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The verb “to be” in Nepali is one of the most important parts of grammar. The verb “हुनु” (hunu) has multiple forms: छ (chha), हो (ho), थिए (thiyo), हुनेछ (hunechha), and others. This verb is used in almost every sentence to express existence, identity, or state — so understanding it is key to speaking Nepali fluently.
In this lesson, you’ll learn the different forms of “to be” in present, past, and future tenses, as well as expressions of ability and possibility. Mastering these forms will give you a strong foundation for building more complex sentences.
Learn the basic forms of “to be” and their uses. These forms appear frequently across all tenses and are essential for basic sentence construction.
| English | Romanized | Example Sentence |
| Is (Definitive) | Ho | Yo ghar ho. (This is a house.) |
| Am | Hun | Ma bidhyaarthi hun. (I am a student.) |
| May be (Imperative) | Hos | Sabai kuraa thik hos. (May everything be fine.) |
| Was | Thiyo / Thien / Theiinn | Ma hijo yaha thien. (I was here yesterday.) |
| Will be (Future) | Hune | Ma doctor hunechhu. (I will be a doctor.) |
The present tense forms of “to be” express current state or existence. Learn the different forms for different subjects.
| English | Romanized | Example Sentence |
| Is / Has | Chha | Uh yaha chha. (He is here.) |
| Are (plural) | Chhan | Tiniharu bazaarma chhan. (They are at the market.) |
| Am | Chhu | Ma bidhyaalayama chhu. (I am at school.) |
| Are (we/us) | Chhaun | Haami gharma chhaun. (We are at home.) |
Use these forms to talk about past states or conditions. The form changes depending on the subject.
| English | Romanized | Example Sentence |
| Was | Thiyo | Mausam raamro thiyo. (The weather was nice.) |
| Were (plural) | Thiyaun / Thein | Haami bidhyaalayama thiyaun. (We were at school.) |
| Was (female) | Theiinn | Aama gharma theiinn. (Mother was at home.) |
Express future states and predictions. Notice the negative form for “will not be.”
| English | Romanized | Example Sentence |
| Will be | Hunechha | Bholi mausam ramro hunechha. (The weather will be good tomorrow.) |
| Will not be | Hune chhaina | Uh yaha hune chhaina. (He will not be here.) |
| Will be (we/us) | Hunechhaun | Haami bholi tyaha hunechhaun. (We will be there tomorrow.) |
Express what you can or cannot do. The verb “saknu” (to be able to) shows ability and possibility.
| English | Romanized | Example Sentence |
| Can (I) | Sakchhu | Ma Nepali bolna sakchhu. (I can speak Nepali.) |
| Can (he/she/it) | Sakchha | Uh daudana sakchha. (He can run.) |
| Can (we) | Sakchhau | Haami aauna sakchhau. (We can come.) |
| Can (they) | Sakchhan | Uniharu bholi aauna sakchhan. (They can come tomorrow.) |
| Cannot / Not possible | Sakindaina | Yaha dhumrapaan garna sakindaina. (Smoking is not allowed here.) |
Use these forms to express what actions you can or cannot perform. This is one of the most practical uses of “saknu.”
| English | Romanized | Example Sentence |
| Can do (for ‘I’) | Garna sakchhu | Ma yo kaam garna sakchhu. (I can do this work.) |
| Can do (he/she) | Garna sakchha | Usle lekhna sakchha. (He can write.) |
| Cannot be done | Garna sakindaina | Yaha parking garna sakindaina. (Parking is not allowed here.) |
Master these patterns to construct complete sentences using “to be” correctly.
Used for definitive statements about identity.
Example: Ma bidhyaarthi hun. (I am a student.)
Expresses existence or presence in a specific place.
Example: Uh yaha chha. (He is here.)
Describes past conditions or states.
Example: Mausam raamro thiyo. (The weather was nice.)
Expresses future states or professions.
Example: Ma doctor hunechha. (I will be a doctor.)
Shows ability or possibility to perform an action.
Example: Ma Nepali bolna sakchhu. (I can speak Nepali.)
Understanding the auxiliary verb “to be” is essential for building fluency in Nepali.
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Key Point 01
Multiple Forms Exist
“To be” has many different forms across tenses and subjects. Pay attention to subject agreement. |
Key Point 02
Practice All Tenses
Work with present, past, and future forms equally. Each tense appears frequently in real conversations. |
Write 10 sentences about yourself using different forms of “to be” — past, present, future, and ability. Example: “Ma bidhyaarthi hun (I am a student), Ma bidhyaalayama chhu (I am at school), Ma doctor hunechha (I will be a doctor), Ma Nepali bolna sakchhu (I can speak Nepali).”
Create a Reference Chart
Make a chart showing all forms of “to be” across tenses. Keep it visible while studying or practicing.
Practice with Native Speakers
Use these forms in real conversations. Native speakers will help you notice errors and build confidence.
Learn Subject Agreement
Pay close attention to how the verb form changes with different subjects (I, you, he/she, we, they). This is key to accuracy.
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