Formation of Present Progressive Tense in Marathi

The main building blocks of the Present Progressive tense in Marathi are the root verb, an auxiliary verb, and the appropriate pronoun. To construct an affirmative sentence, follow these steps:

1. Identify the root verb and add the corresponding suffix depending on the gender and plurality of the subject
2. Choose the appropriate auxiliary verb – “असणे” (asaNe)
3. Attach the correct pronoun suitable to the subject

Let’s examine how this structure works with actual verbs and pronouns.

For first-person singular, masculine: To indicate an ongoing masculine action involving oneself, add the suffix “-तो” (to) to the verb. For example,

सांगणे (saNgNe) – to tell
तो (to) – suffix for 1st-person masculine singular
आहे (aahe) – auxiliary verb for 1st person combinations
मी (mi) – pronoun for “I”

Thus, the present progressive sentence becomes:
मी सांगतो आहे (mi saNgto aahe) – I am telling.

Variations Based on Gender and Plurality

As Marathi is a gender-sensitive language, Present Progressive tense variations apply based on the gender and plurality of the subject. Here are the suffixes one must use:

1. First-person singular, masculine: -तो (to)
2. First-person singular, feminine: -ते (te)
3. First-person plural: -तो (to)
4. Second-person singular, masculine: -तोस (tos)
5. Second-person singular, feminine: -तेस (tes)
6. Second-person plural: -ता (taa)
7. Third-person singular, masculine: -तो (to)
8. Third-person singular, feminine: -ते (te)
9. Third-person plural: -तात (taat)

Negative Sentences in Present Progressive Marathi

To form negative sentences in the Marathi Present Progressive tense, simply add “नाही” (naahi) before the auxiliary verb “आहे” (aahe). An example would be:

माझा मित्र घरी आहे (maazhaa mitra ghari aahe) – My friend is at home.
माझा मित्र घरी नाही आहे (maazhaa mitra ghari naahi aahe) – My friend is not at home.

Practical Examples of Present Progressive in Marathi

Here are several examples of the Present Progressive tense in Marathi across various pronouns and verb conjugations:

1. तुम्ही वाचता आहात (tumhii vaachtaa aaHat) – You (plural) are reading.
2. आपण ओळखतो आहोत (aapaN oLakhato aaHot) – We are recognizing.
3. त्याची आई शिकते आहे (tyaachi aaii shikTe aahe) – His mother is learning.
4. ते तसाच जातात (te tasaach zaataat) – They are going the same way.

Conclusion

With diligent practice and a firm grasp on the rules and application of the Present Progressive tense in Marathi grammar, you are well on your way to unlocking a deeper understanding of this vibrant language. By effectively employing the appropriate suffixes, auxiliary verbs, and pronouns, you can confidently express yourself in Marathi, whether describing ongoing actions or conveying current events.