In Nepali, verbs exhibit rich inflectional patterns, allowing for intricate nuances in meaning and expression. This richness stems from the language's extensive conjugation system, where verbs undergo various inflectional changes to convey details such as tense, aspect, mood, person, number, and honorifics. The combination of suffixation and sometimes auxiliary verbs enables Nepali verbs to capture a wide array of cultural nuances. For example, verbs can inflect to denote not only the time of an action but also its duration, completion status, and the speaker's attitude towards it. Additionally, Nepali verbs also inflect for honorifics to reflects the speaker's respect for the subject.
Nepali verbs inflect to encode: Tense, Aspect, Mood, Person, Number, Gender and Honorifics.
Tense (काल)
In Nepali, verbs exhibit three tenses to signify the timing of an action in relation to the moment of speaking: Past (भुत काल), Present (वर्तमान काल) and Future (भविष्यत काल).
Past (भुत काल): खायो (khaa-yo)
Present (वर्तमान काल): खान्छ (khaa-n-cha)
Future (भविष्यत काल): खानेछु (khaa-ne-chu)
Aspect (पक्ष)
While tense tells us when an action occurs, aspect tells us how that action unfolds or is perceived. In Nepali, verbs can be inflected to express 4 aspects: Perfect (पूर्ण पक्ष), Habitual (अभ्यस्त पक्ष), Imperfect (अपूर्ण पक्ष) and Inferential (अज्ञात पक्ष).
Perfect Aspect (पूर्ण पक्ष)
The perfect aspect of a verb indicates that the action has been completed prior to the current moment. In Nepali grammar, the presence of the suffix "एको" (eko) signals the perfect aspect. Notably, the suffix "एको" (eko) undergoes inflection to match the number (singular or plural) and gender (masculine or feminine) of the subject involved in the action. Examples: खाएको (khaa-eko), खाएका (khaa-yeka)
Examples of Perfect Aspect (पूर्ण पक्ष) Verbs
खाएको (kha-eko) - masculine, singular
खाएका (kha-eka) - masculine, plural
खाएकी (kha-eki) - feminine, singular
खाएका (kha-eko) - feminine, plural
Imperfect Aspect (अपूर्ण पक्ष)
Imperfect aspect denotes an action that is in progress or ongoing. In Nepali grammar, this aspect is indicated by specific suffixes such as "दै" (dai), "दो" (do), "दी" (dii), and "दा" (da). These suffixes serve to highlight the ongoing nature of the action, suggesting that it is not yet complete or finalized. Examples: खाँदै (khaa-dai), खाँदा (khaa-daa)
Examples of Imperfect Aspect (पूर्ण पक्ष) Verbs
खाँदो(kha-do), खाँदै(kha-dai) - masculine, singular
खाँदा(kha-da), खाँदै(kha-dai) - masculine, plural
खाँदी(kha-di), खाँदै(kha-dai) - feminine, singular
खाँदा(kha-da), खाँदै(kha-dai) - feminine, plural
Habitual Aspect (अभ्यस्त पक्ष)
Habitual aspect depicts actions that occur regularly or habitually. It conveys the idea of actions that are customary or repeatedly performed. In Nepali grammar, the habitual aspect is represented by variants of the suffixes "छ" (cha) and "थ्" (th). These suffixes inflect to encode the person, number, gender, and levels of honorifics associated with the subject.
Examples of Habitual Aspect (अभ्यस्त पक्ष) Verbs
खान्छु (kha-n-chu), खान्थे (kha-n-the) - first person, inclusive, singular
खान्छौ (kha-n-chau) - first person, inclusive, plural
खान्थिस् (kha-n-this) - second person, masculine, singular
खान्थ्यौ (kha-n-theu) - second person, masculine, plural
खान्थ्यो (kha -n-thyo), खान्थे (kha-n-the) - third person, masculine, singular
खान्थे (kha-n-the) - third person, inclusive, plural
खान्थि (kha-n-thi), खान्थिन् (kha-n-thin) - third person, feminine, singular
Inferential Aspect (अज्ञात पक्ष)
Inferential aspect in Nepali is used to describe actions that have occurred in the past but are only known or inferred in the present, often based on indirect evidence or hearsay. In Nepali grammar, the occurrence of the suffixes "ए" (e) and "इ" (i) between the verb stem and the forms of "छ" (cha) indicates the inferential aspect. These suffixes serve to imply that the action, while not directly observed or experienced, is deduced or inferred to have taken place.
Examples of Inferential Aspect (अज्ञात पक्ष) Verbs
खाएछु (kha-e-chu) - first person, inclusive, singular
खाएछौँ (kha-e-chau)- first person, inclusive, plural
खाएछस् (kha-e-chas) - second person, masculine, singular
खाइछस् (kha-i-chas) - second person, feminine, singular
खाएछौ (kha-e-chau) - second person, inclusive, plural
खाएछ (kha-e-cha) - third person, masculine, singular
खाइछ (kha-i-cha) - third person, feminine, singular
खाएछन् (kha-e-chan) - third person, inclusive, plural
Mood (भाव)
Mood conveys the speaker's attitude or stance towards the content being communicated. In Nepali, verbs exhibit three moods, each indicating a different perspective or intention of the speaker: Imperative (आज्ञार्थ भाव), Optative (इच्छार्थ भाव), and Potential (सम्भावनार्थ भाव).
Imperative Mood (आज्ञार्थ भाव)
Imperative Mood express commands or requests. It is a directive form that directs the listener to perform a certain action. Verbs in the imperative mood undergo inflection to match the number and honorifics associated with the subject or the individual being addressed.
Examples of Imperative Mood (आज्ञार्थ भाव) Verbs
खा (kha) - singular, informal
खानुहोस् (khaanu hos) - singular, formal
खाओ(kha-o) - plural, inclusive
खानुहोस् (khaanu hos) - plural, formal, inclusive
Optative Mood (इच्छार्थ भाव)
Optative mood indicates wishes, hopes, or desires. It allows speakers to express their desires regarding a particular situation or outcome. Optativer forms also undergo inflection to align with the person, number, and level of honorifics involved in the communication.
Examples of Optative Mood (इच्छार्थ भाव) Verbs
खाउँ (kha-u) - first person, singular/plural
खाएस् (kha-esh) - second person, singular
खाए (kha-e) - second person, plural
खाओस् (kha-os) - third person, singular
खाउन् (kha-un) - third person, plural
Potential Mood (सम्भावनार्थ भाव)
Potential mood in language serves as a means to convey the possibility or likelihood of an action occurring. This mood allows for the expression of hypothetical scenarios or speculative statements about what may happen. In Nepali grammar, verbs inflect to indicate the potential mood, adapting to align with the person, gender, and number of the subject involved in the action.
Examples of Potential Mood (सम्भावनार्थ भाव) Verbs
खाउँला (kha-u-la) - first person, inclusive, singular
खाऔँला (kha-aula) - first person, inclusive, plural
खालास् (kha-lash) - second person, masculine, singular
खालिस् (kha-lish) - second person, feminine, singular
खाऔला (kha-aula) - second person, inclusive, plural
खाला (kha-la) - third person, masculine, singular
खाली (kha-li) - third person, feminine, singular
खालान् (kha-lan) - third person, inclusive, plural
Person
In Nepali grammar, verbs undergo inflection in agreement with person. It distinguishes between the first person (the speaker), the second person (the recipient or addressee), and the third person (others not involved in the conversation). Person verbs also demonstrate variations based on mood, tense, aspect, and number. In addition, second and third person verbs also inflect for gender and grades of honorifics.
Examples of First Person Verbs
खाए (kha-e) - past tense, singular
खान्छु (kha-n-chu) - present tense, singular
खानेछु (kha-ne-chu) - future tense, singular
खायौँ (kha-you) - past tense, plural
खान्छौँ (kha-n-chau) - present tense, plural
खाने छौँ (kha-ne-chau) - future tense, plural
Examples of Second Person Verbs
खाइस् (kha-i-sh) - past tense, inclusive, singular
खान्छस् (kha-n-chas) - present tense, masculine, singular
खान्छेस् (kha-n-ches) - present tense, feminine, singular
खानेछस् (kha-ne-chas) - future tense, masculine, singular
खानेछेस् (kha-ne-ches) - future tense, feminine, singular
खायौ (kha-you) - past tense, inclusive, plural
खान्छौ(kha-n-chau) - present tense, inclusive, plural
खाने छौ (kha-ne-chau) - future tense, inclusive, plural
Examples of Third Person Verbs
खाइस् (kha-i-sh) - past tense, inclusive, singular
खान्छस् (kha-n-chas) - present tense, masculine, singular
खान्छेस् (kha-n-ches) - present tense, feminine, singular
खानेछस् (kha-ne-chas) - future tense, masculine, singular
खानेछेस् (kha-ne-ches) - future tense, feminine, singular
खायौ (kha-you) - past tense, inclusive, plural
खान्छौ(kha-n-chau) - present tense, inclusive, plural
खाने छौ (kha-ne-chau) - future tense, inclusive, plural
Number
Nepali verbs exhibit agreement with the subject in terms of number: singular and plural.
Examples of Singular Verbs
खाइस् (kha-i-sh) - past tense, inclusive
खान्छस् (kha-n-chas) - present tense, masculine
खान्छेस् (kha-n-ches) - present tense, feminine, singular
Examples of Plural Verbs
खायौ (kha-you) - past tense, inclusive, plural
खान्छौ(kha-n-chau) - present tense, inclusive, plural
खाने छौ (kha-ne-chau) - future tense, inclusive, plural
Gender
Verbs inflect to demonstrate two forms of gender agreement: masculine and feminine, reflecting the gender of the subject. This distinction is particularly evident in the conjugation of verbs for the second and third person singular forms.
Honorifics
In Nepali language, honorifics play a significant role in social interactions, influencing verb forms to express different levels of respect in speech. Second and third person verb forms can undergo inflection to reflect three distinct grades of honorifics: casual, familiar, and respectful. These honorifics are chosen based on the level of formality and the relationship between the speaker and the listener.
Casual Honorifics
Casual honorifics are used when addressing juniors or friends in a casual setting. The language used is informal and relaxed, reflecting a close relationship between the speaker and the listener.
तँ (You, singular) - Casual Honorific
तँ खान्छस् (kha-n-chas)
Familiar Honorifics
The second grade of honorific, familiar honorifics, is employed when speaking to friends, acquaintances, or colleagues. It is more formal compared to casual honorifics and is considered appropriate for most social interactions.
तिमी (You, singular) - Familiar Honorific
तिमी खान्छौ (kha-n-chau)
Respectful Honorifics
Respectful honorifics are used while addressing seniors or elders, as well as individuals deserving of utmost respect. Verbs inflected with respectful honorifics exhibit a high level of respect and formality.
हजुर (You, singular) - Respectful Honorific
हजुर खानुहोस् (kha-nu-hos)