Simplified Study of Bengali Language Structure

SIMPLIFIED STUDY OF BENGALI LANGUAGE STRUCTURE

Teaching Truth in Bengali through English

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 SECTIONS

· DETAILS

o EXERCISE

<Grammar 1

· Doers (nouns and pronouns)

o Exercises 1

<Grammar 2

· Process done (verb)—actions in past, present and future tense

o Exercises 2

<Grammar 3

· Object forms of nouns and pronouns according to ‘case’

o Exercises 3

<Grammar 4

· Quality describing doers and objects (adjectives, possessive pronouns, etc.)

o Exercises 4

<Grammar 5

· Manner describing process done (adverbs)

o Exercises 5

<Grammar 6

· Connectives linking one clause to another clause

o Exercises 6

<Grammar 7

· Conditional sentences

o Exercises 7

<Grammar 8

· Interrogatives, correlatives and relatives

o Exercises 8

<Grammar 9

· Other forms of expression common or without equivalent

o Exercises 9

<Grammar 10

· Add other features

o Exercise 10

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. Roman letters that represent the ‘cerebral’ Bengali sounds have a dot below (like “ḍ”) or are underlined (like “d”) to distinguish them from the ‘dental’ family (like “d”).

4. In these Bengali spellings ‘_’ indicates that the adjacent letters get brought together as one syllable.

5. In these Bengali spellings “ – ” or “ ’ ” 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

To avoid confusion, “ai” represents a diphthong (like a long ê), but “a’i” is used where “-a” ends one syllable and “i-” begins the next syllable. Thus, “kai” differs from “ka’i”.

To avoid confusion, “au” represents a diphthong (like a long ô), but “a’u” is used where “-a” ends one syllable and “u-” begins the next syllable. Thus, “kau” differs from “ka’u”.

The chandrabindu (“ ̐ ”) is sometimes romanized more fully as n̐ or m̐:

· “n̐” is used before guttural, palatal, cerebral, and dental sounds.

· “m̐” is used before all other sounds.

PRONUNCIATION OF VOWELS
ROMAN- IZED CHARAC- TERS	ENGLISH SOUND	AS IN THE ENGLISH WORD	AFTER A CONSO- NANT (e.g. “k ”)
(no vowel) [“ ` ”]	(no vowel)	(no sound after ‘k’ in “black__”)	k` [ k` ]
a / å (inherent vowel) [ a ]	inherent “a” short “a” (/ very short “o”) (hint: ~“å”)	(inherent “a”) “wander”, “Washington” (/ “off”)	ka / kå [ ka ]
ā/ā [ā]	long “a”	“ārdvāk”, “far”	kā / kā [kā]
ȳā /ȳā/ ӑ [ ӑ ],	flat “a”	“apple”	kȳā /kȳā/ kӑ [ kӑ ]
i [ i ]	short “i”	“pill”	ki [ ki ]
ī / ii [ii]	long “i”, (/ long “ee”)	“pizza” ( / “peel”)	kī / kii [kii]
u [ u ]	short “u”	“pull”	ku [ ku ]
ū /uu [uu]	long “u” (/ long “oo”)	“pollution” ( / “pool”)	kū / kuu [kuu]
r̥ / r̄r̅ī [rri]	short “ri”	“dribble”	kr̥ / kr̄r̅ī [krri]
e / ē [ e ]	short “e”	“ever”	ke / kē [ ke ]
ai/ ee /ê [ee]	long “oi” (diphthong for long “ee”)	“point”	kai/ kee /kê [kee]
o / ō [ o ]	medium “o”	“pond”	ko / kō [ ko ]
au/ oo /ô [oo]	long “au”/“ou”	“jaundice” “shoulder”	kau / koo / kô [koo]
n̊ / n° [n° ]	nasal “ng”, but no “g”	“sing”	kan̊ / kan° [kan°(“ka^ng”)]
ḥ / hh [hh]	abrupt “h”	“Judah had”	kaḥ / kahh [kahh (~“kåhh”)]
m̐ or n̐ ͂ / ^ [ ^ ]	faint nasal “n” (~ as in French)a	sing-along, conquer (~“Non, ton son est bon”)	kam̐ / ka^ [ka^ (~“kaⁿ”)]

Consonants

Note that the sounds whose Romanization contains “-h” must be breathed. So, “kh” is like “ka” but breathed—like “kh” in “rockhead”. (There is nothing similar in native English words.) Imagine “kh” as “kḫ”, and so on.

The chandrabindu (“ ̐ ”) is sometimes romanized more fully as n̐ or m̐:

· “n̐” is used before guttural, palatal, cerebral, and dental sounds.

· “m̐” is used before all other sounds.

PRONUNCIATION OF CONSONANTS
PHYSICAL CLASS	ROMAN- IZED CHARAC- TERS	ENGLISH SOUND	AS IN THE ENGLISH WORD
Guttural —in the throat	ka	k	keen
	kha	kh	rockhead
	ga	g	got
	gha	gh	slagheap
	ṅa / n¹a	n	donkey
Palatal —on the palate	ca (hint: “tcha”)	c, tch	cello, match
	cha (hint: ~“tchha”)	tchh	matchhead
	ja	j	Jehovah, joy
	jha	dgeh	hedgehog
	ña / n²a	n	enjoy, pinch
Cerebral or Retro- flexive —with the tongue bent back on the roof of the mouth	ṭa / ṯa	t	alter
	ṭha / ṯha	th	malthouse
	ḍa / ḏa	d	holder
	ṛa / ṟa	r , rr	millrun, barrel
	ḍha / ḏha	dh	goldhammer
	ṛha / ṟha	rrh	myrrh lump
	ṇa / ṉa / n³a	n	filename
Dental —on the teeth	ta	t	panting
	tha	th	anthill
	da	d	beds
	dha	dh	bedheads
	na	n	bending
Labial —on the lips	pa	p	peace
	pha	ph	uphold
	ba (or va)	b (or v )	bob (or advise)
	oẏā (or wā) (a special compound)	oua (wa)	qualms, (How are you?)
	bha	bh	nibholder
	ma	m	mop
Forward Semi- Vowels	ȳa / ya (hint: ~“ja”)	j	Jehovah, joy
	ẏa / ya	y	yes
	ra	r	red
	la	l	led
Sibilants	śa / sha	sh	dishes
	ṣa / s̱a (hint: ~“sha”)	sh	rashly
	sa (hint: ~“sha”)	sh s	ensure washroom
	s before ta, tha, pa, pha	s	stop
Semi- guttural Semi-Vowel	ha (breathed, not silent)	h	happy

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ROMANIZED SCRIPT SYSTEM

Among the many methods that have been created for writing Bengali using Latin (or Roman) characters, some common methods are used by Google Translate, JW Language, and the Library of Congress. They all vary. The pattern we will be using has many of the same Romanized characters, but not all. We seek to avoid internal conflicts, incompleteness, and use of characters that are hard to relate to the sounds represented.

The Romanized pattern we are working with 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 their normal sound. For example, when two consonants are combined, the first consonant will be strengthened and the second consonant suppressed. In these cases we provide phonetic hints like “(~shāk’kå)”.

A further great benefit of this Romanization method is its conformity of use in all the aids 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 intermediate 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 become accustomed to using Romanized spelling inconsistently, you’ll have great difficulty in writing Bengali text later and to progress and to recognize or construct new 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 beginner 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 (~“shāk’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]

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 a variety of 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 that acts
	(The) message
	san̊bād

B: + action
	(The) message				tells.
	san̊bād				bale.

C: + add an object
	(The) message		news		tells.
	san̊bād		khabar		bale.

D: + describe the doer
This little	message		news		tells.
ei choṯa	san̊bād		khabar		bale.

E: + describe the object
This little	message	good	news		tells.
ei choṯa	san̊bād	bhālo	khabar		bale.

F: + describe the action
This little	message	good	news	joyfully	tells.
ei choṯa	san̊bād	bhālo	khabar	ānande	bale.

G: + link this clause to another clause
This little	message	good	news	joyfully	tells,	and
ei choṯa	san̊bād	bhālo	khabar	ānande	bale,	eban̊

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 choṯa	san̊bād		sakal-ke	bhālo	khabar	ānande	bale.

This little message joyfully tells good news to us all.

*This little*	message	us / our	to all	good	news	joyfully	tells.
ei choṯa	san̊bād	āmāder	sakal-ke	bhālo	khabar	ānande	bale.

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

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

news	if	good	*[is]*	*then*	message	good	[is]
khabar	ȳadi	bhālo	[ ]	tabe	san̊bād	bhālo	[ ].

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YOUR FIRST CONVERSATIONS

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

Example 1

You *	āpani (~“āpåni”)
You are	āpani āchen
how?	keman? (~“kemån”)

* See General Notes about you, YOU, you, and YOU.

How are you?

			You		how		are?
			āpani		keman		āchen?

āpani keman āchen?

Example 2

I	āmi
I am	āmi āchi
fine, O.K., well	bhālo
Thanks	dhanȳabād (~“dhån’nåbād”)

I’m fine, thanks.

I	fine	am.
āmi	bhālo	āchi.

Thanks	[to you]	[be]
dhanȳa-bād	[ ]	[ ]

āmi bhālo āchi, dhanȳabād.

Example 3

[You] read!	[āpani] paṛun! (~“pårdun”)
message	san̊bād (~“sångbād”)
this	ei
kindness	daẏā (~“dåyā”)
done	kare (~“kåre”)
please, kindly	daẏā kare

Read this message, please!

[You]	this	message	kindly	read.

[āpani]		N		paṟun!
[āpani]		san̊bād		paṟun!
[āpani]	ei	san̊bād		paṟun!
[āpani]	ei	san̊bād	daẏā kare	paṟun!

ei san̊bād daẏā kare paṟun!

Example 4

it [that]	tā
it is	tā āche
what?	kī?

What is it?

			It		what		[is]?
			tā		kī		[āche]?

tā kī āche?

Example 5

-’s, of	-’r, -er
my	āmār
name	nām
I say / tell	āmi bali (~“båli”)

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

I	my	name	say.
āmi			bali
āmi		nām	bali
āmi	āmār	nām	bali

āmi āmār nām bali.

Example 6

he	se
he says / tells	se bale
not, “No”	nā
his	tār
his own	tār nij

He does not say his own message.

He	his (own)	message	says not.
se			bale
se			bale nā.
se		san̊bād	bale nā.
se	tār	san̊bād	bale nā.
se	tār (nij)	san̊bād	bale nā.

se tār nij san̊bād bale nā.

Example 7

you give	āpani den
your	āpanār
invitation	nimantraṇ
little	choṭa, choṭṭa (~“chhotå”)
“Yes”	hyām̐ (~“heng”)

Yes, you give your little invitation.

Yes,	You	your little	invitation	give
	āpani			den
	āpani		nimantraṇ	den
	āpani	āpanār	nimantraṇ	den
	āpani	āpanār choṭa	nimantraṇ	den
hyām̐	āpani	āpanār choṭa	nimantraṇ	den

hyām̐, āpani āpanār choṭa nimantraṇ den.

Example 8

He	tini
He says / tells	tini balen
his	tam̐r *

* tām̐r for Jehovah’s or Jesus’, otherwise for his use tār

He says his own name.

He	his own	name	says.
tini			balen.
tini		nām	balen.
tini	tām̐r	nām	balen.
tini	tām̐r nij	nām	balen.

tini tām̐r nij nām balen.

Example 9

we	āmarā
we say / we tell	āmarā bali
faith	biśvās (~“bish’shāsh”)
-s’, of	-der
our	āmāder
and …	eban̊ … (~“ebång”), ār

We say our faith, and …

We	our	faith	say.	and …
āmarā			bali
āmarā		biśvās	bali
āmarā	āmā-der	biśvās	bali
āmarā	āmā-der	biśvās	bali	eban̊ …

āmarā āmāder biśvās bali, eban̊…

Example 10

they	tārā
they take	tārā neẏ
they take	tām̐rā * nen
their	tāder

* tām̐rā for Jehovah’s or Jesus’, otherwise they is tārā

They take their invitation.

…	They	their	invitation	take.
	tārā			neẏ.
	tārā		nimantraṇ	neẏ.
	tārā	tāder	nimantraṇ	neẏ.

tārā tāder nimantraṉ neẏ.

Example 11

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

YOU speak very good news.

YOU	very good	news	say.
āpanārā			balen.
āpanārā		khabar	balen.
āpanārā	bhālo	khabar	balen.
āpanārā	khub bhālo	khabar	balen.

āpanārā khub bhālo khabar balen.

Example 12

man	mānuṣ
(the) man does	mānuṣ kare
work	kāj
he works / he does work	se kāj kare

[The] man does good work

(The) man	good	work	does,	…
mānuṣ			kare
mānuṣ		kāj	kare
mānuṣ	bhālo	kāj	kare

mānuṣ bhālo kāj kare

Example 13

if	ȳadi (~“jådi”)
only	mātra (~“mātrå”)
then	tabe (~“tåbe”)

If a good man only does good work, then …

If	[a] good	man	good	work	only	does,	…
		mānuṣ				kare
		mānuṣ		kāj		kare
	bhālo	mānuṣ		kāj		kare
	bhālo	mānuṣ	bhālo	kāj		kare
	bhālo	mānuṣ	bhālo	kāj	mātra	kare
ȳadi	bhālo	mānuṣ	bhālo	kāj	mātra	kare,	…
ȳadi	bhālo	mānuṣ	bhālo	kāj	mātra	kare,	tabe	…

ȳadi bhālo mānuṣ mātra bhālo kāj kare, tabe …

Example 14

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

… then who does this bad work now?

… then	who	this bad	work	now	does?
	ke				kare?
	ke		kāj		kare?
	ke	ei	kāj		kare?
	ke	ei khārāp	kāj		kare?
	ke	ei khārāp	kāj	ekhan	kare?
… tabe	ke	ei khārāp	kāj	ekhan	kare?

… tabe ke ei khārāp kāj ekhan kare?

Example 15

whether, is it so?	ki?
you know	āpani jānen
question	praśna (~“pråshnå”)
of the question, question’s	praśner
answer	uttar (~“uttår”)
answer to the question	praśner uttar

Do you know the answer of the question?

You	question’s	answer	whether	know?
āpani				jānen
āpani		uttar		jānen
āpani		uttar	ki	jānen?
āpani	praśner	uttar	ki	jānen?

āpani ki praśner uttar jānen?

Example 16

explanation	bȳākhȳā (~“bek’kā”)
to explain	bȳākhȳā karā
doing	kar-te (~“kår-te”)
to be able, can	pārā
we can do	āmarā kar-te pāri

We can explain

We	explanation	making \| can
āmarā		pāri
āmarā		kar-te \| pāri
āmarā	bȳākhȳā	kar-te \| pāri
āmarā	bȳākhȳā	kar-te \| pāri
āmarā	bȳākhȳā	kar-te \| pāri

āmarā bȳākhȳā kar-te pāri.

Example 17

to …	…-ke
to you	āpanāke
(the) truth	satȳa (~“shåt’tå”)

We can explain it to you.

We	to you	it	explanation	making \| can
āmarā				pāri
āmarā				kar-te \| pāri
āmarā			bȳākhȳā	kar-te \| pāri
āmarā		tā	bȳākhȳā	kar-te \| pāri
āmarā	āpanāke	tā	bȳākhȳā	kar-te \| pāri

āmarā āpanāke tā bȳākhȳā kar-te pāri.

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]

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.

GRAMMAR SYLLABUS

· DETAILS

o EXERCISE

<Grammar 1

· Doers (nouns and pronouns)

o Exercise 1

<Grammar 2

· Process done (verb)—a simple past, present and future tense

o Exercise 2

<Grammar 3

· Object forms of nouns and pronouns according to ‘case’

o Exercise 3

<Grammar 4

· Quality describing doers and objects (adjectives, possessive pronouns, etc.)

o Exercise 4

<Grammar 5

· Manner describing process done (adverbs)

o Exercise 5

<Grammar 6

· Connectives linking to another clause

o Exercise 6

<Grammar 7

· Conditional sentences

o Exercise 7

<Grammar 8

· Interrogatives, correlatives and relatives

o Exercise 8

<Grammar 9

· Other forms of expression common or without equivalent

o Exercise 9

<Grammar 10

· Add other features

o Exercise 10

[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GRAMMAR 1. DOERS (NOUNS AND PRONOUNS)

1.1 Introduction to Nouns and Pronouns
1.2 Omission of the verb “to be” if “Āā 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

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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.

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

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

Examples:-

Today [ is ] Sunday.		āj-ke [ ] rabi-bār.
We [ are ] parents.		āmarā [ ] pitāmātā.
God [ is ] love.		īśvar [ ] prem.
They [ are ] friends.		tārā [ ] bandhu.

Practice
Translate:-

We [ are ] friends.		āmarā [ ] bandhu.
āj-ke [ ] rabi-bār.		Today [ is ] Sunday.
They [ are ] parents.		tārā [ ] pitāmātā.
āmarā [ ] pitāmātā.		We [ are ] parents.
God [ is ] love.		īśvar [ ] prem.
tārā [ ] bandhu.		They [ are ] friends.

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GRAMMAR 1.3: Personal Pronouns

	Singular		Plural
Common	I	āmi	we	āmarā

	you	tumi	YOU	tomarā
	he, she	se	they	tārā
	it	tā	they	tārā

Honorific	you	āpani	YOU	āpanārā
Honorific	he, she	tini	they	tārā / tām̐rā *

* tām̐rā will be used only for Jehovah and Jesus

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

Short / Chalito Form		(Long / Sadhu Form)
tā		(tāhā)
tām̐		(tām̐hā)
tārā		(tāhārā)
tām̐rā		(tām̐hārā)

Practice
Translate:-

You [ are a] friend.		āpani [ ] bandhu.
tā [ ] rabi-bār.		it [ is ] Sunday.*
They [ are ] parents.		tārā [ ] pitāmātā.
āpanārā [ ] pitāmātā.		YOU [ are ] parents.
He [ is ] love.		tini [ ] prem.
āmi [ ] 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		bhāi
brother and sister		bhāibon
children		chelemeẏe
daughter, girl		meẏe
family		paribār
father		pitā, bābā
husband		swāmī (~“shāmii”)
husband and wife		swām’strī
Jehovah		ȳihobā (~“jihobā”)
Jesus		ȳīśu (~“jiishu”) / īsā
mother		mātā, mā
parents		pitāmātā
sister		bon
son, boy		chele, putra
who		ȳe (~“je”)
who?		ke?
WHO (plural)		ȳārā(~“jārā”)
WHO? (plural)		kārā?
wife, woman		strī

Practice 1.4.1.1
Translate:-

WHO [are] the children?		chelemeẏe kārā [ ]?
ȳihobā ke [ ]?		Who is Jehovah?
The brother [and] sister		bhāibon
tārā bandhu [ ].		They [are] friends.
Jehovah [is] love.		ȳihobā prem [ ].
tārā paribār [ ].		They [are] family.
Who [are] you?		āpani ke [ ]?

Grammar 1.4.1.2: Persons – Not in the Family

anyone, someone		keha / keu
Bengali person		bāṅgālī
-doer		-kārī
English person		in̊rej
-er		-kārī
friend		bandhu (~“båndhu”)
God (general Bengali)		īśvar (~“iish'shår”)
God (from Urdu)		khodā
God’s		īśvarer, khodār
individual, person		bȳakti (~“bekti”) / vȳakti
leader		netā
man		mānuṣ
person, people		lok
person, individual		bȳakti (~“bekti”) / vȳakti
plural ending “-s” (persons)		-erā / -rā
Satan		śaẏatān
someone, anyone		keu / keha
terroriser		santrās-kārī
witness		sākṣī (~“shaak’kii”)
woman, wife		strī (~“shāmii”)
worker		karma-kārī

Practice 1.4.1.2
Translate:-

Someone[is the] leader.		keha neta [ ].
ȳīśu karma-kārī [ ].		Jesus [is a] worker.
They [ are ] Bengalis.		tārā bāṅgālī [ ].
mānuṣ in̊rej [ ].		The man [is] an Englishman.
He [is] one who loves.		tini prem-kārī [ ].
śaẏatān santrās-kārī [ ].		Satan [is a] terroriser.
īśvarer paribār		God’s family
Jesus [is] God’s Son.		ȳīśu īśvarer putra [ ].
We [are] Jehovah’s Witnesses		āmarā ȳihobār sākṣī [ ].

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Grammar 1.4.2: Vocabulary – Questions and Answers

Grammar 1.4.2.1: Questions and Answers - Arrangements

answer		uttar
Bible		bāibel
book		bai (~“boy”), kitāb
chapter		adhȳāẏ (~“åd-dhāy”)
magazine		patrikā
meeting		sabhā (~“shåbhā”)
message		san̊bād (~“shång-bād”)
name		nām
problem		samasȳā (~“shåmåsh'shā”)
proof, evidence		pramāṇ
question		praśna
return visit		punahha sākṣāt`
side of an issue		pakṣa
study		adhȳaẏan (~“åd-dhåyån”)
that (thing)		ai / ee
these (things)		egulo / eguli
saying; word		kathā (~“kåthā”), bākȳa (~“bāk'kå”)
this (thing)		e
those (things)		aigulo / aiguli
verse (in a chapter)		pad (~“påd”)
visit		sākṣāt` (~“shāk'kāt”)
what		ȳā (~“jā”)
what (one)?		kī?
what ones?		kī kī?
whether? is it so?		ki?
who		ȳe (~“je”)
who?		ke?
WHO (plural)		ȳārā
WHO? (plural)		kārā? (~“kārā”)
word spoken		bākȳa (~“bāk'kå”), kathā (~“kåthā”)

Practice 1.4.2.1
Translate:-

What [is] that saying?		ee kathā kī [ ]?
pad-gulo kī [ ]? / pad kī kī?		What [are] the verses?
What [is] God’s word?		īśvarer bākȳa kī [ ]?
kārā bandhu [ ]?		WHO [are] friends?
The study [is] today.		adhȳaẏan āj-ke.
WHO [are] God’s friends?		kārā īśvarer bandhu [ ]?
Those WHO [are] God’s witnesses!		tārā ȳārā īśvarer sākṣī!

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Grammar 1.4.2.2: Questions and Answers - Topics

attitude		manobhāb
belief		biśvās (~“bish'shāsh”)
evidence, proof		pramāṇ
manner, way		bhāb
mind		man (~“mån”)
purpose		uddeśȳa
religion		dharma (~“dhårmå”)
thought		man (~“mån”), mat
truth		satȳa (~“shåt'tå”)
will, desire		icchā
world		jagat` (~“jågåt”), duniẏā

Practice 1.4.2.2
Translate:-

What [is] the will of God?		īśvarer icchā kī [ ]?
ai bisvās ki satȳa [ ]?		[Is] that faith the truth?

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Grammar 1.4.3: Vocabulary – Animals

animal		paśu
bird		pākhi / pakṣi (~“påk'ki”)
dog		kukur
fish		māch

Grammar 1.4.4: Vocabulary – Things

article, thing		jinis
Bible		bāibel
book		bai (~“boy”), kitāb
chapter		adhȳāẏ (~“åd-dhāy”)
creation		sr̥ṣṭi
Earth		pr̥thibī
flesh, meat		mān̊sa
food		khādȳa, khābār
house		bārī, ghar, gṟha
kingdom		rājȳa
Kingdom Hall		kin̊dam hal
magazine		patrikā
message		san̊vād (~“shång-bād”)
mind		man (~“mån”)
mother		mātā, mā
name		nām
picture		chabi (~“chhåbi”)
plural ending “-s” non-persons		-gulo / -guli
that (thing)		ai
these (things)		egulo / eguli
thing, article		jiniṣ
this (thing)		e
those (things)		aigulo / aiguli
tree		gāch, br̥kṣa (~“brik'kå”)
verse (in a chapter)		pad (~“påd”)
water		pāni, jal
what		ȳā (~“jā”)
what (one)?		kī?
what (ones)?		kī kī?
world		jagat` (~“jågåt”), duniẏā

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Grammar 1.4.5: Vocabulary – Concepts

accurate knowledge		tatva jnān (~“tåt'tå gyān”)
answer		uttar
attitude		manobhāb
belief		biśvās (~“bish'shāsh”)
benefit		lābh, phā’idā
Bengali language		bān̊lā
circumstances, situation		paristhiti
condition, state		abasthā / avasthā (~“åbåsthā”)
desire, will		icchā
direction, way		dik` / dig`, taraph
encouragement		ut`sāha
English language		in̊rejī
evidence, proof		pramāṇ
faith		biśvās (~“bish'shāsh”)
freedom		mukti
happiness		sukh, ānanda
hatred		ghr̥ṇā
help		sāhāȳȳa (~“shāhāj'jå”)
hope		āśā
kindness		daẏā (~“dåyā”)
knowledge		jnān (~“gyān”)
lack, shortage		abhāb (~“åbhāb”)
life		jīban
love		prem, bhālobāsā
manner, way		bhāb
mental spirit		man (~“mån”)
mind		man (~“mån”)
problem		samasȳā (~“shåmåsh'shā”)
proof, evidence		pramāṇ
purpose		uddeśȳa
religion		dharma (~“dhårmå”)
rescue, survival		rakṣā
righteousness		dhārmikatā
salvation		paritrāṇ
shortage, lack		abhāb (~“åbhāb”)
side of an issue		pakṣa
terrorism		santrās (~“shåntrāsh”)
saying; word		kathā (~“kåthā”), bākȳa (~“bāk'kå”)
thought		man (~“mån”), mat
truth		satȳa (~“shåt'tå”)
way (direction)		dik`/ dig`, taraph
way (manner)		man (~“mån”), bhāb
wickedness		duṣṭatā
will, desire		icchā
word spoken		bākȳa (~“bāk'kå”), kathā (~“kåthā”)

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Grammar 1.4.6: Vocabulary – States

benefit		lābh, phā’idā
circumstances, situation		paristhiti
condition, state		abasthā / avasthā (~“åbåsthā”)
destruction		dhvan̊sa (~“d'dhång-så”)
disturbance		aśānti (~“åshānti”)
encouragement		ut`sāha
freedom		mukti
happiness		sukh, ānanda
hatred		ghr̥ṇā
hope		āśā
kindness		daẏā (~“dåyā”)
kingdom		rājȳa
lack, shortage		abhāb (~“åbhāb”)
last days		śeṣ kāl
life		jīban
manner, way		bhāb
peace		śānti
problem		samasȳā (~“shåmåsh'shā”)
proof, evidence		pramāṇ
purpose		uddeśȳa
rescue, survival		rakṣā
righteousness		dhārmikatā
salvation		paritrāṇ
shortage, lack		abhāb (~“åbhāb”)
side of an issue		pakṣa
situation, circumstances		paristhiti
state, condition		abasthā / avasthā
survival, rescue		rakṣā
terrorism		santrās (~“shåntrāsh”)
violence		doorātmȳa (~“dourāt'tå”), hin̊sā
war		ȳuddha (~“jud'dhå”)
wickedness		duṣṭatā

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Grammar 1.4.7: Vocabulary – Activities

answer		uttar
Bengali language		bān̊lā
creation		sr̥ṣṭi
crime		aparādh (~“åpårādh”)
desire, will		icchā
destruction		dhvan̊sa (~“d'dhång-så”)
to do		karā (~“kårā”)
-doer		-kārī
doing		kar-te (~“kår-te”)
encouragement		ut`sāha
English language		in̊rejī
-er		-kārī
faith		biśvās (~“bish'shāsh”)
hatred		ghr̥ṇā
help		sāhāȳȳa (~“shāhāj'jå”)
hope		āśā
...ing / verbal: e.g. doing---		---kar-te (~“kår-te”)
...ing / verbal: e.g. seeing---		---dekh-te
kindness		daẏā (~“dåyā”)
kingdom		rājȳa
love		prem, bhālobāsā
meeting		sabhā (~“shåbhā”)
proof, evidence		pramāṇ
question		praśna
rescue, survival		rakṣā
return visit		punahha sākṣāt`
study		adhȳaẏan (~“åd-dhåyån”)
survival, rescue		rakṣā
terrorism		santrās (~“shåntrāsh”)
to ... / verbal: e.g. to do---		---karā (~“kårā”)
to ... / verbal: e.g. to see---		---dekhā
violence		doorātmȳa (~“dourāt'tå”), hin̊sā
visit		sākṣāt` (~“shāk'kāt”)
war		ȳuddha (~“jud'dhå”)
way (manner)		man (~“mån”), bhāb
wickedness		duṣṭatā
will, desire		icchā
witness (activity)		sākṣa (~“shāk'kå”)
work		kāj, kām, karma (~“kårmå”)

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Grammar 1.4.8: Vocabulary – Time

day		din
day 1 : Monday		som-bār
day 2: Tuesday		maṅgal-bār
day 3: Wednesday		budh-bār
day 4: Thursday		br̥haspatibār
day 5: Friday		śukrabār
day 6: Saturday		śanibār
day 7 : Sunday		rabi-bār / ravi-vār
future		bhaviṣȳat` (~“bhåbish'shåt”)
last days		śeṣ kāl
time (measure)		samaẏ (~“shåmoi”)
time (period, era)		kāl
today		āj-ke
tomorrow		āgāmī kāl
week		saptā (~“shåptā”)
year ( in a date)		sāl (~“shāl”)
year ( the period)		bat`sar (~“båt-sår”)
yesterday		gata kāl (~“gåtå kāl”)

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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		āgāmī kāl
today		āj-ke
hope		āśā
state, condition		abasthā / avasthā
condition, state		abasthā / avasthā (~“åbåsthā”)
lack, shortage		abhāb (~“åbhāb”)
shortage, lack		abhāb (~“åbhāb”)
chapter		adhȳāẏ (~“åd-dhāy”)
study		adhȳaẏan (~“åd-dhåyån”)
crime		aparādh (~“åpårādh”)
disturbance		aśānti (~“åshānti”)
Bible		bāibel
word spoken		bākȳa (~“bāk'kå”), kathā (~“kåthā”)
Bengali language		bān̊lā
Bengali person		bāṅgālī
house		bāṛī, ghar, gr̥ha
book		bai (~“boy”), kitāb
friend		bandhu (~“båndhu”)
year ( the period)		bat`sar (~“båt-sår”)
manner, way		bhāb
brother		bhāi
future		bhaviṣȳat` (~“bhåbish'shåt”)
belief		biśvās (~“bish'shāsh”)
faith		biśvās (~“bish'shāsh”)
sister		bon
day 4: Thursday		br̥haspatibār
day 3: Wednesday		budh-bār
individual, person		bȳakti (~“bekti”) / vȳakti
person, individual		bȳakti (~“bekti”) / vȳakti
picture		chabi (~“chhåbi”)
boy, son		chele, putra
son, boy		chele, putra
kindness		daẏā (~“dåyā”)
to ... / verbal: e.g. to see---		---dekhā
...ing / verbal: e.g. seeing---		---dekh-te
righteousness		dhārmikatā
religion		dharma (~“dhårmå”)
destruction		dhvan̊sa (~“d'dhång-så”)
direction, way		dik` / dig`, taraph
way (direction)		dik`/ dig`, taraph
day		din
violence		doorātmȳa (~“dourāt'tå”), hin̊sā
wickedness		duṣṭatā
this (thing)		e
that (thing)		ai / ee
those (things)		aigulo / aiguli
these (things)		egulo / eguli
plural ending “-s” (persons)		-erā / -rā
tree		gāch, br̥kṣa (~“brik'kå”)
yesterday		gata kāl (~“gåtå kāl”)
hatred		ghr̥ṇā
plural ending “-s” non-persons		-gulo / -guli
desire, will		icchā
will, desire		icchā
God (general Bengali)		īśvar (~“iish'shår”)
God’s		īśvarer, khodār
English person		in̊rej
English language		in̊rejī
world		jagat` (~“jågåt”), duniẏā
life		jīban
article, thing		jiniṣ
thing, article		jiniṣ
knowledge		jnān (~“gyān”)
work		kāj, kām, karma (~“kårmå”)
time (period, era)		kāl
WHO? (plural)		kārā? (~“kārā”)
-doer		-kārī
-er		-kārī
to do		karā (~“kårā”)
to ... / verbal: e.g. to do---		---karā (~“kårā”)
worker		karma-kārī
doing		kar-te (~“kår-te”)
...ing / verbal: e.g. doing---		---kar-te (~“kår-te”)
saying; word		kathā (~“kåthā”), bākȳa (~“bāk'kå”)
who?		ke?
anyone, someone		keha / keu
someone, anyone		keu / keha
food		khādȳa, khābār
God (from Urdu)		khodā
what ones?		kī kī?
what (one)?		kī?
Kingdom Hall		kin̊ḍam hal
any		kono
dog		kukur
benefit		lābh, phā’idā
person, people		lok
fish		māch
flesh, meat		mān̊sa
man		mānuṣ
mother		mātā, mā
mental spirit		man (~“mån”)
mind		man (~“mån”)
way (manner)		man (~“mån”), bhāb
thought		man (~“mån”), mat
day 2: Tuesday		maṅgal-bār
attitude		manobhāb
daughter, girl		meẏe
freedom		mukti
name		nām
leader		netā
bird		pākhi / pakṣi (~“påk'ki”)
water		pāni, jal
verse (in a chapter)		pad (~“påd”)
side of an issue		pakṣa
family		paribār
circumstances, situation		paristhiti
situation, circumstances		paristhiti
salvation		paritrāṇ
animal		paśu
magazine		patrikā
fruit		phal
father		pitā, bābā
parents		pitāmātā
evidence, proof		pramāṇ
proof, evidence		pramāṇ
question		praśna
love		prem, bhālobāsā
earth		pr̥thibī
return visit		punahha sākṣāt`
kingdom		rājȳa
day 7: Sunday		rabi-bār / ravi-vār
rescue, survival		rakṣā
survival, rescue		rakṣā
help		sāhāȳȳa (~“shāhāj'jå”)
witness (activity)		sākṣa (~“shāk'kå”)
visit		sākṣāt` (~“shāk'kāt”)
witness (person)		sākṣī (~“shāk'kii”)
year ( in a date)		sāl (~“shāl”)
meeting		sabhā (~“shåbhā”)
problem		samasȳā (~“shåmåsh'shā”)
time (measure)		samaẏ (~“shåmoi”)
message		san̊vād (~“shång-bād”)
terrorism		santrās (~“shåntrāsh”)
terroriser		santrās-kārī
week		saptā (~“shåptā”)
truth		satȳa (~“shåt'tå”)
peace		śānti
day 6: Saturday		śanibār
Satan		śaẏatān
last days		śeṣ kāl
day 5: Friday		śukrabār
day 1: Monday		som-bār
creation		sr̥ṣṭi
wife, woman		strī
woman, wife		strī
happiness		sukh, ānanda
husband		swāmī (~“shāmii”)
accurate knowledge		tatva jnān (~“tåt'tå gyān”)
purpose		uddeśȳa
encouragement		ut`sāha
answer		uttar
what		ȳā (~“jā”)
WHO (plural)		ȳārā
who		ȳe (~“je”)
Jehovah		ȳihobā (~“jihobā”)
Jesus		ȳīśu (~“jiishu”) / īsā
war		ȳuddha (~“jud'dhå”)

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

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

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

--- dekhā		to… / verbal: e.g. to see ---
--- dekh-te		…ing / verbal: e.g. seeing ---
--- karā		to… / verbal: e.g. to do ---
--- kar-te		…ing / verbal: e.g. doing ---
āgāmī kāl		tomorrow
āj-ke		today
ānanda / sukh		happiness
āśā		hope
abasthā (~“åbåsthā”)		condition, state
abhāb (~“åbhāb”)		lack, shortage
adhȳāẏ (~“åd-dhāy”)		chapter
adhȳaẏan (~“åd-dhåyån”)		study
aparādh (~“åpårādh”)		crime
aśānti (~“åshānti”)		disturbance
bāibel		Bible
bākȳa (~“bāk'kå”), kathā		word
bān̊lā		Bengali language
bāṅgālī		Bengali person
bāṛī, ghar, gr̥ha		house
bai (~“boy”), kitāb		book
bandhu (~“båndhu”)		friend
bat`sar (~“båt-sår”)		year (period)
bhāb, man		way (manner)
bhāi		brother
bhālobāsā, prem		love
bhabiṣȳat` (~“bhåbish'shåt”)		future
biśvās (~“bish'shāsh”)		belief, faith
bon		sister
br̥haspatibār		day 4: Thursday
br̥kṣa (~“brik'kå”), gāch		tree
budhabār		day 3: Wednesday
bȳakti (~“bekti”) / vȳakti		person, individual
chabi (~“chhåbi”)		picture
chele, putra		son, boy
daẏā (~“dåyā”)		kindness
---dekhā		verbal: e.g. to see---
---dekh-te		verbal: e.g. seeing---
dhārmikatā		righteousness
dharma (~“dhårmå”)		religion
dhvan̊sa (~“d'dhång-så”)		destruction
dik` / dig`, taraph		direction, way
dik`/ dig`, taraph		way (direction)
din		day
doorātmȳa (~“dourāt'tå”), hin̊sā		violence
duniẏā, jagat`		world
duṣṭatā		wickedness
e		this (thing)
ee		that (thing)
aigulo / aiguli		those (things)
e-ulo / eguli		these (things)
-erā / -rā		plural ending “-s” (persons)
gāch, br̥kṣa		tree
gata kāl (~“gåtå kāl”)		yesterday
ghar, bāṛī, gr̥ha		house
ghr̥ṇā		hatred
gr̥ha, bāṛī, ghar		house
-gulo / -guli		plural ending “-s” non-persons
“gyān” > jnān		knowledge
icchā		will, desire
īsā, ȳīśu		Jesus
īśvar (~“iish'shår”)		God (general Bengali)
īśvarer, khodār		God’s
in̊rej		English person
in̊rejī		English language
hin̊sā, doorātmȳa		violence
jagat` (~“jågåt”), duniẏā		world
jīban		life
jiniṣ		thing, article
jnān (~“gyān”)		knowledge
kāj, karma, kām		work
kāl		time (period, era)
kām, kāj, karma		work
kārā?		WHO? (plural)
-kārī		-doer
-kārī		-er
---karā (~“kårā”)		verbal: e.g. to do---
karma (~“kårmå”), kāj, kām		work
karma-kārī		worker
---kar-te (~“kår-te”)		verbal: e.g. doing---
kathā (~“kåthā”)		saying; word
ke?		who?
keha / keu		anyone, someone
keu / keha		someone, anyone
khābār, khādȳa		food
khādȳa, khābār		food
khodā		God (from Urdu)
khodār, īśvarer		God’s
kī kī?		what ones?
kī?		what (one)?
kin̊ḍam hal		Kingdom Hall
kitāb, bai		book
kono		any
kukur		dog
lābh, phā’idā		benefit
lok		person, people
mā, mātā		mother
māch		fish
mān̊sa		flesh, meat
mānuṣ		man
mātā, mā		mother
man (~“mån”)		mental spirit, line of thought
man, bhāb		way (manner)
man, mat		mind, thought
maṅgal-bār		day 2: Tuesday
manobhāb		attitude
mat, man		thought, mind
meẏe		daughter, girl
mukti		freedom
nām		name
netā		leader
pākhi, pakṣi (~“påk'ki”)		bird
pāni, jal		water
pad (~“påd”)		verse (in a chapter)
pakṣa (~“påk'kå”)		side of an issue
pakṣi(~“påk'ki”), pākhi		bird
paribār		family
paristhiti		situation, circumstances
paritrāṇ		salvation
paśu		animal
patrikā		magazine
phā’idā, lābh		benefit
phal		fruit
pitā, bābā		father
pitāmātā		parents
pramāṇ		proof, evidence
praśna		question
prem, bhālobāsā		love
pr̥thibī		earth
punahha sākṣāt`		return visit
putra, chele		son, boy
-rā / -erā		plural ending “-s” (persons)
rājȳa		kingdom
rabibār / ravivār		day 7: Sunday
rakṣā		rescue; survival
ravivār / rabibār		day 7: Sunday
sāhāȳȳa (~“shāhāj'jå”)		help
sākṣāt` (~“shāk'kāt”)		visit
sākṣa (~“shāk'kå”)		witness (activity)
sākṣī (~“shāk'kii”)		witness (person)
sāl (~“shāl”)		year (date)
sabhā (~“shåbhā”)		meeting
samasȳā (~“shåmåsh'shā”)		problem
samaẏ (~“shåmoi”)		time (measure)
san̊bād / san̊vād (~“shång-bād”)		message
santrās (~“shåntrāsh”)		terrorism
santrās-kārī		terroriser
saptā (~“shåptā”)		week
satȳa (~“shåt'tå”)		truth
śānti		peace
śanibār		day 6: Saturday
śaẏatān		Satan
śeṣ kāl		last days
śukrabār		day 5: Friday
sombār		day 1: Monday
sr̥ṣṭi		creation
strī		wife, woman
sukh, ānanda		happiness
swāmī (~“shāmii”)		husband
taraph, dik` / dig`		direction, way
tatva jnān (~“tåt'tå gyān”)		accurate knowledge
uddeśȳa		purpose
ut`sāha		encouragement
uttar		answer
vȳakti / bȳakti (~“bekti”)		person, individual
ȳā (~“jā”)		what
ȳārā (~“jārā”)		WHO (plural)
ȳe (~“je”)		who
ȳihobā (~“jihobā”)		Jehovah
ȳīśu (~“jiishu”), īsā		Jesus
ȳuddha (~“jud'dhå”)		war

Do Exercises 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9
[Go to Grammar 1] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

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: “āmi in̊rej”
Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I [am] English		āmi in̊rej
se bāṅgālī.		He/she [is] Bengali.
This [is] violence.		tā (/ e) doorātmya (/ hin̊sā).
e uttar śānti.		This answer [is] peace.
The Bible [is] truth.		bāibel satȳa.
īśvar ke?		Who [is] God?
The answer [is] kindness.		uttar daẏā.
santrās ghr̥ṇā.		Terrorism [is] hatred.

[Go to Grammar 1] [Exercise 1]
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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]
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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?
āmi ...		I [am a] …
āmi dak-tār		I [am a] doctor
I am a friend		āmi bandhu.
I [am a] …		āmi ...
āmi ...		I [am a] …
What is this thing?		tā kī?
tā / e …		It [is a] …
tā pramāṇ.		It [is] proof.
tā / e …		It [is a] …
What are those things?		aigulo kī (/kī kī)?
aigulo …		Those [are] …
aigulo patrikā.		Those [are] magazines
aigulo …		Those [are] …
What is today?		āj-ke kī?
āj-ke …		Today [is]…
Today [is] Sunday.		āj-ke rabibār.
āj-ke …		Today [is]…
What is this time period?		e kāl kī?
e kāl …		This time period [is]…
This time period is the last days		e kāl śeṣ kāl.

Provide answers of your choice:-

Who are you?		tumi ke?
āmi ...		I [am a] …

What is this thing?		tā kī?
tā / e …		It [is a] …

What are those things?		eegulo kī (/kī kī)?
aigulo …		Those [are] …

What is today?		āj-ke kī?
āj-ke …		Today [is]…

What is this time period?		e kāl kī?
e kāl …		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 ‘-rā’, but slight changes to the stem are needed for some of these.

Follow this pattern:-
Example: “tā”
Answer: “tārā”

Make plurals of these:-

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I	āmi	we	āmarā
you	tumi	YOU	tomarā
he, she	se	they	tārā
it	tā	they	tārā
you	āpani	YOU	āpanārā
he, she	tini	they	tārā [tām̐rā *]

* We will only use tām̐rā for Jehovah and Jesus.

[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: “tārā”
Answer: “se” / “tā”

Make singular pronouns out of these:-

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
we	āmarā	I	āmi
YOU	tomarā	you	tumi
they	tārā	he, she	se
they	tārā	it	tā
YOU	āpanārā	you	āpani
they	tārā / [tam̐rā *]	he, she	tini

* We will only use tam̐rā for Jehovah and Jesus.

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

EXERCISE 1.7

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

Follow these patterns:-
Example: “bandhu”
Answer: “bandhurā”
Example: “bon”
Answer: “bonerā”

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

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
bandhu		bandhu-rā
bhāi		bhāi-erā
meẏe		meẏe-rā
bāṅgālī		bāṅgālī-rā
sākṣī		sākṣī-rā
bon		bon-erā
mānuṣ		mānuṣ-erā
lok		lok-erā
in̊rej		in̊rej-erā

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

EXERCISE 1.8

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

Follow this pattern:-
Example: “praśna”
Answer: “praśnagulo”

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

QUESTIONS		ANSWERS
praśna		praśna-gulo
ȳuddha		ȳuddhagulo
chabi		chabigulo
sabhā		sabhāgulo
din		din-gulo
parivār		parivār-gulo
jīban		jīban-gulo
bāibel		bāibel-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]
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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
2.2a Pattern 1a:- kar_ā — to do, to make
2.2b Pattern 1b:- pār_ā — to be able to, (can)
2.3 Pattern 2:- la-oẏā — to lead, take, bring
2.4 Pattern 3:- khā-oẏā — to eat
2.5 Pattern 4:- ghum_ā-no — to sleep
2.6 Negative Forms of Verbs
2.7 Compound Verbs
2.8 Must, Have to do: “kar-te habe”
2.9 Perfect Tenses
2.10 Continuous Tenses
2.11 Conditional Participles (See also Grammar 7.5)
2.12a Frequentative or Habitual Tense
2.12b Use of lāgā—to be applied, to be felt, to begin, to strike
2.12c Use of lāgāno—to apply, affix, put on
2.13 Imperatives—for Urging and for Either Compelling or Forbidding; no matter what
2.14 Special Verb:- raẏeche—keep on, continue to be doing something

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

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	-lām	_i	-ba
	you, YOU	-le	_a	-be
	he, she, it they	-la	_e or -ẏ	-be

Honorific	you, YOU he, she, they	-len	_en	-ben

Present Participle		-te
Past Participle		_e or -ẏ

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)

-ilām

-iba

-ile

-ibe

-ila

-ibe

-ilen

-iben

3. For this basic introductory course, let's get by initially with only these three tense forms. Other tense forms exist in the past, present and future, covering perfect, imperfect and conditional actions—see Grammars 2.10, 2.11, 2.12. Imperative forms are also different—see Grammar 2.13. The colloquial and classical forms of these tenses also differ.

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

GRAMMAR 2.2a:
Pattern 1a:- kar_ā — to do, to make

These verbs have :

· a stem with a short vowel and ending in a consonant—like “kar_”

· an infinitive or identifying verbal noun ending in “_ā”.

*VERB ENDINGS: KARĀ (to do)*
Person		Past	Present	Future
Person		(did do, etc.)	(does do, etc.	(will do, etc.)
Common	I, we	kar-lām	kar_i	kar-ba
	you, YOU	kar-le	kar_a	kar-be
	he, she, it, they	kar-la	kar_e	kar-be

Honorific	you, YOU he, she, they	kar-len	kar_en	kar-ben

Present Participle		kar-te
Past Participle		kar_e

Some verbs like “kar_ā” and their past participles
to do, make	karā	done/made	kare
to speak	balā	spoken	bale
to read, fall	paṛā	read/fallen	paṛe
to understand	bujhā	understood	bujhe
to die	marā	died	mare
to see	dekhā	seen	dekhe

Examples
I did	āmi kar-lām
You speak	tumi bala
He died	se mar-la
You will see it	āpani tā dekh-ben
She saw it and (having seen it) understood	se tā dekhe bujh-la
We can do it	āmarā tā kar-te pāri *
They will read it and (having read it) will understand	tārā tā paṛe bujh-be

* For pār_i see Grammar 2.2b.
** For -che see Grammar 2.3.

GRAMMAR 2.2b:
Pattern 1b:- pār_ā — to be able, (can)

These verbs have:

· a stem with a long vowel ā and ending in a consonant—like “pār_”

· an infinitive or identifying verbal noun ending in _ā.

Generally, endings for verbs like pārā are the same as for verbs like karā. However, for the past participle the long ā of the stem changes to e.

VERB ENDINGS: PĀRĀ (to be able /can)
Person		Past	Present	Future
Person		(did do, etc.)	(does do, etc.	(will do, etc.)
Common	I, we	pār-lām	pār_i	pār-ba
	you, YOU	pār-le	pār_a	pār-be
	he, she, it, they	pār-la	pār_e	pār-be

Honorific	you, YOU he, she, they	pār-len	pār_en	pār-ben

Present Participle		pār-te
Past Participle		per_e

Examples
I was able to do it	āmi tā kar-te pār-lām
You can do it	tumi tā kar-te pāra
He will be able to do it	se tā kar-te pār-be
You will be able to do it	āpani tā kar-te pār-ben
He can do it	tini tā kar-te pāren
We want to be able to do it	āmarā tā kar-te pār_te cā-i *
They have been able to do it	tārā tā kar-te pere-che *

* For cā-i and -che see Grammars 2.3 and 2.9.

Do Exercise 2.1
[Go to Grammar 2] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

Some verbs like “pār_ā” and their past participles
to be able to (can)	pārā	been able	pere
to bring	ānā	brought	ene
to come	āsā	come	ese
to hit, kill	mārā	hit	mere
to know	jānā	known	jene
to remain	thākā	remained	theke
to be applied, to adhere, to feel, to strike to begin (doing something)	lāgā	feels	lege

Exceptions:-

The Past Tense for āsā depends on who ‘comes’.

· Generally, it is elām, ele, ela, elen.

· For greater respect it is ās-lām, ās-la, ās-le, ās-len.

Examples
I began to speak	āmi bal-te lāg-lām
It struck me as nice / It felt good.	tā bhālo lāg-la
He will know how to do it	se tā kar-te jān-be
They [having] stayed here (and) died	tārā ekhāne theke mar-la
He will come	tini ās-ben
We want to be able to do it	āmarā tā kar-te pār_te cā-i *
They were hitting it	tārā tā mār-chila **

* For cāoẏā and cāi see Grammar 2.4.
For -chila see Grammar 2.10 in the past continuous tense.

Do Exercises 2.2, 2.3
[Go to Grammar 2] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GRAMMAR 2.3:
Pattern 2:- la-oẏā — to lead, take, bring

Note:
“la-oẏā” is pronounced like “la-wā”.

These verbs have :

· a stem ending with a short vowel usually like a or e, —like “la-” or “ne-”.

· an infinitive or identifying verbal noun form ending as “-oẏā”.

*VERB ENDINGS: LAOẎĀ (to lead)*
Person		Past	Present	Future
Person		(did lead)	(does lead, etc.)	(will lead etc.)
Common	I, we	lai-lām	la-i	la-ba
	you, YOU	lai-le	la-o	la-be
	he, she, it they	lai-la	la-ẏ	la-be

Honorific	you, YOU he, she, they	lai-len	la-n	la-ben
Present Participle *		lo-te
Past Participle		lo-ẏe

* The present participle may also be referred to by some as the identifying verbal noun or possibly the infinitive.

Some verbs like “la-oẏā”
to lead, bring		la-oẏā
to be, to prove to be, to come to be		ha-oẏā (~‘håwā’)
‘not to be’ (Imagine this when forming “I am not”, etc.)		‘na-oẏā’ (Imagine: nā ha-oẏā)
to take		ne-oẏā
to give		de-oẏā
to touch		choẏā

Exceptions:-

ha-oẏā — to be constantly; to prove to be; to become [See also Exercise 2.36]	1	halām	ha’i	haba
	2	hale	hao	habe
	3	hala	haẏ	habe
	H	halen	han	haben
	P	haẏe	hate
ha-oẏā — to be (state can be temporary); to exist	1	chilām	āchi	haba
	2	chile	ācha	habe
	3	chila	āche	habe
	H	chilen	āchen	haben
	P	haẏe	hate
ne-oẏā — to take	1	nilām	ni’i *	neba
	2	ni-le	neo	nebe
	3	nila	neẏ	nebe
	H	nilen	nen	neben
	P	niẏe	nite
de-oẏā — to give	1	dilām	di’i	deba
	2	dile	deo	debe
	3	dila	deẏ	debe
	H	dilen	den	deben
	P	diẏe	dite

* “ni-i” for ‘I took’ avoids confusion with “ne-i” (which means ‘doesn’t exist’).

Examples
I became happy	āmi ānandita halām
What happened?	kī hala?
What is love?	prem hala kī?
You are here!	tumi ekhāne (ācha)!
He is a good boy	se ek-jan bhālo chele haẏ
He is not a good boy	se ek-jan bhālo chele naẏ
I was happy	āmi ānandita chilām
Are you well?	bhālo āchen?
You took it	āpani tā nilen
They were taking it	tārā tā nicchila
They had taken it	tārā tā niẏechila
He is taking it	se tā nicche
He has taken it	se tā niẏeche
I will have been doing it (I will come from having done it)	āmi tā kare ās-ba
I will bring it (Having taken it I will come)	(āmi) tā niẏe ās-ba
I give good news	āmi bhālo khabar di’i
You give joy	tumi ānanda deo
He will give everlasting life	tini ananta jīban deben

Do Exercises 2.4, 2.5
[Go to Grammar 2] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GRAMMAR 2.4:
Pattern 3:- khā-oẏā — to eat

Note:
“khā-oẏā” is pronounced like “khā-wā”.
These verbs have:

· a stem ending with a long vowel usually like ā—like “khā”.

· an infinitive or identifying verbal noun form ending as “-oẏā” (pronounced “-wā”).

*VERB ENDINGS: KHĀOẎĀ (to eat)*
Person		Past	Present	Future
Person		(did eat)	(does eat, etc.)	(will eat etc.)
Common	I, we	khe-lām	khā-i	khā-ba
	you, YOU	khe-le	khā-o	khā-be
	he, she, it they	khe-la	khā_ẏ	khā-be

Honorific	you, YOU he, she, they	khe-len	khā_n	khā-ben
Present Participle *		khe-te
Past Participle		khe-ẏe

* The present participle may also be referred as the identifying verbal noun.

Some verbs like “khā-oẏā”
to want		cāoẏā
to get		pāoẏā
to go		ȳāoẏā
to sing		gāoẏā

Exceptions:-

ȳā-oẏā — to go	gelām, gele, gela, gelen (not ȳelām,…!)	ȳāi, ȳāo, ȳāẏ, ȳān	ȳāba, ȳabe, ȳābe, ȳāben
ȳā-oẏā — to go	giẏe	ȳete
cā-oẏā — to want	cāilām, cāile, cāila, cāilen	cāi, cāo, cāẏ, cān	cāiba, cāibe, cāibe, cāiben
cā-oẏā — to want	ceẏe	cete
gā-oẏā — to sing	gāilām, gāile, gāila, gāilen	gāi, gāo, gāẏ, gān	gāiba, gāibe, gāibe, gāiben
gā-oẏā — to sing	geẏe	gāite

Examples
I ate	āmi khelām
You went	tumi gele
He had gone	se giẏechila
She had sung	se geyechila
They wanted to sing	tārā gāite cāila
We were going	āmarā ȳācchilām *
He wants to eat	se khete cāẏ
The boy sings a good song	cele bhālo gān gāẏ
You took it	āpani tā pāben
We will sing	āmarā gāiba
I got (/received) good news	āmi bhālo khabar pelām
You will get (/receive) everlasting life	tumi ananta jīban pābe
He went	tini gelen
YOU were singing	tomarā gāicchile
We are singing	āmarā gāicchi
I am gaining joy	āmi ānanda pācchi

Do Exercise 2.6
[Go to Grammar 2] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GRAMMAR 2.5:
Pattern 4:- ghum_ā-no — to sleep

Note:
These verbs have:

· a stem ending with ā—like “ghumā-”.

· an infinitive or identifying verbal noun form ending in “-no”.

*VERB ENDINGS: GHUMĀNO (to sleep)*
Person		Past	Present	Future
Person		(did sleep)	(does sleep, etc.)	(will sleep etc.)
Common	I, we	ghumā-lām	ghumā-i	ghumā-ba
	you, YOU	ghumā-le	ghumā-o	ghumā-be
	he, she, it they	ghumā-la	ghumā-ẏ	ghumā-be

Honorific	you, YOU he, she, they	ghumā-len	ghumā-n	ghumā-ben
Present Participle *		ghumā-te
Past Participle		ghum_iẏe

* The present participle may also be referred as the identifying verbal noun.

Some Verbs like “ghumā-no”
to sleep		ghumā-no
to run		dauṛā-no
to stand		dām̐ṛā-no
to cause to do		karā-no
to cause to see (show)		dekhā-no

Examples
I slept	āmi ghumālām
You ran	tumi dauṛāle
He had stood	se dām̐ṛiẏechila
She had shown	se dekhiyechila
They caused the work to be done	tārā kāj kariẏechila
We were sleeping	āmarā ghumācchilām *
He shows good news	se bhālo khabar dekhāẏ

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”} = {āmi ghumāi-ni}

“ni” can be attached to the verb or independent. For example, ‘ȳāi ni’ is usually shown as “ȳāini”.

*VERB ENDINGS IN NEGATIVE: KARĀ (to do)*
Person		Past	Present	Future
Person		(did not do, etc.)	(does not do, etc.	(will not do, etc.)
Common	I, we	kar_i-ni	kar_i nā	kar-ba nā
	you, YOU	kar_a-ni	kar_a nā	kar-be nā
	he, she, it they	kar_e-ni	kar_e nā	kar-be nā

Honorific	you, YOU he, she, they	kar_en-ni	kar_en nā	kar-ben nā

Exception:-

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

Examples of Negative Forms of Verbs:-

I will not do that		āmi tā kar-bo nā
I do not understand.		āmi bujhi nā
I did not understand		āmi bujhini.
I have a big book.		āmār bara bai āche.
I do not have a big book.		āmār bara bai nei

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
1 āmi	āchi / hai	nai	chilām	haini
2 tumi	ācha / hao	nao	chile	haoni
3 se	āche / haẏ	naẏ	chila	haẏ-ni
H āpani	āchen / han	nan	chilen	han-ni

Do Exercise 2.8, 2.9
[Go to Grammar 2] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GRAMMAR 2.7:
Compound Verbs

Compound verbs combine a noun or an adjective or a verb’s participle with an auxilliary verb like “karā”.

to think	mane karā	to destroy	dhvan̊sa karā
to believe	biśvās karā	to hate	ghr̥ṉā karā
to create	sr̥ṣṭi karā	to love	prem karā
to encourage	ut`sāhita karā	to delight	ānanda karā
to forget	bhule ȳāoẏā	to survive	bem̐ce thākā
to come	cale āsa	to give	diẏe deoẏā
to go away	cale ȳāoẏā	to build up	gaṛe tolā
to go to sleep	ghumiẏe ȳāoẏā	to make known	jāniẏe deoẏā
to enable / let happen	kariẏe deoẏā	to reside, dwell	bās karā

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

We sleep.		āmarā ghumāi.
They stood.		tārā dām̐ṛāla.
I thought.		āmi mane kar-lām.
He created.		tini sr̥ṣṭi kar-len.
You encourage.		āpani ut`sāhita karen.
They don't believe.		tārā biśvās kare nā.
We could not.		āmarā pārini.
Peace doesn't exist.		śānti nei.
Truth is not in him.		tār madhȳe satẏa nei.

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

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’)		*āmār* śun-te habe
I have a book (~‘my book exists’)		*āmār* bai āche
It must be done (~The {action of doing that} will be).		tā kar-te habe
I must do that (~My {action of doing that} will be)		*āmār* tā kar-te habe
Those also I must lead (~My {giving them the lead also} will be)		seguloke-o āmār paricālanā dite habe.

Do Exercise 2.11, etc.
[Go to Grammar 2] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GRAMMAR 2.9:
Perfect Tenses—Past Perfect and Present Perfect

Form the perfect tenses by combining the past participle with the endings of ‘haoẏa’—

Past Perfect
karā	to do	kare + [ā]chilām = karechilām	I had done
pārā	to be able to	pere + [ā]chile = perechile	you had been able
neoyā	to take	niẏe + [ā]chila = niyechila	she had taken
khāoyā	to eat	kheẏe + [ā]chilen = kheẏechilen	You had eaten
ȳāoẏā	to go	giẏe + [ā]chilām = giẏechilām	I/We had gone
ghumāno	to sleep	ghumiẏe + chile = ghumiẏechile	You/YOU had slept

Present Perfect
karā	to do	kare + [ā]chi = karechi	I have done
pārā	to be able to	pere + [ā]cha = perecha	you have been able
neoyā	to take	niẏe + [ā]che = niyeche	she has taken
khāoyā	to eat	kheẏe + [ā]chen = kheẏechen	You have eaten
ȳāoẏā	to go	giẏe + [ā]chi = giẏechi	I/We have gone
ghumāno	to sleep	ghumiẏe + cha = ghumiẏecha	You/YOU have slept

Examples of Perfect Tenses
Verbs like “karā”
to do, make	karā	āmi karechi	I have done/made
to speak	balā	āmi balechilām	I had spoken
to read, fall	paṛā	āmi paṛechi	I have read/fallen
to understand	bujhā	āmarā bujhechi	We have understood
to die	marā	se mareche	He has died
to see	dekhā	āpani dekhechen	You have seen
Verbs like “pārā”
to be able to (can)	pārā	āmi perechi	I have been able
to bring	ānā	āmi enechilām	I had brought
to come	āsā	tumi esescha	You have come
to hit, kill	mārā	se mereche	I has hit
to know	jān_ā	āpani jenechen	You have known
to remain	thāk_ā	āmarā thekechilām	We had remained
to be applied, to adhere, to feel, to strike to begin (doing something)	lāgā	bhālo legeche	It has felt good
Verbs like “khāoẏā”, “deoẏā”, “ȳāoẏā”, “ghumāno”
to take	neoẏā	tārā tā niẏechila	They had taken it
to give	deoẏā	se tā diẏeche	He has given it
to go	ȳāoẏā	tumi giẏechile	You had gone
to want	cāoẏā	tārā paṛ-te ceẏechila	They had wanted to read

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

GRAMMAR 2.10:
Continuous Tenses—Past Continuous and Present Continuous

In order to construct the past continuous tense (like I was taking) add -chilaam, -chile, -chila, -chilen to the stem. If the stem ends with a vowel, double the ch is hardened to cch—as in “nicchilām”.

In order to the present continuous tense (like I am taking) add -chi, -cha, -che, -chen to the stem. If the stem ends with a vowel, strengthen the ‘ch’ to ‘cch’—as in “nicchi”.

· Note the use of calā—to go on (doing something)
tārā tā kare cale—They go on doing it.

Past Continuous
karā	to do	kar + -chilām = kar-chilām	I was doing
pārā	to be able to	pār + -chile = pār-chile	you were able
neoyā	to take	ni + -c + chila = nicchila	she was taking
khāoyā	to eat	khā + -c + chilen = khācchilen	You were eating
ȳāoẏā	to go	ȳā + -c + chilām = ȳācchilām	I/We were going
ghumāno	to sleep	ghumā + -c + chile = ghumācchile	You/YOU were sleeping

Present Continuous
karā	to do	kar + -chi = kar-chi	I am doing
pārā	to be able to	pār + -cha = perecha	you are [being] able
neoyā	to take	ni + -c + che = nicche	she is taking
khāoyā	to eat	khā + -c + chen = khācchen	You are eating
ȳāoẏā	to go	ȳā + -c + chi = ȳācchi	I/We are going
ghumāno	to sleep	ghumā + -c + cha = ghumāccha	You/YOU are sleeping

Examples of Continuous Tenses
Verbs like “karā”
to do, make	karā	I am doing / making	āmi kar-chi
to speak	balā	I was speaking	āmi bal-chilām
to read, fall	paṛā	I am reading / falling	āmi paṛ-chi
to understand	bujhā	We are understanding	āmarā bujh-chi
to die	marā	He is dying	se mar-che (se mare ȳācche)
to see	dekhā	You are seeing	āpani dekh-chen
Verbs like “pārā”
to be able to (can)	pārā	āmi pār-chi	I am [being] able
to bring	ānā	āmi ān-chilām	I was bringing
to come	āsā	tumi ās-cha	You are coming
to hit, kill	mārā	se mār-che	I is hitting
to know	jān_ā	āpani jān-chilen	You were knowing
to remain	thāk_ā	āmarā thāk-chilām	We were remaining
to be applied, to adhere, to feel, to strike to begin (doing something)	lāgā	bhālo lāg-che	It is feeling (/feels) good
to start	lāgā	tārā dauṛāte lāg-chila	They were starting to run
Verbs like “khāoẏā”, “deoẏā”, “ȳāoẏā”, “ghumāno”
		tārā tā nicchila	They were taking it
		se tā nicche	He is taking it
		āmarā gāicchilām	We were singing
	dām̐ṛāno	āmi dām̐ṛācchi	I was runniing

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

GRAMMAR 2.11
Conditional Participles (See also Grammar 7.5)

Conditional Participle Construction

The Conditional Participle is a brief way to express “if this [action] were to take place”.
In order to construct it take the Present Participle, but replace its ending “-te” with “-le”.

Meaning	Verb	Past Participle	Conditional Participle
to do	karā	kar-te	kar-le
to bring	ānā	ān-te	ān-le
to say	balā	bal-te	bal-le
to give	deoẏā	dite	dile
to eat	khāoẏā	khete	khele
to want	cāoẏā	cāite	cāile
to run	dauṛāno	dauṛāte	dauṛāle
to go	ȳāoẏā	ȳete	gele *

* The exception to this pattern of construction is “gele”. This is the Conditional Participle of “yaaoyaa”. It means “If one should go…” or “Were one to go…”.

Conditional Participle Use

The Conditional Participle is widely used to convey “if a certain action [pertaining to the source verb] takes place”. The logic is: “in the case or condition of a certain action being done”. The participle is impersonal: it does not change to suit the doer of the action that causes the condition. Therefore, it is not declined to suit number or gender.

Even if the doer is not stated in the clause with the Conditional Participle, this can be indicated in the clause that expresses the result.

tā paṛ-le	tumi bujh-be.	If [you] read it,	you will understand.
tā paṛ-le	se bujh-be.	If [he] reads it,	he will understand.
se tā dile	āmi tā niba	If he gives it,	I will take it.

If the negative “nā” is used, this must be placed in front of the Conditional Participle.

āpani ās-te nā pār-le	āmi ȳāba nā.	In the event of you not being able to come	I will not go.
nā gele	tumi dekh-be nā.	If [you] do not go,	you will not see.

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

GRAMMAR 2.12a
Frequentative or Habitual Tense

Construction

The Frequentative Tense can be applied to actions that were done habitually or may be done in a conditional situation.

The stem used is the same as the stem of the Present Participle: like kar-, ȳe, daurā-, etc. Note especially these stems: cāoẏā—cāi- and gāoẏa—gāi-.

Endings remind us of the endings of the Simple Past Tense (-lām, -le, -la, -len), but with “l” changed to “t”: -tām, -te, -ta, -ten.

Frequentative or Habitual Verb Forms
Inf.		karā	pārā	haoẏā	ȳāoẏā	dām̐rāno
Present Participle stem		kar-	pār-	ha-	ȳe-	dām̐rā-
1	āmi	…-tām
2	tumi	…-te
3	se	…-ta
H	āpani/tini	…-ten

Frequentative Tense Examples

If he knew, (then) he would speak.	se ȳadi jān-ta (tabe) bal-ta.
If he knew, he’d say.	se jān-le bal-ta
You used to do it.	tumi tā kar-te.
In school I used to run.	skule dauṛātām.
If he spoke, they’d run.	se bal-le tārā dauṛāta.
He used to speak.	se bal-ta
I could / would be able.	āmi pār-tām
You would know.	tumi jān-te
He would go.	tini ȳeten
We used to stand.	āmarā dām̐ṛātām
I’d wish to see it.	ami tā dekh-te cāitām
They would see it and sing.	tārā tā dekhe gāita.
Bread used to be given	ruṭi deoẏā hata (Jeremiah 37:21*)

* Note the different spelling of “haẏ-to”—maybe, perhaps

Negative of Frequentative Tense

In the negative of a conditional clause (using the Frequentative tense) “nā” is placed before the verb.

If Adam were not to sin, would he die?	ādam ȳadi pāp nā kar-ta, se ki mar-ta?
If you weren’t wanting the fruit, would you eat it?	tumi ȳadi phal nā cāite, khete?
If he wouldn’t come, would you go?	se ȳadi nā ās-ta, āpani ki ȳeten?

Persistence using thāka

thāka—to remain/stay—is used to express persistent or enduring action.

I used to keep on speaking.	āmi katha bal-te thāk-tām.
They were (kept/remained) lying down.	tārā śuẏe thak-ta.
He used to keep standing.	se dām̐ṛiẏe thāk-ta.

Existence/ being using thākā

If this were not said, that being so I would not know it.	tā ȳadi balā nā thāk-tā, tā hale āmi tā jān-tām nā.
If love exists, …	ȳadi prem thāke, …

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

GRAMMAR 2.12b
Use of lāgā—to be applied, to be felt, to begin, to strike

āmi katha bal-te lāg-lām—I began speaking.
āmarā jīban ghr̥ṇā kar-te lāg-lām—We began hating life.
tumi kakhan bujh-te lāg-le?—When did you start to understand?
tār khāna khub bhālo lāg-la—His food tasted very nice.
āj-ke garam lāge—Today it feels hot.
bhaẏ lāge—I’m frightened.
bal-ṭā ekhāne legeche—The ball has hit me here.
ai kathā ekhāne lāg-be nā—That speech will not fit here.

[Go to Exercise 2.36]

GRAMMAR 2.12c
Use of lāgāno—to apply, affix, put on

āmi hāth lāgaba nā—I will not touch (apply a hand).
ek baṛa ratna lāgāno chila—A large jewel was affixed.
raṅ lāgācchi—We are painting.
phul āj-ke lāgāno haẏeche—The flower has been planted today.
āmār nām śakta kare lāgāno haẏ—My name is fastened on.
pracare bāibel kāje lāgāẏ—He employs the Bible in preaching.
adhẏaẏane samaẏ lāgāno—to spend time in study
bai-ṭā paṛāẏ man lāgāi—We apply the mind in reading.
rāg āgun lāgiẏe dila—Anger started a blaze.
tini bhaẏ lāgān—He rouses fear.
se kādā lāgiẏe debe—He will apply paste.

[Go to Exercise 2.37]
[Go to Grammar 2] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GRAMMAR 2.13
Imperatives—for Urging and for Either Compelling or Forbidding—Let’s …, May I…

(Note that Bengali rarely uses the exclamation mark (!).)

Bengali has imperative forms for the first person, second person, third person, and honorific:

· 1^st : Let me see! Let us see!

· 2^nd : [You] See! [YOU] See!

· 3^rd : Let him see! Let them see!

· Honorific: [You] see! Let Him see! [YOU] see! Let them see!

First Person Imperatives

The imperative uses the same form as the affirmative—kari, hai, ȳāi, ghumāi, etc.

· Let me not do [that]—[tā] nā kari.

Note the use of “Come,”—“eso”:

· [Come,] Let us eat and drink—eso, āmarā khāoẏā-dāoẏā kari. (1 Corinthians 15:32)

· [Come, so that] ‘we work what is good’—eso āmarā … bhālo kāj kari. (Galatians 6:10)

It may be possible to reconstruct the sentence so as to avoid using the 1^st person imperative:

· “Let me eat”, or “Give me [my] food”—āmār khābār dāo (Proverbs 30:8)

· “Let me proclaim …”, or “I will proclaim …”—āmi … ghoṣaṇā kar-ba (Psalm 2:7)

· Let us be changed persons—āmarā ȳena pariṇata bȳakti ha’i. (Ephesians 4:13)
—See more examples and exercises for “using ȳena” below.

[Go to Exercise 2.38]

Second Person (Common) Imperatives

Bengali uses imperatives at two levels of emphasis:

· ¹ Urging: order, advice, request, prayer, in t¹he sense of obedience.

· ² Emphatic: compelling and forbidding.

For some verbs their stem gets changed to emphasize compulsion or its negative—forbiddance.

The different use of these two forms is illustrated at Mark 10:14—first: urging; second: compulsion/forbidding

· Allow the young children to come to me; do not obstruct them. [as expressed in the Bengali translation]
—choṭo chele-meyeder āmār kāche ās-te ¹ dāo, bādhā ² diẏo nā.

VERBS THAT DO NOT CHANGE THEIR FORM
Meaning	The Verb	Urging	Emphatic
		Orders/Requests	Compulsion	Forbiddance
look!	dekhā	dekho!	dekho!	dekho nā!

VERBS THAT DO CHANGE THEIR FORM
Meaning	The Verb	Urging	Emphatic
		Orders/Requests	Compulsion	Forbiddance
do	karā	karo	koro	koro nā
speak	balā	balo *	bolo	bolo nā
proceed	calā	calo	colo	colo nā
read	paṛhā	paṛho	poṛho	poṛho nā
keep / place	rākhā	rākho	rekho	rekho nā
remain / stay	thākā	thāko	theko	theko nā
hit	mārā	māro	mero	mero nā
know	jānā	jāno	jēno	jeno nā
bring	ānā	āno	eno	eno nā
bring	laoyā	lao
be	haoyā	hao	hoẏo	hoẏo nā
take	neoyā	nāo	niẏo	niẏo nā
give	deoyā	dāo	diẏo	diẏo nā
eat	khāoyā	khāo	kheẏo	kheẏo nā
go	ȳāoẏā	ȳāo	ȳeẏo	ȳeẏo nā
sing	gāoẏā	gāo	geẏo	geẏo nā
show / cause to be seen	dekhāno	dekhāo	dekhiẏo	dekhiẏo nā
impel / cause to be done	karāno	karāo	kariẏo	kariẏo nā

* Note the common use of “nā”—only with the gentler urging form of imperative:

· balo-nā—Why not tell me; tell me please. (Judges 16:6)
—in contrast to:

o mithȳā bolo nā—Do not tell lies. (Colossians 3:9)

Examples:

· karmī hao—Be a worker (2 Timothy 2:15)

· [āmarā cā-i,] ȳena tomarā alas nā hao—[We desire] that YOU may not be(-come) sluggish (Hebrews 6:12)

· ullāsita hoẏo—Be overjoyed! (Matthew 5:12)

· alas hoẏo nā—Don’t be lazy! (Romans 12:11)

[Go to Exercise 2.39]

Third Person Imperatives

The ending “-uk” is added to the verb stem, ‘dekhā-uk’ becomes “dekhāk”:

· dekhuk: [pratyeke] dekhuk—Let each one look. (Galatians 6:4)

· śunuk: ȳār kān ācche, se śunuk—Let the one that has ears listen. (Matthew 13:9)

· karuk: se nijeke asvīkār karuk—Let him disown himself. (Matthew 16:24)

[Go to Exercise 2.40]

Honorific Imperatives

The ending “-un” is added to the verb stem, but ‘ha-un’ becomes “hon”:

· dekhun!: prabhu, dekhun!—Lord, see! (Luke 19:8)

· uṭhun!—Get up! (Ezra 10:4)

· thākun!: āpani ḍāk-te thākun!—Keep calling out! (1 Samuel 7:8)

· śunun!: nīrab thākun! śunun!—Stop talking! Listen! (Job 33:31)

· balun!—āmāder balun!—Tell us! (Matthew 24:3)

· hon!: rājā dīrghajībī hon!—Long [may] the king live! (Nehemiah 2:13)

· hon!: dr̥ṛha o sāhasī hon!—Be strong and courageous! (Joshua 1:18)

[Go to Exercise 2.41]

‘Let it be that …’— using ‘ȳena …’ with the simple present tense

This form of expression avoids the need to use an imperative.

· ȳena se ekhan āse—Let him come now!

· tomāder madhȳe ȳena manda katha nā haẏ—Let there be no bad words among you.

· āmi cāi ȳena tomarā ek-i katha bala—I desire that you should speak one saying.

[Go to Exercise 2.42]

‘Let whatever…’, ‘No matter what…’—using “nā kena” after the simple imperative

· ȳā kichu-i cā-i nā kena—no matter what we [may] ask (1 John 5:14)

· ȳā-i cāo nā kena—no matter YOU ask (John 15:16)

· tumi ȳā-i kara nā kena—whatever you [may] do (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

· tumi ȳe-khāne-i ȳāo nā kena—wherever you [may] go (Jeremiah 45:5)

· [lokerā] ȳā-i baluk nā kena—whatever [people] [may] say (1 Peter 3:16)

· se ȳā-i dekhāk nā kena—whatever he may show

· āpani ȳā-i balun nā kena—no matter what you may say

· āpani ȳā-i dekhā-un nā kena—no matter what you may show

[Go to Exercise 2.43]
[Go to Grammar 2] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GRAMMAR 2.14
Special Verb:- raẏeche—keep on, continue to be doing something

Background

Note that not all references mention the existence of this verb form. Some acknowledge its obscure use in poetic Bengali, but that ‘thākā’—remain—is used instead in Bengali prose.

Nevertheless, the use of various forms of ‘raẏeche’ can be heard and readily understood with increasing frequency in respectful modern Bengali conversation. Evidently for this reason it is used frequently in the easy-to-read New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in Bengali (পবিত্র বাইবেল—নতুন জগৎ অনুবাদ) অনলাইন বাইবেল—কোনো মূল্য ছাড়াই পড়ুন, শুনুন অথবা ডাউনলোড করুন: PDF, EPUB, Audio .

In recent decades many languages around the world have absorbed simpler expressions from other languages. It may be that ‘raẏeche’ arose consistent with the Hindustani continuous verb element ‘rahā’.

Example: ‘He keeps going’

· Modern colloquial Bengali: se cal-te raẏeche
(Older colloquial Bengali: se cal-te thāke)

· Hindustani, Hindi, and Urdu: vah cal-tā rahatā hai

Present

āmi raẏechi, tumi raẏecha, se raẏeche, tini raẏechen

· āmi swapane raẏechi—I am continuously in a dream

· tumi dekh-te raẏecha—you keep looking

· tārā dām̐ṛiẏe raẏeche—they continue to be stand (Revelation 7:9)

· jagate ȳā-kichu raẏeche—in the world everything that there is (whatever there continues to be) (1 John 2:16)

· ȳārā pr̥thibīte raẏeche—those who are (present/continuing to be) on the earth (Philippians 2:10)

· eman aneke raẏechen—there are many so / many like this are present (continue to be)

Past

āmi ra’ilām, tumi ra’ile, se ra’ila, tini ra’ilen

· āmara [tā] pare ra’ilām—we were wearing [it] / we kept wearing [it] (Nehemiah 4:23)

· āmi base ra’ilām—I kept seated (Ezra 9:4)

· tumi kena [okhāne] base ra’ile?—Why did keep on sitting there? (Judges 5:16)

· ār kono suȳog ra’ila nā—no more opportunity continued to be (2 Chronicles 36:16)

· tārā cup kare ra’ila—they kept silent (Luke 14:4)

· tāder hr̥daẏ [eman] ra’ila—their hearts continued to be [like this] (Judges 5:16)

· [takhan] parȳȳanta shanti ra’ila—until [that time] peace continued to be present (Judges 3:11)

· ȳishu cup kare ra’ilen—Jesus kept silent (Matthew 26:63)

· śaul tāder saṅge ra’ilen—Saul continued to be with them (Acts 9:28)

Future

āmi ra’iba, tume ra’ibe, se ra’ibe, tini ra’iben

This conjugation pattern is somewhat theoretical, since very few examples can be found. Evidently, ‘ra’iba’ is seen in rare poetic Bengali; otherwise ‘thāk-ba’ is preferred.

Research example: ‘I will remain in this very country’

L Modern colloquial poetic Bengali: āmi ei deśe-i ra’iba

L (General colloquial Bengali: āmi ei deśe-i thāk-ba)

· āmi dām̐ṛiẏe ra’iba—I will keep standing

· tumi ki ra’ibe jȳot`snā?—will you stay moonlight?

· tini ra’iben biśvasta—He will remain faithful

· cup-ṭi kare ra’iben nā!—Don’t stay silent, [sir]!

[Go to Exercise 2.44] [Go to Grammar 2] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

EXERCISE 2

2.1, 2.2, 2.3 —Verbs patterned like ‘kar_ā’

2.4 —Verbs patterned like ‘la-oẏā’

2.5 —‘de-oẏā’ and ‘ne-oẏā’

2.6 —Verbs like ‘khā-oẏā’

2.7 —Verbs like ‘ghumāno’

2.8 —Negative of a future or present action by adding ‘nā’

2.9 —Negative of a past action by adding ‘ni’

2.10—Compound verbs combining a noun with an auxiliary verb

2.11, 2.12—Compound verbs combining two verbs

2.13, 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, 2.17, 2.18, 2.19, 2.20, 2.21, 2.22, 2.23—Practice of affirmative and negative forms

2.24—“does not exist” is “nei”

2.25—Identifying Verbal Noun, Gerundive, [or ‘Infinitive’]

2.26—Past Perfect Tense—‘I had done’, etc.

2.27—Present Perfect Tense—‘I have done’, etc.

2.28, 2.29—Present Perfect and Past Perfect Tenses—‘I have done’, ‘you had spoken’

2.30—Past Continuous Tense—‘I was doing’

2.31—Present Continuous Tense—‘I am doing’form

2.32—Conditional Participles—‘If [one] were to do’

2.33—Frequentative or Habitual Tense—‘I would do’

2.34—Use of ‘thākā’ in Past Frequentative

2.35—Use of haoẏā: ha’i, hao, haẏ, han—to be constantly

2.36—Use of lāgā—to be applied, to be felt, to begin, to strike

2.37—Use of lāgāno—to apply, affix, put on

2.38—Imperative: 1^st Person—āmi, āmarā

2.39—Imperative: 2^nd Person—tumi, tomarā

2.40—Imperative: 3^rd Person—se, tā, tārā

2.41—Imperative: Honorific—āpani, tini, āpanārā, tāra/tām̐rā

2.42—Use of ‘ȳena’ to form Imperatives with the Simple Present Tense

2.43—Use of ‘nā kena’ with Imperatives to express ‘no matter what may be’

2.44—Use of ‘raẏeche’—to continue to be

EXERCISE 2.1

Follow this pattern for the verb “karā”:-
Example: “I did”
Answer: “āmi kar-lām”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I did		āmi kar-lām
tumi kar-le		you did
he did		tini kar-len
āmarā kar_i		we do
she does		se kar_e
āpani kar_en		you do
he will do		tini kar-ben
you will do		tumi kar-be
īśvar kar-ben		God will do
The boy will do		chele kar-be
ke kar-be?		who will do?
we will do		āmarā kar-ba

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

EXERCISE 2.2

Learn some of the verbs patterned like ‘karā’

EXERCISE 2.3

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

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I speak		āmi bali
se bal-la		he said
You understand		āpani bujhen
He will come		se ās-be
āpani ās-len		you came
se paṛ-la		he read / he did read
Peace will come		śānti ās-be
tārā dekh-la		they saw
āmarā dekh-ba		we will see
God knows		īśvar jān_en
We will bring ...		āmarā la-ba
tārā mār-e		they hit / strike
He died		se mar-la
YOU will see!		tomarā dekh-be!
āmi dekh-lām		I saw
kī ās-be?		what will come?

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

EXERCISE 2.4

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

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

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
We lead/take		āmarā la’i
kī hala?		What happened? What is going on?
They led/took		tārā nila
se āmār bandhu naẏ.		He is not my friend.
āmi laba		I will bring.
You are not my boy.		tumi āmār chele nao.
He proves to be …		se … haẏ
tini tāder bandhu nan.		He is not their friend.
āmi īśvar na’i		I am not God.
bai hala bāibel.		The book [is] the Bible.
God is (exists).		īśvar āch-en.
It is not this.		e naẏ.
ee naẏ.		It is not that [one].
satȳa āche.		It [is] truth.
I am		āmi āchi
kī āche?		What is it?
tumi chi-le		you were
It will be		habe / tā habe
I was [there]		āmi [okhāne] chilām

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

EXERCISE 2.5

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

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

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
You give		tumi deo
I will give		āmi diba
āmi nilām		I took
he will give		tini diben
āmi ni’i		I take
YOU will take		āpanārā niben
se neẏ		he takes
I take		āmi ni’i
she gives		tini nen
They give		tārā deẏ
tumi tā niẏecha		you have taken it
we have given it		āmarā tā diẏechi

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

EXERCISE 2.6

Learn some of the verbs patterned like “khā-oẏā”.
Remember the irregular past of “ȳāoẏā”.

Follow this pattern for verbs like “khā-oẏā”:-
Example: “I eat”
Answer: “āmi khāi”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I eat		āmi khāi
you ate		tumi khele
he will eat		se khābe
āpani khān		you eat
se khela		he / she ate
se ȳāẏ		he / she goes
YOU go there		tomarā okhāne ȳāo
tini ȳāben		he / she will go
he will go		se ȳābe
he wanted		se cāila
āmi pāi		I get / I receive
we got		āmarā pelām
āpani pā-n		you get / you receive
*you went*		tumi gele
he/she went		se gela
I went		āmi gelām
āpani ge-len		you went
we go		āmarā ȳāi
tumi ȳāo		you go
*we will sing*		āmarā gāi-ba
they will sing		tārā gāibe
āmi cāi		I want
he wants		se cāẏ
tumi pe-le		you got / you received
they get		tārā pāẏ
tini cān		he / she wants

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

EXERCISE 2.7

Learn some of the verbs patterned like “ghumāno”.

Follow this pattern for verbs like “ghumāno”:-
Example: “We slept”
Answer: “āmarā ghumā-lām”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
we slept		āmarā ghumālām
tumi ghumāle		you slept
he slept		se ghumāla
āpani ghumālen		you slept
I sleep		āmi ghumāi
se ghumāẏ		he sleeps
kam̐rā dām̐ṛān?		WHO stand?
āmarā dām̐ṛāi		we stand
tārā dooṛāẏ		they run
they show		tārā dekhāẏ
ke ghumāla		Who slept?
he stood		se dām̐ṛāla
tini dekhālen		he showed

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

EXERCISE 2.8

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

Follow this pattern:-
Example: “āmarā gāiba”
Answer: “āmarā gāiba nā”

Give the negative of these examples:-

EXAMPLES	EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
*we will* sing	āmarā gāiba	āmarā gāiba nā
we go	āmarā ȳāi	āmarā ȳāi nā
you go	tumi ȳāo	tumi ȳāo nā
I want	āmi cāi	āmi cāi nā
they will sing	tārā gāibe	tārā gāibe nā

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

EXERCISE 2.9

Past negative

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. ‘ȳāi ni’ is usually shown as “ȳāini”.

Follow this pattern:-
Example: Positive: (“We went”) “āmarā gelām”
Answer: Negative: (“We did not go”) “āmarā ȳāini”

Give the negative of these examples:-

EXAMPLES	EXAMPLES	ANSWERS
*we went*	āmarā gelām	āmarā ȳāini
you went	tumi gele	tumi ȳāoni
I wanted	āmi cāilām	āmi cāini
they sang	tārā gāila	tārā gāẏ-ni
he did	se kar-la	se kareni

[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 auxiliary verb like “karā”.

Follow this pattern:-
Example: “We believed”
Answer: “āmarā biśvās kar-lām”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
We believed.		āmarā biśvās kar-lām.
He loved.		se prem kar-la.
āpani prem karen		you love
I forget		āmi bhule ȳāi
se bhule ȳāẏ		he forgets
kārā prem kare?		WHO love?
tini sr̥ṣṭi kar-len		He created
He creates		tini sr̥ṣṭi karen
He/She/It encourages		se ut`sāhita kare
ke ghumāla?		Who slept?
he thought		se mane kar-la
se dhvan̊sa kare		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 auxiliary verb.

Follow this pattern for “pārā” “to be able to”:-
Example: “I can do”
Answer: “āmi kar-te pāri”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I can do		āmi kar-te pāri
tumi kar-te pāra		you can do
He can do.		se kar-te pāre
tumi dekh-te pāra		you can see
āpani dekh-te pāren		you can see
You can know		āpani jān-te pāren
They can know		tārā jān-te pāre

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

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 or like the past participle with “-e” after its verb stem. The other verb serves as an auxiliary verb.

Follow this pattern for “cāoẏā” (~“chāwā”) “to want to”:-
Example: “I want to see”
Answer: “āmi dekh-te cā-i”

Example: “I will go away”
Answer: “āmi cale ȳāba”

Translate these examples:-

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I want to see.		āmi dekh-te cāi
se dekh-te cāẏ.		he wants to see
We want to see.		āmarā dekh-te cāi
tārā paṛ-te cāila.		they wanted to read
āmarā śun-te cāilām.		we wanted to listen
YOU want to speak.		tomarā bal-te cāo
They [went and] got killed		tārā mārā gela

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

EXERCISE 2.13

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

		Present		Past
Infinitive		Affirmative	Negative	Affirmative	Negative
dekhā	1	dekhi	dekhi nā	dekh-lām	dekhini
khāoẏā	1	khāi	khāi nā	dekh-lām	khāini
ȳāoẏā	1	ȳāi	ȳāi nā	gelām	ȳāini
ghumāno	1	ghumāi	ghumāi nā	kar-lām	ghumāini
dekhā	2	dekha	dekha nā	dekh-le	dekhani
khāoẏā	2	khāo	khāo nā	jān-le	khāoni
ghumāno	2	ghumāo	ghumāo nā	ghumāle	ghumāoni
dekhā	3	dekhe	dekhe nā	dekh-la	dekheni
khāoẏā	3	khāẏ	khāẏ nā	khela	khāẏ-ni
ȳāoẏā	3	ȳāẏ	ȳāẏ nā	gela	ȳāẏ-ni
ghumāno	3	ghumāẏ	ghumāẏ nā	bujh-la	ghumāẏ ni
bujhā	H	bujhen	bujhen nā	bujh-len	bujhen-ni
karā	H	karen	karen nā	kar-len	karen-ni
khāoẏā	H	khān	khān nā	khelen	khan-ni
ȳāoẏā	H	ȳān	ȳān nā	gelen	ȳān-ni
ghumāno	H	ghumān	ghumān nā	ghumālen	ghumān-ni

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

EXERCISE 2.14

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

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

EXAMPLES Verb		ANSWERS āmi …
bujhā		bujhi
dekhā		dekhi
karā		kari
pāoẏā		pāi

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

EXERCISE 2.15

Follow this pattern for “āmi” to make the negative:-
Example: “bujhā” (to understand)
Answer: “āmi bujhi nā” (I do not understand)

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

EXAMPLES Verb		ANSWERS āmi
bujhā		bujhi nā
dekhā		dekhi nā
karā		kari nā
pāoẏā		pāi nā

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

EXERCISE 2.16

Follow this pattern for “āmi” in the past tense:-
Example: “bujhā” (to understand)
Answer: “āmi bujh-lām” (I understood)

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

EXAMPLES Verb		ANSWERS āmi …
bujhā		bujh-lām
dekhā		dekh-lām
karā		kar-lām
pāoẏā		pelām

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

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 “āmi” to make the past negative:-
Example: “bujhilām” (I understood)
Answer: “āmi bujhini” (I did not understand)

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

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

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
bujh-lām		bujhini
dekh-lām		dekhini
kar-lām		karini
pelām		pāini

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

EXERCISE 2.18

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

Follow this pattern to make the future negative:-
Example: “āmi kar-bo” (I will do)
Answer: “āmi kar-bo nā” (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
āmi kar-ba		āmi kar-ba nā
se dekh-be		se dekh-be nā
tā ghat-be		tā ghat-be nā
āpani jān-ben		āpani jān-ben nā

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

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 kara		tumi kara nā
tumi dekh-le		tumi dekhani
tumi śuna		tumi śuna nā
se āse		se āse nā
āmi śun-lām		āmi śunini
tumi cāo		tumi cāonā
se ās-la		se āseni
tā habe		tā habe nā
āpani ghumālen		āpani ghumān-ni
āmi dām̐ṛāba		āmi dām̐ṛāba nā
tā hate pāre		tā hate pāre nā
se ȳāẏ		se ȳāẏ-ni
tumi gele		tumi ȳāoni

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

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
āmi āchi / hai	nai	chilām	haini
tumi ācha / hao	nao	chile	haoni
se āche / haẏ	naẏ	chila	haẏ-ni
āpani āchen / han	nan	chilen	han-ni

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

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
āmi nai		āmi āchi
se chilo		se hai ni
āpani han ni		āpani chilen
āmi hai		āmi nai
āmi āchi		āmi nai
tomarā nao		tomarā ācho
āmarā chilām		āmarā hai ni

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

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 …)
	āmi
par_ā	par_i	par-lām	par_i ni	par_i	par_i ni
dekh_ā	?	dekh-lām	?	dekh_i	dekh_i ni
kar_ā	?	kar-lām	?	kar_i	kar_i ni
	tumi
śun_ā	śun_o	śun-le	śun_o ni	śun_o	śun_o ni
jān_ā	?	jān-le	?	jān_o	jān_o ni
bujh_ā	?	bujh-le	?	bujh_o	bujh_o ni
ās_ā	?	ās-le	?
	se
dekh_ā	dekh_e	dekh-la	dekh_e ni	dekh_e	dekh_e ni
śun_ā	?	śun-la	?	śun_e	śun_e ni
bujh_ā	?	bujh-la	?	bujh_e	bujh_e ni
ȳā-oẏā	ȳā-ẏ	ge-la	ȳā-ẏ ni	ȳā-ẏ	ȳā-ẏ ni
pā-oẏā	?	pe-la	?	pā-ẏ	pā-ẏ ni
gā-oẏā	?	gā-i-la	?	gā-ẏ	gā-ẏ ni
	āpani, tini
bujh_ā	bujh_en	bujh-len	bujh_en ni	bujh_en	bujh_en ni
kar_ā	?	kar-len	?	kar_en	kar_en ni
par_ā	?	par-len	?	par-en	par_en ni
ȳā-oẏā	ȳā-n	ge-len	ȳā-n ni	ȳā-n	ȳā_n ni
pā-oẏā	?	pe-len	?	pā-n	pā-n ni
khā-oẏā	?	khe-len	?	khā-n	khā-n ni
ghum_ā-no	ghum_ā-n	ghum_ā-len	ghum_ā-n ni	ghum_ā-n	ghum_ā-n ni
door_ā-no	?	door_ā-len	?	door_ā-n	door_ā-n ni
dekh_ā-no	?	dekh_ā-len	?	dekh_ā-n	dekh_ā-n ni
kar_ā-no	?	kar_ā-len	?	kar_ā-n	kar_ā-n ni
jān_ā-no	?	jān_ā-len	?	jān_ā-n	jān_ā-n ni

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

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
āmi bhālo [ ]		āmi bhālo nai
āmi sukhī [ ]		āmi sukhī nai
āmi manda [ ]		āmi manda nai
tumi asustha [ ]		tumi asustha nao
tumi khārāp [ ]		tumi khārāp nao
tumi bhālo [ ]		tumi bhālo nao
tā satȳa [ ]		tā satȳa naẏ
tā bhul [ ]		tā bhul naẏ
tā dhārmik [ ]		tā dhārmik naẏ
āpani khub bara [ ]		āpani khub bara nan
āpani hin̊sra [ ]		āpani hin̊sra nan
āpani gurutvapūrna [ ]		āpani gurutvapūrna nan

āmarā sab ceẏe choṯṯa [ ]		āmarā sab ceẏe choṯṯa nai
tārā śāntipūrna [ ]		tārā śātipūrna naẏ
tumi āmār chele [ ]		tumi āmār chele nao
se tomār chele [ ]		se tomār chele naẏ
ee-gulo ār-o bhālo [ ]		ee-gulo ār-o bhālo naẏ
tā sambhab		tā sambhab naẏ
se khub duhhakhita		se khub duhhakhita naẏ
tomarā ānandita		tomarā ānandita nao

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

EXERCISE 2.24

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

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 āche		bai nei
prem āche		prem nei
śānti nei		śānti āche
āśā āche		āśā nei
mukti nei		mukti āche

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

The verb form like “karā” 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		kāj karā dar-kār
parā darakār		To read [is] necessary
śunā gurutvapūrna		To listen [is] important
ghr̥ṉā karā khārāp		To hate [is] bad
To come here [is] impossible		ekhāne āsā asambhab
satȳa balā bhālo		To say the truth [is] good
To say this is possible		e balā sambhab
To read is peaceful		parā śāntipūrna
tā balā thik na-ẏ		To say that is not correct.
thik āche?		Is it O.K.?

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.26

Past Perfect Tense—‘I had done’, etc.

Form the past perfect tense of a verb by combining its past participle with the simple past tense of ‘haoẏā’:-
   to do—karā
   done—kare
   I was—āmi chilām
   I had done—āmi karechilām

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
you had done		tumi karechile
tumi dekhechile		You had seen
āmarā diẏechilām		We had given
se ceẏechila		He/she had wanted
He/she had gone		se giẏechila
tomarā cale giẏechile		YOU had gone away
They had taken		tārā niẏechila
YOU had shown		āpanārā dekhiẏechilen
tini balechilen		He had said
se kī karechila?		What had he done?

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.27

Present Perfect Tense—‘I have done’, etc.

Form the present perfect tense of a verb by combining its past participle with the ending of the present tense of ‘haoẏā’:-
   to do—karā
   done—kare
   I am—āmi [ā]chi
   I have done—āmi karechi

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
you have done		tumi karecha
tumi dekhecha		You have seen
āmarā diẏechi		We have given
se ceẏeche		He/she has wanted
He/she has gone		se giẏeche
tomarā cale giẏecha		YOU have gone away
They have taken		tārā niẏeche
YOU had shown		āpanārā dekhiẏechen
tini balechen		He has said
se kī kareche?		What has he done?

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

EXERCISE 2.28

Present Perfect and Past Perfect Tenses—‘I have done’, ‘you had spoken’, etc.

More examples for you to answer:

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
he has done		se kareche
tumi dekhecha		You have seen
āmarā kheẏechi		We have eaten
se ghumiẏechila		He/she had slept
They had gone		tārā giẏechila
tomarā niẏecha		YOU have taken
They had read		tārā paṛechila
YOU have shown		āpanārā dekhechen
āmi balechilām		I had said
tāra kī karechila?		What had they done?

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

EXERCISE 2.29

Present Perfect and Past Perfect Tenses—‘I have done’, ‘you had spoken’, etc.

More examples for you to answer:

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
he has done		se kareche
tumi dekhecha		You have seen
āmarā kheẏechi		We have eaten
se ghumiẏechila		He/she had slept
They had gone		tārā giẏechila
tomarā niẏecha		YOU have taken
They had read		tārā paṛechila
YOU have shown		āpanārā dekhechen
āmi balechilām		I had said
tāra kī karechila?		What had they done?

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

EXERCISE 2.30

Past Continuous Tense—‘I was doing’, ‘you were speaking’, etc.

Form the Past Continuous tense of a verb by combining its stem with the simple past tense of ‘haoẏā’:-
   to do—karā
   stem—kar
   I was—āmi chilām
   I was doing—āmi kar-chilām

If the stem ends with a vowel, strengthen the ‘ch’ to ‘cch’:
   to sleep—ghumāno
   stem—ghumā
   I was—āmi chilām
   I was sleeping—āmi ghumācchilām

Examples for you to answer:

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
he was doing		se kar-chila
tumi dekh-chile		You were seeing
āmarā khācchilām		We were eating
se ghumācchila		He/she was sleeping
They were going		tārā ȳācchila
tomarā nicchila		YOU were taking
They were reading		tārā paṛ-chila
YOU were showing		āpanārā dekhācchilen
āmi bal-chilām		I was saying
tāra kī kar-chila?		What were they doing?

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

EXERCISE 2.31

Present Continuous Tense—‘I am doing’, ‘you are speaking’, etc.

Form the Present Continuous tense of a verb by combining its stem with the ending of the present tense of ‘haoẏā’:-
   to do—karā
   stem—kar
   I am—āmi [ā]chi
   I am doing—āmi kar-chi

If the stem ends with a vowel, strengthen the ‘ch’ to ‘cch’:
   to sleep—ghumāno
   stem—ghumā
   I am—āmi [ā]chi
   I am sleeping—āmi ghumācchi

Examples for you to answer:

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I am doing		āmi kar-chi
tumi paṛ-cha		You are reading
āmarā tā khācchi		We are eating it
se dām̐ṛācche		He/she is standing
They are going		tārā ȳācche
tomarā kī niccha		What are YOU taking?
They are reading		tārā paṛ-che
YOU are showing		āpanārā dekhācchen
āmi bal-chi		I am saying
tāra kī dicche?		What are they giving?

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

EXERCISE 2.32

Conditional Participles—‘If [one] were to do’, ‘in the event of speaking’, etc.

The subject (or doer) of the condition can often be omitted, if it is obvious from the context.

Form the conditional participle of a verb (except ȳāoẏā) by combining the stem of its present participle with ‘le’:-
   to do—karā
   stem of present participle—kar (from ‘kar-te’)
   If I were to do—[āmi] kar-le

Exception:
   to go—ȳāoẏā
   Special conditional participle stem—ge
   If I were to go—gele

Examples for you to answer:

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
In the event of me doing		[āmi] kar-le
[tumi] paṛ-le		Were [you] to read
khele		On eating
dām̐ṛāle tomarā tā dekh-be		By standing YOU will see it.
On going we see it.		gele [āmarā] tā dekhi
tārā tā nile khāẏ		On taking it they eat
On seeing it [we] read		tā dekh-le paṛi
If YOU hear, YOU understand		āpanārā śun-le bujhen
jān-le [āmi] bali		If I know, I say.
tumi tā ān-le tā pāi		If you bring it [I] get it.

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

EXERCISE 2.33

Frequentative of Habitual Tense—‘I would do’, ‘you used to speak’, etc.

The subject (or doer) of the action can often be omitted, if it is obvious from the context.

Form the conditional participle of a verb by combining the stem of its present participle with these endings: (1) ‘-tām’, (2) ‘-te’, (3) ‘-ta’, (H) ‘-ten’
   to do—karā
   stem of present participle—kar (from ‘kar-te’)
   I would do—[āmi] kar-tām

   to go—ȳāoẏā
   stem of present participle—ȳe (from ‘ȳete’)
   I would go—ȳetām

Examples for you to answer—Positives:

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I would see		[āmi] dekh-tām
pār-le tā kar-tām		Were [I] to be able, I would do it.
khete pār-le khetām		If I could eat, I would eat.
I used to read in school.		skule paṛ-tām
tumi ki skule ȳete?		Did you used to go to school?
dām̐ṛāle tomarā tā dekh-te		By standing YOU would see it.
If you were to come, [we] would go.		tumi ās-le [āmarā] ȳetām
tārā tā nile kheta		On taking it they would eat.
On receiving it we would read.		tā pele paṛ-tām
If YOU were to understand, it would be good.		āpanārā bujh-le bhālo hata.
tā khele bhālo lāg-ta		If I/you/he were to eat it, it would feel nice.
tumi tā ān-le [tā] petām		If you were to bring it [I] would get [it].

More examples for you to answer—Negatives:

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I would not see		[āmi] dekh-tām nā
nā pār-le tā kar-tām nā		Were [I] not able, I would not do it.
khete nā pār-le khetām nā		If I could not eat, I would not eat.
I used not to read in school.		skule paṛ-tām nā
tumi ki skule ȳete nā?		Did you not used to go to school?
nā dām̐ṛāle tomarā tā dekh-te nā		By not standing YOU would not see it.
If you were not to come, [we] would not go.		tumi nā ās-le [āmarā] ȳetām nā
tārā tā nite pār-le kheta nā		On being able to take it they would not eat.
tā khele bhālo lāg-ta nā		If I/you/he were to eat it, it would not taste nice.
Not wanting fruit, would we eat it?		phal nā cāile,khetām?

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

EXERCISE 2.34

Use of ‘thākā’ in Past Frequentative

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I would go on reading		[āmi] paṛ-te thāk-tām
āmi śuẏe thāk-tām nā		I would not keep sleeping.
bhālo nā lāg-le khete thāk-tām nā		If I didn’t like it, I would not keep eating it.
Although I could not read, I kept trying.		paṛ-te nā pār-le-o ceṣṭā kare thāk-tām
tumi ki skule ȳete thāk-te?		Did you continue going to school?
dām̐ṛiẏe nā thāk-le tomarā tā dekhani		By not remaining standing YOU did not see it.
If love is not there, God is not happy.		bhālobāsā nā thāk-le īśvar ānandita nan
kāj nā thāk-le khānā (/khādȳa) nei.		There being no work, there is no food.
satȳa nā thāk-le prem nei		If truth is not present, there is no love.
If that wasn’t said, …		tā ȳadi balā nā thāk-ta, …
… then I wouldn’t know it.		… tāhale āmi tā jān-tām nā.

[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.35

Use of haoẏā: ha’i, hao, haẏ, han—to be constantly; to prove to be; to become

Examples to translate to and fro:

āmi ānandita ha’i—I become delighted.
tā kari, ȳena āmi saphal ha’i—I do it, so that I become successful.
āmarā cāi, ȳena tomarā alas nā hao—We want YOU not to become lazy.
prem śeṣ haẏ nā—Love does not fail (/end).
samādar kar-te haẏ—Honour must be shown.
se binaṣṭa haẏ nā—He does not get destroyed.
samay paripūrṇa haẏ—The time is fulfilled.
tāke śaẏ-tān balā haẏ—He is called Satan.
īśvar santuṣṭa han—God is pleased.
tini ki khuśi han?—Is he happy?

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

EXERCISE 2.36

Use of lāgā—to be applied, to be felt

Examples to translate to and fro:

āmarā katha bal-te lāg-lām—We began speaking.
sei sab āmi ghr̥ṇā kar-te lāg-lām—I began hating all that.
āmi khub kām̐d-te lāg-lām—I began to weep greatly.
tārā bal-te lāg-la—They began to speak.
se prārthanā kar-te lāg-la—He began to pray.
se ei śikṣā dite lāg-la—He began giving this teaching.
tāra susamācār ghoṣaṇā kar-te lāg-len—They began to proclaim the good news.
tārā gān gāite lāg-len—They began to sing a song.

[Go to Grammar 2.12b]
[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
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EXERCISE 2.37

Use of lāgāno—to apply

Examples to translate to and fro:

ratna lāgāno chila—Jewels were affixed.
ȳā lāgāno haẏeche—That which has been planted.
śakta kare lāgāno haẏ—It is fastened on.
āgun lāgiẏe debe—It will set ablaze.
tini kādā lāgiẏe dilen—He applied paste.

[Go to Grammar 2.12c]

EXERCISE 2.38

Imperative: 1^st Person—āmi, āmarā

Examples to translate to and fro:

āmarā ȳena ullāṣita ha’i—Let us be joyful.
eso, āmarā egiẏe ȳāi—Come, let us go forward.
ekhan calo, āmarā cale ȳāi—Go on now, let us be on our way.
eso, āmarā pabitra gān gāi—Come, let us sing a holy song.
āmarā cāi, ȳena tomarā jāna—We want you to know.
āmi natun gān gāiba—I will sing a song. or ‘Let me sing a song’.

[Go to Grammar 2.13]
[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

EXERCISE 2.39

Imperative: 2^nd Person—tumi, tomarā

Examples to translate to and fro:

sāhāȳȳa karo—[Please] help.
prārthanā koro—You must pray.
pāp koro nā—You must not do sin.
dhare rākho—[Please] keep hold.
mane rekho—You keep in mind.
āmār ba’i dhare rekho nā—Do not keep holding my book.
dām̐ṛiye thāko—Remain standing.
dūre theko—You must remain far away.
tomarā jege theko—YOU, keep on the watch.
cup kare theko nā—You must not stay silent.
nāo, khāo—Take, eat.
bāptisma nāo—Get baptized.
natun gān gāo—Sing a new song.
e khārāp gān geẏo nā.—You must not sing this bad song.
prem dekhāo—Show love.
ghr̥ṇā dekhiẏo nā—You must not show hatred.
āj-ke eso—Come today.
paṛo-nā—Why not read?
bhālo karmī hao—Be good workers.

[Go to Grammar 2.13]
[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

EXERCISE 2.40

Imperative: 3^rd Person—se, tā, tārā

Examples to translate to and fro:

[pratyeke] dekhuk—Let him (/each one) look. (Galatians 6:4)
ȳār kān āche, se śunuk—Let the one that ears listen. (Matthew 13:9)
se nijeke asvīkār karuk—Let him disown himself. (Matthew 16:24)
se āmār anusaraṇ karuk—Let him follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

EXERCISE 2.41

Imperative: Honorific—āpani, tini, āpanārā, tāra/tām̐rā

Examples to translate to and fro:

prabhu, dekhun!—Lord, see! (Luke 19:8)
uṭhun!—Get up! (Ezra 10:4)
āpani ḍāk-te thākun!—Keep calling! (1 Samuel 7:8)
nirab thākun!—Keep quiet! (Job 33:31)
śunun!—Listen! (Job 33:31)
balun!—Tell us! (Matthew 24:3)
rājā dīrghajībī hon!—May the king live long! (Nehemiah 2:3)
dr̥ṛha o sāhasī hon!—Be firm and courageous! (Joshua 1:18)

[Go to Grammar 2.13]
[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

EXERCISE 2.42

Use of ‘ȳena’ to form Imperatives with the Simple Present Tense

You can form imperatives by using ‘ȳena’ to mean ‘so that …’, or ‘may it be that …’

Examples to translate to and fro:

āmarā ȳena ullāṣita ha’i—Let us be joyful.
(May it be that we are joyful.)
se ȳena bhālo ut`sa haẏ—Let him be a good source.
tārā ȳena bhālo svāmī han—Let them be good husbands.

EXERCISE 2.43

Use of ‘nā kena’ with Imperatives to Express ‘No matter what may be’

This method uses ‘nā kena’ (‘no matter what’) with imperative forms that mean ‘let it be’.

Examples to translate to and fro:

ȳā-kichui cāi nā kena, …—No matter what I may want, …
tumi yāi kara nā kena, …—Whatever you may do, …
tumi ȳe-khāne-i ȳāo nā kena, …—Wherever you may go, …
lokerā ȳāi baluk nā kena, …—No matter what people may say, …
āpani ȳāi balun nā kena, …—Say whatever you like, …
āpanārā ȳāi dekhā’un nā kena, …—No matter what YOU may show, …

[Go to Grammar 2.13]
[Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

EXERCISE 2.44

Use of ‘raẏeche’—to continue to be, to keep on

Examples to translate to and fro:

āmi śun-te raẏechi—I keep on listening
tumi swapane raẏecha—You are continuously in a dream
tārā base raẏeche—They continue to be seated
pr̥thibīte ȳā-kichu raẏeche—Everything that continues to be on the earth
ȳārā jagate raẏeche—Those who are present on the earth
aneke dekh-te raẏechen—Many are keeping on looking

āmi okhāne dām̐ṛiẏe ra’ilām—I kept standing there
āmara base ra’ilām—We continued sitting there
tumi kena cup kare ra’ile?—Why did keep staying silent?
ār kono biśvās ra’ila nā—No more faith remained
tārā ānandita ra’ila—They kept being happy
tāder hr̥daẏe āsā ra’ila—Hope continued to be in their hearts
ȳishu tāder saṅge ra’ilen—Jesus continued with them
rājā base ra’ilen—The king continued to be seated

āmi dām̐ṛiẏe ra’iba—I will keep standing
tumi ki ra’ibe biśvasta?—Will you stay faithful?
se base ra’ibe—He will continue seated
tini pabitra ra’iben—He will remain holy
pracār kar-te ra’iben—They will keep on preaching

[Go to Grammar 2.14] [Go to Grammar 2] [Exercise 2]
[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

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	mānuṣ		mānuṣ	_erā
affecting the man	mānuṣ	-ke	mānuṣ	-der (-ke)
of the man	mānuṣ	_er	mānuṣ	-der
to the man	mānuṣ	-ke	mānuṣ	*-der (-ke )**
to the presence of the man	mānuṣ	_er kāc_e **	mānuṣ	-der kāc_e **
towards the man	mānuṣ	_er prati / dike	mānuṣ	-der prati / dike
through the man	mānuṣ	_er dvārā	mānuṣ	-der dvārā
by way of the man	mānuṣ	_er diẏe	mānuṣ	-der diẏe
from the man	mānuṣ	(_er kāc ) theke**	mānuṣ	-der (kāc ) theke**
in/on/at the man	mānuṣ	_e (or -te)	mānuṣ	-der madhȳe (or -der-te)
Oh the man!	he mānuṣ !		he mānuṣerā !

*
When used in a general sense in the plural of the Dative Case, it is more common to omit “‑ke”—unless it is needed to make the meaning unambiguous.

Plural without “-ke”

· “svarga ȳihobār-i, kintu pr̥ithibī tini mānuṣ-der diẏechen”—As for the heavens, they belong to Jehovah, But the earth he has given to the sons of men. (Psalm 119:16)

· “tām̐r caukh mānuṣ-der dekhe”—His eyes see men (Psalm 11:4)

Plural with “-ke”

· “seguloke-o āmār paricālanā dite habe”—Those also I must lead (John 10:16)

· “kena tumi āmāder-ke tomār path theke sare ȳete dāo”—Why do you let us wander from your ways? (Jeremiah 63:17)

Singular

· “īśvar mānuṣ-ke jīban diyechen”—God has given man life (Ecclesiastes 5:18)

· “āmi mānuṣ-ke sr̥ṣṭi karechi”—I have created man (Isaiah 45:12)

**
The Bengali word “kāc” conveys the sense of ‘being near to’, so you could visualize it as “proximity” or “vicinity”, perhaps “presence”, close to a person. “kāc” is used more for the presence of someone of high honour.

[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 (-)
affecting the book	bai	(-ke) *	bai	-gulo (-ke) *
of the book	bai	-ẏer **	bai	-gulo-r
to the book	bai	(-)	bai	-gulo (-)
to the book	bai	(-ke) *	bai	-gulo (-ke) *
through the book	bai	dvārā	bai	-gulo dvārā
by way of the book	bai	-ẏer diẏe**	bai	-gulo diẏe
from the book	bai	theke	bai	-gulo theke
in/on/at the book	bai	-te ***	bai	-gulo-te
within the book	bai	-ẏer *** madhȳe
among the books			bai	-gulor madhȳe
Oh the book!	he bai !		he baigulo !

*
It is common to omit “‑ke”—unless it is needed to avoid ambiguity.

**
Possessive endings vary:

· -’er, -ẏer, -r after a vowel

· -er after a consonant

***
Locative endings vary:

· -ẏ after “ā”

· -te after another vowel

· -e after a consonant

Words similar to “from”

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

Examples:-

*best (‘than all, good’)*		sab ceẏe bhālo
*The father is bigger than I*		pitā āmā ceẏe baṛa
Love is better than hatred		prem ghr̥ṇā ceẏe bhālo.
*It is better to give than to receive*		pāoẏā ceẏe deoẏā bhālo

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

GRAMMAR 3.3:
More Post-Positional Elements

for X		X_er janȳa
against X		X_er biruddhe
with X		X_er sāthe X_er saṅge

Examples:-

*for me*		āmār janȳa
*for us*		āmāder janȳa
*against the truth*		satȳer biruddhe
*with the brothers*		bhāider saṅge

Do Exercises 3.xx
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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		āmi mānuṣ-ke bal-lām.
tārā ai strīke bal-la.		They spoke to that woman.
He saw the woman.		se strī(-ke) dekh-la.
The father of the man		mānuṣer bābā
bhāi-er ghar		the brother's house
īśvarer baṛa uddeśȳa		God's great purpose
You gave it to the wrong man.		tumi tā bhul mānuṣ-ke dile.
It helps me.		tā āmāke sāhāȳȳa kare
Please show him.		daẏā kare tāke dekhāo.
āmi tā choṭṭa meẏeke dilām.		I gave it to the little girl.
They went to the leader.		tārā netār kāce gela.
I heard through the big man.		āmi baṛa mānuṣ dvārā śun-lām.
chele pitā dvārā śikhe.		The son learns through the father.
We get life through whom?		āmarā kām̐r dvārā jīban pāi?

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

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 paṛ-la
tumi bai nile.		You took the book.
They learned the message		tārā san̊vād śikh-la.
I know the name of the book		āmi baiẏer nām jāni
tumi bāṛīr nām jāna		You know the house's name
He saw the peace of the people.		Tā loker śānti dekh-la.
The girl gave a name to the animal.		meẏe paśuke nām dila.
tumi phul-ke pāni dile?		Did you give water to the flower?
I gave some food to the dog		āmi kukur-ke kicchu khādȳa dilām.
We heard it through the message.		āmarā san̊vād dvārā tā shun-lām.
tārā kāj dvārā śikhe		They learn through work.
I knew through the war.		āmi ȳuddha dvārā jān-lām.
They went through the hall.		tārā hal diẏe gela.
tā ghar diẏe ela (ās-la).		It came through (or by way of) the house.
We will come by way of the meeting.		āmarā sabhā diẏe ās-ba.
They get knowledge from the Bible.		tārā bāibel theke jnān (~‘gyaan’) pāẏ.
āmarā ȳuddha theke śāntir abhāb pāi.		We get a lack of peace from war.
He gets encouragement from the picture.		Se chabi theke ut`sāha pāi.
In this time (we) see disturbance.		e kāle (āmarā) aśānti dekhi.
ai bārī-te āmār bhāi [āche].		In that house [is] my brother
In that religion is much war.		ai dharme anek ȳuddha āche.
I will go among the flowers.		āmi phul-gulor madhȳe ȳāba
baigulor madhȳe chābigulo āche.		Within [the] books [there] are keys.
He went among the animals.		Se paśuder madhȳe gela

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

EXERCISE 3.4

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

EXERCISE 3.5

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
most possible		sab ceẏe sambhab
sab ceẏe khārāp		worst / most bad
most unrighteous		sab ceẏe adhārmik
biggest		sab ceẏe baṛa
sab ceẏe dhārmik		most righteous
more peaceful		ār-o śāntipūrṇa
ār-o śānti		more peace
ār-o manda		more bad / worse
more happy		ār-o ānandita
ār-o baṛa		bigger / more big
smaller		ār-o choṭṭa
more well, better		ār-o bhālo
less peaceful		kam śāntipūrṇa
kam dhārmik		less righteous
less happy		kam ānandita

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

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), khārāp
big		baṛa (~bårdå)
coming, next		āgāmī
correct, O.K.,right		ṭhik
false		bhul
few; a little		alpa (~ålpå)
forever, unending		ananta (~ånåntå)
-full / -ful		-pūrṇa
good		bhālo
great		mahā
happy		sukhī, ānandita
her, his, its		tār
his, her, its		tār
his (honorific) (Jehovah or Jesus only)		tām̐r
his (honorific) (not Jehovah or Jesus)		tār
holy		pabitra (~påbitrå) / pavitra
ill, unwell, sick		asustha (~åshusthå)
important		gurutvapūrṇa
impossible		asambhab (~åshåmbhåb)
its, his, her		tār
last, past		gata (~gåtå)
less		kam
more		beśi; ār-o
most (than all)		sab ceẏe (~shab cheye)
much		anek (~ånek)
my		āmār
near (at hand)		nikaṭ, (san-)nikaṭ
necessary		dar-kār, praẏojanīẏa
next, subsequent		parabartī
other		anȳa (~ån’nå), apar (~åpår)
other		apar (~ån’nå), anȳa (~ån’nå)
our		āmāder
past, last		gata (~gåtå)
peaceful		śāntipūrṇa
possible		sambhab (~shåmbhåb)
previous		pūrbabartī
real		prakr̥ta (~pråkritå)
righteous		dhārmikr
“-’s ” singular possessive		-er
“-s’ ” pl. (personal)		-der
“-s’ ” pl. (non-personal)		-gulor
sad, unhappy, sorry		dukhita / duhhakhita
sick, unwell, ill		asustha (~åshusthå)
small		choṭa (~chhotå) / choṭṭa
some		kicchu
sorry, unhappy, sad		dukhita / duhhakhita
subsequent, next		parabartī
that (over there)		ai / ee
their (only Jehovah and Jesus)		tām̐der
their (except Jehovah and Jesus)		tāder
their		tāder
this		e
true		satȳa (~shåt’tå)
unhappy, sad, sorry		dukhita / duhhakhita
unrighteous		adhārmik
unwell, sick, ill		asustha (~åshusthå)
violent		hin̊sra (~hing-shrå)
well		sustha (~shusthå); bhālo
WHOSE		ȳāder (~jāder)
whose		ȳār (~jār)
WHOSE?		kāder?
whose?		kār?
YOUR		āpanāder
YOUR		tomāder
your		tomār
your (honorific)		āpanār

[Go to Grammar 4] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

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

āgāmī		coming, next
āmāder		our
āmār		my
āpanāder		YOUR
āpanār		your (honorific)
adhārmik		unrighteous
alpa (~ålpå)		few; a little
ananta (~ånåntå)		forever, unending
anek (~ånek)		much
anȳa (~ån’nå), apar (~åpår)		other
apar (~ån’nå), anȳa (~ån’nå)		other
asambhab (~åshåmbhåb)		impossible
asustha (~åshusthå)		unwell; sick; ill
baṛa (~bårdå)		big
beśi; ār-o		more
bhālo		good, well
bhul		false
choṭa (~chhotå) / choṭṭa		small
dar-kār, praẏojanīẏa		necessary
-der		“-s’” pl. (personal)
dhārmik		righteous
dukhita / duhhakhita		unhappy, sad, sorry
e		this
ai / ee		that (over there)
-er		"-’s" singular possessive
gata (~gåtå)		past, last
-gulor		"-s’" pl. (non-personal)
gurutvapūrṇa		important
hin̊sra (~hing-shrå)		violent
kāder?		WHOSE?
kār?		whose?
kam		less
khārāp, manda (~måndå)		bad
kicchu		some
kono		any
mahā		great
manda (~måndå), khārāp		bad
nikaṭ, (san_)nikaṭ		near (at hand)
parabartī		next, subsequent
pabitra (~påbitrå) / pavitra		holy
prakr̥ta (~pråkritå)		real
praẏojanīẏa, dar-kār		necessary
pūrbabartī		previous
-pūrṇa		-full / -ful
sab (~shåb), samasta, sakal (~shåkål)		all
sab ceẏe (~shab cheye)		most (than all)
sakal (~shåkål), sab, samasta		all
samasta (~shåmåstå), sab, sakal (~shåkål)		all
sambhab (~shåmbhåb)		possible
sannikaṭ, nikaṭ		near at hand
satȳa (~shåt’tå)		true
śāntipūrṇa		peaceful
sukhī, ānandita		happy
sustha (~shusthå), bhālo		well
tām̐der		their (only Jehovah and Jesus)
tām̐r		his (honorific) (only Jehovah or Jesus)
tāder		their (except Jehovah and Jesus)
tār		his, her, its
thik		correct, O.K.,right
tomāder		YOUR
tomār		your
ȳāder (~jāder)		WHOSE
ȳār (~jār)		whose

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GRAMMAR 4.3:
Examples

happy life		sukhī jīban
any peace		kono śānti
peaceful home		śāntipūrṇa ghar
violent attitude		hin̊sra manobhāb

[Go to Grammar 4] [Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

GRAMMAR 4.4:
Numbers to Indicate Quantity

one	ek	eleven	egāra
two	dui	twelve	bāra
three	tin	twenty	bīś
four	cār	hundred	śo
five	pam̐c	a hundred	ek-śo
six	chaẏ	hundreds	śat śat
seven	sāt	thousand	hājār
eight	āṭ	one hundred thousand / one lakh	ek lakṣa
nine	naẏ	ten million / one crore	ek koṭi
ten	daś

Particles or Measure Words

Note how Bengali attaches a particle to a number if it is not specific:

Specific number:

· dui māch—two fish

· tin mānuṣ— three men

Non-specific number:

· dui-ti māch— a couple of fish

· dui-jan bhālo bandhu— a couple of good friends

Examples:-

śat śat mānuṣ—hundreds of people
ek-śo mānuṣ—one hundred people
ek śo biś jan—one hundred and twenty people

ek-jan mānuṣ—a man / some person
ek-ṭi bai—a book
duijan mānuṣ—a couple of people
tin-jan mahilā—some three women
cār-ṭi bai—four (random) books

Do Exercises 4.xx
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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 samasȳā
three good days		tin bhālo din
ek manda dharma		a/one bad religion
false religion		bhul dharma
much violence		anek hin̊sā
āgāmī bat`sar		next year
impossible day		asambhab din
punahh sākṣāt`		return visit
āgāmī adhȳaẏan		next study
previous verse		pūrbīẏa pad
all big trees		sab baṛa gāch
tārā baṛa lok		they are big people
everlasting life		ananta jīban
happy woman		sukhī strī
prem-pūrṇa bhāi		loving brother
brother and sister		bhāibon
pitāmātā		parents
bābāmā		mother and father
unrighteous leader		adhārmik netā
seven days		sāt din
mukti sannikaṭ		freedom [is] near at hand
choṭṭa choṭṭa phal		little fruits
big houses		baṛa baṛa bāṛī
āśā nei.		there is no hope
There is no hope		āśā nei
śānti nei.		there is no peace
There is no food.		khādȳa nei

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

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
my name		āmār nām
their disturbance		tāder aśānti
tāder ghr̥ṇā		their hatred
tām̐r prem		his love (Jehovah’s or Jesus’)
tār asustha mā		his / her unwell mother
āmāder biśvās		our faith
some true words		kicchu satȳa katha
our purpose		āmāder uddeśȳa
His name (Jehovah’s or Jesus’)		tām̐r nām
tār samasȳā		his / her problem

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

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
God's name		īśvarer nām
ȳīśur san̊bād		Jesus’ message
son of Abraham		abrāhāmer putra
bābār kāj		father's work
īśvarer bai		God's book
tumi kār chele?		Whose son [are] you?
lack of hope		āśār abhāb
śāntir ātmā		spirit of peace
my salvation		āmār paritrāṇ
āmār boner prem		my sister's love
my wife's brother		āmār strīr bhāi
śāntir abhāb		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]
[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

EXERCISE 4.6

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
God's world of peace		īśvarer śāntir jagat`
his sister's house		tār boner bārī
e jagater śeṣ		this world's end
e mānuṣer strīr pitāmātā		this man's wife's parents
message of God's kingdom		īśvarer rājȳer san̊bād
message of real hope		prakr̥ta āśār san̊bād
tām̐r bhālo ātmār phal		his (Jehovah’s) good spirit’s fruit
message of peace		śāntir san̊bād
work of true love		satȳa premer kāj
ȳihobār sākṣī		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]
[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

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 * (at that time)		takhan; tabe; se-i samaẏ
when?		kakhan? kabe?
ever		kakhan-o
never		kakhan-o nā
again		ābār

GRAMMAR 5.2:
Manner

this way		e bhābe, e-man
that way		se-bhābe, ai-(/ee)-bhābe
how?		kī-bhābe? keman?
-ly		-bhābe
- indeed; -particularly		-i ṭhik-i
also, as well, too		-o
not (present or future)		nā
not (past)		-ni
please, kindly		daẏā kare
really		satȳi-i
very		khub

GRAMMAR 5.3:
Place

here		e-khāne
there		o-khāne, tothāẏ
where?		kon`-khāne? kothāẏ?

GRAMMAR 5.4:
Reason

for this reason		e kāraṇe
for that reason		ai (/ee) kāraṇe
why?		kī-kāraṇe? kena?

GRAMMAR 5.5:
Examples

I alone, only I		āmi-i
very, very		khub-i
in this (very) way		e bhābe-i
leaders also		netārā-o
YOU too		tomarā-o
Why did you go?		kena gelen?
Where [is] he now?		se ekhan kothāẏ?
Please read.		daẏā kare paṛo.

Do Exercises 5.xx
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EXERCISE 5

EXERCISE 5.1

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
very good		khub bhālo
tini ābār ās-ben.		he / she will come again
He came here.		se ekhāne ela (/ ās-la)
Why did you come?		tumi kena ele (/ ās-le)
kakhan ās-ben?		When will you (or he / she they) come?
How do they know?		tārā kī-bhābe jāne?
se ekhan-i ās-be.		he / she will come right now
eei mānuṣ-o ekhāne chila.		That particular man also was here
The big man also went this way.		bara mānuṣ-o edike ela (/ ās-la)
tomarā e-bhābe śikh-be nā.		YOU will not learn this way
strīrā-o		women also
āśā-o		hope, as well
He sees himself indeed.		se nijeke dekhe ṭhik-i
tā hale tomarā satyi-i āmār śiṣȳa		… then you really are my disciples
[You] Please say.		daẏā kare balo.

[Go to Grammar 5] [Exercise 5]
[Go to Top] [Go to Contents]

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

after that	tā hale
*and*	eban̊ / ār
*as a result*	phalata; phale
*because*	kenanā; kāraṇ
*but*	kintu
*for this reason*	e-kāraṇe
if	ȳadi
*in order that; so that*	ȳena
*in that case, then*	tabe, tāhale
*lest; so that not*	pāche
*rather (not that, but)*	baran̊
*so (therefore)*	tāi
*so that, in order that*	ȳena
that (the fact that)	ȳe
then (after that)	tā hale *
then (in that case; therefore)	tāhale **
then (so learn this …)	tāi
*therefore, so*	tāi
*whether?*	ki?
or	athabā; bā; kin̊bā

Difference between “tā hale” and “tāhale”

* Examples of “tā hale”:

· (When that’s been done; If that happens,) then

o tā hale bedir sāmane tomār upahār rekhe cale ȳāo — Having done that, leave your gift in front of the altar and go away. (Matthew 5:24)

· It will result in … (Matthew 6:33; Hebrews 13:17)

· It follows that … (Romans 7:20)

· (If that were so,) it must be that … (John 15:19; Romans 10:10; James 3:2)

· Well then; even so; nevertheless (John 18:37)

** Examples of “tāhale”:

· Therefore

o tāhale āmāder balun to, āpani kī mane karen? — Tell us, then, what do you think? (Matthew 22:17)

· (If …,) then; in that case (Isaiah 48:18)

· So then, (Galatians 3:19)

· These things being so,

o tāhale ei biṣaẏ-gulo sambandhe āmarā kī bal-ba? — What, then, are we to say about these things? (Romans 8:31)

· So, how is it …; eh? (Isaiah 66:1)

· From this; as you see; likewise (James 2:24)

GRAMMAR 6.3
Examples

*He came* *and* *we went.*		se ela (/ ās-la) eban̊ āmarā ge-lām.
*You came* *but* *they did not go.*		tumi ele (/ ās-le) kintu tārā ȳāẏ ni.
*Are you well,* mm?		āpani ki sustha?
*They say* *that* *God does not exist.*		tārā bale ȳe īśvar nan.
*We do it* *so that* *you will get benefit.*		āmarā tā kari ȳena tumi lābh pābe.
*I will write* *lest* *I forget.*		āmi likh-ba pāche bhule ȳā-i.

Do Exercises 6.xx
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EXERCISE 6

EXERCISE 6.1

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I came, and he saw me		āmi ās-lām eban̊ se āmāke dekh-la.
se ela (/ ās-la) kāraṇ tumi tā cāile.		He (/ she ) came because you wished it.
You want it, so I will come.		tumi tā cāo, tāi āmi ās-bo
mā asustha, e-kāraṇe āse ni.		mother [is] unwell, therefore [she] did not come.
se tā bal-la pāche tumi tā bhule ȳāo		He (/she) said it, lest you forget it.
Do you know?		tumi ki jāna?
tini ki dekh-len?		Did he (/she) see?
Will you come?		tumi ki ās-be?
They do not listen; as a result they do not know.		tārā śune nā; phalata tārā jāne nā.
se ās-be, athabā āmi thāk-bo ekhāne.		He (/she) will come, or I will stay here.
I think, therefore I am.		āmi mane kari, ejanȳa (ekāraṇe / tāi) āmi āchi.

[Go to Grammar 6] [Exercise 6]
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GRAMMAR 7. – CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

7.1 Construction with Condition and Outcome
7.2 Preferred Position of “ȳadi” (“if ”)
7.3 Use of the Connective “tabe” (“then”)
7.4 Order of the Clauses in a Conditional Sentence
7.5 Conditional Participles (See also Grammar 2.11)

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, “ȳadi…” (“if ”)

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

Clause Stating the Outcome, “tabe…” or “tā hale…” / “tāhale”

One may place “tabe” (“then”) or “tā hale” (“that having happened”) at the start of the main clause that states the outcome. This is the statement of the main action.

Grammar 6.1 shows the blurred difference between “tā hale” and “tāhale”:

· “tā hale”—if something has happened, then this will result.

· “tāhale”—reasoning on that basis, this is the logical result.

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

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

Condition

If you [will] come, …

āpani ȳadi ās-ben, …

ȳadi āpani ās-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.
āpani ȳadi ās-ben	tabe āmi ȳā-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.
āpani ȳadi ās-ben	tabe āmi ȳāba.		āmi ȳāba	ȳadi āpani ās-ben

Examples:-

Say,	if you know.	or	If you know,	then say
balo	ȳadi jāna.		ȳadi jāna	*tabe* balo.

Listen,	if you can.	or	If you can,	[then] listen
śuno	ȳadi pāro		ȳadi pāra	[tabe] śuno

GRAMMAR 7.5
Conditional Participles (See also Grammar 2.11)

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.

· If it is obvious in the context, the person effecting the condition may be omitted.

o [āmi] śun-le āsi—If I hear, [I] come

o śun-le [āmi] āsi—On hearing I come

o śun-le āsi—On hearing [I] come

Infinitive	Verb Stem	by …-ing in the case of *…-ing*	Conditional Participle
to come	ās[ā]	in the case of coming	ās-le
to see	dekh[ā]	in the case of seeing	dekh-le
to understand	bujh[ā]	in the case of understanding	bujh-le
to read	paṛ[ā]	in the case of reading	paṛ-le

Examples:-

*If you listen, you can understand*		śun-le [tumi] bujh-te pāra
*If I know it, I do it.*		[tā] jān-le tā kari
*If you come, we'll go.*		tumi ās-le āmarā ȳāba
*If he speaks, I will listen.*		se bal-le āmi śun-ba

Do Exercises 7.xx
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EXERCISE 7

EXERCISE 7.1

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
If you come, then you will see.		āpani * ȳadi ās-ben tabe dekh-ben.
se * ȳadi uttar jāne 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 * ȳadi śuna, tabe [tumi] śikh-te pār-be.

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

[Go to Grammar 7] [Exercise 7]
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GRAMMAR 8. INTERROGATIVES, CORRELATIVES, AND RELATIVES

8.1 Interrogatives (“ke?”, etc.)
8.2 Relatives and Correlatives (“ȳe”, “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?		kī
who? WHO?		ke? kārā?
why?		kena?
when?		kakhan? kabe?
where?		kothāẏ? kon-khāne?
how?		keman? kī-bhābe? kī kare?
whether?		ki?
which?		kon`?

Examples:-

What do you want?		[āpani] kī cān?
Who spoke?		ke bal-la?
Why is the world full of problems?		jagat` kena samasȳāpūrṇa?
Where is your father?		tomār pitā kothāẏ?
Do they know?		tārā ki jāne?
Which book did you read?		[tumi] kon` bai paṛ-le?

GRAMMAR 8.2
Relatives and Correlatives (“ȳe”, “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)	kī?	ȳā	tā / se-i
things	(what)	kī kī?	ȳe ȳe	tārā / se-gulo
person	(who)	ke?	ȳe	se
persons	(who)	kārā?	ȳārā	tārā
reason	(why)	kī-kāraṇe?	ȳe-kāraṇe	se-kāraṇe
reason	(why)	kena?	ȳena	se-janȳa
reason	(why)	kī-janȳa?	ȳe-janȳa	se-janȳa
time	(when)	kakhan?	ȳakhan	takhan
time	(when)	kabe?	[ȳabe]	tabe
fact, if	(whether)	ki?	ȳadi	tabe
place	(where)	kon`-khāne?	ȳe-khāne	se-khāne
place	(where)	kon` sthāne?	ȳe-sthāne	se-sthāne
place	(where)	kothaẏ?	[ȳothāẏ ]	tothāẏ
manner	(how)	keman?	ȳe-man	te-man
manner	(how)	kī-bhābe?	ȳe-bhābe	se-bhābe

GRAMMAR 8.4
Examples

*What* you said, that is right.	tumi ȳā bal-le, tā thik.
*The things* that you saw, those things are still there.	tumi ȳe ȳe jiniṣ dekh-le, se-gulo ekhan-o okhāne.
*He who* came [this one] is ill.	ȳe mānuṣ ela (/ ās-la), se asustha.
*The ones* who are righteous, these ones will possess the earth.	ȳārā dhārmik, tārā pr̥thibī pābe.
*For the reason that* you are happy, for such reason I am happy, too.	tumi ȳe-kāraṇe sukhī, se-kāraṇe āmi-o sukhī.
*In order that* you will hear, for such reason I speak.	āpani ȳena śun-ben, se-janȳa āmi bali.
*When* he speaks, then he acts.	se ȳakhan bale, takhan se kāj kare.
*If he wants, then* he gets.	[se] ȳadi cāẏ, tabe pāẏ.
*The place which* you went to, to such place I also went.	tumi ȳe-khāne gele, se-khāne-o āmi gelām.
*In the place* in which he stood, in such place you are standing.	se ȳe-khāne dam̐ṟā-la, se-khāne tumi dam̐ṟāccha.
*The way* it is heaven, in such way it will be on earth.	ȳeman svarge haẏ, teman-i pr̥thibīte habe.
*In the manner* in which you look at others, in such manner others will look at you.	tumi ȳebhābe anȳader-ke dekha, se-bhābe anȳerā tomāke dekh-be.
*In the manner* in which a thief comes, Jehovah’s day will come in such manner. (Jehovah’s day will come as a thief.)	cor ȳebhābe āse, ȳihobār din sebhābe ās-be.

Do Exercises 8.xx
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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] kī mane kara?
āpani kī dekhen?		What do you see?
What do you want?		tumi kī chā-o?
What's that?		tā kī [āche]?

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

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
Who are you?		tumi ke?
ai (/ ee) mānuṣ ke?		Who [is] that man?
Who is this girl?		e meẏe ke?
WHO are YOU?		tomarā kārā?
ai (/ ee) netārā kārā?		WHO [are] those leaders?
WHO are these boys?		e chelerā kārā?
WHO gave food?		kārā khādȳa dila?
Who brings war?		ke ȳuddha āne?
ȳuddha ki kakhano-i śānti āne?		Does war ever bring peace?
WHO never make make war?		kārā kakhano-i ȳuddha kare nā?

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

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
Why did you come?		āpani kena elen (/ ās-len)?
se kena tā bal-la?		Why did he ( / she) say it?
tumi kena āgāmī kāle ās-be?		Why will you come tomorrow?
Why do they do that?		tārā kena tā kare?
Why did you not see it?		tumi kena tā dekha 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 ās-la?
īśvārer mahā ȳuddha kakhan habe?		When will God's great war be?
When will unending peace be?		ananta śānti kakhan habe?

[Go to Grammar 8] [Exercise 8]
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EXERCISE 8.5

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
Where will they stand?		tārā kothāẏ dam̐ṛābe?
tumi kothāẏ ācho?		Where are you?
āmi kothāẏ gelām?		Where did I go?
Where [is] my book?		āmār bai kothāẏ?

[Go to Grammar 8] [Exercise 8]
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EXERCISE 8.6

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
How do you know?		kībhābe jānen?
takhan keman habe?		How will it be then?
kībhābe śun-len?		How did you hear?
How did you see?		tumi kībhābe dekh-le?
How will you know?		tumi kībhābe jān-be?
pr̥thibīte jīban keman habe?		How will life be on earth?
How will war become ended?		ȳuddha kībhābe śeṣ haẏe ȳābe?

[Go to Grammar 8] [Exercise 8]
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EXERCISE 8.7

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
Do you know the question?		āpani ki praśṇa jānen?
īśvar ki dekhen nā?		Does God not see?
Is hatred good?		ghr̥ṇā ki bhālo?
ȳuddha ki khārāp naẏ?		Is war not bad?
mārā ki bhālo?		Is hitting good?
āpani ki ekhāne thāk-ben?		Will you stay here?
Will disturbance remain forever?		aśānti ki ananta kāle thāk-be?

[Go to Grammar 8] [Exercise 8]
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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:-
āpani asustha … > … āpani ki asustha?

[Go to Grammar 8] [Exercise 8]
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EXERCISE 8.9

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
Which book [is] true?		kon` bai satȳa?
kon` kathā bhul?		What word [is] false?
Which answer brings peace?		kon` uttar śānti āne?
kon` san̊bād śānti bale?		Which message speaks peace?
Which leader [is] righteous?		kon` netā dhārmik?

[Go to Grammar 8] [Exercise 8]
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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.)		āmi ȳā jāni tā biśvās kari.
tumi ȳā dekha tā ki bhālo?		That which you see, is such thing good? (Is what you see good?)
ȳā ȳuddha āne, āmi tā cāi nā.		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.		ȳā śānti āne — tā āmi cāi
ȳā satȳa, tā śikhā dar-kār		That which is true, learning such is necessary. (It is necessary to learn what is true.)
What is bad — that I think.		ȳā manda — tā āmi mane kari.

[Go to Grammar 8] [Exercise 8]
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EXERCISE 8.12

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
The one [person] who listens, such a person learns.		ȳe śune, se śikhe.
ȳe śāntipūrṇa se śānti pābe		The one who is peaceful, such one will receive peace.
ȳārā jāne, tārā bale		Those who know, such ones speak.
The ones who are righteous, they will stay here.		ȳārā dhārmik, tārā ekhāne thāk-be.

[Go to Grammar 8] [Exercise 8]
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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)		āmi ** ȳakhan ās-ba, takhan [āmi] tā diba.
ghr̥ṉā ** ȳakhan śeṣ habe, takhan śānti hate par-be.		Peace will be able to exist when hatred is ended. (= At the time when hatred will be ended, then peace will able to exist.)
When you want [then] I'll do it.		tumi ȳakhan cāo, takhan āmi tā kar-ba.
He does it when he wants.		tini ȳakhan cān, takhan tini tā karen.

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

[Go to Grammar 8] [Exercise 8]
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EXERCISE 8.14

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
Where there is true religion, there is love.		satȳa dharma ȳekhāne [āche], sekhāne prem.**
āpani ** ȳekhāne ȳā-ben, sekhāne āmi ȳāi 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.		ȳekhāne lok, sekhāne khādȳa dar-kār.
ȳekhāne bhul dharma, sekhāne ȳuddha.		Where [there is] false religion, there [there is] war.
Where there is love, there is hatred of wickedness.		ȳekhāne prem [], sekhāne duṣṭatār ghr̥ṇā.

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

[Go to Grammar 8] [Exercise 8]
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EXERCISE 8.15

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
As peace is in heaven, so it will be on earth.		śānti ȳeman svarge āche teman-i pr̥thibīte habe.
ȳeman sākṣīrā bal-len teman-i haẏ.		As the witnesses say, so indeed it is ( / proves to be).
As the Bible said, in that way we see today’s conditions.		bāibel ẏeman bal-la, teman āmarā āj-ker abasthā dekhi.
ȳeman cān, teman-i khān.		Eat as you wish.

[Go to Grammar 8] [Exercise 8]
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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)		āssālām-oẏālāikum
response to greeting (from Arabic)		oẏālāikum-āssālām
greeting (with other backgrounds)		namaskār
Yes		hȳām̐
No		nā
I must listen (‘my listening will be’)		*āmār* śun-te habe
I have a book (‘my book exists’)		*āmār* bai āche
I have no book (my book exists not)		āmār bai nei.
I must also bring them		*āmār* tāder-ke-o ān-te habe
I like it / It impacts on* me well*		āmār bhālo lāge
to lock / to apply* the lock*		tālā lāgāno
It was said to me		āmāke tā balā gela (or hala)
It was said by me		āmā(r) dvārā tā balā gela (or hala)
a book that speaks* truth*		ek satȳa *balā* bai
a [The indefinite article in English does not exist in Bengali.]		-
a set number of persons		-jan
e.g. 2 friends; 4 daughters 7 sons		e.g. dui-jan bandhu ; cār-jan meẏe sāt-jan chele

a set number of things or diminutive persons		-ṭi or -ṭā
e.g. 4 books; 10 wars 8 sons		e.g. cār-ṭi bai ; daś-ṭā ȳuddha āṭ-ṭi chele
eight days later		āṭ din par
the (personal) in particular		se-i
the (non-personal/diminutive) in particular		se-i ... or ...-ṭ ā e.g. se-i bai or bai-ṭā
So, … / That being so, then …		tā-i, to
She is my sister, it is certainly* true*		se āmār bon, satȳa baṭe
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”

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EXERCISE 9

9.1

9.2

9.3

9.4

EXERCISE 9.1

Exchange greetings and discuss one’s health.

[Go to Grammar 9] [Exercise 9]
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EXERCISE 9.2

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

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I must know.		āmār jān-te habe.
tomār ās-te habe.		You must come.
They must listen.		tāder śun-te habe.
We must speak.		āmāder bal-te habe.
āmāder ȳete habe		We must go.
Them also I must bring.		tāder-keo āmār ān-te habe.
āmāder kāj kar-te habe.		We must (do) work.
Please help.		daẏā kare sāhāȳȳa karo.
Honour the king!		rājāke samādar koro
Do not go there!		okhāne ȳeẏo nā!
Why not go there?		okhāne ȳāo-nā.

[Go to Grammar 9] [Exercise 9]
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EXERCISE 9.3

Please master the form, “I have …”.

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I have a hope.		āmār āśā āche.
tomār ki samasȳā āche?		Do you have a problem?
They have parents.		tāder pitāmātā āche.
tār swāmī āche.		She has a husband.
He has a wife and a son.		tār ek-jan strī eban̊ ek-jan chele āche.
I have no hope.		āmār āśā nei.
tomār-o samasȳā nei?		Do you not also have a problem?
They have no parents.		tāder pitāmātā nei.
tār chelemeẏe nei.		He ( / she) does not have children.
You have no book?		tomār bai nei?

[Go to Grammar 9] [Exercise 9]
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EXERCISE 9.4

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
I saw a boy		āmi ek-jan cheleke dekh-lām.
āmi ai (/ ee) tin-jan bon-ke jāni.		I know those three sisters.
They spoke to five fathers.		tārā pām̐c pitāder-ke bal-la.
Four leaders spoke.		cār-jan netā bal-la.
I [did] read a book.		āmi ek-ṭi bai paṛ-lām.
se duiṭā samasȳā pela.		He ( / she) got two problems.
They saw three fishes.		tārā tin-ṭi māch dekh-la.

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 āmi bhālo.
I am fine bhālo āchi.

Add more notes yourself.

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

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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. Roman letters that represent the ‘cerebral’ Bengali sounds have a dot below (like “ḍ”) or are underlined (like “d”) to distinguish them from the ‘dental’ family (like “d”).

4. In these Bengali spellings ‘_’ indicates that the adjacent letters get brought together as one syllable.

5. In these Bengali spellings “ – ” or “ ’ ” indicates that the adjacent letters are in different syllables.

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EXERCISES

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

[Go to Grammar 9] [Exercise 9]
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Past (Sadhu)	Future (Sadhu)
-ilām	-iba
-ile	-ibe
-ila	-ibe
-ilen	-iben