-न थाल्नु

Starting to Do Something

Level 3Sounds Like na thālnu

-न थाल्नु means start doing something.

How It Works

थाल्नु means begin. After a -न verb it names the start of an action: पानी पर्न थाल्यो (it started to rain).

DoerPast form
ऊ (man)रुन थाल्यो
ऊ (woman)रुन थाली
उनी (woman)रुन थालिन्
उनीहरूरुन थाले
हामीरुन थाल्यौँ

-न लाग्नु works the same way and means almost the same thing: ऊ रुन लाग्यो. In speech -न लाग्नु is very common for things that start by themselves, such as rain or tears, and -न थाल्नु often fits a task someone begins. The two overlap a lot.

The action that starts can be anything: खान थाल्नु (start eating), पढ्न थाल्नु (start studying).

Use the -न form before थाल्नु, not the -नु form: रुन थाल्यो, not रुनु थाल्यो.

Examples (5)

  1. ऊ रुन थाल्यो।

    He started to cry.

    थाल्यो carries the past tense.

  2. पानी पर्न थाल्यो।

    It started to rain.

    पर्न थाल्यो describes the weather.

  3. सरिता नेपाली सिक्न लागिन्।

    Sarita started to learn Nepali.

    -न लाग्नु is the close alternative.

  4. हामी हाँस्न थाल्यौँ।

    We started to laugh.

    थाल्यौँ agrees with हामी.

  5. बच्चा हाँस्न लाग्यो।

    The child started to laugh.

    लाग्यो also fits sudden starts.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the -नु form before थाल्नु.

    ऊ रुनु थाल्यो।
    ऊ रुन थाल्यो।

    Use the -न form before थाल्नु.

  • Not agreeing with a woman.

    सरिता रुन थाल्यो।
    सरिता रुन थालिन्।

    थाल्यो goes with a man. For a woman at the उनी level, such as सरिता, the past is थालिन्.

How It Connects

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

-न थाल्नुLevel 3Starting to Do Something

Learn This First

-न थाल्नु means starting.