Did you know that you can create almost any kind of verb using these three Verbs?
हुनु (Hunu) = To be
गर्नु (garnu) = To do
पर्नु (parnu) = For X to fall on Y
लाग्नु (laagnu) = *Multiple Meanings*
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HUNU
IF a noun or an adjective is followed by ‘Hunu’, then it takes a meaning of ‘To be X’ where ‘X’ is the word.
Formula:
_____ + हुनु (___ + hunu)
Examples:
ठूलो हुनु (thulo hunu) [with an adjective]
= To grow up (literally: to be big)
हात्ती हुनु (hatti hunu) [with a noun]
= To be an elephant
Forming words using a noun is a bit weird but it makes sense!
More Examples:
सफल हुनु (saphal hunu)
= To be successful
घाइते हुनु (ghaite hunu)
= To be injured
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GARNU
‘Garnu’ means ‘To Do’. You can even create more verbs with these! ‘Garnu’ is an essential part of Nepali Speech. You encounter it in almost every sentence in one form or another. ‘Garnu’ best binds with nouns. (Adjectives also bind well). When it combines with other words, it gives a meaning of ‘To do X’.
Formula:
_____ + गर्नु (___ + garnu)
Examples:
काम गर्नु (kaam garnu) [With a noun]
= To do work
सानो गर्नु (sano garnu) [with an Adjective]
= To make something small (usually said for ‘volume control’)
More Examples:
कुरा गर्नु (kura garnu)
= To talk
खत्तम गर्नु (khattam garnu)
= To destroy; to end/ finish
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PARNU
‘Parnu’ means something like ‘for X to fall on Y’. For example, ‘Pani Parnu’ means ‘To rain’ or more literally ‘For rain to fall’. ‘Acchamma Parnu’ means ‘To be Surprised’ and literally ‘For ‘astonishment’ to fall on you’.
Parnu binds only with nouns. If it seems to bind with adjectives, then it is because there is a hidden ‘kura’ element next to it.
Example:
लटेरी पर्नु (lateri parnu)
= To win (the) Lottery [We can derive from context that we won]
More Examples
हिऊँ पर्नु (hiu parnu)
= To snow [literally. for snow to fall]
दङ्ग पर्नु (danga parnu)
= To be delighted
झगडा पर्नु (jhagada parnu)
= To get in a quarrel
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LAAGNU
Laagnu (लाग्नु) is a verb which has multiple meanings. Combining it with words gives you verbs, which is really useful for you can describe a lot of situations with it. The following meanings are assosiated with ‘laagnu’:
1. To think
Example:
श्यामलाई उसको सुझाव गहकिलो लाग्यो (shyam lai usko sukhav gahakilo laagyo)
= Shyam thought his advice was onerous.
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2. To be ready to do something
Example:
शान्तिपूर्ण समाधानतर्फ सबै लाग्नु पर्यो (shantipurna samadhan tarpha sabai laagnu paryo)
= Everyone should head towards peaceful solutions.
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3. To be hit
Example:
बल हातमा लाग्यो (bal haat ma laagyo)
= The ball hit the hand.
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4. To go
Examples:
शानेवानिको जागिर छोडेर घरतिर लाग्नुको कारण? (Sanewani ko jaagir chodera ghar tira laagnu ko karan?)
= What is the reason for Shanewani’s egress from his Job?
यो ठाउँदेखि म लागेँ (yo thau dekhi ma laage)
= I am going from this place now.
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5. To start
Example:
स्कूल आजदेखि लाग्यो (skool aaja dekhi lagyo)
= School started from today.
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6. To feel
Example:
भोक लाग्यो (bhok laagyo)
= (I am) feeling hungry.
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SIDENOTES:
Attaching words to verbs can create new verbs, like ‘Flop Khanu’. ‘Flop Khanu’ is a famous verb, and it literally means ‘To eat flop’ (Flop= Fail) but is used in context of ‘To Fail/ Flop’. Yet, there are certain words that are basically Nepali Counterparts of Phrasal Verbs (Something like idioms). They are called ‘tukkaa’ and will be covered later.