-ब as a Noun

Actions as Nouns

Level 3Sounds Like ba (kriyārthaka san̄jñā)

The -ब form can name an action, like "studying" or "singing" in English.

How It Works

The -ब form works as a noun. It has no ending for number or gender, and it stands alone.

SentenceMeaning
पढ़ब नीक बात अछि।Studying is a good thing.
भोरे उठब देह लेल नीक अछि।Getting up early is good for you.
हमरा गाबब नीक लगैत अछि।I like singing.
नव भाषा सीखब कठिन अछि।Learning a new language is hard.

The same form can be the future with हम or अहाँ: काल्हि हम पढ़ब (Tomorrow I will study). The sentence tells you which one it is. When a thing like पढ़ब or गाबब is what the sentence is about, it is the noun.

When the action describes a noun, change -ब to -बाक, as the next entry shows: पढ़बाक समय (time to study).

Hindi uses -ना: पढ़ना, गाना. Maithili uses -ब for the same job.

Examples (5)

  1. पढ़ब नीक बात अछि।

    Studying is a good thing.

    पढ़ब is the subject.

  2. भोरे उठब देह लेल नीक अछि।

    Getting up early is good for you.

    उठब names the action.

  3. हमरा गाबब नीक लगैत अछि।

    I like singing.

    गाबब as the thing liked.

  4. बेसी माछ खाएब ठीक नहि।

    Eating too much fish is not good.

    खाएब as the subject.

  5. नव भाषा सीखब कठिन अछि।

    Learning a new language is hard.

    सीखब as the subject.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Hindi -ना.

    पढ़ना नीक बात अछि।
    पढ़ब नीक बात अछि।

    -ना is Hindi. Maithili uses the -ब form.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-ब as a NounLevel 3Actions as Nouns

Learn This First

The action noun has the same -ब shape as the dictionary form and the future.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.