Language/Telugu/Grammar/Basic-Sentence-Structure

Telugu Grammar → Introduction to Telugu → Basic Sentence Structure

As a Telugu language teacher with 20 years of experience, I am excited to introduce you to the basics of Telugu sentence structure in this lesson. Understanding the sentence structure is crucial in learning any language. In Telugu, sentences are constructed based on the subject, object, and verb in that order.

Understanding Telugu Sentence Structure

The basic Telugu sentence structure follows the subject-object-verb pattern. The subject of the sentence is the entity that performs the action, the object is the entity that receives the action, and the verb is the action itself. As the verb comes at the end, it makes it easier for the speaker to form complex sentences.

Here is an example of a basic Telugu sentence structure:

Telugu	Pronunciation	English
నేను (nenu)	ne-nu	I
మనం (manam)	ma-num	we
పఠిస్తున్నాను (pathis-tunnaanu)	pa-thiss-tun-nah-noo	am studying
తెలుగు (telugu)	te-lu-goo	Telugu
విద్య (vidya)	vid-ya	language

Translation: "I am studying Telugu language."

The sentence structure in Telugu will change according to the type of sentence you want to form, such as interrogative, negative, and more complex compound sentences.

Construction of a Basic Telugu Sentence

Every Telugu sentence should have subject, object, and verb in the correct order. Let's take a look at each component of a Telugu sentence in detail.

Subject

The subject is the entity that performs the action and is usually in the nominative case. In Telugu, subject pronouns are not always mentioned, as the verb form can often communicate the subject itself. For instance:

• నేను స్కూల్ కోసం వెళ్ళుతున్నాను. (nenu school kosam velluthunaanu) - I am going to school.

In this sentence, the verb form 'velluthunaanu' itself communicates that the subject is 'I'. Therefore, the subject pronoun is not required.

If, however, you wish to stress the subject in a sentence, you can use the following pronouns:

Telugu	Pronunciation	English
నేను (nenu)	ne-nu	I
మీరు (meeru)	mee-roo	you
అతను (atanu)	ah-tha-nu	he
అమ్మ (ammu)	ahmmu	she
మేము (meemu)	may-mu	we
మీరు (meeru)	mee-roo	you (plural / respect)
వారు (vaaru)	vaaru	they

Object

The object is the entity that receives the action of the verb. The direct object is in the accusative case, while the indirect object is in the dative case. The following pronouns are used as objects in Telugu sentences:

Telugu	Pronunciation	English
నేను (nenu)	ne-nu	me
మీరు (meeru)	mee-roo	you
అతను (atanu)	ah-tha-nu	him
అమ్మ (ammu)	ahmmu	her
మేము (meemu)	may-mu	us
మీరు (meeru)	mee-roo	you (plural / respect)
వారికి (vaariki)	vaari-ki	them

Verb

The verb represents the action or state of being in a sentence. The verb changes based on the tense, subject, and object in the sentence. The basic form of a verb in Telugu often ends with the sound -u or -i. Here is an example of common verb forms in Telugu:

Telugu	English
పఠిస్తూనేను (pathis-tunnaanu)	I am studying
నడుస్తున్నారు (na-dusthunnaaru)	They are walking
వాడు పని చేస్తున్నాడు (vaadu pani chesthunaadu)	He is working

Examples

Now, let's look at some examples of basic Telugu sentence structures with different subjects and objects:

• నేను ఆహారం తిన్నాను. (nenu aahaaram tinnanu) - I am eating food.

• అతను ఆరోగ్య చూస్తున్నాడు. (atanu aarogyam choosthunnaadu) - He is looking at health.

• మీరు కళకళని మాటలు చెప్పుతున్నారు. (meeru kalakalani maatalu chepputhunaaru) - You are speaking nonsense.

Conclusion

By mastering the basic Telugu sentence structure, you can easily form and understand simple sentences. Keep practicing with examples, and you will gradually start constructing complex Telugu sentences. In the next lesson, we will learn about nouns and pronouns in Telugu.

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

Related Lessons

• How to Use Have
• Nouns
• Adjectives
• Verbs
• Conjunctions
• Complex Sentence Structure
• Prepositions
• Advanced Verbs
• Negation
• Conditional Mood

Sources

• Telugu Language - Structure, Writing & Alphabet
• An Introduction to Telugu
• Telugu grammar - Wikipedia