Virtual Hindi - Grammar Lesson 3

LESSON 3

1. Singular/Plural; Direct/Oblique; Objective, Possessive

(a) t:Úm: may be used to address one or more people, but its verb concord is always plural.

(b) The most common translation equivalent of A:p: is ‘you’, and it may have either singular or plural reference. Note that with respect to verb concord, A:p: is a third person plural noun.

m:ðra B:aI my brother

t:Úmhari b:hn:ðù your sisters

y:h ekt:ab: m:ðri hò this book is mine

HONORIFIC USAGES

1. Plural concord in a sentence can be a mark of honorific reference, but the only nouns used honorifically in plural number are the masculine when in direct case: e.g.

A:p:kð b:ðXð kòs:ð hòù ? How is your son?

Compare: A:p:ki b:ðXi kòs:i hòù ? How is your daughter?

2. Common uses of the honorific particle j:i are as follows:

(a)

In addressing a person (male or female) to whom one uses A:p:, j:i may be added to the last name: e.g.

v:aj:p:ðy:ij:I, A:p: kòs:ð hòù ? How are you, Mr. Vajpeyi?

When added to a first name, it denotes a certain familiarity: e.g.

Kòs:i hòù raD:a j:i ? How are you, Radha?

(b)

In referring to persons whom one would address A:p:, j:i precedes last names in this case: e.g.

A:p: s:m:y: ram: p:Òs:ad j:i m:ùt:Òi T:ð. At that time, Mr. Ram Prasad was secretary.

The forms Â:i, Â:m:t:i, and km:ari or s:Â:i are also used in the same way as the titles Mr., Mrs., and Miss.

VOCABULARY

ep:t:a	m, father	Yik	correct, all right, fine
m:at:a, m:aú	f, mother	kam:	m, work
skÜl:	m, school	b:òYa	seated, sitting
skÜl: m:ðù	at school	kòs:ð	what sort of ?
p:et:	m, husband	A:p: kòs:ð hòù?	How are you?
p:tn:I	f, wife	AB:i	now
m:at:a-ep:t:a	m. pl., parents	h:ú	yes
B:art:	m, India	n:hiù	no
raj:D:an:i	f, capital	n:m:st:ð, n:m:skar	‘greeting’
m:ùt:Òi	m, secretary, minister	hm: hòù	we are
m:òù húÜ	I am	s:b:	all; everything
us: s:m:y:	at that time	s:b: ekt:ab:ðù	all the books

m:ðra B:aI	my brother
t:Úmhari b:hn:ðù	your sisters
y:h ekt:ab: m:ðri hò	this book is mine

A:p:kð b:ðXð kòs:ð hòù ?	How is your son?
Compare: A:p:ki b:ðXi kòs:i hòù ?	How is your daughter?

In addressing a person (male or female) to whom one uses A:p:, j:i may be added to the last name: e.g.
v:aj:p:ðy:ij:I, A:p: kòs:ð hòù ?	How are you, Mr. Vajpeyi?
When added to a first name, it denotes a certain familiarity: e.g.
Kòs:i hòù raD:a j:i ?	How are you, Radha?

In referring to persons whom one would address A:p:, j:i precedes last names in this case: e.g.
A:p: s:m:y: ram: p:Òs:ad j:i m:ùt:Òi T:ð.	At that time, Mr. Ram Prasad was secretary.