The continuous tense in Nepali expresses actions that are happening right now, were happening in the past, or will be happening in the future. This lesson teaches you how to form the continuous tense with both formal and informal registers, using the verb जाना (jana – to go) as your primary example. You’ll learn how pronouns and verb endings change depending on whether you’re speaking casually to friends or politely to elders.
The continuous tense shows an action that is ongoing—happening right now, was happening at a specific moment in the past, or will be happening at a specific time in the future. It emphasizes the process or the duration of the action, not just the completion.
Shows action happening NOW. Example: “I am going” (Ma jadai chu). The action is in progress at this moment.
Shows action that WAS happening at a specific time in the past. Example: “I was going” (Ma jadai thiye). The action was in progress when something else happened.
Shows action that WILL BE happening in the future. Example: “I will be going” (Ma jadai hunechu). The action will be in progress at a future time.
Use these informal forms when speaking with friends, classmates, younger people, or family members of similar age. The pattern is simple and consistent: verb stem + दै + simple auxiliary ending.
| English | Romanized Nepali | Nepali Script |
| PRESENT (Now) | ||
| I am going | Ma jadai chu | म जाँदै छु |
| You are going | Timi jadai chau | तिमी जाँदै छौ |
| He/She is going | Uh jadai cha / Uni jadai chin | ऊ जाँदै छ / उनी जाँदै छिन् |
| We are going | Hami jadai chau | हामी जाँदै छौं |
| They are going | Uniharu jadai chan | उनीहरू जाँदै छन् |
| PAST (Was) | ||
| I was going | Ma jadai thiye | म जाँदै थिएँ |
| You were going | Timi jadai thiyou | तिमी जाँदै थियौ |
| He/She was going | Uh jadai thiyo / Uni jadai thin | ऊ जाँदै थियो / उनी जाँदै थिइन |
| We were going | Hami jadai thiyou | हामी जाँदै थियौं |
| They were going | Uniharu jadai thiye | उनीहरू जाँदै थिए |
| FUTURE (Will Be) | ||
| I will be going | Ma jadai hunechu | म जाँदै हुनेछु |
| You will be going | Timi jadai hunechau | तिमी जाँदै हुनेछौ |
| He/She will be going | Uh jadai hunecha / Uni jadai hunechin | ऊ जाँदै हुनेछ / उनी जाँदै हुनेछिन् |
| We will be going | Hami jadai hunechau | हामी जाँदै हुनेछौं |
| They will be going | Uniharu jadai hunechan | उनीहरू जाँदै हुनेछन् |
Use these formal forms when speaking with teachers, parents, elders, or strangers. Notice how the pronouns change (Tapai, Uha, Uhaharu) and the auxiliary becomes more complex with हुनुहुन्छ structure.
| English | Romanized Nepali | Nepali Script |
| PRESENT (Now) | ||
| I am going | Ma jadai chu | म जाँदै छु |
| You are going (formal) | Tapai jadai hunu huncha | तपाईं जाँदै हुनुहुन्छ |
| He/She is going (formal) | Uha jadai hunu huncha | उहाँ जाँदै हुनुहुन्छ |
| We are going | Hami jadai chau | हामी जाँदै छौं |
| They are going (formal) | Uha haru jadai hunu huncha | उहाँहरू जाँदै हुनुहुन्छ |
| PAST (Was) | ||
| I was going | Ma jadai thiye | म जाँदै थिएँ |
| You were going (formal) | Tapai jadai hunu hunthiyo | तपाईं जाँदै हुनुहुन्थ्यो |
| He/She was going (formal) | Uha jadai hunu hunthiyo | उहाँ जाँदै हुनुहुन्थ्यो |
| We were going | Hami jadai thiyou | हामी जाँदै थियौं |
| They were going (formal) | Uha haru jadai hunu hunthiyo | उहाँहरू जाँदै हुनुहुन्थ्यो |
| FUTURE (Will Be) | ||
| I will be going | Ma jadai hunechu | म जाँदै हुनेछु |
| You will be going (formal) | Tapai jadai hunu hunecha | तपाईं जाँदै हुनुहुनेछ |
| He/She will be going (formal) | Uha jadai hunu hunecha | उहाँ जाँदै हुनुहुनेछ |
| We will be going | Hami jadai hunechau | हामी जाँदै हुनेछौं |
| They will be going (formal) | Uha haru jadai hunu hunecha | उहाँहरू जाँदै हुनुहुनेछ |
Comparing informal and formal side by side helps you understand exactly what changes and when to use each form. Study these examples carefully.
INFORMAL (Friend): Timi jadai chau (तिमी जाँदै छौ) – You are going (casual)
FORMAL (Elder): Tapai jadai hunu huncha (तपाईं जाँदै हुनुहुन्छ) – You are going (respectful)
Difference: Timi → Tapai, simple auxiliary chau → hunu huncha structure
INFORMAL (Friend): Timi jadai thiyou (तिमी जाँदै थियौ) – You were going (casual)
FORMAL (Elder): Tapai jadai hunu hunthiyo (तपाईं जाँदै हुनुहुन्थ्यो) – You were going (respectful)
Pattern: Even past tense keeps the respect structure intact
INFORMAL (Friend): Timi jadai hunechau (तिमी जाँदै हुनेछौ) – You will be going (casual)
FORMAL (Elder): Tapai jadai hunu hunecha (तपाईं जाँदै हुनुहुनेछ) – You will be going (respectful)
Observation: The core jadai stays the same; only register changes
The continuous tense is fundamental to everyday Nepali speech. By mastering both formal and informal versions, you gain flexibility to communicate in any social context—naturally, appropriately, and confidently.
Verb stem + दै (dai) + auxiliary. This formula applies to all continuous tenses, formal or informal.
Pronouns shift (Timi↔Tapai), auxiliaries become complex (simple↔हुनु structure), but core meaning stays constant.
Present (chu/huncha), Past (thiye/hunthiyo), Future (hunechu/hunecha) create temporal meaning.
Speak continuously tense sentences daily. Switch between formal and informal until both feel natural.
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