Nepali, a beautiful and rich language spoken predominantly in Nepal, is becoming increasingly popular among language enthusiasts. Whether you’re planning a trip to the Himalayas, connecting with Nepali-speaking friends, or simply exploring new languages, understanding the basics of Nepali sentence structure is essential. This article will guide you through the fundamental aspects of Nepali sentence construction, complemented by practical examples to help you grasp the concepts more effectively.
Basic Sentence Structure
Nepali sentence structure generally follows the Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order, which is different from the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order commonly used in English. This means that in Nepali, the verb typically comes at the end of the sentence. Let’s break this down:
Subject (S) – The person or thing performing the action.
Object (O) – The person or thing receiving the action.
Verb (V) – The action itself.
For example, the English sentence “I eat apples” (SVO) would be structured as “I apples eat” (SOV) in Nepali.
Example Sentences:
1. English: I eat apples.
Nepali: म स्याउ खान्छु। (ma syau khanchhu)
– म (ma) = I (Subject)
– स्याउ (syau) = apples (Object)
– खान्छु (khanchhu) = eat (Verb)
2. English: She reads books.
Nepali: उनी किताब पढ्छिन्। (uni kitab padchhin)
– उनी (uni) = She (Subject)
– किताब (kitab) = books (Object)
– पढ्छिन् (padchhin) = reads (Verb)
Subject in Nepali Sentences
The subject in a Nepali sentence can be either a noun or a pronoun. Nouns can be names of people, places, things, or ideas, while pronouns are words like “I,” “you,” “he,” “she,” “it,” “we,” and “they.” Pronouns in Nepali have different forms based on levels of formality and respect.
Examples of Pronouns:
– I: म (ma)
– You (informal): तँ (ta)
– You (formal): तपाईं (tapai)
– He/She (informal): ऊ (u)
– He/She (formal): उनी (uni)
– We: हामी (hami)
– They: उनीहरू (uniharu)
Example Sentences:
1. English: We are going to the market.
Nepali: हामी बजार जाँदैछौं। (hami bajar jadaichhaun)
– हामी (hami) = We (Subject)
– बजार (bajar) = market (Object)
– जाँदैछौं (jadaichhaun) = going (Verb)
2. English: He loves music.
Nepali: ऊ संगीत मन पराउँछ। (u sangeet man parauchha)
– ऊ (u) = He (Subject)
– संगीत (sangeet) = music (Object)
– मन पराउँछ (man parauchha) = loves (Verb)
Object in Nepali Sentences
The object in a Nepali sentence can also be a noun or a pronoun. It is the entity that is affected by the action of the verb. In Nepali, objects do not change their form based on their grammatical role, unlike in some other languages.
Examples of Objects:
– Apple: स्याउ (syau)
– Book: किताब (kitab)
– House: घर (ghar)
– Music: संगीत (sangeet)
Example Sentences:
1. English: They see the house.
Nepali: उनीहरू घर देख्छन्। (uniharu ghar dekhchhan)
– उनीहरू (uniharu) = They (Subject)
– घर (ghar) = house (Object)
– देख्छन् (dekhchhan) = see (Verb)
2. English: I write letters.
Nepali: म पत्र लेख्छु। (ma patra lekhchhu)
– म (ma) = I (Subject)
– पत्र (patra) = letters (Object)
– लेख्छु (lekhchhu) = write (Verb)
Verb in Nepali Sentences
The verb is perhaps the most critical component of a sentence, as it describes the action taking place. In Nepali, verbs are conjugated based on the subject and the tense of the sentence. The verb generally comes at the end of the sentence, following the subject and object.
Examples of Verbs:
– To eat: खानु (khanu)
– To read: पढ्नु (padnu)
– To write: लेख्नु (lekhnu)
– To see: देख्नु (dekhnu)
– To go: जानु (janu)
Example Sentences:
1. English: She is writing a letter.
Nepali: उनी पत्र लेख्दैछिन्। (uni patra lekhdai chhin)
– उनी (uni) = She (Subject)
– पत्र (patra) = letter (Object)
– लेख्दैछिन् (lekhdai chhin) = is writing (Verb)
2. English: I am eating rice.
Nepali: म भात खाइरहेको छु। (ma bhaat khairaheko chhu)
– म (ma) = I (Subject)
– भात (bhaat) = rice (Object)
– खाइरहेको छु (khairaheko chhu) = am eating (Verb)
Word Order Variations
While the standard word order in Nepali is SOV, variations can occur for emphasis or stylistic reasons. For instance, placing the object at the beginning of the sentence can emphasize it. However, the verb almost always remains at the end.
Example Sentences:
1. English: The book, she reads.
Nepali: किताब, उनी पढ्छिन्। (kitab, uni padchhin)
– किताब (kitab) = book (Object)
– उनी (uni) = she (Subject)
– पढ्छिन् (padchhin) = reads (Verb)
2. English: The house, they see.
Nepali: घर, उनीहरू देख्छन्। (ghar, uniharu dekhchhan)
– घर (ghar) = house (Object)
– उनीहरू (uniharu) = they (Subject)
– देख्छन् (dekhchhan) = see (Verb)
Negation in Nepali Sentences
Negating a sentence in Nepali involves adding the word “छैन” (chaina) for present simple tense or modifying the verb with “न” (na) in other tenses. The placement of “छैन” (chaina) is at the end of the sentence, following the verb.
Example Sentences:
1. English: I do not eat apples.
Nepali: म स्याउ खान्न। (ma syau khanna)
– म (ma) = I (Subject)
– स्याउ (syau) = apples (Object)
– खान्न (khanna) = do not eat (Verb)
2. English: She is not reading the book.
Nepali: उनी किताब पढ्दिनन्। (uni kitab paddinnan)
– उनी (uni) = She (Subject)
– किताब (kitab) = book (Object)
– पढ्दिनन् (paddinnan) = is not reading (Verb)
Questions in Nepali Sentences
Forming questions in Nepali typically involves adding a question particle “के” (ke) at the beginning of the sentence or changing the intonation. The structure remains mostly the same as in declarative sentences.
Example Sentences:
1. English: Do you eat apples?
Nepali: के तपाईं स्याउ खानुहुन्छ? (ke tapai syau khanuhunchha?)
– के (ke) = (Question particle)
– तपाईं (tapai) = you (Subject)
– स्याउ (syau) = apples (Object)
– खानुहुन्छ (khanuhunchha) = eat (Verb)
2. English: Is she reading the book?
Nepali: के उनी किताब पढ्दैछिन्? (ke uni kitab paddai chhin?)
– के (ke) = (Question particle)
– उनी (uni) = she (Subject)
– किताब (kitab) = book (Object)
– पढ्दैछिन् (paddai chhin) = is reading (Verb)
Imperative Sentences in Nepali
Imperative sentences are used to give commands, requests, or instructions. In Nepali, the verb form changes to convey these actions. The subject is often implied and not explicitly stated.
Example Sentences:
1. English: Eat the apple.
Nepali: स्याउ खाओ। (syau khao)
– स्याउ (syau) = apple (Object)
– खाओ (khao) = eat (Verb)
2. English: Write the letter.
Nepali: पत्र लेख। (patra lekh)
– पत्र (patra) = letter (Object)
– लेख (lekh) = write (Verb)
Complex Sentences in Nepali
Complex sentences in Nepali involve combining multiple clauses, often using conjunctions such as “र” (ra) for “and,” “तर” (tara) for “but,” and “कि” (ki) for “that.” The SOV structure is generally maintained within each clause.
Example Sentences:
1. English: I eat apples and she reads books.
Nepali: म स्याउ खान्छु र उनी किताब पढ्छिन्। (ma syau khanchhu ra uni kitab padchhin)
– म (ma) = I (Subject)
– स्याउ (syau) = apples (Object)
– खान्छु (khanchhu) = eat (Verb)
– र (ra) = and (Conjunction)
– उनी (uni) = she (Subject)
– किताब (kitab) = books (Object)
– पढ्छिन् (padchhin) = reads (Verb)
2. English: He is tired but he will work.
Nepali: ऊ थाकेको छ तर ऊ काम गर्नेछ। (u thakeko chha tara u kaam garnechha)
– ऊ (u) = he (Subject)
– थाकेको छ (thakeko chha) = is tired (Clause 1)
– तर (tara) = but (Conjunction)
– ऊ (u) = he (Subject)
– काम (kaam) = work (Object)
– गर्नेछ (garnechha) = will (Verb)
Conclusion
Mastering the basics of Nepali sentence structure is a significant step towards fluency in the language. The SOV order might initially seem unfamiliar to English speakers, but with practice, it becomes more intuitive. Remember to pay attention to the placement of subjects, objects, and verbs, and how they interact with each other to convey meaning. As you become more comfortable with these fundamentals, you’ll find it easier to form more complex sentences and express yourself more naturally in Nepali. Happy learning!
