Bangla 101: Lesson 002: Present Tense

Verb Formation

In bangla, learning the right verb to use is crucial (I find it crucial!). Verb changes not just according to tense but also according to the pronoun use. If in English language, we just have to learn the verb formation according to past, future and present tense, in bangla you need to know the tenses and the pronouns and if it is for formal or informal conversation.

There are different rules in Verb Formation, and for easier recall and understanding, verb root are group into six, 1) initial – where letter “a” is in the beginning of the verb; 2) middle – letter “a” is in the middle; 3) Final – letter “a” is in ending; 4) others – verbs with different ending and doesn’t fall under 1 or 2; 5) consonant ending; and 6) long verbs – verb root that are 2 syllables.

Verb Root
1. Initial:
aS = come
an = bring

2. Middle
thak = leave / stay (keep
jan = know
par = can, able

3. Final
kha = eat, drink, smoking, taking medicines, any action of putting something inside/thru the mouth
ja = go
Pa = get, receive
Ca = want

4. Others
ne = take
de = give

5. Consonant ending
Sekh = learn
Lekh = write
khel = play
dEkh = look, see, watch
bOl = say, speak, talk
POR = read
kOr = do
bOS = sit
oTh = get up
Son = listen
Bojh = understand

6. Long verbs
ghuma = sleep
Cala = drive
bana = make, prepare
Patha = send
doWra = run

Note: C =ch, S = sh, s = s


PRESENT TENSE; present action; habitual action

Rules Formation:

1. Verbs with “a” initial, middle, final position and long verbs: V.R. + personal ending

V.R. = 1st = 2nd formal = 2nd informal = 3rd formal = 3rd informal
aS (come) = aSi = aSen = aSo = aSen = aSe
thak (stay) = thaki = thaken = thako = thaken = thake
ja (go) = jay = jan = jaw= jan =jaY
ghuma (sleep) ghumay = ghuman = ghumaw = ghuman = ghumaY

2. For consonant ending verbs, only 1st person is exception, it will be H.S.(high stem) + ending but other persons same as before V.R. + ending

a = e; E = e; e = i; O = o; o = u

V.R. = 1st = 2nd formal = 2nd informal = 3rd formal = 3rd informal
Sekh (learn) = Sikhi = Sekhen = Sekho = Sekhen = Sekhe
lekh (write) = likhi = lekhen = lekho =lekhen = lekhe
khEl (play) = kheli = khElen = khElo = khElen = khEle
bOl (speak) = boli = bOlen = bOlo = bOlen = bOle
oth (get up) = uthi = othen = otho = othen = othe

Exception:

ne (take) = ney = nen =new = nen = neY
de (give) = dey = den = dew = den = deY

negative: add “na”
ami bujhi na = I understand no = I don’t understand