Do you know how to make a sentence in Punjabi? Learn Punjabi verbs and their different forms to write a grammatically correct sentence.
How do you find a verb in the present or past tense? It is a simple question with a simple response. A verb is a word that acts – it takes on different forms depending on the tense. Let’s learn some Punjabi verbs and their usage in different tenses.
Sidenote: The Ling app has grammar guides for the Punjabi language. More of that at the end.
Table Of Contents
How Do You Say Verb In Punjabi?
A verb is called kiria (ਕਿਰਿਆ) in Punjabi. The term has Sanskrit roots – it is called Kriya in Sanskrit and Hindi, and means “action.” So, any word that defines an action is called kiriya shabad (action word) in Punjabi.
What Are All Forms Of Punjabi Verbs?
Verbs are words in a sentence that describe an action and the time the act occurred. Like in other languages, Punjabi verbs are a form of stem verbs. In the example “The student goes to school”, Vidi’ārathī sakūla jāndā hai (ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਸਕੂਲ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ), the verb “goes” defines the action of going.
Punjabi Intransitive Verbs
In a sentence, if you are not using a verb with a direct object, it is called an intransitive verb. Only nouns, pronouns, and noun phrases are direct objects. Thus, an intransitive verb is the total opposite of a transitive verb. Some phrases with intransitive verbs are below.
| English | Punjabi | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I am eating | ਮੈਂ ਖਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ | Maiṁ khā rihā hāṁ |
| She is dancing | ਉਹ ਨੱਚ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ | Uha naca rahī hai |
| They are reading | ਉਹ ਪੜ੍ਹ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ | Uha paṛha rahē hana |
| We are talking | ਅਸੀਂ ਗੱਲ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ | Asīṁ gala kara rahē hāṁ |
Punjabi Transitive Verbs
In a sentence, a transitive verb is followed by a direct object. The direct object is a word or phrase that gets the verb’s action. The direct object in the sentence “The friends eat cake” the direct object is “cake,” and the verb is “eat.” Direct objects can be found in action and stative verbs, working as transitive verbs. Some of the transitive verbs are below.
| English | Punjabi | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Turn on the motor | ਮੋਟਰ ਚਾਲੂ ਕਰੋ | Mōṭara cālū karō |
| He is pushing the car | ਉਹ ਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਧੱਕਾ ਦੇ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ | Uha kāra nū dhakā dē rihā hai |
| I am holding a pen | ਮੈਂ ਕਲਮ ਫੜੀ ਹੋਈ ਹਾਂ | Maiṁ kalama phaṛī hō’ī hāṁ |
| We are eating cake | ਅਸੀਂ ਕੇਕ ਖਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ | Asīṁ kēka khā rahē hāṁ |
| They are teaching Punjabi | ਉਹ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਪੜ੍ਹਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ | Uha pajābī paṛhā rahē hana |
Tenses: Present, Past, And Future
Each verb has a tense ਕਾਲ to indicate the moment when the verb’s action occurs. A tense has three forms: present, past, and future. Present tense denotes that the verb’s action occurred or is occurring in the present, past tense indicates that the verb’s action occurred or was occurring in the past, and future tense denotes that the action will occur or would have occurred in the future.
Examples:
- Present Tense
I am playing cricket: Maiṁ krikaṭa khēḍa rihā hāṁ (ਮੈਂ ਕ੍ਰਿਕਟ ਖੇਡ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ).
In this example the verb is “playing” or Khēḍaṇā (ਖੇਡਣਾ).
I jumped in the lake: Maiṁ jhīla vica chāla māra ditī (ਮੈਂ ਝੀਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਛਾਲ ਮਾਰ ਦਿੱਤੀ).
The verb in this example is “jumped” or Chāla māra ditī (ਛਾਲ ਮਾਰ ਦਿੱਤੀ).
I will go to the shop: Maiṁ dukāna’tē jāvāṅgā (ਮੈਂ ਦੁਕਾਨ ‘ਤੇ ਜਾਵਾਂਗਾ).
“Go” or Jāṇā (ਜਾਣਾ) is the verb in this future tense sentence.
How Do You Conjugate Verbs In Punjabi?
When you conjugate a verb, it simply means that you change the verb to make a phrase make sense. Correctly conjugated verbs communicate the phrase’s meaning to the reader or listener. In Punjabi, you have to conjugate verbs all the time to communicate diverse meanings.
For beginners, conjugation in Punjabi can be challenging, but it is easy to understand after learning the fundamental concepts. The verb “to be,” which is Hōnā (ਹੋਣਾ) in Punjabi, is the most crucial weapon in conjugation, as it is in many languages.
In their infinitive (non-conjugated) form, all Punjabi verbs finish in -ਨਾ (na) or -ਣਾ (ṇa), which is equal to the “to verb” form. To conjugate the verbs, you must remove the -ਨਾ/-ਣਾ ending and replace them with alternative endings.
The main verb, “to be” or Hōnā (ਹੋਣਾ) has its usage in Punjabi phrases and is placed after the sentence with its proper form. The form varies depending on the type of personal pronoun.
Conjugating the verb “to be” in the following present tense is a good example of how important verb conjugation is in grammar. The verb “to be” has to change according to the sentence.
| English | Punjabi | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I am quiet | ਮੈਂ ਚੁੱਪ ਹਾਂ | Maiṁ cupa hāṁ |
| You are quiet | ਤੁਸੀਂ ਚੁੱਪ ਹੋ | Tusīṁ cupa hō |
| He is quiet | ਉਹ ਚੁੱਪ ਹੈ | Uha cupa hai |
| She is quiet | ਉਹ ਚੁੱਪ ਹੈ | Uha cupa hai |
| They are quiet | ਉਹ ਚੁੱਪ ਹਨ | Uha cupa hana |
Frequently Asked Questions About Punjabi Verbs
What Is Verb In Punjabi?
In the Punjabi language, verbs are known as kiria (ਕਿਰਿਆ). They change their form based on tense, mood, aspect, and gender of the noun to agree with the subject of the sentence.
How Many Types Of Verbs Are There In Punjabi?
There are three main verb types in the Punjabi grammar based on their functions within sentences. Action verbs express physical or mental actions that someone or something does (e.g., run, think, write). Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a noun, adjective, or complement that describes or identifies the subject (e.g., be, seem, appear). Helping verbs, also known as auxiliary verbs, assist the main verb in forming different tenses, moods, or voices (e.g., can, will, have).
What Are The Top 10 Verbs?
Some commonly used verbs in Punjabi are:
- To do – karna (ਕਰਨਾ)
- To be – hona (ਹੋਣਾ)
- To take – laina (ਲੈਣਾ)
- To give – dena (ਦੇਣਾ)
- To go – jana (ਜਾਣਾ)
- To come – auna (ਆਉਣਾ)
- To eat – khana (ਖਾਣਾ)
- To read – Parhna (ਪੜ੍ਹਨਾ)
- To write – likhna (ਲਿਖਣਾ)
- To speak – bolna (ਬੋਲਣਾ)
In Summary
Verbs in Punjabi are a must-learn for anybody hoping to become fluent in the language and have meaningful conversations with native speakers. Verbs are the building blocks of sentences, allowing us to convey our thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Learning Punjabi verbs is a great way to increase your vocabulary and usage of the language. Learning some useful verbs in Punjabi can help you connect with the local culture and make the most of your time there.
Finally, learning a new language improves one’s cognitive capacities, including memory, problem-solving skills, and self-confidence in learning that language and in other areas of life!
Memorize Punjabi Verbs Now!
It is essential to use innovative techniques when learning a new language. Apps save money compared to buying a bunch of pricey language-learning books. Moreover, language apps also serve as a great motivator and reminder to start studying every day. The Ling app is an example of such a feature-rich app.
With the Ling app, you may learn everything there is to know about the Punjabi language. You can understand fast grammatical principles referring to vocabulary and conjugate forms. Moreover, it offers exciting mini-games, AI-based chatbots, and entertaining quizzes to keep you engaged in learning the Punjabi language.
