Learning a new language can be an exciting yet challenging endeavor, and understanding the nuances of grammar is an essential part of this journey. Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language spoken predominantly in the state of Maharashtra in India, has its own unique set of grammatical rules. One such aspect is the usage of prepositions of place. Prepositions of place are words that help describe the location of something, and in Marathi, they can be a bit different compared to English. This article aims to demystify prepositions of place in Marathi, providing you with practical examples and usage tips to help you master this aspect of the language.
Understanding Prepositions of Place in Marathi
In Marathi, prepositions of place are often expressed through postpositions. Unlike English, where prepositions typically come before the noun, Marathi uses postpositions that come after the noun. These postpositions are attached to nouns to indicate their relationship with other elements in the sentence.
Common Marathi Postpositions
Here are some common postpositions used in Marathi to indicate place:
1. वर (var) – On/Above
2. खाली (khāli) – Under/Below
3. मध्ये (madhye) – In/Inside
4. बाहेर (bāher) – Outside
5. जवळ (javal) – Near
6. दूर (dūr) – Far
7. समोर (samor) – In front of
8. मागे (māge) – Behind
9. शेजारी (shezāri) – Beside/Next to
10. उजवीकडे (ujavīkade) – To the right
11. डावीकडे (dāvikade) – To the left
Usage and Examples
Let’s delve deeper into each of these postpositions, providing examples to illustrate their usage.
1. वर (var) – On/Above
Usage: This postposition is used to indicate that something is on or above another object.
Example:
– The book is on the table.
– पुस्तक टेबलवर आहे. (pustak ṭēbala var āhē)
2. खाली (khāli) – Under/Below
Usage: This postposition is used to indicate that something is under or below another object.
Example:
– The cat is under the bed.
– मांजर पलंगाखाली आहे. (māṃjar palaṅgākhāli āhē)
3. मध्ये (madhye) – In/Inside
Usage: This postposition is used to indicate that something is inside or in another object or place.
Example:
– The keys are in the drawer.
– किल्ल्या दराजमध्ये आहेत. (killyā darājamadhye āhēt)
4. बाहेर (bāher) – Outside
Usage: This postposition is used to indicate that something is outside another object or place.
Example:
– The children are playing outside.
– मुले बाहेर खेळत आहेत. (mulē bāher khēḷata āhēt)
5. जवळ (javal) – Near
Usage: This postposition is used to indicate that something is near or close to another object or place.
Example:
– The shop is near the school.
– दुकान शाळेजवळ आहे. (dukān śāḷējaval āhē)
6. दूर (dūr) – Far
Usage: This postposition is used to indicate that something is far from another object or place.
Example:
– The village is far from the city.
– गाव शहरापासून दूर आहे. (gāv śaharāpāsūn dūr āhē)
7. समोर (samor) – In front of
Usage: This postposition is used to indicate that something is in front of another object or place.
Example:
– The car is parked in front of the house.
– गाडी घरासमोर उभी आहे. (gāḍī gharāsamor ubhī āhē)
8. मागे (māge) – Behind
Usage: This postposition is used to indicate that something is behind another object or place.
Example:
– The dog is behind the fence.
– कुत्रा कुंपणामागे आहे. (kutrā kumpaṇāmāge āhē)
9. शेजारी (shezāri) – Beside/Next to
Usage: This postposition is used to indicate that something is beside or next to another object or place.
Example:
– The lamp is beside the sofa.
– दिवा सोफाशेजारी आहे. (divā sōphāśezāri āhē)
10. उजवीकडे (ujavīkade) – To the right
Usage: This postposition is used to indicate that something is to the right of another object or place.
Example:
– The bank is to the right of the post office.
– बँक पोस्ट ऑफिसच्या उजवीकडे आहे. (bãka pōsṭ ōphisacyā ujavīkade āhē)
11. डावीकडे (dāvikade) – To the left
Usage: This postposition is used to indicate that something is to the left of another object or place.
Example:
– The hospital is to the left of the library.
– रुग्णालय लायब्ररीच्या डावीकडे आहे. (rugnālay lāyabrarīcyā dāvikade āhē)
Combining Postpositions with Nouns
In Marathi, combining postpositions with nouns often involves using case markers to indicate the relationship between the noun and the postposition. For example, the locative case is used to show the location of an object, and this case often combines with postpositions to form meaningful expressions.
Locative Case Example:
– In the house
– घरात (gharāt)
Here, the locative case marker “आत” (āt) is combined with the noun “घर” (ghar) to form “घरात” (gharāt), meaning “in the house.”
More Examples
Let’s look at more examples to understand the use of prepositions of place in different contexts:
1. On the roof
– छतावर (chhatāvar)
2. Under the bridge
– पुलाखाली (pulākhāli)
3. Inside the car
– गाडीत (gāḍīt)
4. Outside the gate
– गेटच्या बाहेर (gēṭacyā bāher)
5. Near the market
– बाजाराजवळ (bāzārājaval)
6. Far from the railway station
– रेल्वे स्टेशनपासून दूर (relvē sṭēśanpāsūn dūr)
7. In front of the mirror
– आरशासमोर (ārashāsamor)
8. Behind the curtain
– पडद्यामागे (paḍadyāmāge)
9. Beside the tree
– झाडाशेजारी (jhāḍāśezāri)
10. To the right of the entrance
– प्रवेशद्वाराच्या उजवीकडे (praveśadvārācyā ujavīkade)
11. To the left of the fountain
– कारंजाच्या डावीकडे (kārañjācyā dāvikade)
Practice Exercises
To help solidify your understanding of Marathi prepositions of place, try these practice exercises. Translate the following sentences into Marathi:
1. The chair is near the window.
2. The phone is on the desk.
3. The cat is outside the house.
4. The keys are under the mat.
5. The book is in the backpack.
6. The car is parked behind the building.
7. The flowers are in front of the statue.
8. The restaurant is to the right of the cinema.
9. The library is to the left of the park.
10. The children are playing beside the river.
Answers:
1. खुर्ची खिडकीजवळ आहे. (khurcī khiḍakījaval āhē)
2. फोन डेस्कवर आहे. (phōna ḍēskavar āhē)
3. मांजर घराबाहेर आहे. (māṃjar gharābāher āhē)
4. किल्ल्या चटईखाली आहेत. (killyā caṭaīkāli āhēt)
5. पुस्तक बॅगमध्ये आहे. (pustak bægmadye āhē)
6. गाडी इमारतीच्या मागे पार्क केलेली आहे. (gāḍī imārātīcyā māge pārka kēlelī āhē)
7. फुले पुतळ्यासमोर आहेत. (phulē putaḷyāsamor āhēt)
8. रेस्टॉरंट सिनेमाच्या उजवीकडे आहे. (resṭôranṭ sinēmācyā ujavīkade āhē)
9. लायब्ररी उद्यानाच्या डावीकडे आहे. (lāyabrarī udyānācyā dāvikade āhē)
10. मुले नदीशेजारी खेळत आहेत. (mulē nadīśezāri khēḷata āhēt)
Conclusion
Mastering prepositions of place in Marathi involves understanding the role of postpositions and how they interact with nouns. By practicing with common postpositions like वर (var), खाली (khāli), मध्ये (madhye), and others, you can enhance your ability to describe locations and spatial relationships in Marathi effectively. Remember that practice and repetition are key to becoming proficient in using these postpositions. With time and effort, you will find yourself more comfortable and confident in your Marathi language skills. Happy learning!
