आजी आल्या / बाबा आले

Showing Respect with the Plural

Level 2Sounds Like ājī ālyā / bābā ālē

The pronouns change too: तो becomes ते and ती becomes त्या.

How It Works

PlainRespectful
तो आला (he came)ते आले (he came, respectful)
ती आली (she came)त्या आल्या (she came, respectful)
आजी आलीआजी आल्या
बाबा आलाबाबा आले
सर आहेसर आहेत

The main verb takes the plural ending (आले, आल्या, जातात), and so does the helper verb (आहेत, होते, होत्या).

Use the respectful plural when you talk about elders and teachers. The speaker's gender does not change it. When you speak to someone as तुम्ही, the verb has its own plural form: तुम्ही आलात.

Pronouns follow the verb. त्या शिक्षिका आहेत means she is a teacher. Translate it with she, because the plural shows respect for one person.

The helper verb follows the same rule: आजोबा घरी आहेत (Grandpa is at home), आजी घरी होत्या (Grandma was at home).

A friend's name takes the plain form: सई आली. A relationship word or a title usually takes the respectful plural: सर आले, ताई आल्या.

Examples (5)

  1. आजी आल्या.

    Grandma came.

    आल्या is the respectful plural of आली.

  2. बाबा आले.

    Dad came.

    आले is the respectful plural of आला.

  3. सर वर्गात आले.

    The teacher came into the class.

    आले is the respectful plural.

  4. आजी रोज देवळात जातात.

    Grandma goes to the temple every day.

    जातात is the respectful plural of जाते.

  5. काका आत्ताच आले.

    Uncle has just come.

    आले is the respectful plural.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the masculine plural for a grandmother.

    आजी आले.
    आजी आल्या.

    आजी is a woman, so the respectful plural is आल्या. आले is the plural for a man.

  • Using the feminine plural for a father.

    बाबा आल्या.
    बाबा आले.

    बाबा is a man, so the respectful plural is आले. आल्या is the plural for a woman.

How It Connects

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

आजी आल्या / बाबा आलेLevel 2Showing Respect with the Plural

Learn This First

A respected person is spoken of with plural verbs.