Learn How to use tense in Nepali Sentences

In this video, we provide a clear and comprehensive explanation of how tenses are used in the Nepali language. You’ll learn how to express actions that are happening right now, events that took place in the past, and activities that will occur in the future. By understanding these tense patterns, you’ll be able to form sentences more accurately and confidently. This lesson is designed to make your Nepali speaking sound clearer, more natural, and grammatically correct, helping you communicate with ease in everyday conversations.

What is Time in Language

Every language uses time words like yesterday, today, tomorrow, now, before, and after.
In Nepali, verbs change form according to time.

For example:
Ma garchhu. → I do. (Present)

Maile gare. → I did. (Past)

Ma garnechhu. → I will do. (Future)

These small changes in the verb show when the action happens.

Talking About the Present

Daily Habits and Routines

We use the present tense to talk about daily life or habits.

Words like roj, prati din, hamesha, and aksar (always, every day, often) go with present tense.

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
I study Nepali every day.	Ma prati din Nepali padhchhu.	म प्रत्येक दिन नेपाली पढ्छु।
He always drinks milk in the morning.	Uha sadhai bihana dudh khanuhunchha	उहाँ सधैँ बिहान दूध खानुहुन्छ।

Ongoing Actions

When something is happening right now, we use Present Continuous Tense.

Ongoing Actions

When something is happening right now, we use Present Continuous Tense.

Common time words: ahile, aile samaya ma, yo bela.

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
I am studying right now.	Ma ahile paddai chhu	म अहिले पढ्दै छु।
He/She is speaking.	Uha boldai hunuhunchha	उहाँ बोल्दै हुनुहुन्छ।

Recently Finished Actions or Experiences

For actions that started before and continue now, or for experiences, we use Present Perfect Tense.

Common time words: ahile samma, dekhi, bhayeko chha, pahila dekhi.

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
I have been learning Nepali for two years.	Ma dui barsha dekhi Nepali sikdai aayeko chhu.	म दुई वर्षदेखि नेपाली सिक्दै आएको छु।
He/She has already watched that movie.	Uhale tyo chalchitra pahilai herisaknu vayeko cha	उहाँले त्यो चलचित्र पहिल्यै हेरीसक्नुभएको छ।

Talking About the Past

Completed Actions

Use Past Simple Tense for actions that are finished.

Time words: hijo, pahila, gai sakeko, bihana.

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
I ate momo yesterday.	Maile hijo momo khae.	मैले हिजो मोमो खाएँ।
He used to live in Kathmandu.	Uha pahila Kathmandu ma basthyo	उहाँ पहिले काठमाडौंमा बस्नु हुँथ्यो।

Actions Before Another Past Action

When you talk about something that happened before another past action, use Past Perfect.

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
I had studied before the exam started.	Maile pariksha suru huna agadi padhisakeko thie	मैले परीक्षा सुरु हुनुअघि पढिसकेको थिएँ।
I had reached home before he came.	Uha auna agadi ma ghar pugisakeko thie.	उहाँ आउनुअघि म घर पुगिसकेको थिएँ।

Talking About the Future

Plans and Predictions

Use Future Simple to talk about plans, hopes, or what will happen.

Common words: bholi, pachhi, agami, bistaari.

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
I will go to the market tomorrow.	Ma bholi bazaar janu chhu.	म भोलि बजार जान्छु।
He/She will come to Nepal.	Uha nepal aunu hunecha	उहाँ नेपाल आउनुहुनेछ।.

Future Ongoing Actions

Use Future Continuous to talk about actions happening at a certain future time.

Common words: bholi yo samaya, aaune hapta, pachhi.

English	Romanized Nepali	Nepali
I will be teaching class at this time tomorrow.	Bholi yes samayama ma kakchya liraheko hunechu	भोलि यस समयमा म कक्षा लिइरहेको हुनेछु।
They will be travelling next week	Uniharu arko hafta yatra gariraheka huncehan	उनीहरू अर्को हप्ता यात्रा गरिरहेका हुनेछन्।