Language/Nepali-individual-language/Grammar/Introduction-to-Nepali-Verbs
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In this lesson, we will embark on an exciting journey into the world of Nepali verbs. Verbs are fundamental building blocks of language, acting as action words that bring life to our sentences. Whether you want to express what you're doing, what you have done, or what you will do, understanding verbs in Nepali is essential.
Why are verbs so important? Well, they are the heartbeat of communication! Without them, our sentences would lack meaning and clarity. In this introduction to Nepali verbs, we will cover the following topics:
- The structure of Nepali verbs
- Types of verbs
- Conjugation and its importance
- Examples of common Nepali verbs
- Practice exercises to reinforce your learning
This lesson aims to provide you with a strong foundation to understand how to use Nepali verbs effectively as you progress in your language learning journey. So, let’s dive right in!
Structure of Nepali Verbs[edit | edit source]
Nepali verbs are unique in their structure and usage compared to English verbs. Let's break down the key aspects of Nepali verbs.
Basic Structure[edit | edit source]
In Nepali, verbs generally consist of a root and various suffixes that convey tense, mood, and aspect. The root of the verb remains constant, while the suffixes change according to the subject and tense.
Types of Verbs[edit | edit source]
There are two main types of verbs in Nepali: transitive and intransitive.
- Transitive Verbs: These verbs require an object to complete their meaning.
- Intransitive Verbs: These verbs do not require an object and can stand alone.
Here’s a simple table to illustrate these concepts:
| Verb Type | Example in Nepali | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Transitive | म किताब पढ्छु। | I read a book. |
| Intransitive | म हाँस्छु। | I laugh. |
Conjugation of Nepali Verbs[edit | edit source]
Conjugation is the process of changing a verb form to provide information about the action being performed. In Nepali, verbs are conjugated based on tense (present, past, future) and the subject of the sentence (who is doing the action).
Present Tense Conjugation[edit | edit source]
Let's look at how the verb "to eat" (खानु - khānu) is conjugated in different forms in the present tense.
| Subject | Nepali | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | म खान्छु। | ma khānchu | I eat. |
| You (singular) | तिमी खान्छौ। | timī khānchhau | You eat. |
| He/She | ऊ खान्छ। | ū khāncha | He/She eats. |
| We | हामी खान्छौं। | hāmī khānchhau | We eat. |
| You (plural) | तपाईँ खानुहुन्छ। | tapāiṅ khānuhunchha | You eat. |
| They | उनीहरू खान्छन्। | unīhārū khānchan | They eat. |
Past Tense Conjugation[edit | edit source]
Now, let’s explore how to conjugate the same verb "to eat" in the past tense.
| Subject | Nepali | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | माले खाएको छु। | māle khāeko chu | I ate. |
| You (singular) | तिमीले खाएको छौ। | timīle khāeko chhau | You ate. |
| He/She | उसले खाएको छ। | usle khāeko cha | He/She ate. |
| We | हामीले खाएको छौं। | hāmīle khāeko chhau | We ate. |
| You (plural) | तपाईँले खाएको हुनुभयो। | tapāiṅle khāeko hunubhayō | You ate. |
| They | उनीहरूले खाएको छन्। | unīharūle khāeko chan | They ate. |
Future Tense Conjugation[edit | edit source]
Finally, let's see how to conjugate "to eat" in the future tense.
| Subject | Nepali | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | म खानेछु। | ma khānechu | I will eat. |
| You (singular) | तिमी खानेछौ। | timī khānechhau | You will eat. |
| He/She | ऊ खानेछ। | ū khānecha | He/She will eat. |
| We | हामी खानेछौं। | hāmī khānechhau | We will eat. |
| You (plural) | तपाईँ खानेहुन्छ। | tapāiṅ khānehunchha | You will eat. |
| They | उनीहरू खानेछन्। | unīhārū khānechan | They will eat. |
Common Nepali Verbs[edit | edit source]
Here are some common Nepali verbs that you will frequently encounter:
| Nepali (individual language) | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| जानु | jānū | to go |
| आउनु | āunū | to come |
| ब गर्नु | ba garnu | to do |
| हाँस्नु | hānsnu | to laugh |
| खेल्नु | khelnu | to play |
| काम गर्नु | kām garnu | to work |
| पढ्नु | paḍhnu | to read |
| लेख्नु | lekhnu | to write |
| बोल्नु | bolnu | to speak |
| सम्झनु | samjhanū | to remember |
These verbs form part of your daily conversations and will help you express various actions.
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now, let’s solidify your understanding of Nepali verbs with some practice exercises.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb "to eat" (खानु - khānu) in the present tense.
1. म ____। (I eat)
2. तिमी ____। (You eat)
3. ऊ ____। (He/She eats)
Solution:
1. म खान्छु। (ma khānchu)
2. तिमी खान्छौ। (timī khānchhau)
3. ऊ खान्छ। (ū khāncha)
Exercise 2: Identify the Verb Type[edit | edit source]
Read the sentences and identify if the verbs are transitive or intransitive.
1. म बजार जान्छु। (I go to the market.)
2. ऊ पानी पिउँछ। (He drinks water.)
Solution:
1. जान्छु (jānchhu) - Intransitive
2. पिउँछ (pīuṅchha) - Transitive
Exercise 3: Conjugation Practice[edit | edit source]
Conjugate the verb "to laugh" (हाँस्नु - hānsnu) in the past tense for all subjects.
Solution:
1. माले हाँसेको छु। (māle hāseko chu)
2. तिमीले हाँसेको छौ। (timīle hāseko chhau)
3. उसले हाँसेको छ। (usle hāseko cha)
4. हामीले हाँसेको छौं। (hāmīle hāseko chhau)
5. तपाईँले हाँसेको हुनुभयो। (tapāiṅle hāseko hunubhayō)
6. उनीहरूले हाँसेको छन्। (unīharūle hāseko chan)
Exercise 4: Translate to Nepali[edit | edit source]
Translate the following sentences into Nepali.
1. They play.
2. I laugh.
Solution:
1. उनीहरू खेल्छन्। (unīhārū khelchan)
2. म हाँस्छु। (ma hānschu)
Exercise 5: Sentence Creation[edit | edit source]
Create sentences using the following verbs:
1. जानु (to go)
2. आउनु (to come)
Solution:
1. म विद्यालय जान्छु। (ma vidyālay jānchhu) - I go to school.
2. ऊ घर आउँछ। (ū ghar āuṅcha) - He comes home.
Exercise 6: Verb Matching[edit | edit source]
Match the Nepali verbs with their English meanings.
| Nepali Verb | English Meaning |
|--------------|------------------|
| बोल्नु | a. to speak |
| खेल्नु | b. to play |
| पढ्नु | c. to read |
Solution:
- बोल्नु - a. to speak
- खेल्नु - b. to play
- पढ्नु - c. to read
Exercise 7: Verb Transformation[edit | edit source]
Transform the following sentences from present tense to past tense.
1. म खेल्छु। (I play.)
2. तिमी हाँस्छौ। (You laugh.)
Solution:
1. माले खेलेको छु। (māle kheleko chu)
2. तिमीले हाँसेको छौ। (timīle hāseko chhau)
Exercise 8: Choose the Correct Tense[edit | edit source]
Choose the appropriate tense for the following sentences:
1. म ____ जान्छु। (I go.)
- a. जान्छु (present)
- b. जानें (past)
Solution:
a. जान्छु (present)
Exercise 9: Contextual Usage[edit | edit source]
Use the verb "to work" (काम गर्नु - kām garnu) in a sentence about your daily routine.
Solution:
म बिहान ८ बजे काम गर्छु। (ma bihān 8 bajē kām garchu) - I work at 8 in the morning.
Exercise 10: Verb Identification[edit | edit source]
Identify the verbs in the following sentence:
म हरेक दिन पुस्तक पढ्छु र साथीलाई बोलाउँछु। (I read books every day and call my friend.)
Solution:
Verbs: पढ्छु (paḍhchhu - to read), बोलाउँछु (bolāuṅchhu - to call)
As you practice these exercises, you will become more comfortable with Nepali verbs and their usage. It’s essential to keep practicing regularly to build your confidence and fluency.
Now that you’ve had an overview of the structure, types, and conjugation of Nepali verbs, along with practical exercises, you are well on your way to mastering this crucial aspect of the language. Keep practicing, and don’t hesitate to revisit the examples and exercises as needed.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Negation in Nepali
- Future Tense in Nepali
- How to Use Be
- Negation
- Questions
- Give your Opinion
- Adjectives in Nepali
- Adjectives
- Noun Cases in Nepali
- Verbs kriyaharu क्रियाहरू
| ◀️ Pronouns in Nepali — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Present Tense in Nepali ▶️ |