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In today’s lesson, we will learn how to conjugate the verb पढ्नु (paḍhnu) — meaning “to read” in Nepali. This is one of the most commonly used verbs, and mastering its conjugation will help you confidently express actions in different tenses.
By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to say:
- म पढ्छु (I read)
- उसले पढ्दै छ (He/She is reading)
- हामी पढ्नेछौं (We will read)
- र अनेक अन्य रूपहरू (and many more forms)
Every Nepali verb has a root form (infinitive) that ends in -नु (-nu). For the reading verb:
The stem — the part we modify for different tenses — is पढ् (paḍh). All conjugations build from this stem.
What is the infinitive form of the reading verb in Nepali?
Can you identify the stem that will be used for conjugation?
The present tense is used for habitual actions and general statements. Here’s how to conjugate पढ्नु (paḍhnu) in present tense:
Note: Notice how the stem पढ् (paḍh) remains constant, but we add different suffixes for each person: -छु, -नुहुन्छ, -छ, -छौं, -नुहुन्छ, -छन्
Try conjugating the verb for your own person. What does “I read” sound like?
Can you spot the pattern in how the endings change based on person and number?
Practice saying each form out loud — how does your pronunciation feel?
Nepali verbs also conjugate for past and future tenses. Here’s a quick overview of the reading verb in these tenses:
- मैले पढें (mailē paḍhē) — I read
- उसले पढ्यो (usale paḍhyo) — He/She read
- हामीले पढ्योम् (hāmīle paḍhyom) — We read
- म पढ्नेछु (ma paḍhnēchu) — I will read
- उसले पढ्नेछ (usale paḍhnēcha) — He/She will read
- हामी पढ्नेछौं (hāmī paḍhnēchaun) — We will read
Notice how the future tense uses -नेछु instead of -छु. What pattern do you observe?
Create a sentence using the simple past tense. Example: “I read a book yesterday.”
Compose a sentence using future tense. Example: “We will read together tomorrow.”
Master these three essential elements of the reading verb conjugation to build your Nepali foundation.
The infinitive is पढ्नु (paḍhnu). The stem पढ् (paḍh) is what you modify for conjugation. Understanding this foundation is key to mastering all verb forms.
Add different suffixes for tense: -छु (present), -नेछु (future), -यो/-ें (past). The stem stays constant while the endings change to express different time frames.
Each person (I, you, he/she, we, they) gets its own ending. Master these patterns and you’ll recognize them in all Nepali verbs you encounter.
- Practice writing each conjugation form 5 times
- Speak each form aloud to develop pronunciation
- Create sample sentences using different tenses
- Compare this verb’s patterns with other infinitives to build pattern recognition
Here are some real-world sentences using the reading verb:
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