SIMPLIFIED STUDY OF BENGALI LANGUAGE STRUCTURE

Teaching Truth in Bengali through English

Teaching Truth in Bengali

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This course will help you to learn to speak Bengali language in a simple and correct manner from the start. Instead of learning first the letters of the Bengali script, they are replaced with Roman characters. (1 Corinthians 14:8)

Having prepared the pronunciation, one will study enough of the structure, grammatical rules and vocabularies. One will consider the elements of a sentence one after another so as to put them together and express your message in sufficient detail. This forms a sound basis for you to construct meaningful conversations, adding additional vocabulary yourself, as and when necessary. (Zechariah 4:10)

To master the full extent of the language and grammar, you can go on to study our full course.

LIST OF CONTENTS
Click on the links:
General Notes
Audio Files
Pronunciation of Roman Characters
Romanized Script System
Phonetic Representation
Author’s Letter
Sentence Structure Made Easy
Your First Conversations
Basic Grammar Syllabus
Basic Grammar Exercises
GRAMMAR	EXERCISE	DETAILS
Grammar 1	Exercise 1	Doers (nouns and pronouns)
Grammar 2	Exercise 2	Process done (verb)—a simple past, present and future tense
Grammar 3	Exercise 3	Object forms of nouns and pronouns according to ‘case’
Grammar 4	Exercise 4	Quality describing doers and objects (adjectives, possessive pronouns, etc.)
Grammar 5	Exercise 5	Manner describing process done (adverbs)
Grammar 6	Exercise 6	Connectives linking to another clause
Grammar 7	Exercise 7	Conditional sentences
Grammar 8	Exercise 8	Interrogatives, correlatives and relatives
Grammar 9	Exercise 9	Other forms of expression common or without equivalent
Grammar 10	Exercise 10	Add other features

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GENERAL NOTES
1. Note that throughout this course ‘YOU’ means the plural of ‘you’.
2. Note that English pronouns underlined are equivalent to the honorific form in Bengali.
3. Bengali letters underlined represent the ‘cerebral’ sound, not the ‘dental’ family.
4. In these Bengali spellings ‘_’ indicates that the adjacent letters get brought together as one syllable.
5. In these Bengali spellings ‘-’ indicates that the adjacent letters are in different syllables.

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AUDIO FILES TO GUIDE PRONUNCIATION

1. Sounds can be played by clicking on the hyperlinks in the table. These call audio files on the website.

2. The sounds can be all be downloaded. If necessary, follow the instructions given at this link, downloadsounds.htm.

3. When you want to learn the Bengali script, other helps are provided using audio files, such as the sound charts and other pronunciation routines.

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PRONUNCIATION OF ROMAN CHARACTERS

Vowels

PRONUNCIATION OF VOWELS
ROMAN CHARACTERS	ENGLISH SOUND	AS IN THE ENGLISH WORD	AFTER A CONSONANT (e.g. after “k ”)
“ ` ” (no vowel)	(no vowel)	(no sound after ‘k’ in “black_”)	k`
a	short “a” very short “o” (hints: ~“å”)	“wander” (inherent a) “off” (inherent a)	ka (~“kå”)
aa	long “a”	“far”	kaa
a , a, yaa	flat “a”	“apple”	ka (~“kyaa”)
i	short “i”	“pill”	ki
ii	long “i”, long “ee”	“pip”, “peel”	kii
u	short “u”	“pull”	ku
uu	long “u” long “oo”	“pool”	kuu
rri	short “ri”	“dribble”	krri
e	short “e”	“pegging”	ke
ee	long “oi” (diphthong for long “ee”)	“point”	kee (~“koi”)
o	medium “o”	“pond”	ko
oo	long “o”, “ou”, “ow”	“poke”, “pole”, “pound”, “power”	koo (~“kou”), (~“kau/kow”)
n°	nasal “ng”, but no “g”	“singer”	kan° (“ka^ng”)
hha	abrupt “h”	“Judah had”	kahh (~“kåhh”)
^	faint nasal “n” as in French	“Non, ton son est bon”	ka^ (~“ka^n”)

Consonants

Note that the sounds whose Romanization contains “-h” must be breathed. So, “kh” is like “ka” but breathed. (There is nothing similar in English.)

PRONUNCIATION OF CONSONANTS
PHYSICAL CLASS	ROMAN CHARACTERS	ENGLISH SOUND	AS IN THE ENGLISH WORD
Guttural -in the throat	k	k	keen
	kh	kh	rockhead
	g	g	got
	gh	gh	slagheap
	n¹	n	donkey
Palatal - on the palate	c (hints: “tch”)	ch	chair
	ch (hints: ~“tchh”)	tchh	matchhead
	j	j	enjoy
	jh	dgeh	hedgehog
	n²	n	enjoy, pinch
Cerebral or Retroflexive - with the tongue bent back on the roof of the mouth	t / t³	t	alter
	th / t³h	th	malthouse
	d / d³	d	holder
	r / r³ (rolled)	r , rr	millrun, barrel
	dh / d³h	dh	goldhammer
	rh / r³h (rolled)	rrh	myrrh lump
	n or n³	n	inlaid
Dental - on the teeth	t	t	panting
	th	th	anthill
	d	d	beds
	dh	dh	bedheads
	n	n	bending
Labial - on the lips	p	p	peace
	ph	ph	uphold
	b (or v, w)	b ( w ) ( v )	bob (twin) (advise)
	bh	bh	nibholder
	m	m	mop
Forward - Semi-Vowels	y (hints: ~“j”)	j	jog
	y	y	yes
	r (rolled)	r	red
	l	l	led
Sibilants	sh	sh	dishes
	s (hints: ~“sh”)	sh	rashly
	s (hints: ~“sh”)	sh s	washroom ensure,
	s before t, th, p, ph	s	stop
Semi-guttural - Semi-Vowel	h	h	happy

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ROMANIZED SCRIPT SYSTEM

The Romanized form is a script system in which each Bengali letter is matched accurately and uniquely by a character (or a group) taken from the Roman alphabet.  Many of these sound nearly the same as the normal sound of the Bengali character.  However, some Bengali characters are sometimes pronounced differently from normal. In these cases we provide phonetic hints like “(~shaak’kå)”.

A further great benefit of this Romanization method is its conformity of use in all the aids that we provide that we provide for other Sanskrit-based languages.  So you can easily adapt to these scripts and languages.  Some students have learned the Bengali script with the help of the Romanized script in less than two days.

It also conforms with the  Romanized typing method available with Jaspell's free Jaldi Multilingual  Word Processor Software Package.

[Go to Audio Files] [Go to Pronunciation]
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PHONETIC REPRESENTATION

To begin with you may feel that you would prefer to read the simplest representation of the approximate sound of the Bengali. That is fine, if we are only learning some set phrases off by heart. However, a language like Bengali is more complicated because of its numerous, variable sounds and letters.

If you want to spell correctly so as to write Bengali, you will need a more accurate system of writing. It is necessary in order to progress and to recognize or construct other sentences in different, unexpected circumstances.

In essence, the Bengali alphabet has far more sounds than the number of characters in the Roman alphabet. The language cannot be written sufficiently accurately purely in a phonetic form, because more than one Bengali letter can have the same sound. You cannot tell consistently what letters are being represented. Some students might write the example of “witness” approximately as “shako”. However, there are three different letters that can be pronounced like (~“sha”), and several letters or groups of letters that can be pronounced like (~“ka” or ~“kka”). If the pronounciation differs greatly from the normal way, we show more exact phonetic suggestions, such as (~“shaak’kå”).

Instead of attempting to replace the Bengali script merely with an approximate phonetic representation, we use a well-established alternative Romanized Script accompanied by audio files. These will help you learn the relationship between the sounds, the Bengali characters, and their equivalent Romanized characters.

If you wish, you can adapt better to the Romanization of the Bengali sounds by reading the letter below from the author. Also, you can click on [Contact Us!].

[Go to Author’s letter] [Go to Pronunciation] [Go to Contents]

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LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR

Dear Student of Bengali,

You may be puzzled about how we have used Roman characters to represent Bengali sounds.

The number of Roman characters is far less than the number of characters in the Bengali alphabet. Therefore, some of these are represented by a combination of Roman characters.

European languages pronounce some of the Roman characters in several different ways. Our Romanized Bengali may use them in yet another way.

Note that in French you may write the sound of “verre” also as “ver”, “vers”, “vert”, “verts”, or “vair”. Moreover, “v” is pronounced differently in German than these other languages. In English, a letter may be pronounced in numerous ways.

In Italian “c” is pronounced differently in “ca” than in “ce”. When we learn Chinese Mandarin using its Romanized form, Pinyin, we find “c” sounds like “ts”. Enjoy reading Zulu, in which “c” is clicked on the palate! So, we just try to adapt to any new ways of pronouncing these Roman characters.

Anyhow, any mysteries here should not inhibit you for very long, if you use the sound files and other pronunciation aids we have provided you.  Some have learned this way to read Bengali within two days. The same representation of the Classification of Sounds can be applied equally to many related languages from North India and Nepal.

With best wishes,

The Author

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SENTENCE STRUCTURE

This is the key to constructing simple sentences.

(A) Picture someone or something
(B) Decide what action is being done (placed last in Bengali)
(C) Add an ‘object’, if someone or something is affected by the action
(D) Describe the doer
(E) Describe the object
(F) Describe the action
(G) You can use your sentence as a clause, and connect it to another one.

For example, you can build up a sentence to say some or all of the following information.

“This little message joyfully tells everyone good news to us all, and …”

A		(This) message
B		message				tells
C		message		news		tells
D	This little	message		news		tells
E	This little	message	good	news		tells
F	This little	message	good	news	joyfully	tells
G	This little	message	good	news	joyfully	tells	and ...

Quality	DOER	Quality	OBJECT	Manner	PROCESS	LINK
4.	1.	4.	3.	5.	2.	6.
A: Someone or something
	(The) message
	san°baad
B: + action
	(The) message				tells.
	san°baad				bale.
C: + add an object
	(The) message		news		tells.
	san°baad		khabar		bale.
D: + describe the doer
This little	message		news		tells.
ei chota	san°baad		khabar		bale.
E: + describe the object
This little	message	good	news		tells.
ei chota	san°baad	bhaalo	khabar		bale.
F: + describe the action
This little	message	good	news	joyfully	tells.
ei chota	san°baad	bhaalo	khabar	aanande	bale.
G: + link this clause to another clause
This little	message	good	news	joyfully	tells,	and
ei chota	san°baad	bhaalo	khabar	aanande	bale,	eban°

There can be a direct object and an indirect object. Sometimes the ‘object’ section of the sentence has two parts, such as when someone gives someone (direct) something (indirect). The ‘direct’ part usually precedes the ‘indirect’ part.

This little message joyfully tells good news to all.

This little	message	to all	good	news	joyfully	tells.
ei chota	san°baad	sakal-ke	bhaalo	khabar	aanande	bale.

This little message joyfully tells good news to us all.

This little	message	us / our	to all	good	news	joyfully	tells.
ei chota	san°baad	aamaader	sakal-ke	bhaalo	khabar	aanande	bale.

A conditional sentence is made of two of these groups (‘clauses’). Start one with “yadi” (If ) and the other with the link “tabe” (then). Most Bengalis prefer to put “yadi” just after the doer.

If the news is good, then the message is good.

news	if	good	[is]	then	message	good	[is]
khabar	yadi	bhaalo	[ ]	tabe	san°baad	bhaalo	[ ].

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YOUR FIRST CONVERSATIONS

Discover how to build simple sentences using the building blocks provided.

Example 1

You *	aapani (~“aapåni”)
You are	aapani aachen
how?	keman? (~“kemån”)

* See General Notes

How are you?

You	how	are?
aapani	keman	aachen?

aapani keman aachen?

Example 2

I	aami
I am	aami aachi
fine, O.K., well	bhaalo
Thanks	dhanyabaad (~“dhån’nåbaad”)

I’m fine, thanks.

I	fine	am.
aami	bhaalo	aachi.
Thanks	[to you]	[be]
dhanya-baad	[ ]	[ ]

aami bhaalo aachi, dhanyabaad.

Example 3

[You] read!	[aapani] parun! (~“pårdun”)
message	san°baad (~“sångbaad”)
this	ei
kindness	dayaa (~“dåyaa”)
done	kare (~“kåre”)
please, kindly	dayaa kare

Read this message, please!

[You]	this	message	kindly	read.
[aapani]				parun!
[aapani]		san°baad		parun!
[aapani]	ei	san°baad		parun!
[aapani]	ei	san°baad	dayaa kare	parun!

ei san°baad dayaa kare parun!

Example 4

it [that]	taa
it is	taa aache
what?	kii?

What is it?

It	what	[is]?
taa	kii	[aache]?

taa kii aache?

Example 5

-’s, of	-’r, -er
my	aamaar
name	naam
I say / tell	aami bali (~“båli”)

I say my name. (Or, ‘Let me say my name.’)

I	my	name	say.
aami			bali
aami		naam	bali
aami	aamaar	naam	bali

aami aamaar naam bali.

Example 6

he	se
he says / tells	se bale
not, “No”	naa
his	taar
his own	taar nij

He does not say his own message.

He	his (own)	message	says not.
se			bale
se			bale naa.
se		san°baad	bale naa.
se	taar	san°baad	bale naa.
se	taar (nij)	san°baad	bale naa.

se taar nij san°baad bale naa.

Example 7

you give	aapani den
your	aapanaar
invitation	nimantran
little	chota, chotta (~“chhotå”)
“Yes”	haa^ (~“haang”), hyaa^, ha^ (~“heng”)

Yes, you give your little invitation.

Yes,	You	your little	invitation	give
	aapani			den
	aapani		nimantran	den
	aapani	aapanaar	nimantran	den
	aapani	aapanaar chota	nimantran	den
haa^	aapani	aapanaar chota	nimantran	den

haa^, aapani aapanaar chota nimantran den.

Example 8

He	tini
He says / tells	tini balen
his	taa^r

He says his own name.

He	his own	name	says.
tini			balen.
tini		naam	balen.
tini	taa^r	naam	balen.
tini	taa^r nij	naam	balen.

tini taa^r nij naam balen.

Example 9

we	aamaraa
we say / we tell	aamaraa bali
faith	bishvaas (~“bish’shaash”)
-s’, of	-der
our	aamaader
and …	eban° … (~“ebång”), aar

We say our faith, and …

We	our	faith	say.	and …
aamaraa			bali
aamaraa		bishvaas	bali
aamaraa	aamaa-der	bishvaas	bali
aamaraa	aamaa-der	bishvaas	bali	eban° …

aamaraa aamaader bishvaas bali, eban°…

Example 10

they	taaraa
they take	taaraa ney
they take	taa^raa nen
their	taader

They take their invitation.

…	They	their	invitation	take.
	taaraa			ney.
	taaraa		nimantran	ney.
	taaraa	taader	nimantran	ney.

taaraa taader nimantran ney.

Example 11

YOU	aapanaaraa
YOU say / tell / speak	aapanaaraa balen (~“bålen”)
news	khabar
very	khub

YOU speak very good news.

YOU	very good	news	say.
aapanaaraa			balen.
aapanaaraa		khabar	balen.
aapanaaraa	bhaalo	khabar	balen.
aapanaaraa	khub bhaalo	khabar	balen.

aapanaaraa khub bhaalo khabar balen.

Example 12

man	maanus
(the) man does	maanus kare
work	kaaj
he works / he does work	se kaaj kare

[The] man does good work

(The) man	good	work	does,	…
maanus			kare
maanus		kaaj	kare
maanus	bhaalo	kaaj	kare

maanus bhaalo kaaj kare

Example 13

if	yadi (~“jådi”)
only	maatra (~“maatrå”)
then	tabe (~“tåbe”)

If a good man only does good work, then …

If	[a] good	man	good	work	only	does,	…
		maanus				kare
		maanus		kaaj		kare
	bhaalo	maanus		kaaj		kare
	bhaalo	maanus	bhaalo	kaaj		kare
	bhaalo	maanus	bhaalo	kaaj	maatra	kare
yadi	bhaalo	maanus	bhaalo	kaaj	maatra	kare,	…
yadi	bhaalo	maanus	bhaalo	kaaj	maatra	kare,	tabe	…

yadi bhaalo maanus maatra bhaalo kaaj kare, tabe …

Example 14

who?	ke?
bad	khaaraap
now	ekhan (~“ekhån”)

… then who does this bad work now?

… then	who	this bad	work	now	does?
	ke				kare?
	ke		kaaj		kare?
	ke	ei	kaaj		kare?
	ke	ei khaaraap	kaaj		kare?
	ke	ei khaaraap	kaaj	ekhan	kare?
… tabe	ke	ei khaaraap	kaaj	ekhan	kare?

… tabe ke ei khaaraap kaaj ekhan kare?

Example 15

whether, is it so?	ki?
you know	aapani jaanen
question	prashna (~“pråshnå”)
of the question, question’s	prashner
answer	uttar (~“uttår”)
answer to the question	prashner uttar

Do you know the answer of the question?

You	question’s	answer	whether	know?
aapani				jaanen
aapani		uttar		jaanen
aapani		uttar	ki	jaanen?
aapani	prashner	uttar	ki	jaanen?

aapani ki prashner uttar jaanen?

Example 16

explanation	byaakhyaa (~“bek’kaa”)
to explain	byaakhyaa karaa
doing	kar-te (~“kår-te”)
to be able, can	paaraa
we can do	aamaraa kar-te paari

We can explain

We	explanation	making | can
aamaraa		paari
aamaraa		kar-te | paari
aamaraa	byaakhyaa	kar-te | paari
aamaraa	byaakhyaa	kar-te | paari
aamaraa	byaakhyaa	kar-te | paari

aamaraa byaakhyaa kar-te paari.

Example 17

to …	…-ke
to you	aapanaake
(the) truth	satya (~“shåt’tå”)

We can explain it to you.

We	to you	it	explanation	making | can
aamaraa				paari
aamaraa				kar-te | paari
aamaraa			byaakhyaa	kar-te | paari
aamaraa		taa	byaakhyaa	kar-te | paari
aamaraa	aapanaake	taa	byaakhyaa	kar-te | paari

aamaraa aapanaake taa byaakhyaa kar-te paari.

Moving Forward

You can extend these conversations. Choose additional words from the vocabularies and use the grammar explanations in the following Basic Language Syllabus.

[Go to Start of First Conversations] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

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INTRODUCTION TO THE BASIC GRAMMAR SYLLABUS

This basic course will cover the main features of the Bengali language. If you understand sentence structure you should be able to achieve quickly a system of communication that is simplified but adaptable and effective. A fully detailed course can be studied later in harmony with these basic but sound beginnings.

This basic language syllabus addresses each of the 10 elements of sentences described in “Sentence Structure Made Easy”. They are presented in the logical order in which you add them to build up sentences.

SYLLABUS
Grammar Section	Exercise	Grammar Subject
Grammar 1	Exercise 1	Doers (nouns and pronouns)
Grammar 2	Exercise 2	Process done (verb) — a simple past, present and future tense
Grammar 3	Exercise 3	Object forms of nouns and pronouns according to ‘case’
Grammar 4	Exercise 4	Quality describing doers and objects (adjectives, possessive pronouns, etc.)
Grammar 5	Exercise 5	Manner describing process done (adverb)
Grammar 6	Exercise 6	Connectives linking to another clause
Grammar 7	Exercise 7	Conditional sentences
Grammar 8	Exercise 8	Interrogatives, correlatives and relatives
Grammar 9	Exercise 9	Other forms of expression common or without equivalent
Grammar 10	Exercise 10	Add other features

[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

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GRAMMAR 1. DOERS (NOUNS AND PRONOUNS)

1.1 Introduction to Nouns and Pronouns
1.2 Omission of the verb “to be” if “Aaaa is Bbbb”
1.3 Personal Pronouns
1.4 Vocabulary – Nouns and Pronouns
1.4.1 Vocabulary – Persons
       – 1.4.1.1 Family;
       – 1.4.1.2 Non-family
1.4.2 Vocabulary – Questions and Answers
       – 1.4.2.1 Arrangements;
       – 1.4.2.2 Topics
1.4.3 Vocabulary – Animals
1.4.4 Vocabulary – Things
1.4.5 Vocabulary – Concepts
1.4.6 Vocabulary – States
1.4.7 Vocabulary – Activities
1.4.8 Vocabulary – Time
1.5 Nouns and Pronouns: Full List – English to Bengali
1.6 Nouns and Pronouns: Full List – Bengali to English

[Go to Grammar 1] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GRAMMAR 1.1: Introduction to Nouns and Pronouns

The person or thing that is doing something is represented by a noun or a pronouns. A noun names the doer. A pronoun is a short word that can be used in place of the noun.

A few nouns are listed below. You can learn more from the attached vocabularies or lists of frequently used words, and dictionaries. Pronouns are also listed here.

The listed form is for the doer (subject, nominative case) in the clause.

e.g. He said to me that  I should tell him.

The form of the nouns and pronouns listed here may be modified in various ways, if they occur as the object. See the later consideration of “Forms of Nouns and Pronouns As Objects According to ‘Case’”. [ Grammar Section 3 ]

e.g. He said to me that I should tell him.

[Go to Grammar 1] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GRAMMAR 1.2: Omission of the verb “to be” if “Aaaa is Bbbb”

If the sentence expresses “Aaaa” is “Bbbb”, both “Aaaa” and “Bbbb” are in the unmodified subject nominative form. The doing word (verb) ‘to be’ can be omitted. Even if “Aaaa” is plural, “Bbbb” can be singular.

Examples:-

Today [ is ] Sunday.	aaj-ke [ ] rabi-baar.
We [ are ] parents.	aamaraa [ ] pitaamaataa.
God [ is ] love.	iishvar [ ] prem.
They [ are ] friends.	taaraa [ ] bandhu.

Practice
Translate:-

We [ are ] friends.	aamaraa [ ] bandhu.
aaj-ke [ ] rabi-baar.	Today [ is ] Sunday.
They [ are ] parents.	taaraa [ ] pitaamaataa.
aamaraa [ ] pitaamaataa.	We [ are ] parents.
God [ is ] love.	iishvar [ ] prem.
taaraa [ ] bandhu.	They [ are ] friends.

[Go to Grammar 1] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GRAMMAR 1.3: Personal Pronouns

	Singular		Plural
Common	I	aami	we	aamaraa
	you	tumi	YOU	tomaraa
	he, she	se	they	taaraa
	it	taa	they	taaraa
Honorific	you	aapani	YOU	aapanaaraa
	he, she	tini	they	taa^raa

The above are the short colloquial (‘Chalito’) forms.  The classical (‘Sadhu’) forms are longer, as follows-:

Short / Chalito Form	(Long / Sadhu Form)
taa	(taahaa)
taa^	(taa^haa)
taaraa	(taahaaraa)
taa^raa	(taa^haaraa)

Practice
Translate:-

You [ are a] friend.	aapani [ ] bandhu.
taa [ ] rabi-baar.	it* [ is ] Sunday.
They [ are ] parents.	taa^raa [ ] pitaamaataa.
aapanaaraa [ ] pitaamaataa.	YOU [ are ] parents.
He [ is ] love.	tini [ ] prem.
aami [ ] bandhu.	I [am a] friend.

* Or “that”

Do Exercises 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
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GRAMMAR 1.4: Vocabulary – Nouns and Pronouns by Category

These are some useful words to learn — nouns and pronouns. These can be used for ‘Doers’ and for ‘Objects’

Some of the words shown below are used in this short course. The others can be used as you widen your conversations.

You will find a series of small vocabularies by category (Grammar 1.4.1 – Grammar 1.4.8) followed by two combined versions. One is from English into Bengali (Grammar 1.5) and one from Bengali into English (Grammar 1.6).

Grammar 1.4.1: Vocabulary – Persons

Grammar 1.4.1.1: Persons in the Family

boy, son	chele, putra
brother	bhaai
brother and sister	bhaaibon
children	chelemeye
daughter, girl	meye
family	paribaar
father	pitaa, baabaa
husband	swaamii (~“shaamii”)
husband and wife	swaam’strii
Jehovah	yihobaa (~“jihobaa”)
Jesus	yiishu (~“jiishu”) / iisaa
mother	maataa, maa
parents	pitaamaataa
sister	bon
son, boy	chele, putra
who	ye (~“je”)
who?	ke?
WHO (plural)	yaaraa(~“jaaraa”)
WHO? (plural)	kaaraa?
wife, woman	strii

Practice 1.4.1.1
Translate:-

WHO [are] the children?	chelemeye kaaraa [ ]?
yihobaa ke [ ]?	Who is Jehovah?
The brother [and] sister	bhaaibon
taaraa bandhu [ ].	They [are] friends.
Jehovah [is] love.	yihobaa prem [ ].
taa^raa paribaar [ ].	They [are] family.
Who [are] you?	aapani ke [ ]?

Grammar 1.4.1.2: Persons – Not in the Family

anyone, someone	keha / keu
Bengali person	baan¹gaalii
-doer	-kaarii
English person	in°rej
-er	-kaarii
friend	bandhu (~“båndhu”)
God (general Bengali)	iishvar (~“iish'shår”)
God (from Urdu)	khodaa
God’s	iishvarer, khodaar
individual, person	byakti (~“bekti”) / vyakti
leader	netaa
man	maanus
person, people	lok
person, individual	byakti (~“bekti”) / vyakti
plural ending “-s” (persons)	-eraa / -raa
Satan	shayataan
someone, anyone	keu / keha
terroriser	santraas-kaarii
witness	saaksii (~“sciàac’chii”)
woman, wife	strii (~“shaamii”)
worker	karma-kaarii

Practice 1.4.1.2
Translate:-

Someone[is the] leader.	keha neta [ ].
yiishu karma-kaarii [ ].	Jesus [is a] worker.
They [ are ] Bengalis.	taaraa baan¹gaalii [ ].
maanus in°rej [ ].	The man [is] an Englishman.
He [is] one who loves.	tini prem-kaarii [ ].
shayataan santraas-kaarii [ ].	Satan [is a] terroriser.
iishvarer paribaar	God’s family
Jesus [is] God’s Son.	yiishu iishvarer putra [ ].
We [are] Jehovah’s Witnesses	aamaraa yihobaar saaksii [ ].

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Grammar 1.4.2: Vocabulary – Questions and Answers

Grammar 1.4.2.1: Questions and Answers - Arrangements

answer	uttar
Bible	baaibel
book	bai (~“boy”), kitaab
chapter	adhyaay (~“åd-dhaay”)
magazine	patrikaa
meeting	sabhaa (~“shåbhaa”)
message	san°baad (~“shång-baad”)
name	naam
problem	samasyaa (~“shåmåsh'shaa”)
proof, evidence	pramaan
question	prashna
return visit	punahha saaksaat`
side of an issue	paksa
study	adhyayan (~“åd-dhåyån”)
that (thing)	ee
these (things)	e-gulo / e-guli
saying; word	kathaa (~“kåthaa”), baakya (~“baak'kå”)
this (thing)	e
those (things)	ee-gulo / ee-guli
verse (in a chapter)	pad (~“påd”)
visit	saaksaat` (~“shaak'kaat”)
what	yaa (~“jaa”)
what (one)?	kii?
what ones?	kii kii?
whether? is it so?	ki?
who	ye (~“je”)
who?	ke?
WHO (plural)	yaaraa
WHO? (plural)	kaaraa? (~“kaaraa”)
word spoken	baakya (~“baak'kå”), kathaa (~“kåthaa”)

Practice 1.4.2.1
Translate:-

What [is] that saying?	ee kathaa kii [ ]?
padgulo kii [ ]? / pad kii kii?	What [are] the versess?
What [is] God’s word?	iishvarer baakya kii [ ]?
kaaraa bandhu [ ]?	WHO [are] friends?
The study [is] today.	adhyayan aaj-ke.
WHO [are] God’s friends?	kaaraa iishvarer bandhu [ ]?
Those WHO [are] God’s witnesses!	taaraa yaaraa iishvarer saaksii!

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Grammar 1.4.2.2: Questions and Answers - Topics

attitude	manobhaab
belief	bishvaas (~“bish'shaash”)
evidence, proof	pramaan
manner, way	bhaab
mind	man (~“mån”)
purpose	uddeshya
religion	dharma (~“dhårmå”)
thought	man (~“mån”), mat
truth	satya (~“shåt'tå”)
will, desire	icchaa
world	jagat` (~“jågåt”), duniyaa

Practice 1.4.2.2
Translate:-

What [is] the will of God?	iishvarer icchaa kii [ ]?
bishvaas ki satya [ ]?	[Is] faith the truth?

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Grammar 1.4.3: Vocabulary – Animals

animal	pashu
bird	paakhi / paksi (~“påk'ki”)
dog	kukur
fish	maach

Grammar 1.4.4: Vocabulary – Things

article, thing	jinis
Bible	baaibel
book	bai (~“boy”), kitaab
chapter	adhyaay (~“åd-dhaay”)
creation	srristi
Earth	prrithibii
flesh, meat	maan°sa
food	khaadya, khaabaar
house	baarii, ghar, grriha
kingdom	raajya
Kingdom Hall	kin°dam hal
magazine	patrikaa
message	san°vaad (~“shång-baad”)
mind	man (~“mån”)
mother	maataa, maa
name	naam
picture	chabi (~“chhåbi”)
plural ending “-s” non-persons	-gulo / -guli
that (thing)	ee
these (things)	e-gulo / e-guli
thing, article	jinis
this (thing)	e
those (things)	ee-gulo / ee-guli
tree	gaach, brriksa (~“brik'kå”)
verse (in a chapter)	pad (~“påd”)
water	paani, jal
what	yaa (~“jaa”)
what (one)?	kii?
what (ones)?	kii kii?
world	jagat` (~“jågåt”), duniyaa

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Grammar 1.4.5: Vocabulary – Concepts

accurate knowledge	tatva jnaan (~“tåt'tå gyaan”)
answer	uttar
attitude	manobhaab
belief	bishvaas (~“bish'shaash”)
benefit	laabh, phaa'idaa
Bengali language	baan°laa
circumstances, situation	paristhiti
condition, state	abasthaa / avasthaa (~“åbåsthaa”)
desire, will	icchaa
direction, way	dik` / dig`, taraph
encouragement	ut`saaha
English language	in°rejii
evidence, proof	pramaan
faith	bishvaas (~“bish'shaash”)
freedom	mukti
happiness	sukh, aananda
hatred	ghrrinaa
help	saahaayya (~“shaahaaj'jå”)
hope	aashaa
kindness	dayaa (~“dåyaa”)
knowledge	jnaan (~“gyaan”)
lack, shortage	abhaab (~“åbhaab”)
life	jiiban
love	prem, bhaalabaasaa
manner, way	bhaab
mental spirit	man (~“mån”)
mind	man (~“mån”)
problem	samasyaa (~“shåmåsh'shaa”)
proof, evidence	pramaan
purpose	uddeshya
religion	dharma (~“dhårmå”)
rescue, survival	raksaa
righteousness	dhaarmikataa
salvation	paritraan
shortage, lack	abhaab (~“åbhaab”)
side of an issue	paksa
terrorism	santraas (~“shåntraash”)
saying; word	kathaa (~“kåthaa”), baakya (~“baak'kå”)
thought	man (~“mån”), mat
truth	satya (~“shåt'tå”)
way (direction)	dik`/ dig`, taraph
way (manner)	man (~“mån”), bhaab
wickedness	dustataa
will, desire	icchaa
word spoken	baakya (~“baak'kå”), kathaa (~“kåthaa”)

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Grammar 1.4.6: Vocabulary – States

benefit	laabh, phaa'idaa
circumstances, situation	paristhiti
condition, state	abasthaa / avasthaa (~“åbåsthaa”)
destruction	dhvan°sa (~“d'dhång-så”)
disturbance	ashaanti (~“åshaanti”)
encouragement	ut`saaha
freedom	mukti
happiness	sukh, aananda
hatred	ghrrinaa
hope	aashaa
kindness	dayaa (~“dåyaa”)
kingdom	raajya
lack, shortage	abhaab (~“åbhaab”)
last days	shes kaal
life	jiiban
manner, way	bhaab
peace	shaanti
problem	samasyaa (~“shåmåsh'shaa”)
proof, evidence	pramaan
purpose	uddeshya
rescue, survival	raksaa
righteousness	dhaarmikataa
salvation	paritraan
shortage, lack	abhaab (~“åbhaab”)
side of an issue	paksa
situation, circumstances	paristhiti
state, condition	abasthaa / avasthaa
survival, rescue	raksaa
terrorism	santraas (~“shåntraash”)
violence	dooraatmya (~“douraat'tå”), hin°saa
war	yuddha (~“jud'dhå”)
wickedness	dustataa

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Grammar 1.4.7: Vocabulary – Activities

answer	uttar
Bengali language	baan°laa
creation	srristi
crime	aparaadh (~“åpåraadh”)
desire, will	icchaa
destruction	dhvan°sa (~“d'dhång-så”)
to do	karaa (~“kåraa”)
-doer	-kaarii
doing	kar-te (~“kår-te”)
encouragement	ut`saaha
English language	in°rejii
-er	-kaarii
faith	bishvaas (~“bish'shaash”)
hatred	ghrrinaa
help	saahaayya (~“shaahaaj'jå”)
hope	aashaa
...ing / verbal: e.g. doing---	---kar-te (~“kår-te”)
...ing / verbal: e.g. seeing---	---dekh-te
kindness	dayaa (~“dåyaa”)
kingdom	raajya
love	prem, bhaalabaasaa
meeting	sabhaa (~“shåbhaa”)
proof, evidence	pramaan
question	prashna
rescue, survival	raksaa
return visit	punahha saaksaat`
study	adhyayan (~“åd-dhåyån”)
survival, rescue	raksaa
terrorism	santraas (~“shåntraash”)
to ... / verbal: e.g. to do---	---karaa (~“kåraa”)
to ... / verbal: e.g. to see---	---dekhaa
violence	dooraatmya (~“douraat'tå”), hin°saa
visit	saaksaat` (~“shaak'kaat”)
war	yuddha (~“jud'dhå”)
way (manner)	man (~“mån”), bhaab
wickedness	dustataa
will, desire	icchaa
witness (activity)	saaksa (~“shaak'kå”)
work	kaaj, kaam, karma (~“kårmå”)

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Grammar 1.4.8: Vocabulary – Time

day	din
day 1 : Monday	som-baar
day 2: Tuesday	man¹gal-baar
day 3: Wednesday	budh-baar
day 4: Thursday	brrihaspatibaar
day 5: Friday	shukrabaar
day 6: Saturday	shanibaar
day 7 : Sunday	rabi-baar / ravi-vaar
future	bhavisyat` (~“bhåbish'shåt”)
last days	shes kaal
time (measure)	samay (~“shåmoi”)
time (period, era)	kaal
today	aaj-ke
tomorrow	aagaamii kaal
week	saptaa (~“shåptaa”)
year ( in a date)	saal (~“shaal”)
year ( the period)	bat`sar (~“båt-sår”)
yesterday	gata kaal (~“gåtå kaal”)

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GRAMMAR 1.5: Nouns and Pronouns: Full List – English to Bengali

[Go to Full List – Bengali to English Nouns and Pronouns]

tomorrow	aagaamii kaal
today	aaj-ke
hope	aashaa
state, condition	abasthaa / avasthaa
condition, state	abasthaa / avasthaa (~“åbåsthaa”)
lack, shortage	abhaab (~“åbhaab”)
shortage, lack	abhaab (~“åbhaab”)
chapter	adhyaay (~“åd-dhaay”)
study	adhyayan (~“åd-dhåyån”)
crime	aparaadh (~“åpåraadh”)
disturbance	ashaanti (~“åshaanti”)
Bible	baaibel
word spoken	baakya (~“baak'kå”), kathaa (~“kåthaa”)
Bengali language	baan°laa
Bengali person	baan¹gaalii
house	baarii, ghar, grriha
book	bai (~“boy”), kitaab
friend	bandhu (~“båndhu”)
year ( the period)	bat`sar (~“båt-sår”)
manner, way	bhaab
brother	bhaai
future	bhavisyat` (~“bhåbish'shåt”)
belief	bishvaas (~“bish'shaash”)
faith	bishvaas (~“bish'shaash”)
sister	bon
day 4: Thursday	brrihaspatibaar
day 3: Wednesday	budh-baar
individual, person	byakti (~“bekti”) / vyakti
person, individual	byakti (~“bekti”) / vyakti
picture	chabi (~“chhåbi”)
boy, son	chele, putra
son, boy	chele, putra
kindness	dayaa (~“dåyaa”)
to ... / verbal: e.g. to see---	---dekhaa
...ing / verbal: e.g. seeing---	---dekh-te
righteousness	dhaarmikataa
religion	dharma (~“dhårmå”)
destruction	dhvan°sa (~“d'dhång-så”)
direction, way	dik` / dig`, taraph
way (direction)	dik`/ dig`, taraph
day	din
violence	dooraatmya (~“douraat'tå”), hin°saa
wickedness	dustataa
this (thing)	e
that (thing)	ee
those (things)	ee-gulo / ee-guli
these (things)	e-gulo / e-guli
plural ending “-s” (persons)	-eraa / -raa
tree	gaach, brriksa (~“brik'kå”)
yesterday	gata kaal (~“gåtå kaal”)
hatred	ghrrinaa
plural ending “-s” non-persons	-gulo / -guli
desire, will	icchaa
will, desire	icchaa
God (general Bengali)	iishvar (~“iish'shår”)
God’s	iishvarer, khodaar
English person	in°rej
English language	in°rejii
world	jagat` (~“jågåt”), duniyaa
life	jiiban
article, thing	jinis
thing, article	jinis
knowledge	jnaan (~“gyaan”)
work	kaaj, kaam, karma (~“kårmå”)
time (period, era)	kaal
WHO? (plural)	kaaraa? (~“kaaraa”)
-doer	-kaarii
-er	-kaarii
to do	karaa (~“kåraa”)
to ... / verbal: e.g. to do---	---karaa (~“kåraa”)
worker	karma-kaarii
doing	kar-te (~“kår-te”)
...ing / verbal: e.g. doing---	---kar-te (~“kår-te”)
saying; word	kathaa (~“kåthaa”), baakya (~“baak'kå”)
who?	ke?
anyone, someone	keha / keu
someone, anyone	keu / keha
food	khaadya, khaabaar
God (from Urdu)	khodaa
what ones?	kii kii?
what (one)?	kii?
Kingdom Hall	kin°dam hal
dog	kukur
benefit	laabh, phaa'idaa
person, people	lok
fish	maach
flesh, meat	maan°sa
man	maanus
mother	maataa, maa
mental spirit	man (~“mån”)
mind	man (~“mån”)
way (manner)	man (~“mån”), bhaab
thought	man (~“mån”), mat
day 2: Tuesday	man¹gal-baar
attitude	manobhaab
daughter, girl	meye
freedom	mukti
name	naam
leader	netaa
bird	paakhi / paksi (~“påk'ki”)
water	paani, jal
verse (in a chapter)	pad (~“påd”)
side of an issue	paksa
family	paribaar
circumstances, situation	paristhiti
situation, circumstances	paristhiti
salvation	paritraan
animal	pashu
magazine	patrikaa
fruit	phal
father	pitaa, baabaa
parents	pitaamaataa
evidence, proof	pramaan
proof, evidence	pramaan
question	prashna
love	prem, bhaalabaasaa
earth	prrithibii
return visit	punahha saaksaat`
kingdom	raajya
day 7: Sunday	rabi-baar / ravi-vaar
rescue, survival	raksaa
survival, rescue	raksaa
help	saahaayya (~“shaahaaj'jå”)
witness (activity)	saaksa (~“shaak'kå”)
visit	saaksaat` (~“shaak'kaat”)
witness (person)	saaksii (~“shaak'kii”)
year ( in a date)	saal (~“shaal”)
meeting	sabhaa (~“shåbhaa”)
problem	samasyaa (~“shåmåsh'shaa”)
time (measure)	samay (~“shåmoi”)
message	san°vaad (~“shång-baad”)
terrorism	santraas (~“shåntraash”)
terroriser	santraas-kaarii
week	saptaa (~“shåptaa”)
truth	satya (~“shåt'tå”)
peace	shaanti
day 6: Saturday	shanibaar
Satan	shayataan
last days	shes kaal
day 5: Friday	shukrabaar
day 1: Monday	som-baar
creation	srristi
wife, woman	strii (~“shaamii”)
woman, wife	strii (~“shaamii”)
happiness	sukh, aananda
husband	swaamii
accurate knowledge	tatva jnaan (~“tåt'tå gyaan”)
purpose	uddeshya
encouragement	ut`saaha
answer	uttar
what	yaa (~“jaa”)
WHO (plural)	yaaraa
who	ye (~“je”)
Jehovah	yihobaa (~“jihobaa”)
Jesus	yiishu (~“jiishu”) / iisaa
war	yuddha (~“jud'dhå”)

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GRAMMAR 1.6: Nouns and Pronouns: Full List – Bengali to English

[Go to Full List – English to Bengali Nouns and Pronouns]

--- dekhaa	to… / verbal: e.g. to see ---
--- dekh-te	…ing / verbal: e.g. seeing ---
--- karaa	to… / verbal: e.g. to do ---
--- kar-te	…ing / verbal: e.g. doing ---
aagaamii kaal	tomorrow
aaj-ke	today
aananda / sukh	happiness
aashaa	hope
abasthaa (~“åbåsthaa”)	condition, state
abhaab (~“åbhaab”)	lack, shortage
adhyaay (~“åd-dhaay”)	chapter
adhyayan (~“åd-dhåyån”)	study
aparaadh (~“åpåraadh”)	crime
ashaanti (~“åshaanti”)	disturbance
baaibel	Bible
baakya (~“baak'kå”), kathaa	word
baan°laa	Bengali language
baan¹gaalii	Bengali person
baarii, ghar, grriha	house
bai (~“boy”), kitaab	book
bandhu (~“båndhu”)	friend
bat`sar (~“båt-sår”)	year (period)
bhaab, man	way (manner)
bhaai	brother
bhaalabaasaa, prem	love
bhabisyat` (~“bhåbish'shåt”)	future
bishvaas (~“bish'shaash”)	belief, faith
bon	sister
brrihaspatibaar	day 4: Thursday
brriksa (~“brik'kå”), gaach	tree
budhabaar	day 3: Wednesday
byakti (~“bekti”) / vyakti	person, individual
chabi (~“chhåbi”)	picture
chele, putra	son, boy
dayaa (~“dåyaa”)	kindness
---dekhaa	verbal: e.g. to see---
---dekh-te	verbal: e.g. seeing---
dhaarmikataa	righteousness
dharma (~“dhårmå”)	religion
dhvan°sa (~“d'dhång-så”)	destruction
dik` / dig`, taraph	direction, way
dik`/ dig`, taraph	way (direction)
din	day
dooraatmya (~“douraat'tå”), hin°saa	violence
duniyaa, jagat`	world
dustataa	wickedness
e	this (thing)
ee	that (thing)
ee-gulo / ee-guli	those (things)
e-gulo / e-guli	these (things)
-eraa / -raa	plural ending “-s” (persons)
gaach, brriksa	tree
gata kaal (~“gåtå kaal”)	yesterday
ghar, baarii, grriha	house
ghrrinaa	hatred
grriha, baarii, ghar	house
-gulo / -guli	plural ending “-s” non-persons
“gyaan” > jnaan	knowledge
icchaa	will, desire
iisaa, yiishu	Jesus
iishvar (~“iish'shår”)	God (general Bengali)
iishvarer, khodaar	God’s
in°rej	English person
in°rejii	English language
hin°saa, dooraatmya	violence
jagat` (~“jågåt”), duniyaa	world
jiiban	life
jinis	thing, article
jnaan (~“gyaan”)	knowledge
kaaj, karma, kaam	work
kaal	time (period, era)
kaam, kaaj, karma	work
kaaraa?	WHO? (plural)
-kaarii	-doer
-kaarii	-er
---karaa (~“kåraa”)	verbal: e.g. to do---
karma (~“kårmå”), kaaj, kaam	work
karma-kaarii	worker
---kar-te (~“kår-te”)	verbal: e.g. doing---
kathaa (~“kåthaa”)	saying; word
ke?	who?
keha / keu	anyone, someone
keu / keha	someone, anyone
khaabaar, khaadya	food
khaadya, khaabaar	food
khodaa	God (from Urdu)
khodaar, iishvarer	God’s
kii kii?	what ones?
kii?	what (one)?
kin°dam hal	Kingdom Hall
kitaab, bai	book
kukur	dog
laabh, phaa'idaa	benefit
lok	person, people
maa, maataa	mother
maach	fish
maan°sa	flesh, meat
maanus	man
maataa, maa	mother
man (~“mån”)	mental spirit, line of thought
man, bhaab	way (manner)
man, mat	mind, thought
man¹gal-baar	day 2: Tuesday
manobhaab	attitude
mat, man	thought, mind
meye	daughter, girl
mukti	freedom
naam	name
netaa	leader
paakhi, paksi (~“påk'ki”)	bird
paani, jal	water
pad (~“påd”)	verse (in a chapter)
paksa (~“påk'kå”)	side of an issue
paksi(~“påk'ki”), paakhi	bird
paribaar	family
paristhiti	situation, circumstances
paritraan	salvation
pashu	animal
patrikaa	magazine
phaa'idaa, laabh	benefit
phal	fruit
pitaa, baabaa	father
pitaamaataa	parents
pramaan	proof, evidence
prashna	question
prem, bhaalabaasaa	love
prrithibii	earth
punahha saaksaat`	return visit
putra, chele	son, boy
-raa / -eraa	plural ending “-s” (persons)
raajya	kingdom
rabi-baar / ravi-vaar	day 7: Sunday
raksaa	rescue; survival
ravi-vaar / rabi-baar	day 7: Sunday
saahaayya (~“shaahaaj'jå”)	help
saaksaat` (~“shaak'kaat”)	visit
saaksa (~“shaak'kå”)	witness (activity)
saaksii (~“shaak'kii”)	witness (person)
saal (~“shaal”)	year (date)
sabhaa (~“shåbhaa”)	meeting
samasyaa (~“shåmåsh'shaa”)	problem
samay (~“shåmoi”)	time (measure)
san°baad / san°vaad (~“shång-baad”)	message
santraas (~“shåntraash”)	terrorism
santraas-kaarii	terroriser
saptaa (~“shåptaa”)	week
satya (~“shåt'tå”)	truth
shaanti	peace
shanibaar	day 6: Saturday
shayataan	Satan
shes kaal	last days
shukrabaar	day 5: Friday
som-baar	day 1: Monday
srristi	creation
strii	wife, woman
sukh, aananda	happiness
swaamii (~“shaamii”)	husband
taraph, dik` / dig`	direction, way
tatva jnaan (~“tåt'tå gyaan”)	accurate knowledge
uddeshya	purpose
ut`saaha	encouragement
uttar	answer
vyakti / byakti (~“bekti”)	person, individual
yaa (~“jaa”)	what
yaaraa (~“jaaraa”)	WHO (plural)
ye (~“je”)	who
yihobaa (~“jihobaa”)	Jehovah
yiishu (~“jiishu”), iisaa	Jesus
yuddha (~“jud'dhå”)	war

Do Exercises 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9
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GRAMMAR 2. PROCESS DONE (VERB)
– Simple Past, Present and Future Tense

2.1 The Basic Pattern for Endings of All Verbs
2.2 Pattern 1:- kar_aa — to do, to make
2.3 Pattern 2:- la-oyaa — to lead, take, bring
2.4 Pattern 3:- khaa-oyaa — to eat
2.5 Pattern 4:- ghum_aa-no — to sleep
2.6 Negative Forms of Verbs
2.7 Compound Verbs
2.8 Must, Have to do: “kar-te habe”

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GRAMMAR 2.1:
The Basic Pattern for Endings of All Verbs

VERB ENDINGS: BASIC PATTERN
Person		Past (did …)	Present (does …)	Future (will …)
Common	I, we	-laam	_i	-bo
	you, YOU	-le	_o	-be
	he, she, it they	-lo	_e or -y	-be
Honorific	you, YOU he, she, they	-len	_en	-ben

NOTES:

1. The pronunciation and related spelling may be softened or hardened in different styles, the final ‘o’ being softened to ‘a’, or the final ‘a’ being hardened to ‘o’.

2. The above endings are the short colloquial (‘Chalito’) forms. The classical (‘Sadhu’) forms are generally longer:-

Past (Sadhu)	Future (Sadhu)
-ilaam	-iba
-ile	-ibe
-ila	-ibe
-ilen	-iben

3. For this basic introductory course, let's get by with only these three tense forms. Other tense forms exist in the past, present and future, covering perfect, imperfect and conditional actions. The colloquial and classical forms of these tenses also differ.

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GRAMMAR 2.2:
Pattern 1:- kar_aa — to do, to make

VERB ENDINGS: KARAA (to do)
Person		Past	Present	Future
		(did do, etc.)	(does do, etc.	(will do, etc.)
Common	I, we	kar-laam	kar_i	kar-bo
	you, YOU	kar-le	kar_o	kar-be
	he, she, it they	kar-lo	kar_e	kar-be
Honorific	you, YOU he, she, they	kar-len	kar_en	kar-ben

Do Exercise 2.1
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Some verbs like “kar_aa”
to do, make	kar_aa
to speak	bal_aa
to read, fall	par_aa
to understand	bujh_aa
to bring	aan_aa
to come	aas_aa
to be able to (can)	paar_aa
to die	mar_aa
to hit, kill	maar_aa
to know	jaan_aa
to see	dekh_aa
to remain	thaak_aa

Do Exercises 2.2, 2.3
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GRAMMAR 2.3:
Pattern 2:- la-oyaa — to lead, take, bring

VERB ENDINGS: LAOYAA (to lead)
Person		Past	Present	Future
		(did lead)	(does lead, etc.)	(will lead etc.)
Common	I, we	lai-laam	la-i	la-bo
	you, YOU	lai-le	la-o	la-be
	he, she, it they	lai-lo	la-y	la-be
Honorific	you, YOU he, she, they	lai-len	la-n	la-ben

Exceptions:-

ha-oyaa — to be: (definite state)	chi-laam	aach_i;	ha-bo
ha-oyaa — to be: (prove to be)	ha-laam	ha_i	ha-bo
ne-oyaa — to take	ni-laam	ne-i	ni-bo
de-oyaa — to give	di-laam	de-i	di-bo

Some verbs like “la-oyaa” (pronounced: “la-waa”)
to lead, bring	la-oyaa
to be, to prove to be, to come to be	ha-oyaa
‘not to be’ (Imagine this when forming “I am not”, etc.)	‘na-oyaa’ (Imagine: naa ha-oyaa)

Do Exercises 2.4, 2.5
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GRAMMAR 2.4:
Pattern 3:- khaa-oyaa — to eat (pronounced: “~khaa-waa”)

VERB ENDINGS: KHAAOYAA (to eat)
Person		Past	Present	Future
		(did eat)	(does eat, etc.)	(will eat etc.)
Common	I, we	khe-laam	khaa-i	khaa-bo
	you, YOU	khe-le	khaa-o	khaa-be
	he, she, it they	khe-lo	khaa-y	khaa-be
Honorific	you, YOU he, she, they	khe-len	khaa-n	khaa-ben

Exceptions:-

yaa-oyaa — to go	ge-laam (not yelaam!)	yaa-i	yaa-bo
caa-oyaa — to want	caa-i-laam	caa-i	caa-i-bo
gaa-oyaa — to sing	gaa-i-laam	gaa-i	gaa-bo

Some verbs like “khaa-oyaa” (pronounced: “khaa-waa”)
to want	caa-oyaa
to get	paa-oyaa
to go	yaa-oyaa
to sing	gaa-oyaa

Do Exercise 2.6
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GRAMMAR 2.5:
Pattern 4:- ghum_aa-no — to sleep

VERB ENDINGS: GHUMAANO (to sleep)
Person		Past	Present	Future
		(did sleep)	(does sleep, etc.)	(will sleep etc.)
Common	I, we	ghumaa-laam	ghumaa-i	ghumaa-bo
	you, YOU	ghumaa-le	ghumaa-o	ghumaa-be
	he, she, it they	ghumaa-lo	ghumaa-y	ghumaa-be
Honorific	you, YOU he, she, they	ghumaa-len	ghumaa-n	ghumaa-ben

Some Verbs like “ghumaa-no”
to sleep	ghumaa-no
to run	dooraa-no
to stand	d^aaraa-no
to cause to do	karaa-no
to cause to see (show)	dekhaa-no

Do Exercise 2.7
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GRAMMAR 2.6:
Negative Forms of Verbs

The past negative uses the present form with ‘ni’ added.
   {I did not sleep} = {I sleep + “ni”} = {aami ghumaai ni}

VERB ENDINGS IN NEGATIVE: KARAA (to do)
Person		Past	Present	Future
		(did not do, etc.)	(does not do, etc.	(will not do, etc.)
Common	I, we	kar_i ni	kar_i naa	kar-bo naa
	you, YOU	kar_o ni	kar_o naa	kar-be naa
	he, she, it they	kar_e ni	kar_e naa	kar-be naa
Honorific	you, YOU he, she, they	kar_en ni	kar_en naa	kar-ben naa

Exception:-

Exceptionally, ‘It does not exist’ = ‘nei’.

Examples of Negative Forms of Verbs:-

I do not understand.	aami bujhi naa
I did not understand	aami bujhi ni.
I have a big book.	aamaar bara bai aache.
I do not have a big book.	aamaar bara bai nei

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GRAMMAR 2.7:
Compound Verbs

Compound verbs combine a noun or adjective with an auxilliary verb like “karaa”.

to think	mane karaa	to destroy	dhvan°sa karaa
to believe	bishvaas karaa	to hate	ghrrinaa karaa
to create	srristi karaa	to love	prem karaa
to encourage	ut`saahita karaa	to delight	aananda karaa
to forget	bhule yaaoyaa

Note: The verb is placed last in the sentence or clause (followed by ‘naa’ or ‘ni’, if negative.)

We sleep.	aamaraa ghumaa-i.
They stood.	taaraa daa^raa-lo.
I thought.	aami mane kar-laam.
He created.	tini srristi kar-len.
You encourage.	aapani ut`saahita kar_en.
They don't believe.	taaraa bishvaas kar_e naa.
We could not.	aamaraa paar_i ni.
Peace doesn't exist.	shaanti nei.

Do Exercise 2.8, etc.
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GRAMMAR 2.8:
Must, Have to do: “kar-te habe”

This form is peculiar to Bengali. The verb used to express compulsion is “habe” (“will be”). The required action is in the “-te” (“-ing”) form of a verb. The person who must act appears as the possessor of the duty.

I must listen (~‘my {action of listening} will be’)	aamaar shun-te habe
I have a book (~‘my book exists’)	aamaar bai aache
It must be done (~The {action of doing that} will be).	taa kar-te habe
I must do that (~My {action of doing that} will be)	aamaar taa kar-te habe

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GRAMMAR 3. OBJECTS –
Nouns and Pronouns According to ‘Case’

3.1 Cases for Personal Object Nouns and Pronouns
3.2 Cases for Non-Personal Object Nouns and Pronouns
3.3 More Post-Positional Elements

We saw in Section 1 how nouns and pronouns can be used as the subject (the Doer) in a sentence. If a person or thing is affected by the action of the Doer, it is the “Object” in the sentence. When nouns and pronouns form the object, they are usually modified in various ways depending upon the object case.

[Go to Grammar 3] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GRAMMAR 3.1:
Cases for Personal Object Nouns and Pronouns

Personal Object
	Singular		Plural
man	maanus		maanus	_eraa
affecting the man	maanus	-ke	maanus	-der (-ke)
of the man	maanus	_er	maanus	-der
to the man	maanus	-ke / _er kaac_e	maanus	-der (-ke) / -der kaac_e
through the man	maanus	_er dvaaraa	maanus	-der dvaaraa
by way of the man	maanus	_er diye	maanus	-der diye
from the man	maanus	(_er kaac) theke	maanus	-der (kaac) theke
in/on/at the man	maanus	_e (or -te)	maanus	-der madhye (or -der-te)
Oh the man!	he maanus !		he maanus_eraa !

The Bengali word “kaac” conveys the sense of ‘being near to’, so you could visualize it as “proximity” or “vicinity”, perhaps “presence”, close to a person.

[Go to Grammar 3] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GRAMMAR 3.2:
Cases for Non-Personal Object Nouns and Pronouns

Non-Personal Object
	Singular		Plural
book	bai		bai	-gulo
affecting the book	bai	(-)	bai	-gulo (-)
	bai	(-ke)	bai	-gulo (-ke)
of the book	bai	-yer*	bai	-gulo-r
to the book	bai	(-)	bai	-gulo (-)
	bai	(-ke)	bai	-gulo (-ke)
through the book	bai	dvaaraa	bai	-gulo dvaaraa
by way of the book	bai	-er diye	bai	-gulo diye
from the book	bai	theke	bai	-gulo theke
in/on/at the book	bai	-te **	bai	-gulo-te
within the book	bai	-yer** madhye
among the books			bai	-gulor madhye
Oh the book!	he bai !		he baigulo !

* -’er, -yer, -r after a vowel
-er after a consonant

** -y after “aa”
-te after another vowel
-e after a consonant

Words similar to “from”

than, from	theke, hate (or haite)
than, compared to	ceye

Examples:-

best (‘than all, good’)	sab ceye bhaalo
The father is bigger than I	pitaa aamaa ceye bara
Love is better than hatred	prem ghrrinaa ceye bhaalo.
It is better to give than to take	paaoyaa ceye deoyaa bhaala

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GRAMMAR 3.3:
More Post-Positional Elements

for X	X_er janya
against X	X_er viruddhe
with X	X_er saathe X_er san¹ge

Examples:-

for me	aamaar janya
for us	aamaader janya
against the truth	satyer viruddhe
with the brothers	bhaaider san¹ge

Do Exercises 3.xx
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GRAMMAR 4. QUALITY DESCRIBING DOERS AND OBJECTS – Adjectives, Personal Pronouns, etc.

4.1 Vocabulary — Adjectives and Other Descriptives —
English to Bengali
4.2 Vocabulary — Adjectives and Other Descriptives —
Bengali to English
4.3 Examples
4.4 Numbers to Indicate Quantity

GRAMMAR 4.1:
Vocabulary — Adjectives and Other Descriptives —
English to Bengali
[Go to Bengali to English Descriptives]

These words can be used as they are with no adjustment for gender or number.

“-’s ” singular possessive	-er
“-s’ ” pl. (non-personal)	-gulor
“-s’ ” pl. (personal)	-der
all	sakal (~shåkål), sab, samasta
any	kono
bad	manda (~måndå), khaaraap
big	bara (~bårå)
coming, next	aagaamii
correct, O.K.,right	thik
false	bhul
few; a little	alpa (~ålpå)
forever, unending	ananta (~ånåntå)
-full / -ful	-puurna
good	bhaalo / bhaala
great	mahaa
happy	sukhii, aanandita
her, his, its	taar
her, his (honorific)	t^aar
his, her, its	taar
his, her (honorific)	t^aar
holy	pabitra (~påbitrå) / pavitra
ill, unwell, sick	asustha (~åshusthå)
important	gurutvapuurna
impossible	asambhab (~åshåmbhåb)
its, his, her	taar
last, past	gata (~gåtå)
less	kam
more	beshi; aar-o
most (than all)	sab ceye (~shab cheye)
much	anek (~ånek)
my	aamaar
near (at hand)	nikat, (san-)nikat
necessary	dar-kaar, prayojaniiya
next, subsequent	parabartii
other	anya (~ån’nå), apar (~åpår)
other	apar (~ån’nå), anya (~ån’nå)
our	aamaader
past, last	gata (~gåtå)
peaceful	shaantipuurna
possible	sambhab (~shåmbhåb)
previous	puurbabartii
real	prakrrita (~pråkritå)
righteous	dhaarmik
“-’s ” singular possessive	-er
“-s’ ” pl. (personal)	-der
“-s’ ” pl. (non-personal)	-gulor
sad, unhappy, sorry	dukhita / duhhakhita
sick, unwell, ill	asustha (~åshusthå)
small	chota (~chhotå) / chotta
some	kicchu
sorry, unhappy, sad	dukhita / duhhakhita
subsequent, next	parabartii
that (over there)	ee
their	t^aader
their	taader
this	e
true	satya (~shåt’tå)
unhappy, sad, sorry	dukhita / duhhakhita
unrighteous	adhaarmik
unwell, sick, ill	asustha (~åshusthå)
violent	hin°sra (~hing-shrå)
well	sustha (~shusthå); bhaala / bhaalo
WHOSE	yaader (~jaader)
whose	yaar (~jaar)
WHOSE?	kaader?
whose?	kaar?
YOUR	aapanaader
YOUR	tomaader
your	tomaar
your (honorific)	aapanaar

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GRAMMAR 4.2:
Vocabulary — Adjectives and Other Descriptives —
Bengali to English
[Go to English to Bengali Descriptives]

aagaamii	coming, next
aamaader	our
aamaar	my
aapanaader	YOUR
aapanaar	your (honorific)
adhaarmik	unrighteous
alpa (~ålpå)	few; a little
ananta (~ånåntå)	forever, unending
anek (~ånek)	much
anya (~ån’nå), apar (~åpår)	other
apar (~ån’nå), anya (~ån’nå)	other
asambhab (~åshåmbhåb)	impossible
asustha (~åshusthå)	unwell; sick; ill
bara (~bårå)	big
beshi; aar-o	more
bhaalo / bhaala	good, well
bhul	false
chota (~chhotå) / chotta	small
dar-kaar, prayojaniiya	necessary
-der	"-s’" pl. (personal)
dhaarmik	righteous
dukhita / duhhakhita	unhappy, sad, sorry
e	this
ee	that (over there)
-er	"-’s" singular possessive
gata (~gåtå)	past, last
-gulor	"-s’" pl. (non-personal)
gurutvapuurna	important
hin°sra (~hing-shrå)	violent
kaader?	WHOSE?
kaar?	whose?
kam	less
khaaraap, manda (~måndå)	bad
kicchu	some
kono	any
mahaa	great
manda (~måndå), khaaraap	bad
nikat, (san_)nikat	near (at hand)
parabartii	next, subsequent
pabitra (~påbitrå) / pavitra	holy
prakrrita (~pråkritå)	real
prayojaniiya, dar-kaar	necessary
puurbabartii	previous
-puurna	-full / -ful
sab (~shåb), samasta, sakal (~shåkål)	all
sab ceye (~shab cheye)	most (than all)
sakal (~shåkål), sab, samasta	all
samasta (~shåmåstå), sab, sakal (~shåkål)	all
sambhab (~shåmbhåb)	possible
sannikat, nikat	near at hand
satya (~shåt’tå)	true
shaantipuurna	peaceful
sukhii, aanandita	happy
sustha (~shusthå), bhaala / bhaalo	well
t^aader	their
t^aar	his, her (honorific)
taader	their
taar	his, her, its
thik	correct, O.K.,right
tomaader	YOUR
tomaar	your
yaader (~jaader)	WHOSE
yaar (~jaar)	whose

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GRAMMAR 4.3:
Examples

happy life	sukhii jiiban
any peace	kono shaanti
peaceful home	shaanti-puurna ghar
violent attitude	hin°sra manobhaab

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GRAMMAR 4.4:
Numbers to Indicate Quantity

one	ek	eight	aat
two	dui	nine	nay
three	tin	ten	dash
four	caar	eleven	egaara
five	p^aac	twelve	baara
six	chay	twenty	biish
seven	saat	hundred	sha`

Examples:-

two fish	dui maach
a couple of fish	dui-ti maach
two men	dui maanus
a couple of good friends	dui-jan bhaalo bandhu

Do Exercises 4.xx
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GRAMMAR 5. MANNER (ADVERBIAL) –
Describing The Action

5.1 Time
5.2 Manner
5.3 Place
5.4 Reason
5.5 Examples

GRAMMAR 5.1:
Time

now	e-khan
then	takhan; tabe
when?	kakhan? kabe?
ever	kakhan-o
never	kakhan-o naa
again	aabaar

GRAMMAR 5.2:
Manner

this way	e bhaabe, e-man
that way	se-bhaabe, ee bhaabe
how?	kii-bhaabe? keman?
-ly	-bhaabe
- indeed; -particularly	-i
also, as well, too	-o
not (present or future)	naa
not (past)	ni
please, kindly	dayaa kare
very	khub

GRAMMAR 5.3:
Place

here	e-khaane
there	o-khaane, tothaay
where?	kon`-khaane? kothaay?

GRAMMAR 5.4:
Reason

for this reason	e kaarane
for that reason	ee kaarane
why?	kii-kaarane? kena?

GRAMMAR 5.5:
Examples

I alone, only I	aami-i
very, very	khub-i
in this (very) way	e bhaabe-i
leaders also	netaaraa-o
YOU too	tomaraa-o
Why did you go?	kena gelen?
Where [is] he now?	se ekhan kothaay?
Please read.	dayaa kare paro.

Do Exercises 5.xx
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GRAMMAR 6. CONNECTIVES

6.1 Use of Connectives
6.2 List of Connectives
6.3 Examples

GRAMMAR 6.1
Use of Connectives

A connective is used to combine two clauses, each of which is like a small sentence containing its own verb. For example:-
I will come, and we will go.

GRAMMAR 6.2
List of Connectives

and	eban° / aar
as a result	phalata; phale
because	kenanaa; kaaran
but	kintu
for this reason	e-kaarane
if	yadi
in order that; so that	yena
in that case, then	tabe, taahale
lest; so that not	paache
rather (not that, but)	baran°
so (therefore)	taai
so that, in order that	yena
that (the fact that)	ye
then, in that case	tabe, taahale
therefore, so	taai
whether?	ki?
or	athabaa; baa; kin°baa

GRAMMAR 6.3
Examples

He came and we went.	se aas-la eban° aamaraa ge-laam.
You came but they did not go.	tumi aas-le kintu taaraa yaay ni.
Are you well, mm?	aapani ki sustha?
They say that God does not exist.	taaraa bale ye iishvar nan.
We do it so that you will get benefit.	aamaraa taa kari yena tumi laabh paabe.
I will write lest I forget.	aami likh-bo paache bhule yaa-i.

Do Exercises 6.xx
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GRAMMAR 7. – CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

7.1 Construction with Condition and Outcome
7.2 Preferred Position of “yadi” (“if ”)
7.3 Use of the Connective “tabe” (“then”)
7.4 Order of the Clauses in a Conditional Sentence
7.5 Conditional Participles

GRAMMAR 7.1
Construction with Condition and Outcome

This structure can be a powerful device when used in teaching. A conditional sentence is made of two parts that are linked with special connectives. The “if ”-clause states a condition; the “then”-clause states the outcome.

Clause with the Condition, “yadi…” (“if ”)

“yadi” (“if”) or a similar word is usually placed after the subject at the beginning of the minor clause that expresses a condition. (“yadi sounds like ~“jådi”.)

Clause Stating the Outcome, “tabe…” or “taahale…”

One may place “tabe” (“then”) or “taahale” (“that being the case”) at the start of the main clause that states the outcome. This is the statement of the main action.

GRAMMAR 7.2
Preferred Position of “yadi” (“if ”)

Note that many Bengalis prefer not to commence a sentence with the word “yadi” (“if ”), if it can be placed after the “doer”.

Condition

If you [will] come, …

aapani yadi aas-ben, …

GRAMMAR 7.3
Use of the Connective “tabe” (“then”)

Minor adjustments may be made for clarification. For example, we may add “then” or “in that case”.

Condition	Qualified Statement
If you [will] come,	then I will go.
aapani yadi aas-ben	tabe aami yaa-bo.

However, “tabe” (“then”) is omitted if the order of the clauses is reversed, as follows.

GRAMMAR 7.4
Order of the Clauses in a Conditional Sentence

The order of the main and minor clauses can be swapped. You can say either of these:-

{If you come, too,} (I will go).
or
(I will go), {if you come, too}.

Condition	Qualified Statement		Qualified Statement	Condition
If you [will] come,	then I will go.	or	I will go,	if you [will] come.
aapani yadi aas-ben	tabe aami yaa-bo.		aami yaa-bo	yadi aapani aas-ben

Examples:-

Say,	if you know.	or	If you know,	then say
bal_o	yadi jaan_o.		yadi jaan_o	tabe bal-o.
Listen,	if you can.	or	If you can,	[then] listen
shun_o	yadi paar_o		yadi paar_o	[tabe] shun_o

GRAMMAR 7.5
Conditional Participles

Bengali has conditional participles. If “X” represents a certain action, then these participles convey the idea of:-

“by doing X”,
“in the case of X happening”

To form these participles just append “-le” to the verb’s stem.

Conditional participles can be used with no adjustment for gender or number.

Infinitive	by …-ing in the case of   …-ing	Verb Stem	Conditional Participle
to come	in the case of coming	aas[aa]	aas-le
to see	in the case of seeing	dekh[aa]	dekh-le
to understand	in the case of understanding	bujh[aa]	bujh-le
to read	in the case of reading	par[aa]	par-le

Examples:-

If you listen, you can understand	shun-le [tumi] bujh-te paaro
If I know it, I do it.	[taa] jaan-le taa kari
If you come, we'll go.	tumi aas-le aamaraa yaabo
If he speaks, I will listen.	se bal-le aami shun-bo

Do Exercises 7.xx
[Go to Grammar 7] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

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GRAMMAR 8. INTERROGATIVES, CORRELATIVES, AND RELATIVES

8.1 Interrogatives (“ke?”, etc.)
8.2 Relatives and Correlatives (“ye”, “se”, etc.)
8.3 Sets of Three – Interrogative, Relative, and Correlative
8.4 Examples

GRAMMAR 8.1
Interrogatives (“ke?”, etc.)

Use these interrogatives to ask questions:-

what?	kii
who? WHO?	ke? kaaraa?
why?	kena?
when?	kakhan? kabe?
where?	kothaay? kon-khaane?
how?	keman? kii-bhaabe? kii kare?
whether?	ki?
which?	kon`?

Examples:-

What do you want?	[aapani] kii caan?
Who spoke?	ke bal-lo?
Why is the world full of problems?	jagat` kena samasyaa-puurna?
Where is your father?	tomaar pitaa kothaay?
Do they know?	taaraa ki jaane?
Which book did you read?	[tumi] kon` bai par-le?

GRAMMAR 8.2
Relatives and Correlatives (“ye”, “se”, etc.)

Answer the question, “What will you reap?”

The answer, in effect, is “The thing that you sow, this thing you will reap” (Galatians 6:7) Briefly put, “We reap what we so.”

In Bengali this structure always has two parts:-
Relative Clause – ‘The thing that you sow’, and
Correlative Clause – ‘such thing you will reap’

GRAMMAR 8.3
Sets of Three – Interrogative, Relative, and Correlative

There are several sets of three words that go together.

		Interrogative	Relative	Correlative
xxx		What xxx?	The xxx	such xxx
thing	(what)	kii?	yaa	taa / se-i
things	(what)	kii kii?	ye ye	taaraa / se-gulo
person	(who)	ke?	ye	se
persons	(who)	kaaraa?	yaaraa	taaraa
reason	(why)	kii-kaarane?	ye-kaarane	se-kaarane
reason	(why)	kena?	yena	se-janya
reason	(why)	kii-janya?	ye-janya	se-janya
time	(when)	kakhan?	yakhan	takhan
time	(when)	kabe?	yabe	tabe
fact, if	(whether)	ki?	yadi	tabe
place	(where)	kon`-khaane?	ye-khaane	se-khaane
place	(where)	kon` sthaane?	ye-sthaane	se-sthaane
place	(where)	kothaay?	yothaay	tothaay
manner	(how)	keman?	ye-man	te-man
manner	(how)	kii-bhaabe?	ye-bhaabe	se-bhaabe

GRAMMAR 8.4
Examples

What you said, that is right.	tumi yaa bal-le, taa thik.
The things that you saw, those things are still there.	tumi ye ye jinis dekh-le, se-gulo ekhan-o okhaane.
He who came [this one] is ill.	ye maanus aas-lo, se asustha.
The ones who are righteous, these ones will possess the earth.	yaaraa dhaarmik, taaraa prrithibii paa-be.
For the reason that you are happy, for such reason I am happy, too.	tumi ye-kaarane sukhii, se-kaarane aami-o sukhii.
In order that you will hear, for such reason I speak.	aapani yena shun-ben, se-janya aami bali.
When he speaks, then he acts.	se yakhan bale, takhan se kaaj kare.
At the time at which (=if) he wants, at such time he gets.	[se] yadi caay, tabe paay.
The place which you went to, to such place I also went.	tumi ye-khaane gele, se-khaane-o aami gelaam.
In the place in which he stood, in such place you stand.	se ye-khaane daa^raa-lo, se-khaane tumi daa^raa-o.
The way it is heaven, in such way it will be on earth.	yeman svarge hay, teman-i prrithibii-te habe.
In the manner in which you look at others, in such manner others will look at you.	tumi ye-bhaabe anyader-ke dekho, se-bhaabe anyeraa tomaa-ke dekh-be.

Do Exercises 8.xx
[Go to Grammar 8] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

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GRAMMAR 9. OTHER FORMS OF EXPRESSION – Common or Without Equivalent

The main thought has to be identified in the original language. Then an acceptable way has to be sought for expressing this in enough detail in the new language.

Please learn the following forms.

English	Bengali
greeting (from Arabic)	aassaalaam-oyaalaaikum
response to greeting (from Arabic)	oyaalaaikum-aassaalaam
greeting (with other backgrounds)	namaskaar
Yes	haa^, hyaa^, ha^
No	naa
I must listen (‘my listening will be’)	aamaar shun-te habe
I have a book (‘my book exists’)	aamaar bai aache
I have no book (my book exists not)	aamaar bai nei.
I must also bring those	aamaar taader-ke-o aan-te habe
I like it / It impacts on me well	aamaar bhaalo laage
to lock / to apply the lock	taalaa laagaano
It was said to me	aamaake taa balaa gela (or hala)
It was said by me	aamaa(r) dvaaraa taa balaa gela (or hala)
a book that speaks truth	ek satya balaa bai
a [The indefinite article does not exist.]	-
a set number of persons	-jan
e.g. 2 friends; 4 daughters	e.g. dui-jan bandhu **; caar-jan meye **
a set number of non-persons / diminutive	-ti or -taa
e.g. 4 books; 10 wars	e.g. caar-ti bai **; dash-taa yuddha **
the (personal) in particular	se-i
the (non-personal/diminutive) in particular	se-i ... or ...-taa e.g. se-i bai or bai-taa
So, … / That being so, then …	taa-i, to
She is my sister, it is certainly true	se aamaar bon, satya bate
good …	su-…
bad …	ku-…

** Note: Only one indication of the plural is needed. For example:-
“two friends” becomes “two friend”
“good friends” can be “good good friend”

Do Exercises 9.xx
[Go to Grammar 9] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

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GRAMMAR 10. ADD MORE FEATURES

As you come across other forms of expression, it may be beneficial to to make notes about them, adding further important features of the Bengali language. This will help you to make a rapid start to meaningful, fluent communication.

Note 1. The doer word can be omitted from the sentence, if it can be implied from the verb ending that is used.

Example:-

I am fine aami bhaalo.
I am fine bhaalo aachi.

Add more notes yourself.

I must do it (‘My doing of it will be’) aamaar taa kar-te habe

[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GENERAL NOTES FOR THIS COURSE
1. Note that throughout this course ‘YOU’ means the plural of ‘you’.
2. Note that English pronouns underlined are equivalent to the honorific form in Bengali.
3. Bengali letters underlined represent the ‘cerebral’ sound, not the ‘dental’.
4. In Bengali spellings ‘_’ indicates that the adjacent letters get brought together as one syllable.
5. In Bengali spellings ‘-’ indicates that the adjacent letters are in different syllables.

[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

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EXERCISES
Exercise 1	Doers (nouns and pronouns)
Exercise 2	Process done (verb)—a simple past, present and future tense
Exercise 3	Object forms of nouns and pronouns according to ‘case’
Exercise 4	Quality describing doers and objects (adjectives, possessive pronouns, etc.)
Exercise 5	Manner describing process done (adverbs)
Exercise 6	Connectives linking to another clause
Exercise 7	Conditional sentences
Exercise 8	Interrogatives, correlatives and relatives
Exercise 9	Other forms of expression common or without equivalent
Exercise 10	Add other features

EXERCISE 1

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

1.6

1.7

1.8

1.9

EXERCISE 1.1

Follow this pattern:-
Example: “I [am] English”
Answer: “aami in°rej”
Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
I [am] English	aami in°rej
se baan¹gaalii.	He/she [is] Bengali.
This [is] violence.	taa (/ e) dooraatmya (/ hin°saa).
uttar shaanti.	The answer [is] peace.
The Bible [is] truth.	baaibel satya.
iishvar ke?	Who [is] God?
The answer [is] kindness.	uttar dayaa.
santraas ghrrinaa.	Terrorism [is] hatred.

[Go to Grammar 1] [Exercise 1]
[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

EXERCISE 1.2

Learn words about world conditions [Grammar 1.4.6] [Vocabulary].

EXERCISE 1.3

Learn words about family members [1.4.1.1] and other human relationships [1.4.1.2]. [Vocabulary].

[Go to Grammar 1] [Exercise 1]
[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

EXERCISE 1.4

Follow this pattern:-
Example: “Who are you?”
Answer: “tumi ke?”
Note:- The interrogative word like “ke” (“who”) is positioned last in these examples.

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
Who are you?	tumi ke?
aami ...	I [am a] …
aami dak-taar	I [am a] doctor
I am a friend	aami bandhu.
I [am a] …	aami ...
aami ...	I [am a] …
What is this thing?	taa kii?
taa / e …	It [is a] …
taa pramaan.	It [is] proof.
taa / e …	It [is a] …
What are those things?	eegulo kii (/kii kii)?
eegulo …	Those [are] …
eegulo patrikaa.	Those [are] magazines
eegulo …	Those [are] …
What is today?	aaj-ke kii?
aaj-ke …	Today [is]…
Today [is] Sunday.	aaj-ke rabibaar.
aaj-ke …	Today [is]…
What is this time period?	e kaal kii?
e kaal …	This time period [is]…
This time period is the last days	e kaal shes kaal.

Provide answers of your choice:-

Who are you?	tumi ke?
aami ...	I [am a] …
What is this thing?	taa kii?
taa / e …	It [is a] …
What are those things?	eegulo kii (/kii kii)?
eegulo …	Those [are] …
What is today?	aaj-ke kii?
aaj-ke …	Today [is]…
What is this time period?	e kaal kii?
e kaal …	This time period [is]…

[Go to Grammar 1] [Exercise 1]
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EXERCISE 1.5

You can make plural pronouns out of singular pronouns. They end in ‘-raa’, but slight changes to the stem are needed for some of these.

Follow this pattern:-
Example: “taa”
Answer: “taaraa”

Make plurals of these:-

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I	aami	we	aamaraa
you	tumi	YOU	tomaraa
he, she	se	they	taaraa
it	taa	they	taaraa
you	aapani	YOU	aapanaaraa
he, she	tini	they	taa^raa

[Go to Grammar 1] [Exercise 1]
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EXERCISE 1.6

You can make singular pronouns out of plural ones.

Follow this pattern:-
Example: “taaraa”
Answer: “se” / “taa”

Make singular pronouns out of these:-

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
we	aamaraa	I	aami
YOU	tomaraa	you	tumi
they	taaraa	he, she	se
they	taaraa	it	taa
YOU	aapanaaraa	you	aapani
they	taa^raa	he, she	tini

[Go to Grammar 1] [Exercise 1]
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EXERCISE 1.7

You can make plurals of personal nouns by adding “-raa” after a vowel or “-eraa” after a consonant.

Follow these patterns:-
Example: “bandhu”
Answer: “bandhuraa”
Example: “bon”
Answer: “boneraa”

Make plurals out of these:-
(friend; brother; daughter; Bengali; witness; sister; man; people/person; Englishman)

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
bandhu	bandhu-raa
bhaai	bhaai-eraa
meye	meye-raa
baan¹gaalii	baan¹gaalii-raa
saaksii	saaksii-raa
bon	bon-eraa
maanus	maanus-eraa
lok	lok-eraa
in°rej	in°rej-eraa

[Go to Grammar 1] [Exercise 1]
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EXERCISE 1.8

You can make plural non-personal nouns by adding “-gulo” (or “-guli”) to their singular form.

Follow this pattern:-
Example: “prashna”
Answer: “prashnagulo”

Make plurals of these:-
(question; war; picture; meeting; day; family; life; Bible; answer)

QUESTIONS	ANSWERS
prashna	prashna-gulo
yuddha	yuddha-gulo
chabi	chabi-gulo
sabhaa	sabhaa-gulo
din	din-gulo
parivaar	parivaar-gulo
jiiban	jiiban-gulo
baaibel	baaibel-gulo
uttar	uttar-gulo

EXERCISE 1.9

Learn the days of the week.
[Grammar Study 1.4.8] [Vocabulary]

[Go to Grammar 1] [Exercise 1]
[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

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EXERCISE 2

2.1	2.2	2.3	2.4	2.5	2.6	2.7	2.8	2.9	2.10
2.11	2.12	2.13	2.14	2.15	2.16	2.17	2.18	2.19	2.20
2.21	2.22	2.23	2.24	2.25

EXERCISE 2.1

Follow this pattern for the verb “karaa”:-
Example: “I did”
Answer: “aami kar-laam”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
I did	aami kar-laam
tumi kar-le	you did
he did	tini kar-len
aamaraa kar_i	we do
she does	se kar_e
aapani kar_en	you do
he will do	tini kar-ben
you will do	tumi kar-be
iishvar kar-ben	God will do
The boy will do	chele kar-be
ke kar-be?	who will do?
we will do	aamaraa kar-bo

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.2

Learn some of the verbs patterned like ‘kar_aa’

EXERCISE 2.3

Follow this pattern for other verbs like “karaa”:-
Example: “I speak”
Answer: “aami bali”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
I speak	aami bal_i
se bal-lo	he said
You understand	aapani bujh_en
He will come	se aas-be
aapani aas-len	you came
se par-lo	he read / he did read
Peace will come	shaanti aas-be
taaraa dekh-la	they saw
aamaraa dekh-bo	we will see
God knows	iishvar jaan_en
We will bring ...	aamaraa la-bo
taaraa maar-e	they hit / strike
He died	se mar-la
YOU will see!	tomaraa dekh-be!
aami dekh-laam	I saw
kii aas-be?	what will come?

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.4

Learn some of the verbs patterned like “la-oyaa”.

Follow this pattern for verbs like “la-oyaa”:-
Example: “We lead/take”
Answer: “aamaraa la-i”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
We lead/take	aamaraa la-i
kii ha-lo?	What happened? What is going on?
They led/took	taaraa ni-lo
se aamaar bandhu na-y.	He is not my friend.
aami la-bo	I will bring.
You are not my boy.	tumi aamaar chele na-o.
He proves to be …	se … ha-y
tini taader bandhu na-n.	He is not their friend.
aami iishvar na-i	I am not God.
bai baaibel.	The book [is] the Bible.
God is (exists).	iishvar aach-en.
It is not this.	e na-y.
ee nay.	It is not that [one].
satya aach_e.	It [is] truth.
I am	aami aach_i
kii aach_e?	What is it?
tumi chi-le	you were
It will be	ha-be / taa ha-be
I was [there]	aami [okhaane] chi-laam

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.5

The verbs “de-oyaa” and “ne-oyaa” are mainly like “la-oyaa” but show some exceptions.

Follow this pattern for verbs like “de-oyaa”:-
Example: “You give”
Answer: “tumi deo”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
You give	tumi de-o
I will give	aami di-bo
aami ni-laam	I took
he will give	tini di-ben
aami ne-i	I take
YOU will take	aapanaaraa ni-ben
se ne-y	he takes
I take	aami ne-i
she gives	tini ne-n
They give	taaraa de-y

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.6

Learn some of the verbs patterned like “khaa-oyaa”.
Remember the irregular past of “yaaoyaa”.

Follow this pattern for verbs like “khaa-oyaa”:-
Example: “I eat”
Answer: “aami khaa-i”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
I eat	aami khaa-i
you ate	tumi khe-le
he will eat	se khaa-be
aapani khaa-n	you eat
se khe-lo	he / she ate
se yaa-y	he / she goes
YOU go there	tomaraa okhaane yaa-o
tini yaa-ben	he / she will go
he will go	se yaa-be
he wanted	se caa-i-la
aami paa-i	I get / I receive
we got	aamaraa pe-laam
aapani paa-n	you get / you receive
you went	tumi ge-le
he/she went	se ge-lo
I went	aami ge-laam
aapani ge-len	you went
we go	aamaraa yaa-i
tumi yaa-o	you go
we will sing	aamaraa gaa-bo
they will sing	taaraa gaa-be
aami caa-i	I want
he wants	se caa-y
tumi pe-le	you got / you received
they get	taaraa paa-y
tini caa-n	he / she wants

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.7

Learn some of the verbs patterned like “ghumaano”.

Follow this pattern for verbs like “ghumaano”:-
Example: “We slept”
Answer: “aamaraa ghumaa-laam”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
we slept	aamaraa ghumaa-laam
tumi ghumaa-le	you slept
he slept	se ghumaa-lo
aapani ghumaa-len	you slept
I sleep	aami ghumaa-i
se ghumaa-y	he sleeps
kaa^raa d^aaraa-n?	WHO stand?
aamaraa d^aaraa-i	we stand
taaraa dooraa-y	they run
they show	taaraa dekhaa-y
ke ghumaa-la	Who slept?
he stood	se daa^raa-lo
tini dekhaa-len	he showed

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.8

You can form the negative of a future or present action by adding “naa” after the verb.

Follow this pattern:-
Example: “aamaraa gaabo”
Answer: “aamaraa gaabo naa”

Give the negative of these examples:-

EXAMPLES	EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
we will sing	aamaraa gaa-bo	aamaraa gaa-bo naa
we go	aamaraa yaa-i	aamaraa yaa-i naa
you go	tumi yaa-o	tumi yaa-o naa
I want	aami caa-i	aami caa-i naa
they will sing	taaraa gaa-be	taaraa gaa-be naa

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

EXERCISE 2.9

You can form the negative of a past action by adding “ni” after the present tense of the verb. “ni” can be attached to the verb or independent.

Follow this pattern:-
Example: Positive: (“We went”) “aamaraa gelaam”
Answer: Negative: (“We did not go”) “aamaraa yaai ni”

Give the negative of these examples:-

EXAMPLES	EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
we went	aamaraa ge-laam	aamaraa yaa-i ni
you went	tumi ge-le	tumi yaa-o ni
I wanted	aami caa-ilaam	aami caa-i ni
they sang	taaraa gaa-ilo	taaraa gaa-y ni
he did	se kar-lo	se kar_e ni

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

EXERCISE 2.10

You can form compound verbs by combining a noun with an auxilliary verb like “karaa”.

Follow this pattern:-
Example: “We believed”
Answer: “aamaraa bishvaas kar-laam”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
We believed.	aamaraa bishvaas kar-laam.
He loved.	se prem kar-la.
aapani prem kar_en	you love
I forget	aami bhule yaa-i
se bhule yaa-y	he forgets
kaaraa prem kar_e?	WHO love?
tini srristi kar-len	He created
He creates	tini srristi kar_en
He/She/It encourages	se ut`saahita kar_e
ke ghumaa-la?	Who slept?
he thought	se mane kar-la
se dhvan°sa kar_e	he destroys

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

EXERCISE 2.11

You can form compound verbs by combining two verbs. One looks like the present participle, with “-te” added after its verb stem. The other verb serves as an auxilliary verb.

Follow this pattern for “paaraa” “to be able to”:-
Example: “I can do”
Answer: “aami kar-te paari”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
I can do	aami kar-te paar_i
tumi kar-te paar_o	you can do
He can do.	se kar-te paar_e
tumi dekh-te paar_o	you can see
aapani dekh-te paar_en	you can see
You can know	aapani jaan-te paar_en
They can know	taaraa jaan-te paar_e

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.12

You can form compound verbs by combining two verbs. One looks like the present participle, with “-te” added after its verb stem. The other verb serves as an auxilliary verb.

Follow this pattern for “caaoyaa” (~“chaawaa”) “to want to”:-
Example: “I want to see”
Answer: “aami dekh-te caa-i”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
I want to see.	aami dekh-te caa-i
se dekh-te caa-y.	he wants to see
We want to see.	aamaraa dekh-te caa-i
taaraa par-te caa-i-la.	they wanted to read
aamaraa shun-te caa-i-laam.	we wanted to listen
YOU want to speak.	tomaraa bal-te caa-o

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.13

Here is some further practice of affirmative and negative forms.
(See; eat; go; sleep…)

	Present		Past
Infinitive	Affirmative	Negative	Affirmative	Negative
dekhaa	dekhi	dekhi naa	dekh-laam	dekhi ni
khaaoyaa	khaai	khaai naa	dekh-laam	khaai ni
yaaoyaa	yaai	yaai naa	gelaam	yaai ni
ghumaano	ghumaai	ghumaai naa	kar-laam	ghumaai ni
dekhaa	dekho	dekho naa	dekh-le	dekho ni
khaaoyaa	khaao	khaao naa	jaan-le	khaao ni
ghumaano	ghumaao	ghumaao naa	bujh-le	ghumaao ni
dekhaa	dekhe	dekhe naa	dekh-la	dekhe ni
khaaoyaa	khaay	khaay naa	shun-la	khaay ni
yaaoyaa	yaay	yaay naa	gela	yaa-y ni
ghumaano	ghumaay	ghumaay naa	bujh-la	ghumaay ni
bujhaa	bujhen	bujhen naa	bujh-len	bujhen ni
karaa	karen	karen naa	kar-len	karen ni
khaaoyaa	khaan	khaan naa	khelen	khaan ni
yaaoyaa	yaan	yaan naa	gelen	yaa-n ni
ghumaano	ghumaan	ghumaan naa	ghumaalen	ghumaan ni

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.14

Follow this pattern for “aami”:-
Example: “bujhaa” (to understand)
Answer: “aami bujhi” (I understand)

Give the present tense for “aami” for each of the following verbs:-
(Understand; see; do; get)

EXAMPLES Verb	ANSWERS aami …
bujhaa	bujhi
dekhaa	dekhi
karaa	kari
paaoyaa	paai

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.15

Follow this pattern for “aami” to make the negative:-
Example: “bujhaa” (to understand)
Answer: “aami bujhi naa” (I do not understand)

Give the negative in the present tense for “aami” for the following verbs:-
(Understand; see; do; get)

EXAMPLES Verb	ANSWERS aami
bujhaa	bujhi naa
dekhaa	dekhi naa
karaa	kari naa
paaoyaa	paai naa

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.16

Follow this pattern for “aami” in the past tense:-
Example: “bujhaa” (to understand)
Answer: “aami bujh-laam” (I understood)

Give the past tense for “aami” for each of the following verbs:-
(Understand; see; do; get)

EXAMPLES Verb	ANSWERS aami …
bujhaa	bujh-laam
dekhaa	dekh-laam
karaa	kar-laam
paaoyaa	pelaam

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.17

To make the Past Negative, use the Present Affirmative and add “ni”. “ni” can be attached to the verb or independent.

Follow this pattern for “aami” to make the past negative:-
Example: “bujhilaam” (I understood)
Answer: “aami bujhi ni” (I did not understand)

Give the negative in the past tense for “aami” for the following verbs:-

(I understood; I saw; I did; I got)

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
bujh-laam	bujhi ni
dekh-laam	dekhi ni
kar-laam	kari ni
pelaam	paai ni

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.18

The negative of a future action is made by adding “naa”.

Follow this pattern to make the future negative:-
Example: “aami kar-bo” (I will do)
Answer: “aami kar-bo naa” (I will not do)

Give the negative for the following examples:-
(I will do; he will see; it will happen; you will know)

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
aami kar-bo	aami kar-bo naa
se dekh-be	se dekh-be naa
taa ghat-be	taa ghat-be naa
aapani jaan-ben	aapani jaan-ben naa

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.19

The same method is used for other persons in the singular and plural.

Give the negative for each of the following examples:-
(You do; you saw; you hear; he comes; I heard; you want; he came; it will be; you slept; I will stand; it can be; he goes; you went)

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
tumi karo	tumi karo naa
tumi dekh-le	tumi dekho ni
tumi shuno	tumi shuno naa
se aase	se aase naa
aami shun-laam	aami shuni ni
tumi caao	tumi caao naa
se aas-lo	se aase ni
taa habe	taa habe naa
aapani ghumaalen	aapani ghumaan ni
aami daa^raabo	aami daa^raabo naa
taa hate paare	taa hate paare naa
se yaay	se yaay ni
tumi gele	tumi yaao ni

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.20

There are some special cases for ‘not being’.

Construct the negative of the following affirmative examples:-
(I am; you are; he is; you are… I was; you were; he was; you were)

Present		Past
Affirmative	Negative	Affirmative	Negative
aami aacchi / hai	nai	chilaam	hai ni
tumi aacho / hao	nao	chile	hao ni
se aache / hay	nay	chilo	hay ni
aapani aachen / han	nan	chilen	han ni

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.21

There are some special cases for ‘not being’.

Invert the affirmative or negative form of these examples:-

(I am not; he was; you were not; I am (prove to be); I am; YOU are not; we were)

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
aami nai	aami aachi
se chilo	se hai ni
aapani han ni	aapani chilen
aami hai	aami nai
aami aachi	aami nai
tomaraa nao	tomaraa aacho
aamaraa chilaam	aamaraa hai ni

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.22

The following examples and answers provide a summary of Exercises 2.13 – 2.21. Give the Present Affirmative and the Past Negative to complete the table.

	EXAMPLES		EXAMPLES	ANSWERS	ANSWERS
To… / Infinitive	Present Affirmative	Past Affirmative	Past Negative	(does …)	(didn't …)
	aami
par_aa	par_i	par-laam	par_i ni	par_i	par_i ni
dekh_aa	?	dekh-laam	?	dekh_i	dekh_i ni
kar_aa	?	kar-laam	?	kar_i	kar_i ni
	tumi
shun_aa	shun_o	shun-le	shun_o ni	shun_o	shun_o ni
jaan_aa	?	jaan-le	?	jaan_o	jaan_o ni
bujh_aa	?	bujh-le	?	bujh_o	bujh_o ni
aas_aa	?	aas-le	?
	se
dekh_aa	dekh_e	dekh-la	dekh_e ni	dekh_e	dekh_e ni
shun_aa	?	shun-la	?	shun_e	shun_e ni
bujh_aa	?	bujh-la	?	bujh_e	bujh_e ni
yaa-oyaa	yaa-y	ge-la	yaa-y ni	yaa-y	yaa-y ni
paa-oyaa	?	pe-la	?	paa-y	paa-y ni
gaa-oyaa	?	gaa-i-la	?	gaa-y	gaa-y ni
	aapani, tini
bujh_aa	bujh_en	bujh-len	bujh_en ni	bujh_en	bujh_en ni
kar_aa	?	kar-len	?	kar_en	kar_en ni
par_aa	?	par-len	?	par-en	par_en ni
yaa-oyaa	yaa-n	ge-len	yaa-n ni	yaa-n	yaa_n ni
paa-oyaa	?	pe-len	?	paa-n	paa-n ni
khaa-oyaa	?	khe-len	?	khaa-n	khaa-n ni
ghum_aa-no	ghum_aa-n	ghum_aa-len	ghum_aa-n ni	ghum_aa-n	ghum_aa-n ni
door_aa-no	?	door_aa-len	?	door_aa-n	door_aa-n ni
dekh_aa-no	?	dekh_aa-len	?	dekh_aa-n	dekh_aa-n ni
kar_aa-no	?	kar_aa-len	?	kar_aa-n	kar_aa-n ni
jaan_aa-no	?	jaan_aa-len	?	jaan_aa-n	jaan_aa-n ni

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.23

Invert the affirmative or negative form of these examples:-
(I am fine; I’m happy; I am bad; you are well; you are bad; you are good; that’s true; that’s false; that’s righteous; you are very big; you are violent; you are important; we are the smallest; they are peaceful; you are my boy; he is your boy; those are better; it is possible; he is very sorry; YOU are pleased)

AFFIRMATIVE	NEGATIVE
aami bhaalo [ ]	aami bhaalo nai
aami sukhii [ ]	aami sukhii nai
aami manda [ ]	aami manda nai
tumi asustha [ ]	tumi asustha nao
tumi khaaraap [ ]	tumi khaaraap nao
tumi bhaalo [ ]	tumi bhaalo nao
taa satya [ ]	taa satya nay
taa bhul [ ]	taa bhul nay
taa dhaarmik [ ]	taa dhaarmik nay
aapani khub bara [ ]	aapani khub bara nan
aapani hin°sra [ ]	aapani hin°sra nan
aapani gurutvapuurna [ ]	aapani gurutvapuurna nan
aamaraa sab ceye chotta [ ]	aamaraa sab ceye chotta nai
taaraa shaantipuurna [ ]	taaraa shaatipuurna nay
tumi aamaar chele [ ]	tumi aamaar chele nao
se tomaar chele [ ]	se tomaar chele nay
ee-gulo aar-o bhaala [ ]	ee-gulo aar-o bhaala nay
taa sambhab	taa sambhab nay
se khub duhhakhita	se khub duhhakhita nay
tomaraa aanandita	tomaraa aanandita nao

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.24

The verb form for “does not exist” is “nei”.
The Sadhu form of “nei” is “naai”.

Invert the affirmative or negative form of these examples:-
(There is a book; there is love; there is no peace; there is hope; there is no freedom)

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
… exists	… exists not
bai aache	bai nei
prem aache	prem nei
shaanti nei	shaanti aache
aashaa aache	aashaa nei
mukti nei	mukti aache

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.25

The verb form like “karaa” is sometimes referred to as the Infinitive. We can call it the Identifying Verbal Noun. This form is often used as a (gerundive) noun.

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
To work is necessary	kaaj karaa dar-kaar
paraa darakaar	To read [is] necessary
shunaa gurutvapuurna	To listen [is] important
ghrrinaa karaa khaaraap	To hate [is] bad
To come here [is] impossible	ekhaane aasaa asambhab
satya balaa bhaala	To say the truth [is] good
To say this is possible	e balaa sambhab
To read is peaceful	paraa shaantipuurna
taa balaa thik na-y	To say that is not correct.
thik aache?	Is it O.K.?

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 3

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

EXERCISE 3.1

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
I spoke to the man	aami maanus-ke bal-laam.
taaraa ee striike bal-lo.	They spoke to that woman.
He saw the woman.	se strii(-ke) dekh-la.
The father of the man	maanuser baabaa
bhaaier ghar	the brother's house
iishvar_er bara uddeshya	God's great purpose
You gave to the wrong man.	tumi bhul maanus-ke dile.
It helps me.	taa aamaake saahaayya kare
Please show him.	dayaa kare taake dekhaao.
aami taa chotta meyeke dilaam.	I gave it to the little girl.
They went to the leader.	taaraa netaar kaace gela.
I heard through the big man.	aami bara maanus dvaaraa shun-laam.
chele pitaa dvaaraa shikhe.	The son learns through the father.
We get life through whom?	aamaraa kaa^r dvaaraa jiiban paai?

[Go to Grammar 3] [Exercise 3]
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EXERCISE 3.2

Convert the examples in the previous exercise to plural.

[Go to Grammar 3] [Exercise 3]
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EXERCISE 3.3

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
He read (the) book [past tense]	se bai par-la
tumi bai nile.	You took the book.
They learned the message	taaraa san°vaad shikh-la.
I know the name of the book	aami baier naam jaani
tumi baariir naam jaano	You know the house's name
He saw the peace of the people.	Taa loker shaanti dekh-la.
The girl gave a name to the animal.	meye pashuke naam dilo.
tumi phul-ke paani dile?	Did you give water to the flower?
I gave some food to the dog	aami kukur-ke kicchu khaadya dilaam.
We heard it through the message.	aamaraa san°vaad dvaaraa taa shun-laam.
taaraa kaaj dvaaraa shikhe	They learn through work.
I knew through the war.	aami yuddha dvaaraa jaan-laam.
They went through the hall.	taaraa hal diye gela.
taa ghar diye aas-la.	It came through (or by way of) the house.
We will come by way of the meeting.	aamaraa sabhaa diye aas-bo.
They get knowledge from the Bible.	taaraa baaibel theke jnaan paay.
aamaraa yuddha theke shaantir abhaab paai.	We get a lack of peace from war.
He gets encouragement from the picture.	Se chabi theke ut`saaha paai.
In this time (we) see disturbance.	e kaale (aamaraa) ashaanti dekhi.
ee baarii-te aamaar bhaai.	In that house [is] my brother
In that religion is much war.	ee dharme anek yuddha aache.
I will walk among the flowers.	aami phul-gulor madhye yaabo
baigulor madhye chaabi-gulo aache.	Within [the] books [there] are keys.
He went among the animals.	Se pashuder madhye gela

[Go to Grammar 3] [Exercise 3]
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EXERCISE 3.4

Convert the examples in the previous exercise to plural or to singular.

EXERCISE 3.5

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
most possible	sab ceye sambhab
sab ceye khaaraap	worst / most bad
most unrighteous	sab ceye adhaarmik
biggest	sab ceye bara
sab ceye dhaarmik	most righteous
more peaceful	aar-o shaantipuurna
aar-o shaanti	more peace
aar-o manda	more bad / worse
more happy	aar-o aanandita
aar-o bara	bigger / more big
smaller	aar-o chotta
more well, better	aar-o bhaala
less peaceful	kam shaantipuurna
kam dhaarmik	less righteous
less happy	kam aanandita

[Go to Grammar 3] [Exercise 3]
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EXERCISE 4

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

EXERCISE 4.1

Make a list of pairs of words of opposite meanings.

EXERCISE 4.2 [Exercise 4]

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
possible problem	sambhab samasyaa
three good days	tin bhaala din
ek manda dharma	a bad religion
false religion	bhul dharma
much violence	anek hin°saa
aagaamii bat`sar	next year
impossible day	asambhab din
punahh saaksaat`	return visit
aagaamii adhyayan	next study
previous verse	puurbiiya pad
all big trees	sab bara gaach
taaraa bara lok	they are big people
everlasting life	ananta jiiban
happy woman	sukhii strii
prem-puurna bhaai	loving brother
brother and sister	bhaaibon
pitaamaataa	parents
baabaamaa	mother and father
unrighteous leader	adhaarmik netaa
seven days	saat din
mukti sannikat	freedom [is] near at hand
chotta chotta phal	little fruits
big houses	bara bara baarii
aashaa nei.	there is no hope
There is no hope	aashaa nei
shaanti nei.	there is no peace
There is no food.	khaadya nei

[Go to Grammar 4] [Exercise 4]
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EXERCISE 4.3

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
my name	aamaar naam
their disturbance	taader ashaanti
taader ghrrinaa	their hatred
taa^r prem	his / her love
taar asustha maa	his / her unwell mother
aamaader bishvaas	our faith
some true words	kicchu satya katha
our purpose	aamaader uddeshya
His name	taa^r naam
taar samasyaa	his / her problem

[Go to Grammar 4] [Exercise 4]
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EXERCISE 4.4

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
God's name	iishvarer naam
jiishur san°baad	Jesus’ message
son of Abraham	abraahaamer putra
baabaar kaaj	father's work
iishvarer bai	God's book
tumi kaar chele?	Whose son [are] you?
lack of hope	aashaar abhaab
shaantir aatmaa	spirit of peace
my salvation	aamaar paritraan
aamaar boner prem	my sister's love
my wife's brother	aamaar striir bhaai
shaantir abhaab	lack of peace

[Go to Grammar 4] [Exercise 4]
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EXERCISE 4.5

Convert the examples in the previous exercise to plural.

[Go to Grammar 4] [Exercise 4]
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EXERCISE 4.6

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
God's world of peace	iishvarer shaantir jagat`
his sister's house	taar boner baarii
e jagater shes	this world's end
e maanuser striir pitaamaataa	this man's wife's parents
message of God's kingdom	iishvarer raajyer san°baad
message of real hope	prakrrita aashaar san°baad
taa^r bhaalo aatmaar phal	his / her good spirit's fruit
message of peace	shaantir san°baad
work of true love	satya premer kaaj
yihobaar saaksii	Jehovah's Witness

[Go to Grammar 4] [Exercise 4]
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EXERCISE 4.7

Convert the examples in the previous exercise to plural.

[Go to Grammar 4] [Exercise 4]
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EXERCISE 5

EXERCISE 5.1

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
very good	khub bhaala
tini aabaar aas-ben.	he / she will come again
He came here.	se ekhaane aas-la
Why did you come?	tumi kena aas-le
kakhan aas-ben?	When will you (or he / she they) come?
How do they know?	taaraa kii-bhaabe jaane?
se ekhan-i aas-be.	he / she will come right now
eei maanus-o ekhaane chila.	That particular man also was here
The big man also went this way.	bara maanus-o edike aas-la
tomaraa e-bhaabe shikh-be naa.	YOU will not learn this way
strii-raa-o	women also
aashaa-o	hope, as well
Please [you] say.	dayaa kare bal_o.

[Go to Grammar 5] [Exercise 5]
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EXERCISE 6

EXERCISE 6.1

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
I came, and he saw me	aami aas-laam eban° se aamaake dekh-la.
se aas-lo kaaran tumi taa caaile.	He (/ she ) came because you wished it.
You want it, so I will come.	tumi taa caao, taai aami aas-bo
maa asustha, e-kaarane aase ni.	mother [is] unwell, therefore [she] did not come.
se taa bal-lo paache tumi taa bhule yaao	He (/she) said it, lest you forget it.
Do you know?	tumi ki jaano?
tini ki dekh-len?	Did he (/she) see?
Will you come?	tumi ki aas-be?
They do not listen; as a result they do not know.	taaraa shune naa; phalata taaraa jaane naa.
se aas-be athabaa aami thaak-bo ekhaane.	He (/she) will come, or I will stay here.
I think, therefore I am.	aami mane kari, ejanya (ekaarane / taai) aami aachi.

[Go to Grammar 6] [Exercise 6]
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EXERCISE 7

EXERCISE 7.1

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
If you come, then you will see.	aapani ** yadi aas-ben tabe dekh-ben.
se* yadi uttar jaane tabe se uttar bale.	If he ( / she) knows the answer, then he ( / she) says the answer.
If you listen then you will be able to learn.	tumi yadi shuno, tabe [tumi] shikh-te paar-be.

** NOTE: Remember, the preferred word order here is to put “yadi” after the subject (doer); however, you can put “yadi” first and still be understood.

[Go to Grammar 7] [Exercise 7]
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EXERCISE 8

8.1	8.2	8.3	8.4	8.5	8.6	8.7	8.8	8.9	8.10
8.11	8.12	8.13	8.14	8.15

EXERCISE 8.1

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
What do you think?	[tumi] kii mane kar_o?
aapani kii dekh_en?	What do you see?
What do you want?	tumi kii chaa-o?
What's that?	taa kii [aache]?

[Go to Grammar 8] [Exercise 8]
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EXERCISE 8.2

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
Who are you?	tumi ke?
ee maanus ke?	Who [is] that man?
Who is this girl?	e meye ke?
WHO are YOU?	tomaraa kaaraa?
ee netaaraa kaaraa?	WHO [are] those leaders?
WHO are these boys?	e cheleraa kaaraa?
WHO gave food?	kaaraa khaadya dila?
Who gives war?	ke yuddha dey?
yuddha ki kakhan-o shaanti aane?	Does war bring peace?
WHO never make make war?	kaaraa kakhan-o yuddha kare naa?

[Go to Grammar 8] [Exercise 8]
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EXERCISE 8.3

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
Why did you come?	aapani kena aas-len?
se kena taa bal-lo?	Why did he ( / she) say it?
tumi kena aagaamii kaale aas-be?	Why will you come tomorrow?
Why do they do that?	taaraa kena taa kare?
Why did you not see it?	tumi kena taa dekho ni?

** NOTE: Remember, the preferred word order here is to put the interrogative “kena” after the subject (doer); however, you can put “kena” first and still be understood.

[Go to Grammar 8] [Exercise 8]
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EXERCISE 8.4

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
When did he (/she) come?	se kakhan aas-la?
iishvaarer mahaa yuddha kakhan habe?	When will God's great war be?
When will unending peace be?	ananta shaanti kakhan habe?

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EXERCISE 8.5

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
Where will they stand?	taaraa kothaay daa^raabe?
tumi kothaay aacho?	Where are you?
aami kothaay gelaam?	Where did I go?
Where [is] my book?	aamaar bai kothaay?

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EXERCISE 8.6

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
How do you know?	kii-bhaabe jaanen?
takhan keman habe?	How will it be then?
kii-bhaabe shun-len?	How did you hear?
How did you see?	tumi kii-bhaabe dekh-le?
How will you know?	tumi kii-bhaabe jaan-be?
prrithibiite jiiban keman habe?	How will life be on earth?
How will war become ended?	yuddha kii-bhaabe shes haye yaa-be?

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EXERCISE 8.7

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
Do you know the question?	aapani ki prashna jaan_en?
iishvar ki dekhen naa?	Does God not see?
Is hatred good?	ghrrinaa ki bhaalo?
yuddha ki khaaraap nay?	Is war not bad?
maaraa ki bhaalo?	Is hitting good?
aapani ki ekhaane thaak-ben?	Will you stay here?
Will disturbance remain forever?	ashaanti ki ananta kaale thaak-be?

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EXERCISE 8.8

Make up statements and then insert ‘ki?’ to make them into questions. Put the ‘ki’ just in front of the word whose validity is in question.

Example:-
aapani asustha … > … aapani ki asustha?

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EXERCISE 8.9

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
Which book [is] true?	kon` bai satya?
kon` kathaa bhul?	What word [is] false?
Which answer brings peace?	kon` uttar shaanti aane?
kon` san°baad shaanti bale?	Which message speaks peace?
Which leader [is] righteous?	kon` netaa dhaarmik?

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EXERCISE 8.10

Make up questions using “...will you go?” or “...will you see?”

EXERCISE 8.11

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
That thing which I know, such thing I believe (=What I know I believe.)	aami yaa jaani taa bishvaas kari.
tumi yaa dekho taa ki bhaalo?	That which you see, is such thing good? (Is what you see good?)
yaa yuddha aane aami taa caai naa.	That which brings war, I don't want such a thing.  (I don't want what brings war.)
That which brings peace — that I want.	yaa shaanti aane — taa aami caai
yaa satya taa shikhaa dar-kaar	That which is true, learning such is necessary.   (It is necessary to learn what is true.)
What is bad — that I think.	yaa manda — taa aami mane kari.

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EXERCISE 8.12

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
The one [person] who listens such a person learns.	ye shune se shikhe.
ye shaantipuurna se shaanti paabe	The one who is peaceful, such one will receive peace.
yaaraa jaane taaraa bale	Those who know, such ones speak.
The ones who are righteous they will stay here.	yaaraa dhaarmik, taaraa ekhaane thaak-be.

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EXERCISE 8.13

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
At the time at which I come, at such time I will give it. (= I will give it when I come)	aami **  yakhan aas-bo, takhan [aami] taa dibo.
ghrrinaa ** yakhan shes habe, takhan shaanti habe.	There will be peace when hatred is ended. (= At the time when hatred will be ended, then peace will be.)
When you want [then] I'll do it.	tumi yakhan caao, takhan aami taa kar-bo.
He does it when he wants.	tini yakhan caan, takhan tini taa karen.

** NOTE: The preferred word order here is to put “yakhan” after the subject (doer); however, you can put “yakhan” first and still be understood.

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EXERCISE 8.14

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
Where there is true religion, there is love.	satya dharma ** yekhaane aach_e, se-khaane prem.
aapani ** yekhaane yaa-ben, sekhaane aami yaa-i ni.	I did not go where you will go.  (= To the place to which you will go, to such place I did not go.)
Where there are people, there food is necessary.	yekhaane lok, sekhaane khaadya dar-kaar.
yekhaane bhul dharma, sekhaane yuddha.	Where [there is] false religion, there [there is] war.
Where there is love, there is hatred of wickedness.	yekhaane prem, sekhaane  dustataar ghrrinaa.

** NOTE: The preferred word order is to put “yekhaane” after the subject (doer), particularly if the verb (action word) is stated.  However, if the verb is unstated but silently understood, you can put “yekhaane” first, this providing a more succinct pattern of expression.

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EXERCISE 8.15

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
As peace is in heaven, so it will be on earth.	shaanti yeman svarge aache teman-i prrithibiite habe.
yeman saaksiiraa bal-len teman-i hay.	As the witnesses say, so indeed it is ( / proves to be).
As the Bible said, in that way we see conditions today.	baaibel yeman bal-lo, teman aamaraa aaj-ke abasthaa dekhi.
yeman caan teman-i khaan.	Eat as you wish.

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EXERCISE 9

9.1

9.2

9.3

9.4

EXERCISE 9.1

Exchange greetings and discuss one’s health.

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EXERCISE 9.2

Please make an extra special effort to master the form, “I must …”.

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
I must know.	aamaar jaan-te habe.
tomaar aas-te habe.	You must come.
They must listen.	taader shun-te habe.
We must speak.	aamaader bal-te habe.
aamaader yete habe	We must go.
Them also I must bring.	taader-keo aamaar aan-te habe.
aamaader kaaj kar-te habe.	We must (do) work.
Please help.	dayaa kare saahaayya karo.

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EXERCISE 9.3

Please master the form, “I have …”.

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
I have a hope.	aamaar aashaa aache.
tomaar ki samasyaa aache?	Do you have a problem?
They have parents.	taader pitaamaataa aache.
taar swaamii aache.	She has a husband.
He has a wife and a son.	taar ek-jan strii eban° ek-jan chele aache.
I have no hope.	aamaar aashaa nei.
tomaar-o samasyaa nei?	Do you not also have a problem?
They have no parents.	taader pitaamaataa nei.
taar chelemeye nei.	He ( / she) does not have children.
You have no book?	tomaar bai nei?

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EXERCISE 9.4

EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
I saw a boy	aami ek-jan cheleke dekh-laam.
aami ee tin-jan bon-ke jaani.	I know those three sisters.
They spoke to five fathers.	taaraa paa^c pitaader-ke bal-lo.
Four leaders spoke.	caar-jan netaa bal-lo.
I [did] read a book.	aami ek-ti bai par-laam.
se duitaa samasyaa pelo.	He ( / she) got two problems.
They saw three fishes.	taaraa tin-ti maach dekh-lo.

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© 1998-2017 Jaspell (Jasper Burford and Ellen Burford)
[Contact Us!] Date of last edit: 4 November 2017