Tense and Aspect
Nepali verbs show when something happens and whether it is ongoing or finished.
How It Works
Think of two questions. When? Present, past or future. How does it unfold? As a plain fact, as something still going on, or as something finished.
| Meaning | Example | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Plain present | म भात खान्छु | stem + -छु |
| Going on now | म भात खाँदै छु | stem + -दै + छु |
| Plain past | मैले भात खाएँ | stem + -एँ |
| Finished, with a result now | मैले भात खाएको छु | -एको + छु |
| Future | म भात खानेछु | stem + -नेछु |
Most of these have their own entries. You do not need all of them at once. The simple present is enough for the first lessons, and the past, the future and the ongoing forms come one at a time.
The plain present also covers habits and near plans, so म भोलि जान्छु can mean “I am going tomorrow”.
Examples (5)
- म भात खान्छु।
I eat rice.
The plain present: stem खा, न् and -छु.
- म भात खाँदै छु।
I am eating rice.
-दै and छु show an action in progress.
- मैले भात खाएँ।
I ate rice.
The plain past of a verb with an object takes ले with the doer.
- मैले भात खाएको छु।
I have eaten rice.
-एको छु joins a finished action to now.
- म भोलि भात खानेछु।
I will eat rice tomorrow.
-नेछु makes the future.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Tense and aspect describe how a verb is shaped, so the verb stem comes first.
Related Patterns
Practice Tense and Aspect in Bubblegum
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