-dhama Prayoga verbs indicate actions that are done to the subject or actions that affect the subject in some way.

Verb Conjugation

Now that we have explored the different types of verbs in Telugu, let's learn how to conjugate them. Verb conjugation involves changing the form of a verb to match the subject, tense, and mood of a sentence.

In Telugu, verbs are conjugated based on the person, number, and tense of the subject. Let's take a look at the conjugation of an Ar-dhama Prayoga verb in the present tense:

Person	Singular	Plural
First Person	నేను (nēnu)	మాము (māmu)
Second Person	నువ్వు (nuvvu)	మీరు (mīru)
Third Person	అతడు/అతను/అటను (ataḍu/atanu/aṭanu)	వారు (vāru)

To conjugate an Ar-dhama Prayoga verb in the present tense, you need to remove the '-aru' ending and add the appropriate suffix based on the person and number of the subject. For example:

- చదవారు (caḍavāru) - They read - చదవాను (caḍavānu) - I read - చదవాను (caḍavānu) - You read - చదవాడు (caḍavāḍu) - He reads - చదవాడు (caḍavāḍu) - She reads - చదవాడు (caḍavāḍu) - It reads

In the plural form, the verb ending remains the same for all persons:

- చదవారు (caḍavāru) - They read - చదవాము (caḍavāmu) - We read - చదవారు (caḍavāru) - You all read

The conjugation of U-dhama Prayoga and M-dhama Prayoga verbs follows a similar pattern, with slight variations in the suffixes used. It's important to practice conjugating verbs in different tenses and moods to become comfortable with their usage in Telugu.

Cultural Insights

Telugu, one of the oldest languages in India, has a rich cultural heritage that is deeply intertwined with its linguistic traditions. The evolution of Telugu verbs reflects the historical and cultural influences on the language.

Telugu verbs have been greatly influenced by Sanskrit, which has contributed to the complexity and diversity of verb forms. The Sanskrit influence can be seen in the various conjugation patterns and the use of different verb endings.

In addition to Sanskrit, Telugu verbs also bear the influence of the Dravidian language family, to which Telugu belongs. The Dravidian influence is evident in the structure and grammar of Telugu verbs, as well as the unique features that distinguish Telugu from other Indo-Aryan languages.

Telugu verbs also play a significant role in Telugu poetry, literature, and performing arts. The rhythmic patterns and poetic forms of Telugu rely heavily on the skillful use of verbs to convey emotions, imagery, and narrative. Studying Telugu verbs not only enhances your language skills but also provides insights into the rich cultural and artistic traditions of Telugu-speaking regions.

Practice Exercises

Now it's time to put your knowledge of Telugu verbs into practice! Below are some exercises to help you reinforce what you have learned.

Exercise 1: Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense for the given subjects:

1. చెబుతున్నాడు (cebuthunnāḍu) - He is speaking 2. పాడుతున్నావు (pāḍuthunnāvu) - You are singing 3. మెరుసుకుందాము (merusukuṇdāmu) - We are dancing 4. చూడుతున్నాను (cūḍuthunnānu) - I am watching 5. అడవిలో ఓడుతున్నారు (aḍavilō ōḍuthunnāru) - They are running

Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences from English to Telugu:

1. She reads a book. 2. We like to dance. 3. They are eating lunch. 4. I will go to the market. 5. You (plural) speak Telugu.

Exercise 3: Write a short paragraph (5-6 sentences) about your favorite hobby using appropriate Telugu verbs and tenses.

Solutions

Exercise 1:

1. చెబుతున్నాడు (cebuthunnāḍu) - అతడు (ataḍu) 2. పాడుతున్నావు (pāḍuthunnāvu) - మీరు (mīru) 3. మెరుసుకుందాము (merusukuṇdāmu) - మాము (māmu) 4. చూడుతున్నాను (cūḍuthunnānu) - నేను (nēnu) 5. అడవిలో ఓడుతున్నారు (aḍavilō ōḍuthunnāru) - వారు (vāru)

Exercise 2:

1. అమ్మాయి పుస్తకం చదువుతుంది. (Ammāyi pustakaṁ caduvutundi) 2. మేము నర్తనం చేయటానికి ఇష్టపడుతాము. (Mēmu nartanaṁ cēyaṭānikī iṣṭapaḍutāmu) 3. వారు మధ్యాహ్నభోజనం తినేస్తున్నారు. (Vāru madhyāhnabhōjanaṁ tinēstunnāru) 4. నాను మార్కెట్‌కు వెళ్ళాను. (Nānu mārkĕṭ‌ku veḷḷānu) 5. మీరు (బహువచనం) తెలుగు మాట్లాడతారు. (Mīru (bahuvacanaṁ) telugu māṭlāḍatāru)

Exercise 3: (Sample paragraph)

నా ఇష్టమైన హాబీ పేంటింగ్. నేను పల్లెట్ కలర్లతో చిత్రాలను గీయబడుతున్నాను. నాకు ప్రతి చిత్రంలో ఆనందం ఉంది మరియు అదేనా నన్ను చిరునవ్వుగా చూపిస్తుంది. ఇది నా మార్పులలో ఒకటి. నేను పేంటింగ్ చేయడం చాలా ఆరోగ్యకరంగా ఉంది మరియు నాకు సంతోషం ఇస్తుంది.

SEO tags

Table of Contents - Telugu Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Telugu Script

• Telugu Alphabet
• Vowel Signs

  ---

Basic Vocabulary

• Greetings and Introductions
• Numbers and Colors
• Days of the Week and Months

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject, Object, and Verb
• Question Formation

  ---

Everyday Vocabulary

• Family and Relationships
• Food and Drink
• Travel and Transportation

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Gender and Number
• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Hobbies and Activities

• Sports and Exercise
• Entertainment and Media
• Arts and Crafts

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Telugu Culture and Traditions

• Festivals and Celebrations
• Food and Cuisine
• Arts and Entertainment

Sources

• Telugu grammar - Wikipedia
• Telugu
• Telugu Verbs

Other Lessons

• Prepositions
• Negation
• Questions
• Give your Opinion
• Nouns and Pronouns
• Pronouns
• Gender
• Adverbs
• Advanced Verbs