-ने

Describing with the -ने Form

Level 4Sounds Like nē

The -ने form turns a verb into a describing word.

How It Works

The -ने form works like an adjective made from a verb. It goes right before the noun:

  • गाउने केटी (the girl who sings).
  • पढ्ने कोठा (a room for reading).
  • मैले खाने कुरा (something I will eat).

A doer or an object can come before it, just as in a sentence: नेपाली बोल्ने साथी (a friend who speaks Nepali).

The -ने form does not change with person or number. For a person you respect highly, people often use -नुहुने: हामीलाई नेपाली पढाउनुहुने शिक्षक (the teacher who teaches us Nepali). Use -एको when the action is already finished: मैले किनेको किताब. The same -ने also builds plans (जाने छु) and habits (उठ्ने गर्छ), which have their own entries.

Examples (5)

  1. गाउने केटीको नाम सरिता हो।

    The name of the girl who sings is Sarita.

    गाउने describes केटी.

  2. यहाँ बस्ने ठाउँ छैन।

    There is no place to sit here.

    बस्ने ठाउँ means a place for sitting.

  3. मैले खाने कुरा किनेँ।

    I bought something to eat.

    खाने कुरा means food to be eaten.

  4. पढ्ने कोठा माथि छ।

    The study room is upstairs.

    पढ्ने tells what the room is for.

  5. म नेपाली बोल्ने साथी खोज्दै छु।

    I am looking for a friend who speaks Nepali.

    नेपाली बोल्ने keeps its object.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -ने for something already done.

    हिजो मैले किन्ने किताब राम्रो छ।
    हिजो मैले किनेको किताब राम्रो छ।

    -ने looks forward or shows a habit. A book bought yesterday needs -एको.

How It Connects

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

-नेLevel 4Describing with the -ने Form

Learn This First

The -ने form describes.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.