Learning a new language can be a rewarding experience, and one of the most important aspects is understanding the common verbs used in daily conversation. Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language spoken predominantly by people in the Indian state of Maharashtra, is rich in its vocabulary and cultural heritage. If you are an English speaker looking to learn Marathi, familiarizing yourself with common verbs is essential. This article aims to introduce you to some of the most frequently used verbs in Marathi, along with their meanings and usage in sentences.
Introduction to Marathi Verbs
Verbs are the backbone of any language. They describe actions, occurrences, and states of being. In Marathi, verbs are conjugated based on tense, mood, and the subject of the sentence. This conjugation can change the form of the verb significantly. Understanding these basic verbs will help you build a strong foundation for further learning.
Common Marathi Verbs
Let’s explore some of the most common Marathi verbs that are essential for basic communication.
1. करणे (Karaṇe) – To Do
One of the most versatile and commonly used verbs in Marathi is “करणे” (Karaṇe), which means “to do.”
– Example: मी काम करतो (Mī kāma karato) – I am doing work.
– Example: तू काय करतोस? (Tū kāya karatosa?) – What are you doing?
2. जाणे (Jāṇe) – To Go
Another essential verb is “जाणे” (Jāṇe), meaning “to go.”
– Example: मी बाजारात जाणार आहे (Mī bājārāta jāṇāra āhe) – I am going to the market.
– Example: ती शाळेत जाते (Tī śāḷēta jāte) – She goes to school.
3. येणे (Yeṇe) – To Come
The verb “येणे” (Yeṇe) means “to come.”
– Example: तो उद्या येईल (To udyā yeīla) – He will come tomorrow.
– Example: कृपया आत या (Kṛpayā āta yā) – Please come inside.
4. बोलणे (Bolṇe) – To Speak
“बोलणे” (Bolṇe) is the verb for “to speak” or “to talk.”
– Example: मी मराठीत बोलतो (Mī marāṭhīta bolato) – I speak in Marathi.
– Example: आपण इंग्रजी बोलता का? (Āpaṇa iṅgrajī bolatā kā?) – Do you speak English?
5. पाहणे (Pāhaṇe) – To See
The verb “पाहणे” (Pāhaṇe) means “to see” or “to look.”
– Example: मी चित्रपट पाहिला (Mī citrapaṭa pāhilā) – I saw a movie.
– Example: आपण हे पाहू शकता (Āpaṇa he pāhū śakata) – You can see this.
6. खाणे (Khāṇe) – To Eat
“खाणे” (Khāṇe) is the verb for “to eat.”
– Example: मी फळ खाल्ले (Mī phaḷa khālle) – I ate a fruit.
– Example: तुला भूक लागली आहे का? (Tulā bhūka lāgalī āhe kā?) – Are you hungry?
7. पिणे (Piṇe) – To Drink
The verb “पिणे” (Piṇe) means “to drink.”
– Example: मी पाणी पितो (Mī pāṇī pito) – I am drinking water.
– Example: ती चहा पिते (Tī cahā pite) – She drinks tea.
8. लिहिणे (Lihiṇe) – To Write
“लिहिणे” (Lihiṇe) is the verb for “to write.”
– Example: मी पत्र लिहितो (Mī patra lihito) – I am writing a letter.
– Example: आपण कागदावर लिहा (Āpaṇa kāgadāvara lihā) – Write on the paper.
9. वाचणे (Vācaṇe) – To Read
The verb “वाचणे” (Vācaṇe) means “to read.”
– Example: मी पुस्तक वाचले (Mī pustaka vācale) – I read a book.
– Example: आपण हे वाचू शकता (Āpaṇa he vāchū śakata) – You can read this.
10. समजणे (Samajṇe) – To Understand
“समजणे” (Samajṇe) is the verb for “to understand.”
– Example: मला हे समजते (Malā he samajate) – I understand this.
– Example: आपण हे समजता का? (Āpaṇa he samajata kā?) – Do you understand this?
Conjugation of Marathi Verbs
Understanding the basic verbs is just the beginning. Marathi verbs are conjugated according to various factors like tense (past, present, future), subject (I, you, he, she, we, they), and mood (indicative, imperative, subjunctive). Let’s take a look at how some of these verbs are conjugated in different tenses.
Present Tense
– करणे (Karaṇe) – To Do
– मी करतो (Mī karato) – I do
– तू करतोस (Tū karatosa) – You do
– तो करतो (To karato) – He does
– ती करते (Tī karate) – She does
– आम्ही करतो (Āmhī karato) – We do
– ते करतात (Te karatāta) – They do
Past Tense
– जाणे (Jāṇe) – To Go
– मी गेलो (Mī gelo) – I went
– तू गेलास (Tū gelāsa) – You went
– तो गेला (To gelā) – He went
– ती गेली (Tī gelī) – She went
– आम्ही गेलो (Āmhī gelo) – We went
– ते गेले (Te gele) – They went
Future Tense
– येणे (Yeṇe) – To Come
– मी येईन (Mī yeīn) – I will come
– तू येशील (Tū yeśīla) – You will come
– तो येईल (To yeīla) – He will come
– ती येईल (Tī yeīla) – She will come
– आम्ही येऊ (Āmhī yeū) – We will come
– ते येतील (Te yetīla) – They will come
Usage in Daily Conversation
Knowing the verbs and their conjugations is one thing, but using them in daily conversations is where the real learning happens. Here are some sample sentences to illustrate how these common verbs can be used in everyday Marathi conversation:
– मी सकाळी लवकर उठतो (Mī sakālī lavakara uṭhato) – I get up early in the morning.
– तू आज कोणते काम करतोस? (Tū āja koṇate kāma karatosa?) – What work are you doing today?
– तिला शिकायला आवडते (Tilā śikāyalā āvaḍate) – She likes to learn.
– आपण उद्या भेटू (Āpaṇa udyā bheṭū) – We will meet tomorrow.
– ते चित्रपट पाहत आहेत (Te citrapaṭa pāhata āheta) – They are watching a movie.
Practice Exercises
To reinforce your learning, it’s important to practice. Here are a few exercises to help you get started:
1. Translate the following sentences into Marathi:
– I am eating an apple.
– She will go to the market.
– They are writing a letter.
– We understand Marathi.
– He drank water.
2. Conjugate the verb “बोलणे” (Bolṇe) – To Speak in the past tense for all subjects (I, you, he, she, we, they).
3. Use the verb “वाचणे” (Vācaṇe) – To Read in a sentence describing an action you do regularly.
Conclusion
Mastering the common verbs in Marathi is a crucial step towards becoming proficient in the language. These verbs form the basis of many daily conversations and understanding their conjugations will enable you to communicate more effectively. Remember to practice regularly and immerse yourself in the language as much as possible. Happy learning!
