BENGALI — BASIC LANGUAGE COURSE

 

Teaching Truth in Bengali through English

Teaching Truth in Bengali

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The purpose of this basic course is for you to learn enough of the pronunciation, structure, grammatical rules and vocabulary to form 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, 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
Grammar 1	Exercise 1	Doers (nouns and pronouns)
Grammar 2	Exercise 2	Process done (verb)—a simple past, present and future tense
Grammar 3	Exercise 3	Object forms of nouns and pronouns according to ‘case’
Grammar 4	Exercise 4	Quality describing doers and objects (adjectives, possessive pronouns, etc.)
Grammar 5	Exercise 5	Manner describing process done (adverbs)
Grammar 6	Exercise 6	Connectives linking to another clause
Grammar 7	Exercise 7	Conditional sentences
Grammar 8	Exercise 8	Interrogatives, correlatives and relatives
Grammar 9	Exercise 9	Other forms of expression common or without equivalent
Grammar 10	Exercise 10	Add other features

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

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AUDIO FILES TO GUIDE PRONUNCIATION

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

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

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

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PRONUNCIATION OF ROMAN CHARACTERS

From wb013

Vowels

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

Consonants

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

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

 

Previous OK language

PRONUNCIATION OF VOWELS
INDEPENDENT OR INITIAL ROMANIZED PHONETIC Click to hear	SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGLISH...	…AS IN THE ENGLISH WORD	SYLLABLE IF JOINED ONTO ‘k’ Click to hear
(no vowel)	(no sound)	(no sound after ‘k’ in “black_”)	k`
a	short “a” short “o” (hints: “å”)	“wander” (inherent a) “off” (inherent a)	ka
aa	long “a”	“far”	kaa
a , a, yaa	flat “a”	“apple”	ka
i	short “i”	“pill”	ki
ii	long “i”, “ee”	“pip”, “peel”	kii
u	short “u”	“pull”	ku
uu	long “oo”	“pool”	kuu
rri	short “ri”	“dribble”	krri
e	short “e”	“pegging”	ke
ee	long “oi”	“point”	kee (“koi”)
o	short “o”	“pond”	ko
oo	long “o”, “ou”, “ow” (hints: “ow”)	“poke”, “pole”, “pound”, “power”	koo (“kau/kow”)
n°	nasal “ng”, but no “g”	“singer”	kan° (“kang”)
hha	abrupt “h”	“Judah   had”	kahh
^	nasal faintly as in French “non”		k^a (“kan”)

 

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

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ROMANIZED SCRIPT SYSTEM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you wish, you can adapt better to the Romanization of the Bengali sounds by reading the letter below from the author.  Also, you can click on Contact Us! at www.jaspell.co.uk.

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LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR

Dear Student of Bengali, You may be puzzled about how we have used Roman characters to represent Bengali sounds. The number of Roman characters is far less than the number of characters in the Bengali alphabet.  Therefore, some of these are represented by a combination of Roman characters. European languages pronounce some of the Roman characters in several different ways.  Our Romanized Bengali may use them in yet another way. Note that in French you may write the sound of “verre” also as “ver”, “vers”, “vert”, “verts”, or “vair”.  Moreover, “v” is pronounced differently in German than these other languages.  In English, a letter may be pronounced in numerous ways. In Italian "c" is pronounced differently in "ca" than in "ce".  When we learn Chinese Mandarin using its Romanized form, Pinyin, we find “c” sounds like “ts”.  Enjoy reading Zulu, in which “c” is clicked on the palate!  So, we just try to adapt to any new ways of pronouncing these Roman characters. Anyhow, any mysteries here should not inhibit you for very long, if you use the sound files and other pronunciation aids we have provided you.  Some have learned this way to read Bengali within two days.  The same representation of the Classification of Sounds can be applied equally to many related languages from North India and Nepal. With best wishes, The Author

 

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SENTENCE STRUCTURE

This is the key to constructing simple sentences.

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

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

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

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

 

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

Sometimes the ‘object’ section of the sentence has two parts, such as when someone gives someone something.  The ‘direct’ part usually precedes the ‘indirect’ part.

This little message joyfully tells good news to all.

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

This little message joyfully tells good news to us all.

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

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

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

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

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YOUR FIRST CONVERSATIONS

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

Example 1

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

* See General Notes

 

How are you?

			You		how		are?
			aapani		keman		aachen?

aapani keman aachen?

Example 2

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

 

I’m fine, thanks.

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

aami bhaalo aachi, dhanyabaad.

Example 3

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

 

Read this little message, please!

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

ei san°baad dayaa kare parun!

Example 4

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

 

What is it?

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

taa kii aache?

Example 5

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

 

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

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

aami aamaar naam bali.

Example 6

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

 

He does not say his own message.

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

se taar nij san°baad bale naa.

Example 7

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

 

You give your invitation.

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

haa^, aapani aapanaar chota nimantran den.

Example 8

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

 

He says his own name.

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

Example 9

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

 

We say our faith, and …

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

aamaraa aamaader bishvaas bali, eban°…

Example 10

they	taaraa
they take	taaraa nen
their	taader

 

They take their invitation.

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

taaraa taader nimantran nen.

Example 11

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

 

YOU speak good news.

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

aapanaaraa khub bhaalo khabar balen.

Example 12

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

 

[The] man does good work

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

maanus bhaalo kaaj kare

Example 13

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

 

If a good man only does good work, then …

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

yadi bhaalo maanus maatra bhaalo kaaj kare, tabe …

Example 14

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

 

… then who does this bad work now?

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

… tabe ke ei khaaraap kaaj ekhan kare?

Example 15

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

 

Do you know the answer (of the question)?

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

aapani ki prashner uttar jaanen?

Example 16

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

 

We can explain

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

aamaraa byaakhyaa kar-te paari.

Example 17

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

 

We can explain it to you.

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

aamaraa aapanaake taa byaakhyaa kar-te paari.

Moving Forward

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

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INTRODUCTION TO THE BASIC LANGUAGE SYLLABUS

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

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

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

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GRAMMAR 1.  DOERS (NOUNS AND PRONOUNS)

1.1 Introduction to Nouns and Pronouns
1.2 Omission of the verb “to be” if “Aaaa is Bbbb”
1.3 Personal Pronouns
1.4 Vocabulary – Nouns and Pronouns
1.4.1 Vocabulary – Persons
1.4.2 Vocabulary – Questions and Answers
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 “Aaaa is Bbbb”

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

Examples:-

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

Practice
Translate:-

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

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GRAMMAR 1.3: Personal Pronouns

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

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

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

Practice
Translate:-

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

* Or “that”

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

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

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

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

Grammar 1.4.1: Vocabulary – Persons

Grammar 1.4.1.1: Persons in the Family

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

Practice 1.4.1.1
Translate:-

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

 

Grammar 1.4.1.2: Persons – Not in the Family

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

Practice 1.4.1.2
Translate:-

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

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Grammar 1.4.2: Vocabulary – Questions and Answers

Grammar 1.4.2.1: Questions and Answers - Arrangements

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

Practice 1.4.2.1
Translate:-

What [is] the question?		prashna kii [ ]?
prashnagulo kii [ ]? / prashna kii kii?		What [are] the questions?
What [is] God’s name?		iishvarer naam kii [ ]?
taaraa bandhu [ ].		They [are] friends.
Jehovah [is] love.		yihobaa prem [ ].
taa^raa paribaar [ ].		They [are] family.
Who [are] you?		aapani ke [ ]?

 

Grammar 1.4.2.2: Questions and Answers - Topics

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

Practice 1.4.2.2
Translate:-

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

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Grammar 1.4.3: Vocabulary – Animals

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

Grammar 1.4.4: Vocabulary – Things

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

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Grammar 1.4.5: Vocabulary – Concepts

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

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Grammar 1.4.6: Vocabulary – States

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

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Grammar 1.4.7: Vocabulary – Activities

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

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Grammar 1.4.8: Vocabulary – Time

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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GRAMMAR 2.1:
The Basic Pattern for Endings of All Verbs

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

NOTES:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Exceptions:-

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

 

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

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

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

Exceptions:-

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

Do Exercise 2.7
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GRAMMAR 2.6:
Negative Forms of Verbs

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

The past negative uses the present form with ‘ni’ added.
However exceptionally, ‘It does not exist’ = ‘nei’.

Examples of Negative Forms of Verbs:-

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

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GRAMMAR 2.7:
Compound Verbs

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

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

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

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

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

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

I must listen (‘my listening will be’)		aamaar shun-te habe
I have a book (‘my book exists’)		aamaar bai aache
I must do that		aamaar taa kar-te habe

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

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

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

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GRAMMAR 3.1:
Cases for Personal Object Nouns and Pronouns

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

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

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

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

Words similar to “from”

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

Examples:-

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

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GRAMMAR 3.3:
More Post-Positional Elements

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

Examples:-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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GRAMMAR 4.3:
Examples

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

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GRAMMAR 4.4:
Numbers to Indicate Quantity

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

Examples:-

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

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

5.1 Time
5.2 Manner
5.3 Place
5.4 Reason
5.5 Examples

GRAMMAR 5.1:
Time

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

GRAMMAR 5.2:
Manner

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

GRAMMAR 5.3:
Place

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

GRAMMAR 5.4:
Reason

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

GRAMMAR 5.5:
Examples

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

Do Exercises 5.xx
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GRAMMAR 6.  CONNECTIVES

6.1 Use of Connectives
6.2 List of Connectives
6.3 Examples

GRAMMAR 6.1
Use of Connectives

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

GRAMMAR 6.2
List of Connectives

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

GRAMMAR 6.3
Examples

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

Do Exercises 6.xx
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GRAMMAR 7. – CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

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

GRAMMAR 7.1
Construction with Condition and Outcome

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

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

“yadi” (“if”) or a similar word is added to the a minor clause that expresses a condition.  (“yadi sounds like ~“jådi”.)

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

“tabe” (“then”) or “taahale” (“that being the case”) may be added to the main clause that states the outcome.  This is the statement of the main process.

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

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

Condition

If you come, …

aapani yadi aas-ben, …

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

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

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

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

GRAMMAR 7.4
Order of the Clauses in a Conditional Sentence

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

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

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

Examples:-

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

GRAMMAR 7.5
Conditional Participles

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

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

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

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

Examples:-

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

Do Exercises 7.xx
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GRAMMAR 8.  INTERROGATIVES, CORRELATIVES, AND RELATIVES

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

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

Use these interrogatives to ask questions:-

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

Examples:-

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

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

Answer the question, “What will you reap?”

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

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

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

There are several sets of three matching words.

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

GRAMMAR 8.4
Examples

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

Do Exercises 8.xx
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GRAMMAR 9.  OTHER FORMS OF EXPRESSION – Common or Without Equivalent

The main information in the original language has to be identified, and an acceptable alternative way has to be found of communicating enough of this in a way that is comfortable in the new language.

Please learn and master the following forms.

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

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

Do Exercises 9.xx
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GRAMMAR 10.  ADD MORE FEATURES

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

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

Example:-

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

Add more notes yourself.

I must do it aamaar taa 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.  Bengali letters underlined represent the ‘cerebral’ sound, not the ‘dental’.
4.  In Bengali spellings ‘_’ indicates that the adjacent letters get brought together as one syllable.
5.  In Bengali spellings ‘-’ indicates that the adjacent letters are in different syllables.

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EXERCISE 1

EXERCISE 1.1

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

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

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EXERCISE 1.2

Learn words about world conditions  [Vocabulary].

EXERCISE 1.3

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

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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:-

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

Provide answers of your choice:-

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

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EXERCISE 1.5

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

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

Make plurals of these:-

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

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EXERCISE 1.6

You can make singular pronouns out of plural ones.

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

Make singular pronouns out of these:-

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

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EXERCISE 1.7

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

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

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

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

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EXERCISE 1.8

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

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

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

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

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EXERCISE 1.9

Learn the days of the week.  [Vocabulary]

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EXERCISE 2

EXERCISE 2.1

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

Translate these examples:-

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

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EXERCISE 2.2

Learn some of the verbs patterned like ‘kar_aa’

EXERCISE 2.3

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

Translate these examples:-

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

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

EXERCISE 2.4

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

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

Translate these examples:-

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

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EXERCISE 2.5

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

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

Translate these examples:-

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

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EXERCISE 2.6

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

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

Translate these examples:-

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

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EXERCISE 2.7

Learn some of the verbs patterned like “ghumaano”.

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

Translate these examples:-

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

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EXERCISE 2.8

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

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

Give the negative of these examples:-

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

EXERCISE 2.9

You can form the negative of a past action by adding “ni” after the present tense of the verb.

Follow this pattern:-
Example: (“We went”) “aamaraa gelaam”
Answer: “aamaraa yaai ni”

Give the negative of these examples:-

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

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EXERCISE 2.10

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

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

Translate these examples:-

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

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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 acts as an auxilliary verb.

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

Translate these examples:-

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

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EXERCISE 2.12

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

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

Translate these examples:-

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

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EXERCISE 2.13

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

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

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EXERCISE 2.14

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

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

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

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EXERCISE 2.15

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

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

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

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EXERCISE 2.16

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

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

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

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EXERCISE 2.17

To make the Past Negative, use the Present Affirmative and add “ni”.

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

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

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

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

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EXERCISE 2.18

Make the negative of a future action by adding “naa”.

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

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

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

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EXERCISE 2.19

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

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

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

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EXERCISE 2.20

Some special cases exists for ‘not being’.
(I am; you are; he is; you are)

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

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EXERCISE 2.21

Some special cases exists for ‘not being’.

Invert the affirmative or negative form of these examples:-

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

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

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EXERCISE 2.22

The following questions and answers provide a summary of ExerciseS 2.13 – 2.21.

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

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EXERCISE 2.23

Invert the affirmative or negative form of these examples:-
(I am fine; I’m happy; I am bad; you are well; you are 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)

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

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EXERCISE 2.24

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

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

EXAMPLES		ANSWERS
...... EXISTS		...... EXISTS NOT
bai aache		bai nei
prem aache		prem nei
shaanti nei		shaanti aache
aashaa aache		aashaa nei
mukti nei		mukti aache

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EXERCISE 2.25

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

Translate these examples:-

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

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EXERCISE 3

EXERCISE 3.1

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

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EXERCISE 3.2

Convert the examples in the previous exercise to plural.

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EXERCISE 3.3

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

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EXERCISE 3.4

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

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EXERCISE 3.5

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

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EXERCISE 4

EXERCISE 4.1

Make a list of pairs of words of opposite meanings.

EXERCISE 4.2

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

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EXERCISE 4.3

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

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EXERCISE 4.4

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

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EXERCISE 4.5

Convert the examples in the previous exercise to plural.

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EXERCISE 4.6

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

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EXERCISE 4.7

Convert the examples in the previous exercise to plural.

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EXERCISE 5

EXERCISE 5.1

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

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EXERCISE 6

EXERCISE 6.1

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

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EXERCISE 7

EXERCISE 7.1

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

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

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EXERCISE 8

EXERCISE 8.1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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EXERCISE 8.2

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

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EXERCISE 8.3

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

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

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EXERCISE 8.4

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

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EXERCISE 8.5

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

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EXERCISE 8.6

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

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EXERCISE 8.7

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

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

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

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EXERCISE 8.8

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

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

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EXERCISE 8.9

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

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EXERCISE 9

EXERCISE 9.1

Exchange greetings and discuss one's health.

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EXERCISE 9.2

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

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

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EXERCISE 9.3

Please master the form, “I have …”.

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

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EXERCISE 9.4

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

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© 1998-2015 Jaspell (B J Burford and E J Burford)    Date of last edit: 09 October 2015