INTRODUCTION
Past tense is one of the three tenses in Nepali, used to denote or express actions that happened or occurred in the past. It can also be used to denote a state that existed. Nepali also uses this tense to describe a past habitual action, and to express one’s unawareness of a scenario. In Nepali, the past tense is called भूत काल (bhūt kāl). For example, statements below in English all denote actions that happened or states that existed (verbs in italics):
John ate the cake.
Mary was going to an adventure.
I was a doctor.
In addition, Nepali also uses two additional aspects to denote either unawareness or past habituality:
John was a doctor, I didn’t know that. [In Nepali, this phrase is conjugated into the verb itself]
John used to be a doctor.
Thus, the past tense is used to denote a sense of the ‘past’ time. There are five aspects of past tense:
- Past indefinite tense
- Past progressive tense
- Past perfect tense
- Past unknown tense
- Past habitual tense
Now, we shall see how verbs will conjugate according to the grammatical person used.
VOCABULARY
खानु (khānu) = To eat
रोक्नु (roknu) = To stop
म (ma) = I
हामी (hāmī) = We
तँ (tam̐) = You (low respect)
तिमी (timī) = You (medium respect)
तपाईँ (tapāīm̐) = You (high respect)
ऊ (ū) = He/ She (neutral respect)
उनी (unī) = He/ She (medium respect)
उहाँ (uhām̐) = He/ She (high respect)
उनीहरू (unī-harū) = They (medium respect)
EXTRACTING THE ROOT OF THE VERB
We first get the lemma, or the basic form of the verb. Now, we simply remove the -नु (-nu) from the verb to obtain the root of the verb. For example:
खानु (khānu) > खा (khā) [Root ending in a vowel sound] /to eat/
रोक्नु (roknu) > रोक् (rok) [Root ending in a consonant sound] /to stop/
EXCEPTIONS
The verb हुनु (hunu) or ‘to be’ in Nepali is irregular and thus does not follow the conjugation rules given below (except for past habitual tense). Thus, you should not try to conjugate this verb. Another verb, जानु (jānu) or ‘to go’, also behaves slightly differently in past aspects (other than past progressive and past habitual). The root ग (ga) should be used instead of जा (jā) for the indefinite, perfect and unknown aspects.
Other verbs are regular and you can apply the rules below for all the other verbs. High honour forms may take different conjugations.
PAST INDEFINITE TENSE
The past indefinite tense, also known as simple past tense, is a tense used to describe actions in past time that happened at a specific time. In Nepali, it is called सामान्य भूत काल (sāmānya bhūt kāl). For example in English, a statement in past indefinite tense would be:
John ate the cake.
Steps
- If the root ends in a single vowel sound, remove it. If the root is polysyllabic (i.e. has more than one syllable) and ends in an –a or an –i sound, e.g. बिर्स (birsa), discard that sound as well. E.g. बिर्स (birsa) > बिर्स् (birs). Otherwise, skip this step. Example: आउ (āu) > आ (ā)
- Add the required suffix (or ending) to the modified root obtained in step 1. depending on the grammatical person. Remember that adding a vowel to a consonant sound creates a syllable. Example: न् (n) + ए (e) = ने (ne)
I: म (ma), add एँ (em̐)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + एँ (em̐) = रोकेँ (rokem̐)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + एँ (em̐) = खाएँ (khāem̐)
आउनु (āunu) = आ (ā) + एँ (em̐) = आएँ (āem̐)
We: हामी (hāmī), add यौँ (yaum̐)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + यौँ (yaum̐) = रोक्यौँ (rokyaum̐)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + यौँ (yaum̐) = खायौँ (khāyaum̐)
You (low respect): तँ (tam̐), add इस् (is)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + इस् (is) = रोकिस् (rokis)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + इस् (is) = खाइस् (khāis)
You (medium respect): तिमी (timī), add यौ (yau)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + यौ (yau) = रोक्यौ (rokyau)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + यौ (yau) = खायौ (khāyau)
He (neutral respect): ऊ (ū), add यो (yo)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + यो (yo) = रोक्यो (rokyo)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + यो (yo) = खायो (khāyo)
She (neutral respect): ऊ (ū), add ई (ī)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + ई (ī) = रोकी (rokī)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + ई (ī) = खाई (khāī)
He/She/They (medium respect): उनी (unī) and उनीहरू (unī-harū), add ए (e) if masculine or इन् (in) if feminine
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + ए (e) = रोके (roke)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + ए (e) = खाए (khāe)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + इन् (in) = रोकिन् (rokin)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + इन् (in) = खाइन् (khāin)
You/He/She/They (high respect): तपाईँ (tapāīm̐) and उहाँ (uhām̐), leave the basic form intact and add भयो (bhayo) [EXCEPTION]
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक्नु (roknu) + भयो (bhayo) = रोक्नुभयो (roknubhayo)
खानु (khānu) = खानु (khānu) + भयो (bhayo) = खानुभयो (khānubhayo)
PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE
The past progressive tense, also known as past continuous tense, is a tense used to describe actions in past time that was happening as of then. In Nepali, it is called अपूर्ण भूत काल (apūrṇa bhūt kāl). For example in English, a statement in past progressive tense would be:
John was eating the cake.
Steps
- If the root ends in a syllable or a vowel sound, add ँ (m̐) to the last syllable. If the root ends in a consonant sound, skip this step. For example: खा (khā) + ँ (m̐) = खाँ (khām̐)
- Add दै (dai) to the end of the modified root obtained in step 1.
- Add a space ( ).
- Now add थि (thi).
- Concatenate the required ending to the modified root obtained in step 4 depending on the grammatical person. These suffixes are identical to the ones in past indefinite tense. Note that these suffixes or endings are really just different forms of the verb ‘thiyo’.
The below are demonstrations on how you can carry this out.
I: म (ma), add (थि)एँ ((thi)em̐)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + दै (dai) + [space] + [थि (thi) + एँ (em̐)] = रोक्दै थिएँ (rokdai thiem̐)
खानु (khānu) = [खा (khā) + ँ (m̐)] + दै (dai) + [space] + [थि (thi) + एँ (em̐)] = खाँ (khām̐) + दै (dai) + [space] + थिएँ (thiem̐) = खाँदै थिएँ (khām̐dai thiem̐)
He (neutral respect): ऊ (ū), add (थि)यो ((thi)yo)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + दै (dai) + [space] + थियो (thiyo) = रोक्दै थियो (rokdai thiyo)
खानु (khānu) = खाँ (khām̐) + दै (dai) + [space] + थियो (thiyo) = खाँदै थियो (khām̐dai thiyo)
You/He/She/They (high respect): तपाईँ (tapāīm̐) and उहाँ (uhām̐), add हुनुहुन्थ्यो (hunuhunthyo) [EXCEPTION]
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + दै (dai) + [space] + हुनुहुन्थ्यो (hunuhunthiyo) = रोक्दै हुनुहुन्थ्यो (rokdai hunuhunthiyo)
खानु (khānu) = खाँ (khām̐) + दै (dai) + [space] + हुनुहुन्थ्यो (hunuhunthiyo) = खाँदै हुनुहुन्थ्यो (khām̐dai hunuhunthiyo)
PAST PERFECT TENSE
The past perfect tense is a tense used to describe actions completed prior to some past point of time specified or implied. In Nepali, it is called पूर्ण भूत काल (pūrṇa bhūt kāl). For example in English, a statement in past perfect tense would be:
John had eaten the cake.
Steps
- If the root ends in a single vowel sound, remove it. If the root is polysyllabic (i.e. has more than one syllable) and ends in an –a sound, e.g. बिर्स (birsa), turn that into an -i sound, i.e. बिर्स (birsa) > बिर्सि (birsi). If else the root ends in a consonant or syllable sound, skip this step. For example: आउ (āu) = आ (ā)
- Add एको (eko)/ एकी (ekī)/ एका (ekā) to the end of the modified root obtained in step 1. The first for neutral/masculine singular, the second for feminine singular and the third for plural cases. Remember that the consonant will take on a diacritic while taking up the vowel sound.
- Add a space ( ).
- Add the required ending to the modified root obtained in step 3 depending on the grammatical person. These suffixes are identical to the ones in past progressive tense, along with the थि (thi). Note that these suffixes or endings are really just different forms of the verb ‘thiyo’.
I: म (ma), add (थि)एँ ((thi)em̐)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + एको (eko) + [space] + थिएँ (thiem̐) = रोकेको थिएँ (rokeko thiem̐)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + एको (eko) + [space] + थिएँ (thiem̐) = खाएको थिएँ (khāeko thiem̐)
आउनु (āunu) = आ (ā) + एको (eko) + [space] + थिएँ (thiem̐) = आएको थिएँ (āeko thiem̐)
He (neutral respect): ऊ (ū), add (थि)यो ((thi)yo)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + एको (eko) + [space] + थियो (thiyo) = रोकेको थियो (rokeko thiyo)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + एको (eko) + [space] + थियो (thiyo) = खाएको थियो (khāeko thiyo)
You/He/She/They (high respect): तपाईँ (tapāīm̐) and उहाँ (uhām̐), leave the verb intact, add भ (bha), then add एको (eko) [or its forms], and finally add थियो (thiyo) [EXCEPTION]
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक्नु (roknu) + भ (bha) + एको (eko) + [space] + थियो (thiyo) = रोक्नुभएको थियो (roknubhaeko thiyo)
खानु (khānu) = खानु (khānu) + भ (bha) + एको (eko) + [space] + थियो (thiyo) = खानुभएको थियो (khānubhaeko thiyo)
PAST UNKNOWN TENSE
The past unknown tense is a tense used to describe actions which occurred in the past but the event remains unknown prior to the speaker’s awareness. In Nepali, it is called अज्ञात भूत काल (ajñāt bhūt kāl) [pronounced agyāt]. For example in English, a statement in past unknown tense would be:
John ate the cake, it seems.
If you notice a pattern, the conjugations are mostly the same as for present indefinite tense, except you need to add an ए (e) before it.
Steps
- If the root ends in a single vowel sound, remove it. If the root is polysyllabic (i.e. has more than one syllable) and ends in an –a or an –i sound, e.g. बिर्स (birsa), discard that sound as well. E.g. बिर्स (birsa) > बिर्स् (birs). If the root ends in a consonant or syllable sound, skip this step. For example: आउ (āu) = आ (ā)
- Add the required ending to the modified root obtained in step 1 depending on the grammatical person. Remember to change the vowel sound as well, if necessary.
I: म (ma), add एछु (echu)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + एछु (echu) = रोकेछु (rokechu)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + एछु (echu) = खाएछु (khāechu)
आउनु (āunu) = आ (ā) + एछु (echu) = आएछु (āechu)
We: हामी (hāmī), add एछौँ (echaum̐)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + एछौँ (echaum̐) = रोकेछौँ (rokyaum̐)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + एछौँ (echaum̐) = खाएछौँ (khāyaum̐)
You (low respect): तँ (tam̐), add एछस् (echas) ifmasculine or इछेस् (iches) if feminine
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + एछस् (echas) = रोकेछस् (rokechas)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + एछस् (echas) = खाएछस् (khāechas)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + इछेस् (iches) = रोकिछेस् (rokiches)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + इछेस् (iches) = खाइछेस् (khāiches)
You (medium respect): तिमी (timī), add एछौ (echau)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + एछौ (echau) = रोकेछौ (rokechau)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + एछौ (echau) = खाएछौ (khāechau)
He (neutral respect): ऊ (ū), add एछ (echa)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + एछ (echa) = रोकेछ (rokecha)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + एछ (echa) = खाएछ (khāecha)
She (neutral respect): ऊ (ū), add इछे (iche)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + इछे (iche) = रोकिछे (rokiche)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + इछे (iche) = खाइछे (khāiche)
He/She/They (medium respect): उनी (unī) and उनीहरू (unī-harū), add एछन् (echan) if masculine or इछेन् (ichen) if feminine
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + एछन् (echan) = रोकेछन् (rokechan)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + एछन् (echan) = खाएछन् (khāechan)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + इछेन् (ichen) = रोकिछेन् (rokichen)
खानु (khānu) = खा (khā) + इछेन् (ichen) = खाइछेन् (khāichen)
You/He/She/They (high respect): तपाईँ (tapāīm̐) and उहाँ (uhām̐), leave the basic form intact and add भएछ (bhaecha) [EXCEPTION]
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक्नु (roknu) + भएछ (bhaecha) = रोक्नुभएछ (roknubhaecha)
खानु (khānu) = खानु (khānu) + भएछ (bhaecha) = खानुभएछ (khānubhaecha)
PAST HABITUAL TENSE
The past habitual tense is a tense used to describe actions that used to occur or happen in the past repeatedly or as a habit, but may not now. In Nepali, it is called अभ्यस्त भूत काल (abhyasta bhūt kāl). For example in English, a statement in past unknown tense would be:
John used to eat the cake.
- If the root ends in a syllable (consonant-vowel), add न् (n). If the root ends in a single vowel sound, add ँ (m̐) to that vowel instead. If the root ends in a consonant sound, skip this step. For example: खा (khā) + न् (n) = खान् (khān) and आउ (āu) + ँ (m̐) = आउँ (āum̐)
- Add the required suffix (or ending) to the modified root obtained in step 1. depending on the grammatical person.
I: म (ma), add थेँ (them̐)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + थेँ (them̐) = रोक्थेँ (rokthem̐)
खानु (khānu) = [खा (khā) + न् (n)] + थेँ (them̐) = खान्थेँ (khānthem̐)
आउनु (āunu) = [आउ (āu) + ँ (m̐)] + थेँ (them̐) = आउँथेँ (āum̐them̐)
We: हामी (hāmī), add थ्यौँ (thyaum̐)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + थ्यौँ (thyaum̐) = रोक्थ्यौँ (rokthyaum̐)
खानु (khānu) = खान् (khān) + थ्यौँ (thyaum̐) = खान्थ्यौँ (khānthyaum̐)
You (low respect): तँ (tam̐), add थिस् (this)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + थिस् (this) = रोक्थिस् (rokthis)
खानु (khānu) = खान् (khān) + थिस् (this) = खान्थिस् (khānthis)
You (medium respect): तिमी (timī), add थ्यौ (thyau)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + थ्यौ (thyau) = रोक्थ्यौ (rokthyau)
खानु (khānu) = खान् (khān) + थ्यौ (thyau) = खान्थ्यौ (khānthyau)
He (neutral respect): ऊ (ū), add थ्यो (thyo)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + थ्यो (thyo) = रोक्थ्यो (rokthyo)
खानु (khānu) = खान् (khān) + थ्यो (thyo) = खान्थ्यो (khānthyo)
She (neutral respect): ऊ (ū), add थी (thī)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + थी (thī) = रोक्थी (rokthī)
खानु (khānu) = खान् (khān) + थी (thī) = खान्थी (khānthī)
He/She/They (medium respect): उनी (unī) and उनीहरू (unī-harū), add थे (the)
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक् (rok) + थे (the) = रोक्थे (rokthe)
खानु (khānu) = खान् (khān) + थे (the) = खान्थे (khānthe)
You/He/She/They (high respect): तपाईँ (tapāīm̐) and उहाँ (uhām̐), leave the basic form intact and add हुन्थ्यो (hunthyo) [EXCEPTION]
रोक्नु (roknu) = रोक्नु (roknu) + हुन्थ्यो (hunthyo) = रोक्नुहुन्थ्यो (roknuhunthyo)
खानु (khānu) = खानु (khānu) + हुन्थ्यो (hunthyo) = खानुहुन्थ्यो (khānuhunthyo)
SUMMARY
- The past tense is used to denote or express actions that happened or occurred in the past.
- There are five aspects: indefinite, progressive, perfect, unknown and habitual.
- The root can be extracted by removing the –nu from the lemma.
- To this root, we add various suffixes according to the grammatical person.
- The high respect form are exceptions as in, they do not usually follow the standard method. Also, the verbs hunu (to be) and jānu (to go) conjugate differently, as in they use different roots for certain aspects.
- The past indefinite tense, also known as simple past tense, is a tense used to describe actions in past time that happened at a specific time.
- The past progressive tense, also known as past continuous tense, is a tense used to describe actions in past time that was happening as of then.
- The past perfect tense is a tense used to describe actions completed prior to some past point of time specified or implied.
- The past unknown tense is a tense used to describe actions which occurred in the past but the event remains unknown prior to the speaker’s awareness.
- The past habitual tense is a tense used to describe actions that used to occur or happen in the past repeatedly or as a habit, but may not now.
Nepalgo 