Bengali grammar can be defined as the analysis of the structure of Bengali language. It belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. Bengali has two forms: cholito bhasha চলিত ভাষা and shadhu bhasha সাধু ভাষা.
Bengali is usually written in the Bengali script, although the English alphabet indicates its pronunciation. This blog will give you a basic idea of how Bengali grammar works so you can start your Bengali learning process.
Table Of Contents
The Bengali Script
Bengali is written in the Bengali script, which is an abugida, obujida (অবুজিদা) writing system where each consonant-vowel cluster is a single symbol. The Bengali script evolved from the Brahmi script and is somewhat similar to other scripts of the Indian subcontinent, such as Devanagari. The script has twelve vowels and thirty-nine consonants.
Vowels (Swaraborno)
Vowels in Bengali can be of two types: independent and dependent. Independent vowels are those that are not joined with any consonant, while dependent vowels are those that are joined to a consonant.
Examples:
Consonants (Benjanabornob)
Bengali consonants are the backbone of the language. Every consonant has an associated vowel sound, which can be changed or removed by the influence of other consonants.
Examples:
Nouns And Pronouns
Bengali nouns are inflected for two numbers, singular and plural, and two genders, masculine and feminine. Like many other languages, Bengali also has different forms of pronouns for each person and number, standard and intimate. Animate nouns in Bengali can be pluralized with the suffix—era, whereas inanimate nouns have no such suffix. However, Bengali pronouns do not differentiate gender, but they do differentiate according to person, degree of intimacy, nearness, and number.
Examples Of Nouns As Biseshon (বিশেষণ)
Examples Of Pronouns As Sarbonam (সর্বনাম)
Verbs And Tenses
Bengali verbs also include mood, tense, person, and a familiar/polite distinction. The verb forms in Bengali are complex, and there are indicative, interrogative, and conditional verb forms. The use of simple present tense is to express habitual or general actions. Bengali verbs can be transitive or intransitive; transitive verbs take an object after them.
Examples:
| Tense | English | Bengali | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present tense | To eat | খাওয়া | khawa | |
| Present tense | I ate | আমি খাই | ami khayachi | |
| Future tense | I will eat | আমি খাবো | ami khabo |
Relative Pronouns And Clause Formation
Bengali relative pronouns connect relative clauses with the main clause. Relative clauses can be constructed with the help of relative pronouns je or jehetu. (যেহেতু) can be either relatively restrictive or non-restrictive. One function of relative pronouns is to join simple and compound sentences.
Examples:
| English | Bengali | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who | যে | je | |
| I know that he/she will come | আমি জানি যে সে আসবে। | ami jani je se asbe |
Relative Pronoun + Main Clause:
The girl whom you know is my friend. – Ei meye jaake tumi chhino se amar bondhu. – এই মেয়ে যাকে তুমি চিনো সে আমার বন্ধু।
Case System And Prepositions
Bengali is a nominative-accusative language, and other cases are also illustrated here. There are no real Bengali prepositions; rather, it has declensional suffixes and postpositions. The locative case is used to express the position or direction of something. Bengali postpositions are employed to show the relative position of one noun to another.
Examples:
Interrogative Sentences And Questions
An indicative statement can be converted into an interrogative statement by adding the particle “ki” after the subject. Like any other language, Bengali questions can be of two types: the yes/no questions and the wh-questions. Interrogative sentences can be used to request information or to clarify something.
Examples:
Modern Bengali Grammar And Usage
Modern Bengali grammar is used in day-to-day conversation, writing, and speaking. It is applied in all four domains, both in writing and speaking, in formal and informal situations. Bengali is spoken and written in education, media, and government.
Common Phrases And Expressions
Acquiring proficiency in using everyday Bengali phrases and expressions can greatly enhance your speaking skills in the language. These common phrases are essential for beginners:
Examples Of Phrases:
| English | Bengali | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thank you | ধন্যবাদ | dhonyobad | |
| How are you? | কেমন আছো? | kemon acho | |
| Goodbye | বিদায় | bidae |
How Do You Say ‘Bengali Grammar’ In Bengali?
In Bengali, ‘Bengali grammar’ is called Bangla Byakatan (বাংলা ব্যাকরণ) and can be pronounced as Bong-la Byah-koh-ron.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Bengali A Difficult Language To Learn?
Bengali is not very difficult to learn and is relatively easier if one has prior knowledge of other South Asian languages. The script may require a while to learn, but the grammar is not complex as there are set rules and not much deviation from the set norms as in the case of other languages.
2. What Are The Key Differences Between Bengali And English Sentence Structure?
Bengali primarily follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) sentence structure, unlike English, which follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order. In Bengali, the verb typically comes at the end of the sentence. For example, the English sentence “I read a book” (SVO) translates to ami boi pori (আমি বই পড়ি), which follows the SOV structure.
3. How Does Gender Work In Bengali Grammar, And Does It Affect Verb Conjugation?
Bengali nouns are also masculine, feminine, and neuter, but gender is not as important in Bengali as it is in Hindi or French. In contrast to those languages, gender does not impact the conjugation of verbs in Bengali. For instance, the verb form does not change according to the gender of the subject. The sentences “He eats” and “She eats” are the same, and the verb does not change according to gender.
Keep On Learning Bengali!
Bengali grammar is a vast and intricate system that must be learned to speak Bengali fluently. Grammar plays an essential role in learning any language, and Bengali is one of the most beautiful and expressive languages in the world; it is worth making the effort to learn it.
If you need to learn more about Bengali grammar, resources like the Ling app can help you. So, what are you waiting for? Take advantage of all the resources available to you, and learn Bengali today!
