गर / गर्नुहोस्

Commands and Polite Requests

Level 1Sounds Like gara ra garnuhōs

Two command forms: one for friends and one for people you respect.

How It Works

The command forms follow the same two levels as the present.

StemFriend (तिमी)Polite (तपाईं)
बस्बसबस्नुहोस्
गर्गरगर्नुहोस्
जाजाऊजानुहोस्
खाखाऊखानुहोस्
पिउपिऊपिउनुहोस्

A consonant stem adds a short a for a friend: बस्, then बस. A vowel stem adds -ऊ: जा, then जाऊ. A few common verbs have their own friend's forms, so learn those as you meet them.

The polite form works as a request in shops and tea houses: चिया दिनुहोस् (please give me tea). It is the safest form with a stranger.

Avoid the bare stem as a command with strangers and elders. It is the very plain level, and a learner who says खा to a stranger sounds rude.

Examples (5)

  1. तिमी यहाँ बस।

    Sit here.

    बस् plus a short a is the friend's command.

  2. तपाईं यहाँ बस्नुहोस्।

    Please sit here.

    -नुहोस् is the polite request.

  3. चिया पिउनुहोस्।

    Please drink tea.

    The same ending after पिउ.

  4. यहाँ आऊ।

    Come here.

    आउ becomes आऊ for a friend.

  5. तिमी भात खाऊ।

    Eat your rice.

    खा takes -ऊ for a friend.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the bare vowel stem with तिमी.

    तिमी भात खा।
    तिमी भात खाऊ।

    The bare stem खा is the very plain level, for a child or a very close friend. With तिमी, use खाऊ.

  • Using the friend's form with someone you respect.

    तपाईं यहाँ बस।
    तपाईं यहाँ बस्नुहोस्।

    तपाईं needs the polite -नुहोस्.

How It Connects

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

गर / गर्नुहोस्Level 1Commands and Polite Requests

Learn This First

Commands are shaped from the stem and the polite present.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.