Formation and Structure of Simple Past

The Simple Past tense in Nepali Grammar is formed by inflecting verbs based on the subject. To conjugate the verb, one must take the verb root and attach the appropriate suffix corresponding to the subject’s gender, number, and person. The following paragraphs discuss each element in detail.

Verb Root Extraction

In order to form the Simple Past tense, the first step is to identify and extract the verb root from the given verb. Nepali verbs have two parts: the root and the infinitive suffix. Removing the infinitive suffix (“-nu” for most verbs) reveals the root.

Example:

Verb: खानु (khānu, meaning “to eat”)
Root: खा (khā)

Suffixes for Simple Past Conjugation

After extracting the root, the next step involves appending the correct suffix according to the subject’s gender, number, and person. Here are the commonly used suffixes for the Simple Past tense:

First Person Singular:

Suffix: -ए (-e)
Example: खाए (khāe, meaning “I ate”)

Second Person Singular:

Suffix: -यौ (-yau)
Example: खायौ (khāyau, meaning “you ate”)

Third Person Singular Male:

Suffix: -यो (-yo)
Example: खायो (khāyo, meaning “he ate”)

Third Person Singular Female:

Suffix: -ई (-ī)
Example: खाई (khāī, meaning “she ate”)

First and Third Person Plural:

Suffix: -ए (-e)
Example: खाए (khāe, meaning “we/they ate”)

Second Person Plural:

Suffix: -यौ (-yau)
Example: खायौ (khāyau, meaning “you all ate”)

Usage of Simple Past Tense in Nepali

Just like in any other language, Nepali employs the Simple Past tense to describe actions or events that were completed in the past. It is used in various contexts, such as:

Completed Actions:

For actions that occurred and finished in the past, the Simple Past tense is employed.

Example: म गाउँ गएँ (ma gāun̐ gaẽ, meaning “I went to the village”)

Series of Past Actions:

When narrating a sequence of events that happened in the past, the Simple Past tense is used to describe each event.

Example: म बजारमा गएँ, सामान किने र घर फर्किएँ (ma bajārma gaẽ, sămān kine ra ghar pharkieẽ, meaning “I went to the market, bought some things, and came back home”)

Past Habits:

To express habits or routines from the past, the Simple Past tense is utilized.

Example: मेरो बाजे हरेक बिहान बेलुकामा हिँड्न जानुहुन्थ्यो (mero bāje harek bihān belukāmā hin̐ḍna jānuhuntạ̄ẏo, meaning “My grandfather used to go for a walk every morning”)

Conclusion

Mastering the Simple Past in Nepali Grammar is a crucial aspect of learning the Nepali language. By understanding the verb root extraction process, conjugation rules, and proper usage, learners can effectively communicate past events and actions, improving their overall proficiency in the language.