घण्टा / दिन / पटक
Counting Time and Times
A number plus घण्टा, दिन, हप्ता, महिना, वर्ष or पटक tells how long or how many times.
How It Works
These time words count how long or how often. They come after a number and need no postposition: दुई घण्टा (two hours), तीन दिन (three days), चार हप्ता (four weeks), पाँच महिना (five months), छ वर्ष (six years) and एक पटक (once, one time).
म दुई घण्टा पढ्छु means I study for two hours. उनी तीन दिन बिरामी थिए means he was sick for three days. म पोखरामा तीन दिन बसेँ means I stayed in Pokhara for three days. English says for, but Nepali usually says nothing.
To say how often in a period, put मा after the period: हामी हप्तामा दुई पटक बजार जान्छौँ (we go to the market twice a week).
Be careful with मा after the count. दुई घण्टामा means in or within two hours, as for a deadline, and not for two hours.
Examples (4)
- म दुई घण्टा पढ्छु।
I study for two hours.
दुई घण्टा needs no postposition.
- म पोखरामा तीन दिन बसेँ।
I stayed in Pokhara for three days.
तीन दिन tells how long.
- हामी हप्तामा दुई पटक बजार जान्छौँ।
We go to the market twice a week.
मा follows the period हप्ता, not the count.
- उनी तीन दिन बिरामी थिए।
He was sick for three days.
थिए is the past of छ that goes with उनी.
Common Mistakes
Learners add मा to the count and change the meaning.
म दुई घण्टामा पढ्छु।म दुई घण्टा पढ्छु।दुई घण्टामा means in or within two hours. For two hours, use no postposition.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Counting time uses numbers and counters.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice घण्टा / दिन / पटक in Bubblegum
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