کو + Language / Skill آنا

Knowing How or Knowing a Language

Level 2

Identify the learner, then the language or skill available to them.

How It Works

The construction can state a skill rather than physical arrival. Context distinguishes knowing Urdu from someone or something literally coming.

An infinitive can name the skill: حساب کرنا is doing arithmetic. This phrase uses آتا. With an unmarked feminine object, both verbs can change: گاڑی چلانی آتی ہے expresses knowing how to drive a car.

Keep this distinct from سکنا. Knowing how to perform a task is not the same as having permission or being able to do it in the current circumstances.

Examples (4)

  1. بلال کو اردو آتی ہے۔

    Bilal knows Urdu.

    The language takes feminine آتی.

  2. مریم کو حساب کرنا آتا ہے۔

    Maryam knows how to do arithmetic.

    The activity phrase takes آتا.

  3. کیا آپ کو تیرنا آتا ہے؟

    Do you know how to swim?

    The question asks about a learned skill.

  4. مجھے یہ کام نہیں آتا۔

    I do not know how to do this task.

    Masculine کام selects آتا despite the marked person.

How It Connects

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

کو + Language / Skill آناLevel 2Knowing How or Knowing a Language

Learn This First

Recognize the کو-marked person who has the skill. Conjugate آنا in the ability construction.

Words in This Pattern

آناکوزبانکام