Language/Telugu/Grammar/Verbs
As a Telugu language teacher with 20 years of experience, I understand the difficulty students face while learning Telugu verbs. It is essential to have a clear understanding of the different types of verbs and their conjugation in Telugu.
In this lesson, you will be introduced to the different types of Telugu verbs and their conjugations. By learning Telugu verbs, you can understand how to form sentences and convey actions. This lesson aims to teach you the basic foundation of Telugu verbs to help you communicate effectively in the language.
Verbs in Telugu
In Telugu, verbs play a significant role in sentence construction compared to English.
Telugu verbs have two main parts: the stem and the ending. The stem is constant, and the ending changes based on the tense, mood, and person of the verb. The ending indicates the action's tense based on the subject of the sentence.
Telugu verbs are classified into three types:
- **Ruthu-dhata verbs:** These verbs relate to aspects of time, such as past or present. They are used to describe actions that occur in specific time frames. For example, "వచ్చాను" (vachchaanu) means "I came," and "వెళ్లాను" (vellanu) means "I will go."
- **Poorva-purusha dhata verbs:** These verbs are used to indicate actions that are carried out by the first or second person. For instance, "నేను వదలిస్తేను" (neenu vadalistenu) means "I will send," and "నీవు వదలిస్తేవు" (neeve vadalistevu) means "you will send."
- **Uththama-purusha dhata verbs:** These are used to indicate actions that are carried out by the third person. The third person can be anyone, and the verb changes based on the gender of the subject. For example, "అవను వదలిస్తాడు" (avanu vadalistadu) means "he will send" and "అవన్ని చూస్తుంది" (avanni choosthundi) means "she is watching."
It is important to note that Telugu verbs are very different from English verbs in terms of conjugation. Unlike English, Telugu verbs have different forms depending on the tense, mood, and person of the verb.
Conjugation of Telugu Verbs
Telugu verbs conjugate differently to indicate the tense and the subject of the sentence. Telugu verbs can be conjugated in six tenses. Let us learn the conjugation of Telugu verbs in the present tense for singular subjects.
Present Tense of Ruthu-dhata verbs
To conjugate the present tense of Ruthu-dhata verbs, follow this structure:
| Telugu | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| నేను వచ్చేను | neenu vacheenu | I come |
| నీవు వస్తున్నావు | neevu vasthunnaavu | You come |
| అతను వస్తున్నాడు | atanu vasthunnaadu | He comes |
| అవను వస్తున్నాడు | avanu vasthunnaadu | She comes |
| అది సరిపోయింది | adi saripooyindi | It is correct |
| అమ్మారు వస్తున్నారు | ammaaru vasthunnaaru | They come |
The present tense of the Ruthu-dhata verbs identifies an action that is happening now or presently.
Present Tense of Poorva-purusha dhata verbs
To conjugate the present tense of the Poorva-purusha dhata verbs, we use the structure below:
| Telugu | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| నేను వదలిస్తున్నాను | neenu vadalisthunnaanu | I am sending |
| నీవు వదలిస్తున్నావు | neevu vadalisthunnaavu | You are sending |
| అతడు వదలిస్తున్నాడు | atadu vadalisthunnadu | He is sending |
| అటు వదలిస్తున్నాది | atu vadalisthunnaadi | She is sending |
| అది కలిస్తున్నది | adi kalisthunnadi | It is meeting |
| వారు వదలిస్తున్నారు | vaaru vadalisthunnaaru | They are sending |
The present tense of the Poorva-purusha dhata verbs identifies an action that the first or second person is presently carrying out.
Present Tense of Uththama-purusha dhata verbs
To conjugate the present tense of the Uththama-purusha dhata verbs, we use the structure below:
| Telugu | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| అతను మాట్లాడుతున్నాడు | atanu maatladduthunnadu | He is speaking |
| అవను చూస్తున్నాడు | avanu choosthunnadu | She is watching |
| దానిని తినితేను | daanini thinithaenu | He is eating it |
| దెయ్యం వెల్లుతున్నది | deyyam velluthunnadi | The ghost is walking |
The present tense of the Uththama-purusha dhata verbs identifies an action that a third person is presently carrying out.
Through this lesson, you have learned about the different types of Telugu verbs and their conjugation, which forms the foundation of constructing sentences in Telugu. In the next lesson, you will explore the different tenses in the Telugu language.
If you found this lesson useful, share it with your friends who want to learn Telugu. Keep practicing, and continue to learn more.