INTRODUCTION
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why we describe it using a form of tense unlike any before it so that we can successfully convey the idea of an event that is occurring or occurs as of now. This is why it is also known as the present (tense).
Present tense is one of the three tenses in Nepali, used to denote or express actions that is currently going on or is performed in a habitual basis. It can also be used to denote a state that currently exists or generally exists. In Nepali, the present tense is called वर्तमान काल (vartamān kāl). For example, statements below in English all denote actions that are either currently happening or states that are currently existing (verbs in italics):
- John eats the cake.
- Mary is going to an adventure.
- I have played chess.
Thus, the present tense is used to denote a sense of the ‘present’ time. There are three aspects of present tense, parallel with English:
- Present indefinite tense
- Present progressive tense
- Present perfect tense
Now, we shall see how verbs will conjugate according to the grammatical person used.
VOCABULARY
| खानु (khānu) | To eat |
| रोक्नु (roknu) | To stop |
| आउनु (āunu) | To come |
| बिर्सनु (birsanu) | To forget |
| म (ma) | I |
| हामी (hāmī) | We |
| तँ (ta~) | You[lr] |
| तिमी (timī) | You[mr] |
| तपाईँ (tapāī~) | You[hr] |
| ऊ (ū) | He/She |
| उनी (unī) | He[mr]/ She[mr] |
| उहाँ (uhā~) | He[hr]/ She[hr] |
| उनीहरू (unī-harū) | They[mr] |
EXTRACTING THE ROOT OF THE VERB
We first get the lemma, or the basic form of the verb. Usually, we remove the -नु (-nu) from the verb to obtain the root of the verb. For example:
Root ending in a vowel sound | खानु (khānu) > खा (khā) | to eat
Root ending in a consonant sound | रोक्नु (roknu) > रोक् (rok) | to stop
Sometimes, the process is a bit more complicated as we have to modify the root slightly. More information on this can be found on Verbs: Roots.
EXCEPTIONS
The verb हुनु (hunu) or ‘to be’ in Nepali is irregular and thus does not follow the conjugation rules given below. Thus, you should not try to attempt conjugating this verb. Another verb, जानु (jānu) or ‘to go’, also behaves slightly differently in present perfect tense. In the present perfect, the root ‘ग’ (ga) should be used instead.
Other verbs are regular in case of present tense and you can apply the rules below for all the other verbs. High honour forms may take different conjugations.
PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE
The present indefinite tense, also known as simple present tense, is a tense used to describe actions in present time that are not finished. In Nepali, it is called सामान्य वर्तमान काल (sāmānya vartamān kāl). For example in English, a statement in present indefinite tense would be:
John eats the cake.Steps
- If the root ends in a syllable (consonant-vowel), add न् (n). For example, खा (khā) + न् (n) = खान् (khān). If the root ends in a single vowel sound, add ँ (~) to that vowel instead. For example: | आउ (āu) + ँ (~) = आउँ (āu~). If the root ends in a consonant sound, skip this step.
- Add the required suffix (or ending) to the modified root obtained in step 1 depending on the grammatical person.
I: म (ma), add छु (chu)
रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक् (rok) + छु (chu) = रोक्छु (rokchu)
खानु (khānu) | [खा (khā) + न् (n)] + छु (chu) = खान् (khān) + छु (chu) = खान्छु (khānchu)
आउनु (āunu) | [आउ (āu) + ँ (~)] + छु (chu) = आउँ (āum̐) + छु (chu) = आउँछु ( āu~chu)We: हामी (hāmī), add छौँ (chau~)
रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक् (rok) + छौँ (chau~) = रोक्छौँ (rokchau~)
खानु (khānu) | खान् (khān) + छौँ (chau~) = खान्छौँ (khānchau~)You[lr]: तँ (ta~), add छस् (chas) if masculine or छेस् (ches) if feminine
रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक् (rok) + छस् (chas) = रोक्छस् (rokchas)
खानु (khānu) | खान् (khān) + छस् (chas) = खान्छस् (khānchas)रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक् (rok) + छेस् (ches) = रोक्छेस् (rokches)
खानु (khānu) | खान् (khān) + छेस् (ches) = खान्छेस् (khānches)You[mr]: तिमी (timī), add छौ (chau) if masculine or छ्यौ (chyau) if feminine
रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक् (rok) + छौ (chau) = रोक्छौ (rokchau)
खानु (khānu) | खान् (khān) + छौ (chau) = खान्छौ (khānchau)रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक् (rok) + छ्यौ (chyau) = रोक्छ्यौ (rokchyau)
खानु (khānu) | खान् (khān) + छ्यौ (chyau) = खान्छ्यौ (khānchyau)He: ऊ (ū), add छ (cha)
रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक् (rok) + छ (cha) = रोक्छ (rokcha)
खानु (khānu) | खान् (khān) + छ (cha) = खान्छ (khāncha)She: ऊ (ū), add छे (che)
रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक् (rok) + छे (che) = रोक्छे (rokche)
खानु (khānu) | खान् (khān) + छे (che) = खान्छे (khānche)He[mr]/She[mr]/They[mr]: उनी (unī) and उनीहरू (unī-harū), add छन् (chan) if masculine or छिन् (chin) if feminine
रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक् (rok) + छन् (chan) = रोक्छन् (rokchan)
खानु (khānu) | खान् (khān) + छन् (chan) = खान्छन् (khānchan)रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक् (rok) + छिन् (chin) = रोक्छिन् (rokchin)
खानु (khānu) | खान् (khān) + छिन् (chin) = खान्छिन् (khānchin) You[hr]/He[hr]/She[hr]/They[hr]: तपाईँ (tapāī~) and उहाँ (uhā~), leave the basic form intact and add हुन्छ (huncha) [EXCEPTION]
रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक्नु (roknu) + हुन्छ (huncha) = रोक्नुहुन्छ (roknuhuncha)
खानु (khānu) | खानु (khānu) + हुन्छ (huncha) = खानुहुन्छ (khānuhuncha)An example conjugation chart for रोक्नु (roknu) for the present indefinite:
| | 1st person | 2nd person | 3rd person | |||
| Singular | Plural | Singular/Plural | Singular/Plural | |||
| Gender | | | zero | fem | zero | fem |
| Low/neutral respect | रोक्छु (rokchu) | रोक्छौँ (rokchau~) | रोक्छस् (rokchas) | रोक्छेस् (rokches) | रोक्छ (rokcha) | रोक्छे (rokche) |
| Medium respect | – | – | रोक्छौ (rokchau) | रोक्छ्यौ (rokchyau) | रोक्छन् (rokchan) | रोक्छिन् (rokchin) |
| High respect | – | – | रोक्नुहुन्छ (roknuhuncha) | – | रोक्नुहुन्छ (roknuhuncha) | – |
Note | 3rd person low/neutral respect pronouns have no plural forms. Use medium respect for conjugations instead. | When the gendered form is not indicated, use the zero form.
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE
The present progressive tense, also known as present continuous tense, is a tense used to describe actions in present time that are happening as of now. In Nepali, it is called अपूर्ण वर्तमान काल (apūrṇa vartamān kāl). For example in English, a statement in present progressive tense would be:
John is eating the cake.Steps
- If the root ends in a syllable or a vowel sound, add ँ (~) to the last syllable. If the root ends in a consonant sound, skip this step. For example: खा (khā) + ँ (~) = खाँ (khā~)
- Add दै (dai) to the end of the modified root obtained in step 1.
- Add a space ( ).
- Add the required ending to the modified root obtained in step 3 depending on the grammatical person. These suffixes are the same ones in present indefinite tense. Note that these suffixes or endings are really just different forms of cha, and you can find the forms of cha here.
The below are demonstrations on how you can carry this out.
I: म (ma), add छु (chu)
रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक् (rok) + दै (dai) + [space] + छु (chu) = रोक्दै छु (rokdai chu)
खानु (khānu) | [खा (khā) + ँ (m̐)] + दै (dai) + [space] + छु (chu) = खाँ (khā~) + दै (dai) + [space] + छु (chu) = खाँदै छु (khā~dai chu)He: ऊ (ū), add छ (cha)
रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक् (rok) + दै (dai) + [space] + छ (cha) = रोक्दै छ (rokdai cha)
खानु (khānu) | खाँ (khām̐) + दै (dai) + [space] + छु (chu) = खाँदै छ (khā~dai cha)You[hr]/He[hr]/She[hr]/They[hr]: तपाईँ (tapāī~) and उहाँ (uhā~), to the root add हुनुहुन्छ (hunuhuncha) [EXCEPTION]
रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक्दै (rokdai) + हुनुहुन्छ (hunuhuncha) = रोक्दै हुनुहुन्छ (rokdai hunuhuncha)
खानु (khānu) | खाँदै (khām̐dai) + हुनुहुन्छ (hunuhuncha) = खाँदै हुनुहुन्छ (khā~dai hunuhuncha)An example conjugation chart for रोक्नु (roknu) for the present progressive:
| | 1st person | 2nd person | 3rd person | |||
| Singular | Plural | Singular/Plural | Singular/Plural | |||
| Gender | | | zero | fem | zero | fem |
| Low/neutral respect | रोक्दै छु (rokdai chu) | रोक्दै छौँ (rokdai chau~) | रोक्दै छस् (rokdai chas) | रोक्दै छेस् (rokdai ches) | रोक्दै छ (rokdai cha) | रोक्दै छे (rokdai che) |
| Medium respect | – | – | रोक्दै छौ (rokdai chau) | रोक्दै छ्यौ (rokdai chyau) | रोक्दै छन् (rokdai chan) | रोक्दै छिन् (rokdai chin) |
| High respect | – | – | रोक्दै हुनुहुन्छ (rokdai hunuhuncha) | – | रोक्दै हुनुहुन्छ (rokdai hunuhuncha) | – |
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
The present perfect tense is a tense used to describe actions in present time that started in the past. In Nepali, it is called पूर्ण वर्तमान काल (pūrṇa vartamān kāl). For example in English, a statement in present perfect tense would be:
John has eaten the cake. Steps
- If the root ends in a single vowel sound, remove it. Example: आउ (āu) > आ (ā). If the root is polysyllabic (i.e. has more than one syllable) and ends in an –a or an –i sound, e.g. बिर्स (birsa), discard that sound as well. E.g. बिर्स (birsa) > बिर्स् (birs). If the root ends in a consonant or syllable sound other than -a or -i, skip this step.
- Add एको (eko)/ एकी (ekī)/ एका (ekā) to the end of the modified root obtained in step 1. The first for neuter/masculine (zero) singular, the second for feminine and the third for plural cases. Remember that the consonant will take on a diacritic while taking up the vowel sound.
- Add a space ( ).
- Add the required ending to the modified root obtained in step 3 depending on the grammatical person. These suffixes are the same ones in present indefinite tense. Note that these suffixes or endings are really just different forms of cha, which you can find here.
I: म (ma), add छु (chu)
रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक् (rok) + एको (eko) + [space] + छु (chu) = रोकेको छु (rokeko chu)
खानु (khānu) | खा (khā) + एको (eko) + [space] + छु (chu) = खाएको छु (khāeko chu)
आउनु (āunu) | आ (ā) + एको (eko) + [space] + छु (chu) = आएको छु (āeko chu)
बिर्सनु (birsanu) | बिर्स् (birs) + एको (eko) + [space] + छु (chu) = बिर्सेको छु (birseko chu)He: ऊ (ū), add छ (cha)
रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक् (rok) + एको (eko) + [space] + छ (cha) = रोकेको छ (rokeko cha)
खानु (khānu) | खा (khā) + एको (eko) + [space] + छ (cha) = खाएको छ (khāeko cha)You[hr]/He[hr]/She[hr]/They[hr]: तपाईँ (tapāī~) and उहाँ (uhā~), leave the verb intact, add भ (bha), then add एको (eko) [or its forms], and finally add छ (cha) or छे (che) if feminine [EXCEPTION]
रोक्नु (roknu) | रोक्नु (roknu) + भ (bha) + एको (eko) + [space] + छ (cha) = रोक्नुभएको छ (roknubhaeko cha)
खानु (khānu) | खानु (khānu) + भ (bha) + एको (eko) + [space] + छ (cha) = खानुभएको छ (khānubhaeko cha)An example conjugation chart for रोक्नु (roknu) for the present perfect:
| | 1st person | 2nd person | 3rd person | |||
| Singular | Plural | Singular/Plural | Singular/Plural | |||
| Gender | | | zero | fem | zero | fem |
| Low/neutral respect | रोकेको छु (rokeko chu) | रोकेका छौँ (rokekā chau~) | रोकेको छस् (rokeko chas) | रोकेकी छेस् (rokekī ches) | रोकेको छ (rokeko cha) | रोकेकी छे (rokekī che) |
| Medium respect | – | – | रोकेको छौ (rokeko chau) | रोकेकी छ्यौ (rokekī chyau) | रोकेका छन् (rokekā chan) | रोकेकी छिन् (rokekī chin) |
| High respect | – | – | रोक्नुभएको छ (roknubhaeko cha) | रोक्नुभएकी छे (roknubhaekī che) | रोक्नुभएको छ (roknubhaeko cha) | रोक्नुभएकी छे (roknubhaekī che) |
Note | You can also simply use –eko (the null form) for all cases. For example, you could say rokeko chau~ instead of rokekā chau~.
SUMMARY
- The present tense is used to denote or express actions that is currently going on or is performed in a habitual basis.
- There are three aspects: indefinite, progressive, perfect.
- The root can be extracted by removing the –nu from the lemma.
- To this root, we add various suffixes according to the grammatical person.
- The high respect form are exceptions as in, they do not usually follow the standard method.
- The present indefinite tense, also known as simple present tense, is a tense used to describe actions in present time that are not finished.
- The present progressive tense, also known as present continuous tense, is a tense used to describe actions in present time that are happening as of now.
- The present perfect tense is a tense used to describe actions in present time that started in the past.
EXERCISES
A. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING TABLE FOR THE VERB SUTNU. TENSE: PRESENT INDEFINITE.
| | 1st person | 2nd person | 3rd person | |||
| Singular | Plural | Singular/Plural | Singular/Plural | |||
| Gender | | | zero | fem | zero | fem |
| Low/neutral respect | sutchu | sutcha | ||||
| Medium respect | – | – | sutchyau | |||
| High respect | – | – | – | – | ||
B. CONJUGATE THE FOLLOWING VERBS CORRECTLY.
1. लेख्नु (lekhnu) | to write | present indefinite | first person | singular
2. आउनु (āunu) | to come | present progressive | second person | singular | medium respect | feminine
3. जानु (jānu) | to go | present perfect | third person | singular | neutral respect
4. फर्कनु (pharkanu) | to return | present perfect | first person | plural
5. गर्नु (garnu) | to do | present indefinite | second person | plural | high respect
ANSWERS
A.
| | 1st person | 2nd person | 3rd person | |||
| Singular | Plural | Singular/Plural | Singular/Plural | |||
| Gender | | | zero | fem | zero | fem |
| Low/neutral respect | sutchu | sutchau~ | sutchas | sutches | sutcha | sutche |
| Medium respect | – | – | sutchau | sutchyau | sutchan | sutchin |
| High respect | – | – | sutnuhuncha | – | sutnuhuncha | – |
B.1. लेख्छु (lekhchu)
B.2. आउँदै छेस् (āu~dai ches)
B.3. गएको छ (gaeko cha)
B.4. फर्किएको छु (pharkieko chu)
B.5. गर्नुहुन्छ (garnuhuncha)