Verb Endings Show Respect and Person

FoundationsSounds Like kriyā mē ādara

Verb endings show how much respect the doer gets, and who is doing the action.

How It Works

A verb usually matches the person doing it. In Maithili, matching means respect more than gender.

PersonPresentPast of जाएब
हम, अहाँजाइत छीगेलहुँ
तोँ (close)जाइत छहगेलह
ओ, respectedजाइत छथिगेलाह (man), गेलीह (woman)
ओ, plainजाइत अछिगेल

Use the respectful form for parents, teachers, guests and anyone older. Use the plain form for small children, animals and things.

The same word ओ can mean someone you respect or someone you do not. The verb tells you which. ओ छथि means he or she is a respected person, while ओ अछि means a child, a close friend or a thing.

Choose one form for each person and keep to it for the whole conversation.

Examples (5)

  1. बाबूजी आबि गेलाह।

    Father has come.

    -लाह is the respectful past of a moving verb.

  2. बउआ आबि गेल।

    The little boy has come.

    The plain past गेल is for a child.

  3. काकी चिट्ठी पढ़लनि।

    Aunt read the letter.

    -लनि is the respectful past of a verb that takes an object.

  4. नेहा किताब पढ़ैत छथि।

    Neha is reading a book.

    छथि shows respect for Neha.

  5. तोँ कतय जाइत छह?

    Where are you going, friend?

    -ह is the ending for close friends.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the plain verb for an elder.

    दादी आबि गेल।
    दादी आबि गेलीह।

    A plain verb about a grandmother sounds rude. Use the respectful ending.

How It Connects

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

Verb Endings Show Respect and PersonFoundations

Learn This First

Respect is shown on the verb, and the verb comes last, so the basic sentence order comes first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

छीछहछथिअछिगेल