In Nepali, auxiliary verbs (सहायक क्रिया, sahayak kriya) are used to add meaning or grammatical function to the main verb in a sentence. An auxiliary verb is “a verb such as be, do, and have used with main verbs to show tense, etc. and to form questions, and negatives”, according to the Oxford Learners’ Dictionary.
It has two auxiliary verbs:
Modal auxiliary verbs ‘मोडेल सहायक क्रियाहरू’ ‘mōḍēla sahāyaka kriyāharū’
Modal auxiliary verbs do not need to be conjugated for tense or subject-verb agreement. A modal auxiliary verb is used specifically to express possibility, capability, willingness, or permission
To express ability, permission, necessity, etc.
Structure: Modal auxiliary + Base form of main verb
- I can swim.
- You should study for the test.
- We must leave now.
To form negatives:
Structure: Modal auxiliary + “not” + Base form of main verb
- He cannot drive a car.
- They should not go there.
To form questions:
Structure: Modal auxiliary + Subject + Base form of main verb
- Can you help me?
- Should we wait?
Primary auxiliary verbs प्राथमिक सहायक क्रियाहरू’Prāthamika sahāyaka kriyāharū’
Primary auxiliary verbs, also known as primary helping verbs, are a specific category of auxiliary verbs that are used to form various verb tenses, question forms, negative forms, and the passive voice.
To form continuous tenses:
Structure: Auxiliary verb + Present participle (verb+ing)
- She is running fast.
- They were singing beautifully.
To form perfect tenses:
Structure: Auxiliary verb + Past participle (verb in 3rd form)
- He has eaten lunch.
- We had finished the task.
To form negatives:
Structure: Auxiliary verb + “not” + Main verb
- I do not like coffee.
- She was not working yesterday.
To form questions:
Structure: Auxiliary verb + Subject + Main verb
- Is she coming?
- Have they arrived?
| Verbs | English | Nepali | Romanized |
| Be | I am reading a book. | म किताब पढ्दै छु। | Ma kitab padhdai chu. |
| They are playing football. | उनीहरू फुटबल खेल्दैछन्। | Uniharu football kheldaichan. | |
| Have | She has finished her homework. | उनले गृहकार्य समाप्त गरिसकिन्। | Uni le grihakarya samapta garisakin. |
| We have been waiting for an hour. | हामी एक घण्टादेखि पर्खिरहेका छौं। | Haami ek ghantadeekhi parkhiraheka chhau. | |
| Do | Do you like coffee? | के तिमीलाई कफी मन पर्छ? | Ke timilai coffee man parchha? |
| He does not go to school on Saturdays. | ऊ शनिबार स्कुल जान्न। | U Shanibaar school jaandaina. | |
| Will | I will call you tomorrow. | म भोलि तिमीलाई फोन गर्नेछु। | Ma bholi timilai phone garnechu. |
| Will they attend the meeting? | के उनीहरू बैठकमा सहभागी हुनेछन्? | Ke uniharu baithakma sahabhagi hunechan? | |
| Can | You can do it! | तिमी यो गर्न सक्छौ! | Timi yo garna sakchhau! |
| Can I help you? | के म तिमीलाई मद्दत गर्न सक्छु? | Ke ma timilai maddat garna sakchhu? | |
| Should | You should study hard. | तिमी मेहनत गरेर पढ्नुपर्छ। | Timi mehnat garera padhnuparcha. |
| Should we wait for them? | के हामी उनीहरूको पर्खाइमा बस्नुपर्छ? | Ke haami uniharuko parkhaima basnuparcha? |
