Learning Nepali, an Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly in Nepal and parts of India, involves understanding its complex verb system. Nepali verbs are characterized by their conjugation patterns, reflecting tense, mood, aspect, voice, person, and number. This guide will delve into the intricacies of Nepali verbs, providing a comprehensive overview of their grammatical rules, including transliteration for pronunciation help.

Introduction to the Nepali Verb System

The Nepali verb system is marked by its flexibility and depth, standing out for its ability to convey subtle nuances through verb conjugations. Verbs in Nepali conjugate for three tenses (past, present, future), two moods (indicative, imperative), two numbers (singular, plural), and two voices (active, passive). Understanding the base form of a verb and how it changes with different grammatical aspects is key to mastering Nepali verbs.

Verb Conjugation Overview

Present Tense

The present tense in Nepali is used to describe current actions or habitual states. It is formed by adding specific endings to the verb stem, which vary based on the person and number.

• Example with “खानु” (khānu – to eat):
  • म खान्छु (ma khānchhu) – I eat
  • तिमी खान्छौ (timī khānchhau) – You eat (singular informal)
  • उहाँ खानुहुन्छ (uhān khānuhunchha) – He/She eats (formal)
  • हामी खान्छौं (hāmī khānchhaun) – We eat
  • तपाईं खानुहुन्छ (tapāīn khānuhunchha) – You eat (plural/formal)
  • उनीहरू खान्छन् (unīharū khānchan) – They eat

Past Tense

The past tense is indicated by specific suffixes added to the verb stem, reflecting actions completed in the past.

• Example: मैले खाएँ (maile khāeṁ) – I ate

Future Tense

The future tense in Nepali is formed by adding the suffix “-ने” (-ne) or “-लान्” (-lān) for different persons.

• Example: म खाने छु (ma khāne chu) – I will eat

Negative Form

To negate a verb in Nepali, “न” (na) is placed before the verb.

• Example: म खाँदिनँ (ma khā̃dinaṁ) – I do not eat

Imperative Mood

The imperative mood, used for commands or requests, is formed by using the verb stem or a specific imperative form.

• Example: खा (khā) – Eat!

Mood

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes or hypothetical situations and is marked by specific conjugations.

• Example: म खाऊँ भने (ma khāūn bhane) – If I eat

Aspect

Aspect in Nepali, which indicates the nature of the action (completed vs. ongoing), is expressed through verb conjugation.

• Perfective Aspect: Indicated by suffixes showing completed actions.
• Imperfective Aspect: Shown by forms indicating ongoing or habitual actions.

Voice: Active and Passive

Voice in Nepali changes the form of the verb to indicate whether the subject performs or receives the action. Passive voice often involves a change in verb form or the use of auxiliary verbs.

• Active Voice Example: मैले पुस्तक पढें (maile pustak padheṁ) – I read the book
• Passive Voice Example: पुस्तक पढियो (pustak paḍhiyo) – The book was read

Practice Exercises

1. Conjugate in Present Tense: Use “लेख्नु” (lekhnu – to write) to form sentences in the present tense for all persons.
2. Form Negative Sentences: Create negative sentences using “जानु” (jānu – to go) in the past tense.
3. Imperative Mood Practice: Provide imperative forms for “बस्नु” (basnu – to sit).
4. Subjunctive Mood Usage: Form a sentence in the subjunctive mood using “आउनु” (āunu – to come).

Conclusion

Understanding Nepali verbs involves mastering their conjugation patterns, tense usage, mood expression, aspect, and voice. Regular practice, along with active engagement in listening, speaking, reading, and writing exercises, will significantly enhance your proficiency in Nepali. The complexity of the Nepali verb system allows for precise expression of action, mood, and aspect, making it a key component of effective communication in this linguistically rich language.