R

ED 012 811

48

INTRODUCTION TO BENGALI, PART I.

BY- DIMOCK, EDWARD, JR.
AND OTHERS
CHICAGO UNIV., ILL., SOUTH ASIA LANG. AND AREA CTR
REPORT NUMBER NDEA.--VI--153
PUB DATE
EDRS PRICE MF -$1.50 HC$16.04
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64

DESCRIPTORS-- *BENGALI, GRAMMAR, PHONOLOGY, *LANGUAGE

INSTRUCTION, FHONOTAPE RECORDINGS, *PATTERN DRILLS
(LANGUAGE), *LANGUAGE AIDS, *SPEECH INSTRUCTION,

THE MATERIALS FOR A BASIC COURSE IN SPOKEN BENGALI

PRESENTED IN THIS BOOK WERE PREPARED BY REVISION OF AN
EARLIER WORK DATED 1959. THE REVISION WAS BASED ON EXPERIENCE
GAINED FROM 2 YEARS OF CLASSROOM WORK WITH THE INITIAL COURSE
MATERIALS AND ON ADVICE AND COMMENTS RECEIVED FROM THOSE TO
WHOM THE FIRST DRAFT WAS SENT FOR CRITICISM. THE AUTHORS OF
THIS COURSE ACKNOWLEDGE THE BENEFITS THIS REVISION HAS GAINED
FROM ANOTHER COURSE, "SPOKEN BENGALI," ALSO WRITTEN IN 1959,
BY FERGUSON AND SATTERWAITE, BUT THEY POINT OUT THAT THE
EMPHASIS OF THE OTHER COURSE IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE
"INTRODUCTION TO BENGALI." FOR THIS COURSE, CONVERSATION AND
DRILLS ARE ORIENTED MORE TOWARD CULTURAL CONCEPTS THAN TOWARD
PRACTICAL SITUATIONS. THIS APPROACH AIMS AT A COMPROMISE
BETWEEN PURELY STRUCTURAL AND PURELY CULTURAL ORIENTATION.
TAPE RECORDINGS HAVE BEEN PREPARED OF THE MATERIALS IN THIS
BOOK WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE EXPLANATORY SECTIONS AND
TRANSLATION DRILLS. THIS BOOK HAS BEEN PLANNED TO BE USED IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THOSE RECORDINGS. EARLY LESSONS PLACE MUCH
STRESS ON INTONATION WHIM: MUST BE HEARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD.
PATTERN DRILLS OF ENGLISH TO BENGALI ARE GIVEN IN THE TEXT,
BUT BENGALI TO ENGLISH DRILLS WERE LEFT TO THE CLASSROOM
INSTRUCTOR TO PREPARE. SUCH DRILLS WERE INCLUDED, HOWEVER, ON
THE TAPES. (AL)

by Edward C. Dimock, Jr., Somdev

Bhattacharji, and Suhas Chatterjee

A basic course in spoken Bengali,

with emphasis upon speaking and
understanding the language.
Asian Language Series

East-West Center PressHonolulu

$5.00

INTRODUCTION TO BENGALI

PART I

Introduction to Bengali, Part I

By
EDWARD DIMOCK

SOMDEV BHATTACHARJI

SUHAS CHATTERJEE

Published for
the Sauth, Asia

Language and Area Center, University of Chicago

by EASTu4

CENTER'' PRESS

Honolulu

This volume is one in a series of experimental language

textbooks in South Asian Languages written and prepared in the
the South Asia Language and Area Center at the University of
Chicago under contract with the Office of Education* Department of Health, Education* and Welfare* Washington* D.C.
East -West Center Press

The

distributes these volumes for the South

Asia Language and Area Center.

o Copyright by the East-West Center Press

University of Hawaii
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number:

65-2725

Printed in the United States of America

PREFACE

The following materials for a basic course in spoken Bengali

represent a revision of the work first produced by Edward Dimock and
Somdev Bhattacharji and dated September, 1959. This revision has been
made by Edward Dimock, Somdev Bhattacharji, and Suhas Chatterjee, on the
basis of their experience with two years classroom work with the materials, and with the helpful advice and comments of those to whom the
first draft was sent for criticism.
Since the first draft of these materia2 was finished in 1959, the
first several units of Spoken Bengali, by Ferguson and Satterthwaite, as
well as materials for other modern South Asian languages, have become
available.
While we have profited by these, our materials differ somewhat in emphasis from them. As has often been pointed out, a language
with the richness and breadth of Bengali warrants two, or even several,
treatments in teaching materials. Our conversations and drills are
oriented less toward practical situations than toward cultural concepts,
facts of Bengali life and history, and selected grammatical points; to
these considerations we have occasionally sacrificed the illusion of
reality. This does not mean that we neglect the structure of the language and do not attempt to train people to speak. On the contrary, the
heavy emphasis of our basic course is upon speaking and understanding
the language. But in our approach we have aimed at a compromise between
purely structural and purely cultural orientation.

Student aims, as

well as teachers' interests and methods, differ.

All except the explanatory materials and translation drills have
been taped. The use of this book, in fact, assumes the use of these
tapes. Much stress is laid, for example, on intonation, in the early
lessons.
This obviously cannot be understood properly unless it is
neard.

The work also assumes a certain amount of effort on the part of

the instructor. For example, pattern drills, English to Bengali, are
given in the text; Bengali to English drills of the same type are not

vi

(although such drills are included on the tapes). The preparation of

additional types of drills we have left, in this version at least, to
the instructor.
We are greatful to Mr. Richard B. Martin of the language laboratory,
University of Chicago, for his assistance in the preparation of the
taped drills, to our students, for their patience while these materials
were being developed and for their criticism, to Mrs. Arati John, to

Muzaffar Ahmed and Roushan Jahan of the University of Chicago South

Asian Languages Program, for their help with the preparation of the
tapes, to Professor Punya Sloka Ray of the University of Chicago for
his direct help, advice, and constant encouragement, and to various
scholars who have given us their advice and criticism on previous versions of this work. Our thanks also go to the Ford Foundation and the
United States Office of Education, to whom the second draft of this work
was submitted in December, 1961, in fulfillment of contract. However,
it goes without saying that neither of these agencies is in any way responsible for the materials in these pages or for the manner of their
preparation.

Edward C. Dimock, Jr.

Somdev Bhattacharji
Suhas Chatterjee
The University of Chicago
May, 1964

CONTENTS

Page

Introduction
Part I.

Phonology

ix
1

Lesson I

55

Lesson II

71

Lesson III

89

Review I

105

Lesson IV

111

Lesson V

130

Lessen VI

144

Review II

160

Lesion VII

169

Lesson VIII

185

Lesson IX

198

Lesson X

213

Lesson XI

228

Lesson XII

210

Lesson XIII

256

Lesson XIV

266

INTRODUCTION

THE LANGUAGE
The Bengali language is spoken by upwards of seventy millions of
people in the eastern part of the Indian sub-continent; it is a recognized language in both the Republic of India and the Republic of
I.

Pakistan.
Bengali is an Indo-European language, and therefore of the same linguistic lineage as English and the other European languages, though of a
different branch of the family. The branch of the family to which Bengali belongs is called Indo-Iranian; its sub-branch is called Indic In

the Indic family among the modern languages (of which the direct ancestor Is a form of Sanskrit) are Bengali, Hindi, Narathi, Gujarati, iindhi,
Assamese, Oria, Punjabi, Nepali, Sinhalese, and Kashmiri. These languages are closely related to one another, as are, for example, Italian
and Spanish of the European Romance branch of the Indo-European family

There are three other major language families in the sub-continent, the
Dravidian (including 'Paull, Yolugul iialtq;aam, and i,annada), 11L0 ILLbeto
Burman languages of the north-east, and the Austria or Munda family
(tribal languages of central and eastern India).
The immediate origins of the Bengali language are somewhat obscur
The chances are taat it derives directly from an .astern variety of an
Indic language closely related to Sanskrit, perhaps a "dialectical" variety of that language. In any case, in the stages of Indic language
development known as Prakrit and Apabhramsa, it seems clear that in the
eastern areas of the Indian sub - continent -- those areas now occupied by
the states of Bengal, Assam, Orissa, the eastern parts of Bihar, and the
Pakistani province of East Bengal -- divergent forms of language were
developing. The earliest work in Bengali which has been so far discover

For an extensive study of its history, see 8 K. Chatterji, Uri in

and Development of the Bengali Lanpmaga, Calcutta University, 2 vo s*,
1.

3426.

x
ed is that of the so-called carya-padas, late Buddhist religious verses. 2
Some scholars date these songs as early as the 8th centruy, though the
10th century would perhaps be more accurate.
Interestingly, these songs

have been claimed by the Assamese to be in Old Assamese, by speakers of

Oria to be Old Oria, by speakers of Hindi to be Maithali, and by Bengalis
to be Old Bengali.
Bengali has a very long and a very rich literary tradition.
The
high points of Bengali literary accomplishment have been in the periods
of the 14th through the 17th centuries, when a great Vainava religious
literature including lyrics, biographies, and theological treatises was
written, and the 19th and 20th centuries, when Bengali literature underwent a renaissance in contact with Western literary forms.
This is the

period in connection with which such names as Rabindranath Tagore and

Bankim-candra Chatterji are heard.
That Bengali literature has had these peaks does not mean that between them things were stagnant.
On the contrary, in other periods much
literature of interest and often of outstanding quality was being produced: for example, the Carjal-mangal of Mukundaram and the Vidya-sundar
of Bharatcandra. The Muslim rulers of Bengal, who held sway from the beginning of the 13th century until their defeat by the British in 1757,
were in large part ardent patrons of Bengali literature.
Under their
patronage both Hindu and Muslim writers flourished.3
2.

TYPE OF LANGUAGE

The language which you are about to begin learning is called "standard colloquial" Bengali. This is the form of the language which is spoken by a very large number of people throughout both West Bengal and East
Pakistan today, though it includes elements peculiar to West Bengali
speech, and originally was probably the language spoken in and around the
city of Calcutta. This does not mean that it is the only form of the
spoken language which exists.
Dialectical varieties of Bengali occur,
and the dialects of, say, Burdwan district in West Bengal, and Chittagong
2.
The cary'd-padas were discovered in a manuscript in Nepal by M.M.
Haraprasad Shastri.
They have been published several times in Benglai,
and some of them translated into English (Sukumar Sen, Old Bengali Texts

in Indian Linguistics, Calcutta, 1948), and into French 77Shahidullah,

Les chants mystiques, Adrien-Maisoneuve Paris, 1928).
3.
For full discussions, see Sukumar Sen, History of Bengali Literature,
Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, 1960; D.C. Sent History of Bengali Language
and Literature, Calcutta University, 1954; J.C. Ghosh, Bengali Literature,
Oxford University, 1949.

xi

in East Pakistan differ so widely as to be practically unintelligible tc

one another. And, the form of the language spoken in one of the major
dialect areas of East Pakistan, in and around the city of Dacca, differs
from that presented here not only in lexicon, but also to a considerable
extent in phonology and morphology. But the "standard colloquial", or
calit-bhasa, will be spoken and understood by educated people at both
extremes.

THE MATERIALS
Aims
a.
The title of this book is An Introduction to Bengali. We
will not neglect the written language; part of our purpose is to teach
you to read Bengali well, and An Introduction to Bengali, Part II, deals
with this. But it has seemed to us sound practice to introduce you to
the spoken language first. Before we begin to teach you the written
language we want you to be able to carry on simple but reasonably fluent
conversation in Bengali. Thus Part II of this Introduction, the reader,
is designed to follow about five lesson units behind Part I. Our reaFirst, it is assons for putting the spoken language first are three.
sumed that you will be using the spoken language sometime in the future,
that you will at some time be in Bengal. Secondly, the Bengali writing
system is quite as deviant from the pronunciation of the language as is
the English one; to learn to spell Bengali words in Bengali script is
not the most elementary, and therefore not the first, task. Finally,
3.

and perhaps most important, we feel that reading the language will come
easier to you if its sentence patterns have become familiar through
speech.
In other words, when you learn to read you will be able to
think of a Bengali sentence or clause as a unit, and not be forced to
read 'Word by word", trying to fit each word into the sentence pattern
consciously and slowly. The importance of this will be seen when it is
realized that Bengali is a "leftward-branching" language in its clause
and sentence structure; the verb comes at the end of the clause or senIf you first learn to think of the verb as coming in that positence.
tion, your eye will go there automatically; good habits are more easily
established through speech. Further, Bengali is not a highly inflected
language, in which there are many case-endings and other factors to make
the relationships of words to each other obvious; on the contrary, Bengali, like English, is a language in which great subtlety is possible
through syntactic variation. You would be more puzzled by this if you

xii
attempted to go directly to the written language than you will be by mastering the patterns of the spoken Bengali first.
b.

Arrangement of materials.

The arrangement of each unit or lesson within the book is

as follows:
1.

Conversation.

2.

"Build-up", translation, and Bengali.

Grammatical points which occur in the conversation

3.

materials, and syntax diagrams.

Pattern Drills.

4.

Translation drills: English to Bengali.

5.
Vocabulary.
For the first several lessons, the system of taped drills will be outlined in the written text of the lesson as section 2.
The student is expected to deal with this material as follows:
1.
Conversation.

The conversations and other drills are recorded on tape. Before each class, the student should spend time listening to the taped
drills of the lesson, memorizing the sentences and mutations, and preparing himself to be able to reproduce them flawlessly in class.
"Flawlessly" means not only in good grammatical form, but with good
pronunciation and intonation as well. In the class, the instructor will
move around the room, asking each student to reproduce the sentence,
first in English, then in Bengali. As one student repeats, other students should repeat the sentence under their breaths.
If a mistake is
made, both instructor and student should repeat the sentence in full,
with corrections.
The sentences can then be used as conversations, with
the instructor as A and the student as B, or with two students taking
two parts, or with some other arrangement. The conversation is the
base
of the whole lesson. It is necessary, therefore, that the sentences
in
it should be perfected before going on.
2.
Grammatical section.
This section is designed to give variants and to highlight formal types of structure which occur within the basic conversation.
The
grammatical section is not designed to stand alone, but to extend what
has already been memorized. Knowing what is in this section will not
enable you to speak the language.
But occasionally verbal or other
paradigms occur within this section; it will not hurt to memorize these.
It is important that you know what is in this section -- read it with

care, and drill on it where necessary. For the first several lessons
also, there are charts of sentence structure included in the grammar
section.
Go through these charts carefully, forming possible Bengali
sentences.

The instructor may also use these charts as a basis for constructing Bengali sentences for comprehension drill. In such a comprehension drill, the instructor should speak the Bengali sentence; after
him, the student will repeat the sentence and translate it into English.
2.1.

Taped drills.
In addition to saturation, repetition, and response drills on
the sentences of the basic conversation (which will be described in the
text in Lesson 1), there will be on the tapes of each of the first ten
.

lessons a series of "mutation drills". These will be rapid-fire sentences based on the grammar section and designed to fix in your minds
the major grammatical concepts of the lesson.
3.
Pattern drills.
These drills are based upon the sentence patterns which occur
within the conversation, with variation first in vocabulary, and later
with more elaborate variations. The purpose of these is to fix a sen-

tence pattern in the student's mind, so that he can reproduce the pattern automatically, with his concentration only upon the substituted
form or forms. This type of drill is good also for vocabulary. The
instructor will move around the class, drilling each student on the
pattern. It is to be noted that these pattern drills are designed only
as a base; it is expected that the instructor will add variations of his
own.
It is to be noted also that the pattern drills are vertically constructed, so as to constitute a connected conversational sequence: i.e.,
la, 2a, 3a, .etc.; lb, 2b, 3b, etc.
Although the patterns are given only
in English in the text, on the tapes they are arranged as follows:
Bengali
Space for repetition
Bengali
Space for repetition
The student will follow the English with his eye, while listening to and
repeating the Bengali.
Translation drills.
These also are based on the conversation, though they are more
deviant than are the pattern drills.
It is expected that the student
will write these translations out, at first in transliteration and, af4.

ter it has been learned, in the Bengali script.

The vocabulary in the

xiv
last section of each lesson is designed to go with both the pattern
drills and with these translation exercises.
5.
Vocabulary cards.
Flash cards, with a single item and its meaning on each card,
should be made and kept up to date. These cards should be made out in
transliteration and, after it is learned, in Bengali script.
6.
It is to be noted that there are other types of drills
which can be profitably used -- for example, completion drills, in which
a correct but incomplete Bengali sentence is given, to be completed by
the student with the appropriate item or items. It is also expected
that unprepared conversations will be used, in which the instructor supplies a stimulus in the form of a physical object, or in the form of
statements and questions to the students.
Students will answer in Bengali, and, when corrected, repeat the complete Bengali sentence.
c.

The method.

The materials presented here assume that one of the

instructing staff will be a native-speaking Bengali. The following
points should be remembered about this method of instruction, which may
be new to some. First, as will be pointed out again, mimicking the
1.

speech of the Bengali speaker is not insulting or impolite in the learning situation.
On the contrary, it is flattering to him that you want
to learn his language correctly.
Try to imitate his speech as closely
as possible.
It is his native language, and he knows how it should be
spoken.

Secondly, the speech of one Bengali speaker might differ slightly from that of another, just as an American from Boston will speak differently from one from Texas. But as both Bostonians and Texans speak
good American English, so you will speak good Bengali if you imitate the
speech of your instructor.
It is always a temptation for American students to trust their
analytic ability more than their reflexes, and thus to want to think
through each response carefully before making it. This method usually
leads to the correct response, but at the expense of speed. The system
presented here is based on a somewhat different concept. While in no
sense do we discount the value and even the necessity of analysis on the
part of the student in language learning (minds trained to reason will
automatically seek to categorize and classify phenomena, grammatical and
otherwise), we have arranged the material on the theory that by constant
repetition and corrected drill on forms and patterns, a correct response

xv
It will thus be necessary for the student to unlearn
becomes a reflex.
certain habits, to learn to trust his reflexes. He will usually, to his
surprise, find that his responses are right, even though he might not
fully understand why. And do not worry about making mistakes; this also
is part of the learning process, and you will have a chance to correct
yourself.

It is wise to remember that you are about to begin learning

a language which is perhaps different in grammatical and other concepts
Every
from those European languages with which you are used to dealing.
Do not try to impose the traditional
language has its unique qualities.
2.

grammatical concepts which you might have learned in Latin, for instance,
In some cases it might work, but in others it might only
on Bengali.
serve to cloud the issue.
Learning a language is work.
3.

There are possibilities of

easing the strain, and we have tried to help with this as much as possible; but there is a point beyond which nothing but your own effort will
suffice. You will need to memorize vocabulary and patterns, you will

need to work to perfect your pronunciation; there is no way around this

in learning any foreign language by any method.
Finally, relax. When they reach the point at which they
4.
can read and speak the language with some competence, most people feel
In reaching that point, however, there
amply rewarded for their effort.
might be some periods during which you feel that little progress is being

All that we can say is that you can be taught the language if you
are willing to learn. Do not be discouraged if things do not seem to go
at first as fast as you had hoped they would. And do not be discouraged
if you cannot read and speak the language like a Bengali at the end of
two years, to say nothing of two months, of study. Whatever might be the
advantages of modern language teaching methodology, it still falls short

made.

of the miraculous. To gain complete fluency in any language one must

hear, speak, and read it constantly, and these are requirements which obviously cannot be met in the average American university situation. We
can and will give you a good grounding in the language, and with practice
you will soon reach the point where you will be able to read and speak:

it will only take your cooperation.

AN INTRODUCTION TO BENGALI
PART I. PHONOLOGY

The following is a diagram with which you should become familiar.

Examine the diagram and locate the parts of your mouth indicated with the
help of your tongue and of a mirror. The proper reproduction of Bengali
sounds is going to force your articulatory organs into positions which
will be unfamiliar to you, unless you already happen to know some other
Indo-Aryan language. The more aware you are of the location of the articulatory organs and points of articulation, the more control you will
have over them, and the easier it will be for, you to learn to put your
tongue and other organs in proper position for the reproduction of a particular sound.
1.

(A -- nasal passage)

B -- upper lip
-- upper teeth
D
alveolar ridge
E -- palate
F -- velum
G -- tongue blade
H -- tongue tip
I -- lower teeth
J -- lower lip

Diagram A.

At first, the reproduction of certain Bengali sounds may seem a bit

awkward to you. It is important to remember that all people are given the
same set of articulatory organs, and that almost any individual can
learn to reproduce the sounds of any spoken language.
The vocal muscles
2.

of some individuals, however, may be more fully developed than those of

others, just as a particular individual may have a more fully developed

and more controllable set of biceps or any other muscles. Therefore some
may find that they can learn to reproduce unfamiliar sounds easily and
rapidly; others may find that they have a little trouble at first. It is
vital for those who do seem to have a little trouble at first to realize
that learning to pronounce Bengali sounds well is a matter of establishing a new set of articulatory habits; these will come with time, effort,
and practice. You will be able to pronounce the language well if you
want to do so enough to work at it.
The student should be ready to mimic the speakers whom he hears.
Every inflection, every lip movement, every tongue movement,
every gesture -- oral and non-oral -- should be repeated by the
student with as much fidelity as he can attain. He may "feel
queer" in attempting to mimic but he should remember that he
has a choice: (1) he may choose to appear queer to himself but
less queer to the native because of the accurate reproduction
of the sounds, or (2) he may choose to appear natural to himself but seem to the native speakers of the language to be very
queer and "foreign" because of his carry-over of English sounds
to the other language.
In adult society within a single language
group it is likely to appear highly discourteous for one person
to mimic another, but when different languages are involved the
speakers of the one are highly pleased when a foreigner attempts
to speak their language flawlessly. The mimicry of foreign
speakers with scrupulous attention to detail is socially commendable rather than rude. The student should take every opportunity, therefore, of trying to mimic native speakers, taking
care to reproduce their sounds as accurately as possible.1
3.

Symbols.

Since the roman alphabet does not allow for the representation of certain
of the sounds which occur in Bengali, modifications of it have been made
in the romanized transcription in which this part of An Introduction
to,
Bengali has been partially written. We have tried to use as few unfamiliar symbols as possible, but a few are unavoidable. These will quickly
become familiar to you. Those which may be unfamiliar are the following:
1.

// (subscript dot).

There is only one English sound represented by the symbol t.

In Bengali there are two, "dental"
and "retroflex". The retroflex sound is represented therefore by a letter with a sub-script dot. The dot will occur
with the letter symbols 17 14.7 lh, and N..
4.11.

1.

Nm.ermFw.1.w

acpatglaLL.12chridn
a es to
3.947. p. 12.

Kenneth L. Pike,
Writing, Aim Arbor: University of Michigan Press

3
2.

A3/.

The sound is that represented in English orthography by

the letter-sequence EE: the final sound in the word "ring"
Uri/3]).
The sound is a single one, and therefore is represented by a single symbol in phonemic writing; this also saves

orthographic confusion when there is a phone sequence [1301 as

there sometimes is in Bengali.
3.

4.

/th/.

This symbol does not represent the sound which it represents in the English words "thin" or then", but symbolizes an
aspirated dental stop.
For a discussion of aspiration, see
below, section 4.1.4.
/6/ is one of the common phonetic symbols for the sound represented by the English letter-sequence

sh

The English word

"shin", therefore, would be represented in our transcription as

5. /W is the symbol for the vowel sound in the .1nglish word "cat"
(ikhat]).
6.

7.

/o/ is the symbol for the vowel which some American dialects
have in the word "law" (L10.0 or "saw" (Lsoi); those in whose
dialects this sound does not occur will have to learn it as a
new sound. See below, section 5.3.2.3.
In connected sequences of words, you will also find the signs
and ".

These are intonational signs,

marking a pause within a sentence, and " the termination of a sentence.
'

'

3.1.

Since Bengali orthography is quite as deviant from pronunciation as

is English orthography, we will not introduce the Bengali script until a
fair grasp of pronunciation, vocabulary, and word and sentence patterning
has been gained.
It is advisable, however, for the student to learn to
work in Bengali script as quickly as possible after it has been introduced.

Leaning too heavily on the transcription can be d.mgerous in

learning the written language.
4.

4.1.

TILe.."atnEaLl_aaanila.

Consonants.

The following is a list of the significant Bengali consonant sounds.

The
list follows the Bengali alphabetical order: the way in which the consonants.are arranged in a Bengali dictionary (consonants as a block follow
the vowels as a block). Therefore it will save you trouble in the future

The consonants are:

if you learn them this way.

pro, kho, go, gho, 1737 co, cho, jo, jho, fro, Iho, 4o, 4110:
t, th, d, dh, no, Po, Ph*, bo, bho, mo, ro, lo, $o, (so),
ho]

4.1.1.

A chart of Bengali phonemes (refer to Diagram A) is as follows:

a)

cd

et)

1
-P

-P

TA

ro
F.1

03

PI
-I-)

c0

a)

P-I

a)

cd

H
CH
o

a)
I'D

rd

cd

4
"H
A
Cd

0
Voiceless

a)
I'D

rd

a)
I'D

a)

cd

cd

a)

cti

-P

F-1

4')

F-1

+)

03

4-1

cd

cd

P4

PI

Pt

P4

Cd

Pi

Cd

PI

Cd

<4

<4

th

eh

Stops

.t-1

PI

rd
+)

PI

Ph

id

PI

PI

<4

rd

"H

a)

rd

a)
03

o
H

rd

a)
I'D

-I-)
-I-)

Cd

.
rd

rd

rg
PI

a)
I'D

a)

+)

PI

vi

PI

Pi

Pi

Cd

rd

03

cd

PI

PI

<4

.V

1h

kh

4h

gh

_.

bh

Voiced

Nasals

dh

Laterals

Flaps

Spirants

El

jh

/3

6
I

4.1.2

A chart of the Bengali sounds, in the traditional Indian

arrangement, is as follows:

Stops

Other

Voiceless
rd

0
-P
W
k
.H

IVelar

rd

A
U
g

m
'14

0
W
k
.H
-P

rti

Cl)

0
W
k
.H

-P

m
W
W

<4

m
Pi

H
Pi

ko

kho

go

gho

Palatal

co

cho

jo

jho

Retroflex

II)

Iho

4ho

Dental

to

tho

do

dho

nc

Labial

Po

pho

bo

bho

mo

Glottal

Voiceless

rd

0
-P
W
k
.H

Voiced

k
0
W

HW
A

P4

fio

ro

lo

so

ho

4.1.3. Many of these consonant sounds will be completely familiar to

speakers of American English. The familiar sounds are:

kh
g
13

oh

ph
b

1
6

as in American English "kit"

as in American English "get"
as in American English "ring"
as in American English "chat"
as in American English "jam"

Lichit]

as in American English "pan"

as in American English "ban"
as in American English "man"
as in American English "lamb"
as in American English "shin"
as in American English "sin"

rphan]

as in American English "ham"

Lh Eemi

Lget]

Eri0
[chat]
[jam]

[ben]
[mead

Elam]
E6in3
[sin.]

It will be noticed that in some cases the normal English orthography is

adequate for the transcription of Bengali. English has no distinction
between aspirated (e.g., kh) and unaspirated (e.g., k) stops. Though the
There
the English word is spelled "kit", the sound is actually Lkhiti.
will be a discussion of aspiration in section 4.1.4., below.
4.1.4.

Unfamiliar sounds.

The sounds which will be unfamiliar to most speakers of American English

include:

These are Lk, c, V, t,

The voiceless unaspirated stops.
4.1.4.1.
(For a discussion of [V$ t], see below, section 4.1.4.3.)

The term "unaspirated" means that there is no forcible discharge of breath

The term "stop" means .ghat
after the stop has been made and released.
there is a comple:;e stoppage of breath at some point in the mouth made by
a closure of articulator against one of the points of articulation (e.g.,
the tongue stopping the breath by closing against the alveolar ridge makes
an "alveolar stop"); as the breath is stopped completely, a "stop can be

held as long as the breath can be held. The term "voiceless" means that
the vocal cords a.a kept loose, and that there is therefore no sonorous
vibration as there is in "voiced" sounds. The distinction is that between pairs, identical expect for voicing: [k] (voiceless) and CO
(voiced); 4] (voiceless) and [b.] (voiced); f.-c] (voiceless) and Cg]
(voiced).

Say the pairs aloud and notice the difference between them.

Aspiration: Most English voiceless stops are aspirated, though they are
aspirated with less force than are Bengali stops. Aspiration is easy to
Take a piece of tissue paper or a lighted match or candle
demonstrate.
and hold it before your mouth. Then pronounce the following English
words:

kit

cat

chat

pit

pat

tat

The tissue paper or the flame will move with the release of the initial
stop in each of these words. The breath which moves the paper or flame
is the normal English aspiration of an initial voiceless stop of a monosyllabic word or a stressed syllable.

Most English voiced stops are unaspirated.

Taking the paper or the

flame, pronounce the following English words:

dot
bat
gat
got
jot
bit
The paper or the flame will not move with the pronunciation of these
It is clear, then, that normal American English has both aswords.
pirated and unaspirated sounds. However, aspiration in English is connected for the most part with voiceless stops, and non-aspiration with
Bengali, on the other hand,
voiced stops. The two series are incomplete.
has complete series of aspirated and unaspirated stops both voiceless and
voiced.

Pronunciation of voiceless unaspirated stops: English does have voiceless unaspirated stops in certain easily defined types of situations.
These sounds therefore will not be entirely unfamiliar. Take the tissue
paper or flame, and pronounce the following sets of English words:
kit
kit

skit

cat

scat

top

stop

skit

In the pronunciation of the words in the first column, the paper or the
In the pronunciation of the words in the second column,
flame should move.
it should not. Voiceless unaspirated stops in English occur when following s, and when final in a word. There is a third stivation in which
voiceless unaspirated stops occur. Pronounce the following English words:
concerted
concert
contrast (verb)
contrast (noun)
convert (verb)
convert (noun)

In the pronunciation of the words in the first column, the paper or flame
In the pronunciation of those in
will move on the underlined syllable.
the second column, it will move less or not at all. This is due to the
stress pattern of English. Voiceless stops are unaspirated or nearly unaspirated in unstressed syllables.

There will be drills on the pronunciation of voiceless unaspirated stops

below, in section 4.3.
Voiced aspirated stops.
4.1.4.2.
To repeat, the term "voiced" means that in the pronunciation of the

sound the so-called "vocal cords" are tightened; as the breath passes
through them they vibrate, setting up a resonance, much like that from
The Bengali voiced unaspiratthe plucked tight string of an instrument.
ed stops, (e.g., g, j2 12 d, b) are approximately the same as in English.
The series of voiced aspirated stops, however, (e.g., gh, jh, dh, bh)
will be less familiar. The closest one can come in English to approximating a voiced aspirated stop is in such sequences as:
doEhouse
cardhouse
and the
In English, however, there is a syllabic break between the d or
the following h, which is not present in the pronunciation of the BenPolish and finess in pronuncing voiced aspirated stops
gali sound.
are important in speaking the language clearly and well.
Dental and retroflex stops.
American English has a set of stops represented by the letters t (voiceless) and d (voiced). Bengali has two sets of stops of this type: dental
4.1.4.3.

and retroflex. Dental stops are those represented symbolically in the

charts and lists above as Lt, th, d, and dhJ. Retroflex stops are those

9
represented by LI, Ih, 4, and 4hj. A great deal of care should be taken
in learning to hear and to reproduce these two types of sound. As will
be seen, a mistake in pronunciation will make a difference in what you
say.
The distinction between dentals and retroflexes seems to give some
American students trouble at first. There is no reason why it should
long continue to do so -- proper pronunciation is a matter of practice.
Care should be taken form the very beginning to make the contrasts
clear.

Otherwise, sloppy pronunciation habits will result.

4.1.4.3.1.

Dental stops.

Diagram B.

The English sounds represented by the letters t and d are usually alveolar sounds -- i.e., sounds made by the contact of the tip of the
tongue (A) with the area of the alveolar ridge (B). Pronounce the
English words
tip

dip

tank

dim
dank
Notice the area of the alveolar ridge with which the tip of your tongue
comes into contact.
top

The Bengali sounds represented by the symbols Lt, th, d, and dh] are
dental sounds. They are made by contact of the tip of the tongue (A)
with the back of the upper teeth near the gums (B).

10

Diagram C.

Practice making dental stops with the tongue in the proper position.
Drill on dental stops will be in sections 4.4.4.ff., below.
Retroflex stops.
These stops are made with the tongue curled back (retroflexed) toward
the mid-palate. Contact for the stop is made between the tip of the
4.1.4.3.2.

tongue (A) and the area just behind the alveolar ridge (B).

Diagram D.

It is interesting and perhaps instructive to note that the ordinary

English alveolar stop often sounds to a speaker of Bengali like a

13.

retroflex stop.

When writing English loan words in Bengali, the symbol

for the retroflexed stop is most often used. This is because the alveolar area is closer to the retroflex region of the palate than to the
dental area. More care, then, will have to be taken with the dental

stops than with the retroflexed ones.

4.1.4.3.

Nasals.

As is the case with stops, the ordinary American English nasal represented by n is usually an alveolar or pre-alveolar sound. The Bengali
nasal represented by n is usually, however, a dental sound; it is articulated with the tongue in about the same position as it is for the
dental stops.
4. 1. 4. 4.

Flaps.

The flap is a type of sound familiar to speakers of British English,

but not to most Americans.
If you can say the word "very" as a Britisher would say it, you will be making a flap r (represented as Cr]). A
flap is a sound similar in manner of articulation to a stop, the essential difference between the two types of sounds being the duration of
contact between the articulator and point of articulation. A stop by
definition obstructs the breath completely, and can be held as long as
the breath can be held. A fl6;p, on the other hand, merely taps once
the point of articulation with the tip of the tongue.
There are two types of flaps in Benglai.

The first is a dental flap,

made by contact of the tip of the tongue (A) with the post-dental or
pre-alveolar region (B):

Diagram E.

The second is the retroflex flap, made by contact of the tip of the
tongue (A) with the post-alveolar region (B):

Diagram F.

Neither of these sounds is difficult to make, but many American students

have a tendency to use their own r, which is not a flap and quite a different sound from either of the Bengali sounds in question. A good
deal of practice might be necessary with these sounds; drills are given
in section 4.4.3.2., below.
4.2.

Consonant drills.
For the time being, the meanings of the words given below are not important.
You will read and hear the meanings of the words, and will remember some of them. But our first purpose is not to learn these words;
it
is to get their pronunciation correctly.
4.2.1.

/kh/ (voiceless aspirated velar stop). Note that in word-final

position, the aspiration tends to be lost.
(With some Bengali speakers,
the aspiration tends to be lost when the stop occurs in any position but
syllable-initial.) Using the tape, drill on the pronunciation of the
following Bengali words:

English

Bengali

Initial position:
envelope

very

kham
khub

13

canal

khal

empty
ditch
food
I eat

khali
khana

khabar
khai

Medial position:

mix
branch (subdivision)

makha
6akha

Final position:

lakh (unit of 100,000)

lakh (lak - free variant in

this position].)

happiness

Elukh (auk

fv)

Utterances:

I eat food
This piece (of cloth)
is very bad
4.2.2.

ami'khabar khai"
ekhana'khub kharap"

/g/ (voiced unaspirated velar stop).

English

Bengali

Initial position:
song
cheek

body
tree
round

gan
ga;
ga

Bach (gac
gol

Medial position:
(to) strike

within reach
fire
garden

laga
nagale
agun
bagan

Final position:

1.

snake (learned word);

surname

nag

type of red powder

phag

Hereafter the abbreviation fv. will be used,

f.v.)

34
Utterances:

sing a song
My cheek is red
4.2.3.

/13/

(velar nasal).

ami'gan gal"
amar galllal"

The phone /r3/ does not occur in initial

position in Bengali.

Medial position:
violence (injury, harm)
plough

hi236a

world, family
Bengali (person)
Bengali (language)

gioalar (glorp5ar - f.v.)

lat)o1

baaa

Final position:
clown

60r)

4.2.3.1.

The velar nasal /13/ frequently occurs medially in cluster with

/g/ and /k /, thus:

with (accompanying)
Ganges River

6oluge

arithmetic sum

013ko

gonga

Utterances:

4.2.4.

(speak

bol-)

I speak Bengali
I eat meat

ami'barjla boll"
amilmangio khai"

He dresses like a clown

se/6033 6ajen

/ch/ (voiceless aspirated palatal stop).

Initial position:
ashes

chat

skin, hide
goat

chal

(to) print, stamp

son, boy

chapa
chele

chagol

Medial position:

bed, bedding

bichana (common variant:

bisna)

15

year

child (affectionate)
I am

bochor
bacha
achi

false

miche

it is

ache

Final position:
tree

fish

gach (gac - f.y.)

mach (mac - f.v.)

Utterances:

The fire becomes ashes

The boy is bad
The boy sings a song

agun'chai hoe"
chele'kharap"

(sit

chele'gan gae"
bo6-)

He sits in the tree

gseigache bole"

4.2.5.

/j/ (voiced unaspirated palatal stop, the point of articulation

which is slightly more toward the front of the mouth than is the English sound represented by j).
Initial position:

water
net, snare (noun)
(to) know
(to) wake up
ship
who (relative pronoun)
that which
I kindle
shirt

jol
jal

jana

jaga
jahaj
je

ja

jalai

jama

Medial position:
(to) dress, decorate

giaja

(to) sound, ring

I scour

baja
maji

Final position:
easy

6ohoj

work

kaj

16

Utterances:
Wor

is easy
He goes on a ship
There is a fish in the
water
The net is in the water
There is a fish in the net

kap6ohoju
6e'jahaje Jae"
jole'jal ache"
jole'jal ache"
jale'mach ache"

/ph/ (bilabial voiceless aspirated stop). In lax or rapid

speech /ph/ tends to become a sound very much like the one represented
in English by the letter f; some speakers of Bengali have a sound which
is bi-labial spirant, made by an expulsion of breath through a narrow
aperture in the lips. Note the tendency toward the loss of aspiration

4.2.6.

in the final position.

Initial position:

flower
fruit
whispering
(to) return

phul

chip, slice
(to) drop

phala
phmla
phag

kind of red powder

phol

phi6 phi6
phera

Medial position:
(to) jump

laphano

fruitless

biphol

Final position:

pardon (noun)

maph (map - f.v.)

Utterances:

4.2.7.

(The) boy jumps

Flowers are in the garden

chele'laphae"
phul'bagane ache"

Fruit is on the tree

gache pholu

/b/ (bilabial voiced unaspirated stop).

Initial position:

flood
sister

ban

bon

17

(to) sit

bola

(to) speak, say

bola
baila
baja

Bengali (language)
(to) sound, ring
Medial position:

father (affectionate)
food

stupid, foolish

baba
khabar
haba

Final position:

very

khub

all

150b

Utterances:

He speaks Bengali
Father eats
He sits with my sister
(play
All the boys play in the
garden
4.2+8.

15013941a bole"

baba khan"
6elamar boner 6olage bolfse"

khml -)
150b cheletbagane khale"

/M/ (bilabial nasal).

Initial position:

mother
maternal uncle
garland
meat
fair
name of a month

ma
mama
mala
madio
mmla
magh (mag

Medial position:

(to) descend
coat, jacket
long, tall

nama
jama

lomba
ami

Final position:

name
envelope

nam
kham

f.v.)

mango

am

Utterances:

I am a Bengali.
My sister eats mangoes.
My name is lal.
My mother is tall.
My uncle sits with me.
4.2.9.

ami banali"

amar bon'am khao"

amar nan'lal"
amar ma' lomba"

amar mama' amar 6on3e bo6an"

/1/ (dental lateral).

Initial position:
red

lal

(to) jump

laphano

long, tall
(to) hit, strike

lomba
laga

unit of 100,00
(to) write

lakh (lak
lekha

f.v.)

Medial position:
(to) play
(to) drop

empty
gardener

(to) speak, say

khmla
phmla
khali
mall
bola

Final position:

water
cheek
flower
goat

jol

gal
phul

chagol

Utterances:

My gardener is very tall.

My sister plays in the

amar malifkhub lomba"

amar bon'bagane khmle"

garden.

He throws flowers in the

water.

6e'phul joie phmle"

All the traps are empty.

Bob jal'khali"

19
4.2.10.

/6/ (palatal sibilant). Although very like the English sound,

the Bengali /6/ is made with the tip of the tongue drawn further back
from the front of the mouth than is normal in English.
Initial position:
shawl

6a1

(to) dress
easy

6aja
6ohoj

there

6ekhane

he, she, it
week

6e

6optaho

Medial position:
(to) come

(to) sit

dwelling-place, nest

a6a
bola
ba6a

Final position:

month
end

mas
6e6

Utterances:

All the boys sit in the

garden.

Next month will be the

wedding.
He comes there.

sob chele'bagane bo6e"

agami ma6e'bie hobe"

606ekhane ase"

4.2.10.1.

The sound represented in English by the letter s, the initial

sound in the words "sill" and "sand", also
occurs in Bengali, though in
certain particular types of circumstances.
In Bengali this sound, the
dental sibilant, occurs only together with the dental
consonants /t, th,
n, and r/.
It never occurs by itself initially or between vowels, nor
does it occur finally together with other consonants except in loan
words from English. Note the following pronunciations:
wife
bath
place

road
slowly

stri (learned)

snap (coll. /can/)

sthan (learned)
rasta
aste

20

mostok (learned)

head, skull
4.2.11.

/h/ (glottal spirant).

Initial position:

hama
hirAa
hat
hat

crawling (noun)

violence, malice
periodic market
hand

/h/ occurs only rarely in medial position, and that primarily in words
reborrowed by Bengali from Sanskrit. In most cases in spoken Bengali a
medial h has been elided. The phone never occurs in final position,
except in heavily Sanskritized Bengali and in monosyllabic interjections,
Utterances:

Mother goes to the market.

There are flowers in my
hand.
The street becomes empty.
4.3.

ma' ha-

jan"

amar hate'phul ache"

rasta'khali hoe"

Consonant drills: voiceless unaspirates.

/k/ (voiceless unaspirated velar stop).

Before undertaking the following drills on voiceless unaspirated stops,
4.3.1.

reread section 4.1.4., and with the help of a piece of tissue or flame,
practice the aspirated and unaspirated sounds (represented by the symbols k and kh), until you are able to pronounce k with little or no
aspiration.

Aspirated

Unaspirated

kho

ko

kha
khi
khu
khm
khe
kho

ka

Now pronounce the following Bengali words:

ki

ku
kae

ke
ko

21

Initial position:

what
who

ke

time

kal

desire
ear

kamona
kan
kache
kaka
kak (kag - f.v.)
kagoj
kalo
kano

near
paternal uncle
crow
paper
black
why

ki

Medial position:
remainder, balance
type of plant
morning
all

baki
makal

(to) scold

boka

6okal
60kol

Final position:
let it go

jak

vegetable

6ak (gag - f.v.)

Utterances:

Who is he?

se ke"

In the morning he goes to

the garden.

se 6okaleyhagane jae"

I wake up in the morning.

The crow is black.
Kali is black

ami'6okale jagi"
kak kalo"

She buys vegetables at

the market

kali kalo"
ge haIei6ak kene"

4.3.3 1.The following are contrasts between /kh/ and /k/.

You will see
that in all cases the aspiration is all that makes
the difference between two separate meanings. It will be clear that in order to understand Bengali and to be understood in it, you will have to learn to
make
very clear distinctions between aspirated and unaspirated stops.

22

Aspirated

Unaspirated

English

Bengali

English

Bengali

canal, creek
sheath
empty

khal
khap

time

kal

cup

kap

khali

ink; name of
goddess
ear

kali

he (honor.) eats khan

ditch
khana
very good
kha6a
scalp; I/we open khuli

blind of one eye

(to) cough
porter

kan
kana

ka6a
kuli

Utterances:

Crows eat mangoes.

Kali is very black.

kag'am kahe"
kali'khub kalo"

The vegetables are very

bad

6ak'khub kharap"

4.3.1.2.

Sometimes the distinction between Bengali k and

is is difficult
for a speaker of English to hear. Listen to and then pronounce the
following sets of contrasts:
Voiceless

English

Bengali

English

Bengali

ear

kan

song

time

kal
kali

cheek

gan
gal

name of goddess
crow
nose
4.3.2.

Voiced

gali

kak

abuse (noun)
let him sing

nak

snake, surname

nag

gak

/0/ (voiceless unaspirated palatal).

Practice the following two sets of sounds until you are able to pronounce
c with little or no aspiration:
Aspirated

Unaspirated

cho

co

cha

ca

chi

ci

chu

cu

chm

cm

the

ce

cho

CO

Now pronounce the following Bengali words:

Initial position:
tea

ca

I want

cai

he wants
skin, leather

cae

wheel
custom, habit, fashion

caka

(to) move, go

cola

cana
cal

Medial position:
(to) dance
(to) wash (as clothes)

naca
kaca

below, under
platform
speech

nice

maca
bacon

Final position:
dance (noun)
sound of crunching
creaking sound (as of
shoes

nac

kockoc

mocmoc

Utterances:
I want tea.
My sister dances.

ami'ca cai"

amar bon'nace"

The following are contrasts between /0/ and /ch/. Again, you
4.3.2.1.
will see that distinction of aspiration is vital to the meaning.
Aspirated

Ellaa,RInattoi

English

Bengali

English

Bengali

ashes
skin, hide

chaff

I want

cai

chal

fashion; rice

big sack

chala

(to) drive,
goad

cal
cala

young of an
animal

cha

tea

ca

214.

knife
(to) print

churl
chapa

thick rope

kachi

robbery
(to) press
I wash

curl

capa
kaci

Utterances:
I want tea.

ami'ca cai"

I want ashes.
He sits under the tree.

amitchai cal"

lieigacher nice be

4.3.2.2. Sometimes the distinction between c and j is difficult for a

speaker of English to hear. Listen to and then pronounce the following

sets of contrasts:

Voiced

Voiceless

English

Bengali

English

Bengali

let him ask

cak

let it go

jak

tea

ca

go!

ja

fashion

cal

trap, net

jal

he wants
he (hon.) wants
below

cae

he goes

jae

can

he (hon) goes

Jan

nice

one's own,
one's self

nije

/V/ and /Vh/ (retroflex voiceless stops, unaspirated, aspirated).

Before beginning to pronounce the following series of stops, practice
putting your tongue in the proper position (see section 4.1.4.3.2;
then pronounce tae following aspirated set. When the articulatory posi
tion seems comfortable to you, try the unaspirated set, checking yourself
4.3.3.

with the paper or the flame, as before.

Aspirated

Enluimal

Vho

Vo

Iha
Vhi
Vhu

Va

VhEe

VEe

Vhe

Ve

Vho

.o

25

Now pronounce the following

Bengali words:
English

Bengali

Initial position:

thick

Vha6

exactly

thik
Vhuk
Ihakur
than

tap, knock
deity; cook
sacred place
Medial position:
gum, glue

measure of land
stick, club
difficult
(to) rise up

aVha
kaVha
laIhi
koVhin
oVha

Final position:

wood, fuel
field, meadow

kath (ka$
f.v.)
math (mat W f.v.)

Utterances:

I don't exactly know.

Mother goes to the field,
He has a club.

jani na"
malmaVhe jan

or'laVhi ache"

Pronounce the following Bengali words with

unaspirated retroflex stops:

Bnglish

Bengali

Initial position:

commentary (on a book)

spindle, reel
tile
(to) draw, pull

money
hat
aim

Vika
Vaku
tali
Vana
aka
Vupi
Vik, tip

Medial position:
(to) cut, divide

kaVa

26
(to) pound to pulp
cup

baja
baVi
choVo
caVa

small
(to) lick, lap
Final position:

matted hair
sound of footsteps
periodic market

joV

goV goV
haV

Utterances:

He cuts wood.
He draws water.

6elkap. kate"

Lila has money.

lilar'Vaka ache"

The mall is a simple man.

maliVaqorol lok"

60j01 Vane"

4.3.3.1.

The following are contrasts between /V/ and /Vh/; practice

them well.
The distinctions are vital.
Aspirated

Unaspirated

.146119.4

Bengali

English

Bengali

deity; cook
measure of land
you (fam.) send
exactly
(to) hammer

Vhakur
kaVha
paVha
Vhik
Vhoka

of the spindle
(to) cut

Vakur

be cheated
on the back;

Vhoke
piVhe

cake

plank
aim
a knock; to
copy
becomes sour
having
hammered

kaVa
paVa
Vik, Vip
Voka
joke
piVe

Utterances:
want money.
I want a cook.

ami'Vaka cai"

There is a tree in the

field.
He comes, making a god gad

maVhelgach ache"

ami'Vhakur cai"

6e0goV goI kore alien

sound.

Foreigners are cheated.

4.3.3.2.

bide4Pra Vhoke"

Sometimes the distinction between V and 4 is difficult for a

speaker of English to hear. Listen to and then pronounce the following
sets of contrasts:

27

Voiceless

Voiced

English

Bengali

English

money, rupee
baldness

taka

call ,/verb)

-ak

draw (verb)

lama

call, mail
(nouns)
wing

balance

'Val

lentils,

Bengali
.aka
c.ak

4ana
4al

branch
/t/ and /th/ (dental voiceless stops, aspirated and unaspirated).
For this set also, first find with your tongue the dental position, and
practice finding that position with your tongue until it feels natural
and comfortable to you (see ante, section 4.1.4.3.1.). Then pronounce
4.3.4.

the following series:

Aspirated

Unaspirated

tho

to

tha
thi
thu
the
the

to

tho

to

ti

to
to
to

Now pronounce the following Bengali words with aspirated stops:

English

Bengali

Initial position:

(to) remain, stay

station, police station
flat metal dish
kind of borderless cloth
bag, sack
(to) stop

thaka
thana
thala
than
tholi
thama

Medial position:

head
pain

matha
bp)tha

28

word, story

kotha

Final position:

way, road
chariot

poth (pot - f.v.)

roth (rot - f.v.)

Utterances:
I stay here.

ami'ekhane thaki"

I stop here.
I have pain.

and' ekhane thami"

amartbeetha ache"

Pronounce the following Bengali words with unaspirated dental stops:

Initial position:

foundation, base, area

shelf

heat, warmth
musical measure
tune
oil

(to) stare

Iola
tak
tap
tal
tan
tel
taka

Medial position:

how much, how many

leaf, page

koto

Data

Final position:

hand
seven
4.3.4.1.

hat
at

The following are contrasts between /t/ and /th/:

Aspirated

Unaspirated

JlInglish

Bengali

English

Bengali

(to) remain

thaka
than

(to) stare

taka
tan
tak
mata

piece of cloth
let it remain
head
ocean

thak
matha
pathar
(learned)

tune

shelf
to be enthusiantic
of the page

patar

29

flat metal dish

bag

thala
thole

lock, padlock

tala

picks up

tole

Utterances:

I remain on the road.

I stop in the road.
I talk with him.

ami'pothe thaki"

How many words are on the

page?

pataelkoto kotha ache"

ami'pothe thami"
amittar 6oxjgetkotha boll"

4.3.4.2.

Sometimes the distinction between t and d is difficult for a

speaker of English to hear. Listen to and then pronounce the following
set of contrasts:
Voiceless

Voiced

English

Bengali

English

Bengali

tune

tan

right, gift

dan

bottom
his, her
opinion

tol

group

dol

tar

door

dar

not

liquor

mod

4.3.4.3.

Contrasts between dentals and retroflexes are as significant

as those between aspirates and unaspirates. Note and pronounce the

following contrasting pairs:

Aspirates
Dental

Retroflex

English

Bengali

police station
stop
(to) remain

thana

cold

$han4a

tham
thaka

posture

Vham (poetic)

deity; cook

-plakur

lish

Bengali

Utterances:

It is cold there.

6ekhane Vhan4a"

There is a police station

there.
Ny head is cold.

6ekhane'thana ache"
amar mathat-plan4a"

30

Unaspirates

Retroflex

Dental
English

Bengali

English

Bengali

you (inf.) stare

taka

Iaka

tune

tan

musical measure
clapping of
hands
hand

tal

tali

money
you (inf.) draw
balance
tile

hat

periodic market

hal

an

Ial
Tali

Utterances:

tar hate'Iaka ache"

There is money in his hand.
There is money in his market. tar haIe'Iaka ache"

/p/ (voiceless unaspirated bilabial stop).

Practice the following sets (the aspirated set will give you no trouble,
4.3.5.

as /ph/ is pronounced just as p is pronounced before a vowel in .Onglish),

until you can pronounce /p/ with little or no aspiration:

Aspirated

Unaspirated

pho

po

pha
phi

pa

phu

pu

phm

pa

phe

pe

pho

po

pi

Now pronounce the following Bengali words:

English

Bengali

Initial position:

ripe

pats
pan
pala
paka

sail; a surname
wing, fan

pal
pakha

leaf, page
betel
heap (village drama)

31

Medial position:
term of affectionate address bapu
chapa
(to) print, (stamp)
mapa
(to) measure
jopa

(to) mutter a prayer

Final position:
snake, curse

sap

silence

cup

Utterances:

6apIaicheleke kaIen
ami'pan khai"
60maIh mape"

The snake bites the boy.

I eat betel.

He measures the field.

words illustrating
The following are contrasting pairs of
4.3.5.1.
bilabial voiceless stops:
Unaspirated

Aspirated

English

Bengali

English

Bengali

chip, (slice)

phala
phul
phala

heap
bridge

pala

plank

paIa

flower
(to) crack

pul

and b is difficult for a

distinction
between
Sometimes
the
4.3.5.2.
and then pronounce the following
speaker of English to hear. Listen to

sets of contrasts:

Voiced

Voiceless

Bengali

English

Bengali

heap, (village
drama)
betel leaf

pala

bangle

bala

pan

sin
term of affectionate address

pap
bapu

flood
father (coil. )1
a Bengali Hindu
gentleman

ban
bap
babu

Consonant drills: voiced aspirates.

4.4.
10111111111..V.

1.

English

The usage of the term is restricted; it is never a form of address.

32

/gh/ (voiced aspirated velar stop).

The voiced aspirate series is one which will not be familiar to most
speakers of American English. Before attempting the pronunciation of the
Bengali words, try the following series of exercises, first the unaspirated, which will be familiar to you, and then the aspirated voiced stops.
4.4.1.

Practice the aspirated series until you can imitate the tape well.
Unaspirated

Aspirated

go

gho

ga

gha

gi

ghi

gu

ghu

gee

ghw

ge

ghe

go

gho

Now pronounce the following Bengali words:

English

Bengali

Initial position:

water pot

ghoI

landing or bathing place

sweat
grass

ghat/

clarified butter
oil-mill

gham
gha
ghi
ghani

Medial position:

blow
fierce (tiger-like)
lightness

aghat
bagha

laghob

Final position:
tiger

name of a month

bagh (bag - f.v.)

magh (mag
f.v.)

Utterances:

I go to the ghat.
I cut the grass.
I fetch the ghi.

ami'ghaIe jai"
ami'gha6 kaViu
ami'ghi ani"

33
oIa kiibagh"

Is that a tiger?
4.4.1.1.

The following are contrasts between /g/ and /gh/:

Aspirated

Unaspirated
English

Bengali

you (f am.) manage baga

tiger-like

(to) strike

laga

round
fair colored
body
within grasp

gol

lightness
buttermilk
(to) roam

bagha
laghob
ghol
ghora
gha
baghe

Bengali

English

gora
ga
bage

sore
by the tiger

/jh/ (voiced aspirated palatal affricate).

Before attempting the pronunciation of Bengali words, try the following
Practice
series of exercises, first the unaspirated, then the aspirated.
the aspirated series until you can imitate the sound well.
4.4.2.

Unaspirated

Aspirated
jho

jo

ja

jha

ji

jhi

ju

jhu

je

jh
jhe

jo

jho

Now pronounce the following Bengali words:

English

Bengali

Initial position:

pungent (hot, as food)

jhal

sharp, clever
plunge (jump)

jhanu

maid-servant

jhi

jhup

Medial position:
among
(to) understand

majhe
bojha

3h-

Final position:

majh (maj - f.v.)

the middle
Utterances:
The food is hot.
The boy is clever.
He sits among the flowers.
I understand what you say.
4.4.2.1.

khabazia jhal
cheleIa jhanu"
6e'phulgulor majhe bo6e"
tumi ja bolo'ta ami bujhi"

The following are contrasts between /j/ and /jh/:

Aspirated

Unaspirated
English

Bengali

maje
he scours
boja
(to) be shut
respectful suffix ji
jal
net
jama
shirt
jola
weave
maji
I scour

English

Bengali

among
(to) understand

majhe
bojha

maid-servant
pugent, hot
blackened brick

jhi

bag
boatman

jhola

Thal
jhama

majhi

unaspirated and aspirated).

/4/ and 4h/ (retroflexed voiced stops,
English with the
Again, there are two problems for speakers of American
position in which the stop is made,
voiced retroflexed stops: first, the
4.1.4.2. and 4.1.4.3.2.
and, secondly, the aspiration. Refer to sections
for retroflexed
First practice placing the tongue in the proper position
Then try the
sounds, until that position seems natural and comfortable.
natural to
following series, first the unaspirated stops, which will be
4.4.3.

you, then the aspirated.

Unaspirated
40

4a
4i
4u

Aspirated
4h0

4ha
4hi

4hu

4m

Ohm

4e

4he

40

Oho

35

Now pronounce the following set of Bengali words with unaspirated stops:

English

Bengali

Initial position:
(to) call

4aka

dry land
branch, lentil
small boat
egg
(to) sink
stick, staff
very, very much

4a4a
4a1
41/3

4im

4oba
48,14a

bo44o

The voiced retroflex stop occurs in medial position in a word only as a

doubled ("long" or "geminate") consonant or in some other consonant clusters -- see section 4.5.; the sound does not occur finally except in loanwords from English.

An example of such a loan, word is:

road

rod.

Utterances:
amiljole 4ubi"
I sink in the water.
There is a staff in his hand. tar hatel4a124.0
The bird sits on the branch. pakhiIa'4alebo6e"
4imValkhub choVo
The egg is very small.

Now pronounce the following Bengali words with voiced aspirated stops:

English

Bengali

(to) hide, conceal

4haka
4hal

shield
(to) pour out

mound
loose, slack
a kind of drum

4hala
4hipi
4hil
4hol

Vat voiced retroflex aspirated stop never occurs medially between vowels
or finally.

36
Utterances:

I hide the book.

The drum sounds.
He pours out the water.
4.4.3.1.

ami'boi$a 4haki"
4holVa baje"
6e'jol 4hale"

The following are contrasts between /4/ and /4h/:

Unaspirated

Aspirated

English

Bengali

English

Bengali

(to) call

4aka
4ime

(to) conceal
slow

04flaka

cal

shield

4hal

in the egg
branch

chime

Utterances:

I call the boy.

amitchele$ake 4aki"

I hide the boy.

amitcheletake 4haki"

There is also in Bengali a retroflex flap /'/ (see also section 4.4.5.1.).
This sound occurs only medially and finally in Bengali words -- in places,
in other words, where the stop /4/ does not occur except in loans.
Place your tongue in the proper position, practice making flaps, and then
try the following series:

ao
ava
avi
avu
avm
ave
avo

Now pronounce the following Bengali words:

English

Bengali

Medial position:

big
house
(to) fly

bovo

ba'i
ova

37
(to) read, study

(to) step over, thresh

section of a town
reply
fence

pova
mava
pava
6ava
lona

Final position:
bone

feeling, sensation

ha;
6av

Utterances:

I read the book.

The boy is very big.
The bird flies.
My house is there.

amilboila po'i"

chele$a'khub bovo"
pakhila oven
amar bavit6ekhanen

For contrasts between the retroflex and dental flaps, see section 4.4.5.1.
/d/ and /dh/ (voiced dental stops, unaspirated and aspirated).
Again, there are two problems with these sounds: tongue position and
Place your tongue,
aspiration. Refer to sections 4.1.4.2. and 4.1.4.3.
as before, in the proper position for dentals, and then pronounce the
following series:
4.4.4.

Unaspirated

Aspirated

do

dho

da

dm

dha
dhi
dhu
dhm

de

dhe

do

dho

di

du

Now pronounce the following set of Bengali words:

English

Bengali

Initial position:
price

dam

gift

dan

stain (blemish)

dag

38
day

din

chin, beard

dayi

Medial position:
elder brother
white
river

dada
Sada
nodi
adi

first, original
Final position:
omission
taste

bad
gad

Utterances:

Elder brother goes home.

Giving is good.
His beard is very long
.

dadatbayite jann

dan koraibhale
tar dayitkhub lombe

4.4.4.1.

Now pronounce the following set of Bengali words with

aspirated dental stops:

English

Bengali

Initial position:
abode

unhusked rice (paddy)

wealth
stream (current)
dust
smoke
(an exclamation)
debt

Adham (learned)
dhan
dhon

dhara
dhulo
dhum (learned)
dhik (learned)
dhar

Medial position:

ass; stupid person

honey (necter)
(to) entreat
straight (direct)

gadha
modhu
gadha
Sidhe

Final position:
desire (wish)

Eiadh (sad

--

fv.)

39
unobstructed

f.v.)

obadh (obad

Utterances:
I have many desires.
4.4.4.1.

amar'onek 6adh ache"

The following are contrasts between /d/ and /dh/:

Unaspirated

Aspirated

English

Bengali

English

Bengali

price

dam

abode

gift

dan

unhusked rice

dham (learned)
dhan

(paddy)

direction
afterwards
heap
white

dik
bade
gada
6ada

(an exclamation) dhik (learned)

is obstructed
badhe
ass
gadha
(to) entreat
gadha

4.4.4.2.

The following are contrasts between dental and retroflexed

voiced stops.
4.4.4.2.1. Contrasts between /4/ and /d/ (retroflex and dental voiced
unaspirated stops):

Retroflex

Dental

English

Bengali

English

Bengali

dry land
egg
bucket

4913a

riot

4im

day
swinging

de4ga
din
dol

4o1

4.4.4.2.2.

Contrasts between /4h/ and /dh/ (retroflex and dental

voiced aspirate stops):

Retroflex
English

Dental
Bengali

English

sound of swallow- 4hok 4hok palpitation

ing a liquid
you (ord.) doze
4hu7.o
dirt
hollow sounding
4hr'p
.hope dazzlingly
white
4.4.5.

Bengali
dhok dhok
dhulo

dhop dhope

There is in Bengali a dental (pre-alveolar) flap /r/, which

occurs in all positions; try making the flap sound, using the following
set:
ro
r a

ri

ru
r83

re
ro

Now pronounce the following Bengali words:

English

Bengali

Initial position:
(to) keep, (place)

rakha

color

ro33

(to) grow angry

king
night

raga
raja

weak, thin, (ill)

daily

roga

rat
roj

Medial position:
(to) wear

whole, (entire)

pora
Sara

(to) strike, (kill)

(to) do, make

mara
kora

The flap In

sound is a little different in final position than in

initial or inter-vocalic positions. In final position Ai becomes
somewhat voiceless.
Pay special attention to the following examples:
Final position:

necklace; defeat
of the gift
of me
of you (ord.)
of you (hon.)
of him (ord.)

har
daner
amar
tomar
apnar
tar

Utterances:
ami'kaj kori"

I do work.

rakhi"
ami
I put it on the table.
I go to the store every day. ami roj'dokane jai"
or rolP6ada"
Its color is white.
tar'kaj ache"
He has work.
4.4.5.1.

The following are contrasts between /v/ and /r/:

Dental

Retroflex

English

Bengali

English

Bengali

(to) read
(to) step over;
thresh

pova
ma'a

(to) wear
(to) strike

pora
mara

reply
bone
(to) fly
reprimand; rebuke

6ava

whole

6ara

ha'
ova
taVa

necklace
they (yonder)
they (the same)

har
ora
tara

/bh/ (voiced aspirated bilabial stop).

Before attempting the pronunciation of Bengali words, try the following
series of exercises. Practice the aspirated series until you can
imitate the sound well.
4.4.6.

Unaspirated

Aspirated

bo

bho

ba

bha

bi

bhi

bu

bhu
bhm
bhe
bho

be
bo

Now pronounce the following Bengali wordsi:

English

Bengali

Initial position:
cooked rice

bhat

steam

bhap

pretence
(to) think
(to) float
wet
(to) fry
(to) forget

bhan

bhaba
bhal5a

bhije
bhaja
bhola

Medial position:
deep

gobhir

navel
splendor
meeting, assembly

nabhi
probha (learned)
60bha

Final position:

gain, result

labh (lab - f.v.)

Note that in lax or rapid speech /bh/ tends to become a sound very like
that one represented in English by v; some Bengali speakers have a
sound which is made by expulsion of breath through a narrow aperture in
the lips.

Note the usual tendency toward loss of aspiration in final

position.
4.4.6.1.

The following are contrasts between /b/ and /bh/:

Unasyirated

Aspirated

English

Bengali,

English

father
arrow

bap

steam

thunder
nest; rented
house
in the seed
time
sound

bhap

ban
pretence
(learned)

bhan

baj

bhaj

baela

you (fam.) fry

language

bije

wet

bhije

bmla
bol

raft

bhmla
bh11

you (fame)
forget

bhatia

/n/ (pre-alveolar nasal).

The American English sound represented by the letter n is, like the
English stops t and ds an alveolar sound. The Bengali /n/1 however, is
pronounced with the tongue farther forward on the alveolar ridge. Put
440407.

14-3

your tongue in the proper position, and pronounce the following Bengali
words:

English

Bengali

Initial position:
dance
nose

nac

nak
nana
nam
nama
na6 (learned word)

many, various
name
(to) descend
ruin
Medial position:

(to) draw, pull

police station
oil-mill

lama

thana
ghani

Final position:
gift

dan

ear

kan

betel leaf

pan

Geminate (doubled) consonants.

There is in Bengali a phenomenon of geminate of doubled consonants,
which is unfamiliar to speakers of English. Any consonant which can be
held for a period of time can be doubled -- in terms of Bengali, this
means any consonant except for the flaps which are by definition sounds
made by a single tap of the tongue. Doubling is made by holding the
4.5.

consonant sound for twice the ordinary amount of time it would take to
pronounce that consonant. Examples:
4.5.1.

/kk/
Single

4.5.2.

Doubled

English

Bengali

English

Bengali

kind of bird
(learned)

cokor

round

cokkor

bhago

luck

bhaggo

/gg/
you (ord.) go
away

144

4.5.3.

/cc/
choose

4.5.4.

4.5.5.

4.5.6.

Baca

little boy

bacca (coll.)

straight

6oja

bed

amusement
worship

moja
pujo

marrow
respectable

6ojja
mojja

I lick

carri

a few, some

whole wheat
flour

aVa

eight

caVVi pchani)
coll.)
aIVa

pata

whereabouts

patta

beginning,
initial

adi

kind of cloth

addi (coll.)

pertaining to
wine

modo

wine (learned)

moddo

pana

emerald

panna

kana
mana
bona

weeping
surname
flood

karma
manna
bonny

puk

adopted
in the world
rascal

pu661 (eon.)
bi66e (learned)

/jj/

AI/

/tt/
leaf, page

4.5.7.

4.5.8.

/dd./

/nn/
weed which grows
in water
blind in one eye
(to) agree, obey
(to) weave

4.5.9.

pujjo

/66/
I bring up
in the poison
guilty

bill

dok

do66i (coll.)

4.5.10. /11/
garland
you (ord.) twist

molo

cotton

tub()

mala

boatman
malls,
an expert in
moll (learned)
Kusti, -- a
type of wrestling
like
tullo (learned)

45
radish
5.

mullo (learned)

price

mulo

Vowels.

The significant Bengali vowel sounds (arranged according to the

5.1.

Bengali alphabetical order) are:

/o, a, i, u, m, e, so/

A chart of these vowels is as follows:

5.2.

Front

High

Back

Central

Mid

Lower-mid

Low

.11.=1=0

0011....

All of these sounds will be somewhat familiar to speakers of

American English, with the possible exception of /0/. Familiarity with
the vowel /o/ will depend upon the speaker's dialect.
5.3.

Sounds which will be almost identical with some common American

English vowel sounds are:
5.3.1.

/m/

/a/
/o/

as in some dialects of
American English
as in some dialects of
American English
as in some dialects of
American English

"can"

[khan]

"calm"

Lkhami

"law"

Up]

Those in whose dialects these pounds do not occur will have to learn
them by careful imitation of the Bengali.
5.3.2.

Examples of these three vowels in Bengali are:

5. 3.

2. 1.

1.6

English

Bengali

Initial position:
one

now
alone
such

ek

mkhon
aka
mmon

Medial position:

(to) play
(to) throw
as if
how

why
time

fair (noun)

khwla
phmla
jano

kamon
kmno

bmla
=via

/m/ never occurs in final position in standard Bengali.

5.3.2.2.

/a/

Initial position:
(to) come

again
light

a6a
abar
alo

sky

aka6

you (honorific)
and; also
(to) fetch

apni
ar

ana

Medial position:

food
red
shawl
time
ear
bad.

khabar
lal
Gal
kal
kan
kharap

Final position:
(to) do

kora

(to) read

po'a

khla

(to) play
5.3.2.3.

/0/

Initial position:
silly
otherwise, (or)
eternal

powerless

oga (coll.)
,thoba (learned)
0nonto
06okto

Medial position:
all

60b

possible
ten
juice, (sweetness)

60mbhob

fever
room, (house)
(to) do

d06

r06
jor

ghor

kora

Final position: The vowel /0/ rarely occurs finally in standard

colloquial Bengali. It is more frequent in some dialects, such as
that of Dacca.
There aro, however, a few examples:

you (fam.) become

you (fam.) bear

ho
b0

iounds which will be recognizable (though not identical to those in

American English) are the following: /i, e, o, u/
5.4.

In American English, the front vowel sounds /i/ and /e/ are
usually pronovnced with what is known as an "off- glide". This means that
while the vowel sound is being made, the tongue moves upward from its
orlginal position, thus varying the quality of the sound. In the following set of English words, listen for the off-glide.
5.4.1.

key

Lkhiy.1

bee

LhiyJ

LbiyJ

hay
lee

sea

LziyJ

gee

LjiyJ

fee

Lfiyi

Lliyi

Now pronounce them yourself, feeling the way in which your tongue moves.
Again, in the following set of English words, listen for the off-glides,
and then pronounce them yourself:

kay
bay
say
fey

Lheyi

Lbey.1

hay
lay

CseyJ

jay

Ljeyi

LkheyJ

LleyJ

Lfey]

In American English, the so-called "back-rounded" vowels (/o/

These are characterized by upward moveand /u/) also have off-glides.
ment of the tongue and by additional lip rounding. In the following sets
5.4.2.

of English words, listen for the off-glide:

Lhow]

[sow]

hoe
low

Lf ow.1

joe

Lj ow.1

coo

LkhuwJ

Ehuw]

foo

EfewJ

who
loo

sue

Csuw]

jew

Ljuwi

boo

Lbuw.1

bow
sow
foe

CbowJ

Llowi

Lluw]

Now pronounce them yourself and feel the way in which your tongue and
lips move.

The Bengali vowels /1, e, o, u/ are "pure" vowels -- that is, they
are pronounced without an off-glide. The difference between American EngYou will
lish and Bengali vowels is easy to hear, but less easy to make.
have to break yourself of the habit of giving an off-glide to the vowels.
But proper pronunciation of vowel sounds is a mark of a good speaker of the
Listen carefully to the following sets of sounds, the first set
pronounced by a speaker of English, the second by a speaker of Bengali:
language.

Bengali

English
Orthographic

khonetic

bee

LbiyJ

bi

gee

LjiyJ

4.

me

Lmiy3

11-1

bay

Lbey.]

be

jay

Ljey]

je

may

LmeyJ

me

bow

LbowJ

bo

joe

LjowJ

jo

mow

LmowJ

mo

boo
Jew

Ebuwi

bu

Qum]

ju

moo

CmuwJ

mu

Now imitate the Bengali

pronunciation of the following sounds:
bi ji mi
be je me
bo
jo
mo
bu ju mu
5.4.4.

/1/.

Pronounce the following Bengali words:

English

Bengali

Initial position:

this one (hon)

ini

(proper name)

ila

(interjection)

i6

n-dial position:

day
he, she (hon.)
in the seed
wet

sesame seed
type of tree
egg

din
tini
bije
bhije
til
nim
(Am

Final position:

what

ki
khi

maid-servant
I strike
sari

marl

house

baVi

elavi

5.4.4.1.

It should be noted that in

certain circumstances the vowel /i/
is pronounced slightly differently
than in the above instances. 'Jametimes the Bengali vowel /i/ is
pronounced almost as the American English
vowel in the word "sit". examples of this
type of pronunciation of the
vowel in Bengali are the following:
but
sound of lat,ghter

kintu
khil khil

station

i4e6an

The circumstances in which this variation

occurs are too complex to

50

describe here.

But listen for it; you will quickly become adjusted to

its proper pronunciation.

5.4.5.

/e/.

Initial position:
this

here

ekhane

of this

er

come:

eso

this way

edik

Kedial position:
(to) buy
I play
girl

having eaten
district
country

kena
kheli
me.e
khe.e
jela
det5

.&inal position:

who

ke

he, she

we

there

sekhane

he, she buys

kene

5.4.5.1.

It should be noted that in certain circumstances the vowel /e/

is pronounced slightly differently from the above.
It is sometimes very
like the .American English vowel in "set". Examples of this are the
following.
a little

ekVu

boy

chcle (note the difference

between the two
vowels)
emni

thus, such
5.4.6.

/0/.

Initial position:
that
there

okhane

Jo

n.rtin.

uo.R

ao

auo

(pao) esTa du

veto.

XTP0

kem

:uoTn.Tsod
(on.)

purn.saepun

punos
(on.)

Tog
q.e2aoj

aon.sTs

fuTs

uoci,

0-TwJ)

oAocre

puT4 jo

fop

aodo

map

Tad

LL44T :uoTg.Tsod

(pao)
uo.R (pao)
nod (pao)
nod (pao)
uo.R

ci

n.ro

orT14

len.s

oqrqn.

:foods

()leg

n.Ts

seq.

in/
TrTn.TuT :uoTn.Tsod

curom
Tomro

ordu
4.11.

opTsdu mop 4u pocaoAaa

4aodoad 4p.112Ta .Rarscooeu

4.Ton

TIn.oct

oe'qqu

dTticaom (npuTH)

aroodu (pouaroT)

TrTpoll :uoTn.Tsod
quI14

aomou

Tulld
T911114

T'out's

4cpunoc cpaom

TTnq

4.00a

Tum (PaturnoT)

goorj Tp.uom

114nm

:uoTA.Tsod

aon.d000ad
A.00

nan2
nao0

Ifnul)

(*.A.J

52

bhanu (learned)
5.4.7.1.

As with the other vowels, there are circumstances in which the

vowel /u/ is pronounced differently -- in this case, almost like the
vowel in the Jnglich "foot". 2er example:
son
5.4.8.

puttro (learned)

1;asalization.

asalization (written as a tilda (:) over the vowel) is another Bengali

language feature, especially in the speech of Jest
liengall which is not
significant in Jnglish. Nasalization of a vowel is made by simultaneous
emission of air through both nasal and oral passages during the pronunciation of the yowl.. During an ordinary vowel sound, the nasal
passage
is closed off.
Dur%ng a nasalized sound, it is opened, so that breath
escapes thrcugh nose and mouth at the same time.
nasalized vowels with the tape:

lractice the following

Aon-nasal

Nasal

5,
1.

'6'

5.4.8.1.

Nasalization of vowels in Bengali will make a difference in

what you say. Distinguish carefully between the following:
Non-nasal

Nasal

1401102

Bengali

English

Bengali

his (ord.)

tar

tar

(to) wash (cloth)

kaca

his (hon.)
young

that one's (ord.)

obstacle

or

that one':i (hon.) or

badha
phota
hate
capa

(to) bind

(to) bloom
in the market
(to) press

kaca

badha
mark on forehead phOta
he walks
hate
kind of flower
capa

53
5.4.9.

Vowel sequences. Bengali vowels often occur in sequences of two

and sometimes of three. Sequences of two vowels are of two types: either
full vowel plus semi-vowel (a single syllable, written in our transcription

as two vowels without any mark between), or full vowel plus full vowel
(two syllables, written with a period (.) in between).
As will be seen
below, there are differences both in pronunciation and in meaning between
the two types of sequences. Compare the following:
you (ord.) get
leg also

pao

I get

pai

leg (emphatic)

pa. i

he (ord.) gets
on the leg

pae

pa.o

pa.e

brother's or sister's father-in-law talui

it is a palm, and nothing else
talu.i
this

ei

this is it, and nothing else

e.i

that

of

that is he, and no one else

o.i

lies down

6oe

having endured

6o.e

he carries
in the letter b

boe

you (ord.) carry

boo

you (inf.) also carry

bo.o

he takes; legitimate
in the legitimacy

nme
nm.e

expenditure

bme

in the expenditure

bm.e

he sings
in the body

gae

you (ord

nao
na.o

not also

take

bo.e

ga.e

54
midwife
responsible

dai

you (ord) want

dai

the tea also

da.i

bag
in the bag

thole

da.i

thole.e

Syllable structure.
It has been suggested previously that word-stress is not phonemic in
5.4.10.

Bengali, that, in fact, all syllables of a multi-syllabic Bengali word

are for all practical purposes stressed equally* The distinction between
Bengali and English in this respect can perhaps best be shown by the proListen to and
nunciation of loan-words from English current in Bengali.
pronounce the following:

railway station
coke oven
post office
cabinet minister
bath room
pastry
ice cream
gasoline (petroleum)
control
bundle
multiplication
night-rate, nitrate

re.lo.e6.Ie.6an
ko.ko.bhen
po6.$a.phi6
mi.ni60$ar

ba$4hrum
pe6.Iri

a.i6.krim
pet.$rol
kon.$rol
ban. 4i1

mal.Ii.pli.ke.6an
na.i$*rev

Lesson 1, part 1.

Conversation.

(To accompany tape).

Analysis and translation

Bengali

1.

A. Greetings.

A. nomo6kar "

2.

B. Greetings.

B. nomo6kar "

stem of first person pronoun "me"

genitive case ending for stems with
vowel final
of me, my"
noun stem, "name"
proper name
A. My name is Robi.

4.

ama-r

amar

nam
robi
A. amar nam

stem of second person (honorific)

pronoun "you"

apna-

genitive case ending for stems

with vowel final

-r

"of you, your" (honorific)

interrogative, "what"

A. What is your name?

5.

6.

ki
A.

apnar nam

ki "

ram
B.

amar nam

nominative singular of 2nd

person (honorific) pronoun,
"you"

robi

apnar

proper name
B. my name is Ram.

'

apni

'

ram "

"

56
interrogative, "where"
stem of verb "live, remain, stay"
2nd person (honorific) verbal
ending
"you (honorific) do live"

A. Where do you live?

7

nominative singular of 1st person

pronoun "I"
locative case ending for stems
having vowel final
Chicago
nin Chicago"
first person verbal ending
"I live"

B. I live in Chicago.
8.

kothae thaken "

A. apni

ami
-te
Elikago

Elikagote

(ami) thaki

B. ami

6ikagote thaki, "

"you (hon.) do"

(apni) koren

-en

A. apni

'

ki koren "

stem of verb "read, study"

1st person present ending

poT-i

"I study"

(ami) po'i (note vowel

change - Lesson 2, grammar,
section 1)

stem of verb "read, study"

2nd person (honorific) ending
"you (honorific) study"
A. What do you study?

11.

-en
(apni) thaken

kor-

B. I study in Chicago.
10.

thak-

stem of verb "do, make"

2nd person (honorific) verbal ending

A. What do you do?

9.

kothae

"Bengali" (language)

B. ami' iiikagote pori "

PoV
-en
(apni) poven
apni
ba/31a

ki poren "

57

B. I study Bengali.
12.

interrogative particle (see

grammar, section 8)
"difficult"

pori "

B. ami

ki
6okto
ki

A. Is Bengali difficult?
13.

"very"

na
khub

"easy"

6ohoj

"no"

B. No, it is very easy.

14.

"hot"

Is it very hot in Chicago?

15.

stem of verb "be not"

3rd person or impersonal verbal
ending
"it is not"

B. 1112a11.11A212.2XLIPt.
16.

"cold"

A. Is it very cold in Chicago?

17.

"yes"

B. yesi...1:Lisy=
18.

khub 60hoj "

A AikaG2Ifth1211MILJEIROn"
no-e

noe
B. na' khub gorom nne "
1ha44a

kkagote ki

khub thanda "

hae

B. hEe

koto

"big, large"

bn.ro

"city"

6akto "

gorom

interrogative, "how much, how many"

A. How big is Chicago?

19.

B. na,

'

khub, thavla "

A. 6ikago
6ohor

koto bnvo, "

58
B. Chicago is a very big clix.
20.

"'people"

A. How many people are there in

Chicago?
21.

A. 6ikagote

on-

"one"

-ek

"not one", i.e., "many"

locative ending with stems
ending in consonants
"in the city"

onek

B. 60hore

3rd person/impersonal verbal

ending

-e

"it strikes"

lage

B. Very much.

koto lok "

shore

kmmon
lag-

"good, well"

"

-e

interrogative, "how"
stem of verb "strike"

A. How do you like Chicago?

(i.e., "How does Chicago
strike you?")

khub boro 6ohor

lok

negative prefix

B. There are many people in the

211Xe

23.

B. 6ikago

A. a nar

onek lok "

61

tenon

e "

bhalo

B. khub bhalo "

,1 like Chicago very much.

gRaE-611A8a211-12.111.112JAILt"

59
lesson 1, _part 2 Drills
The taped drills based upon the conversation are arranged in the
following manner:
1.

Saturation drill #1. The saturation drills are the recorded Bengali
conversations spoken by two native speakers of Bengali. You are to
listen carefully to the conversation, following it in the printed
text.

Do not repeat the conversation at this time.

2.

Saturation drill #2.

3.

Saturation drill #3.

Lk

Saturation drill. 'K.

5.

In this drill, the English translation will be

Repetition drill #1.
given first, then the Bengali, then there will be a space left for
the student to repeat the Bengali sentence. The student's Bengali
repetition will be recorded, so that the student may check his

In this drill, the English meanings wily be

The student will listen only.
given first, then the Bengali.

Bengali pronunciation.
6.

7.

8.

Response drill #1. Part A of the Bengali conversation will be given

in Bengali, and the student will supply part B, in Bengali, in the
space left following part A. The student's response will be recorded.
Response drill #2. Part B of the Bengali conversation will be given
in Bengali, and the student will supply part A, in Bengali (i.e, the
student will speak part A following the drillmaster's voice saying
The student's voice will be recorded.
"A").
Saturation drill #5.

Lesson 1, part 3.

Grammar.

1. /nomoekar/ is the most common form of greeting used between Hindus

(or between a European and a Hindu) in Bengali. You should, however, al
ways be aware that there are other forms of greeting: /6alam/ ("peace")
or in full form /as salam o aleikum/ ("peace be with.you") is used when
greeting a Muslim. The return greeting to /as salam o aleikum/ is /0
aleikum as salami ("with you be peace").
/nomo6kar/ is used for a greeting when meeting and also when parting.

60
The simple present tense is used to denote habitual action. The use
of the simple present, for example, in sentences 6-11, implies that the
speaker resides habitually or permanently in Chicago, that he habitually
studies at the University, etc.
2.

3.

-r (sentences 3 ff.) is the genitive (i.e., possessive) case suffix

which is used with noun stems which have a vowel final. For stems with
consonant final, see Lesson 3, sentence 2, and grammar.
4.

-te (sentences 7 ff.) is the locative case (i.e., place in or to

which) suffix used with noun stems which have a vowel final. -e is the
locative case suffix used with noun stems with either vowel or consonant
final, thus:
city

tiohor

college

kolej

Bengali

baKila

in or to the city
60hore
in or to the college koleje
in Bengali
bar3late
baTjlae

Calcutta

kolkata

in or to Calcutta

kolkatate
kolkatae

5.

The verb "be" in the present tense affirmative is usually nct

expressed.
The verb "be not" in the present tense is expressed; i.e., in sentence
15, its stem is /no /1 to which are attached the regular present tense
verbal endings.
It is hot in Chicago.

ilikagote

It is not hot in Chicago.

kkagote

Chicago is a big city.

6ikago

boTo 6ohor "

Chicago is not a big city.

6ikago

boyo 6ohor noe "

Is it cold in Chicago?
It is not cold in Chicago

kkagote ki
Ihawla "
kkagote ' Vha44a noe "

'

gorom "

gorom noe "

'

5.1.

"he sequence /hoe nal does occur in a limited number of utterances;

these occurences will be pointed out as they arise.
5.2.

There is usually no verb in the present tense affirmation, and the

present tense form of the verb /hooa/ can mean only (a) an event as a
law or a habit, or (b) a narrated past event.

61

5.3.

Chicago is hot

6ikago gorom"

It gets difficult to drive

on Saturdays

6onibare gni calano 60kto hoe"

America was discovered four

and a half centuries ago

mmerika abi6kar hoe bare car6o

bochor age"

Other verbs form their negatives by the addition of the participle

/ha/.

I study

ami pori

you do

apni koren

I do not study
you do not do

ami pori na
apni koren na

6.

The simple present tense is formed by affixing the personal endings

to the simple stem of the verb (the verbal noun minus the suffix /-al;
see Lesson 2, part 3, section 1). These endings are:
Person

Stem

Ending

1st (ami)

_i

2nd (honorific -_, apni)

3rd (ordinary -- 6e)

-en
-e

Examples:

I remain

ami thaki

you (hon.) remain

he (she, it) remains

apni thaken
6e
thake

I sit

ami

you (hon.) sit

he (she, it) sits

apni 1306en
6e 1306e

The stem-vowel change in the first person will be discussed in Lesson 2.

6.1.

Drills.

Taped drills on this section of the lesson are arranged

in the following manner:
6.1.1.

Mutation drill #1.

The form of this drill will be as follows:

An English sentence will be given. The student is to translate the

sentence into Bengali in the space left for it following the English.
The correct Bengali of the sentence will then be given, and the student
will repeat the answer, recording. An example:
Master

(in English):

Student (in Bengali):

Master (in Bengali):

I live Lla the house.

ami

ami

barite thaki "

barite thaki "

62
Student (in Bengali):
7.

ami

barite thaki "

Interrogatives begin with the phoneme /k/.

Bengali
ki

kothae
kanon
koto
kon
kmno

Thus:

English
what, interrogative particle
where
how

how much, how many

which
why

The distinotions between /kmmon/ and /koto/

and between /ki/ and /kon/
should be noted:
7.1.

/koto/ is an interrogative with reference

to quantity or size:
How big (i.e., how much big) apnar bavi
koto bop "
is your house?
'

How many people are there

here?
7.2.

ekhane

koto lok "

/kmmon/ is used in a non-quantitative sense:

How do you like it?

apnar

kanon lage "

7.3.

Between the interrogatives /ki/ and /kon/,

possible confusion results from English equivalents.
In English, the word "what" can be used
in two ways: to indicate "which of
several", and to indicate "what
(general) thing".
Thus, in English, we can have "in what city do you
live" and "what do you do". Bengali distinguishes
between these two
usages.

Thus:

In what (i.e., which) city

do you live?

apni

kon whore thaken "

In what (i.e., which) chair

do you sit?

apni

kon oeare bogen "

What do you do?

What do you study?

apni

ki koren "
ki poven "

apni

A simple rule is that where in English the word "which"

can be used, the
Bengali equivalent will be /kon/ A good minimal pair
is:
What kind of job do you do?
What particular work do you
do?

apni

apni

'

ki kaj koren "

kon kaj koren "

63
Descriptively, it can be said that /.:on/ must take a noun following it;
/ki/ may or may not.
8.

Intonation patterns.

Learning to speak a language well does

correct reproduction of the individual
and fall of the voice in the utterance
This is true in English. For example,

not consist only of learning the

sounds of that language; the rise
of a sentence is also significant.
pronounce the utterance:

you're going
first as a statement, then as a question. The difference between the
There is no other element which
two is the intonation of the utterance.
denotes the difference between a statement and a question in this case.
The situation is similar in Bengali. There are three types of intonation patterns so far met, one a statement intonation, and two question
intonations.

Listen carefully to the tapes, until you are sure that you can reproduce
Bengali intonation patterns exactly.
Pattern 1: Statement.

My name is
My name is
It is very
You (hon.)
You (hon.)
work)

Robi.
Ram.
hot in Chicago.
live in Chicago.
work (lit you do

amar nam
amar nam

kkagote

robi "
'

ram "

'

khub gorom

11

apni

tflikegote thaken "

apni

kaj koren "

I study Bengali.
I study at the college.

b441a povi "

ami
ami

koleje po'i "

Pattern 2: Questions with /ki/ involving a yes-no answer.

verbally translatable in English).
apni ki

Jo you do?

jou work?

koren "

apni koren
apni ki

'

ki "

kaj koren "

apni kaj koren

ki "

khub gorom "

ki "
kkagote khub gorom
ikagote ki

Is it very hot in Chicago?

(/ki/ is not

64.

apni ki

Do you study Bengali?

Pattern 3:

apni

banla poven "

banla poven ki "

In the following sentences, /ki/ is translatable in English

by the interrogative "what".
apni

What do you do?

ki koren "
apni koren
ki "

apni

What do you study?

What is your name?

ki poven "

apni poTen

apnar
ki nam "
apnar rem
ki "

apnar
That is your work?

How many people are there in

Chicago?
How do you like Chicago?
How (much) different is
Bengali?
8.1.

'

ki kaj

apnar kaj
apni

Where do you live?

ki "

'

"

ki "

kothae thaken "

apni thaken
kothae "
1

6ikagote

'

koto lok "

apnar 6ikago
kaemon lage"
banla
koto 6okto "
'

Drills.

Taped drills on this section of the lesson are arranged

in the following manner:
8.1.1.

Intonation drill #1 (pattern 1, statement intonation)

An English sentence will be given, and the student will translate it

into Bengali in the space given. The student will then hear the correct
Bengali, and will repeat the correct Bengali in the space given.
8.1.2.

Intonation drill #2 (pattern 2, question with /ki/ involving a

"yes" or "no" answer)

An English sentence will be given, and the student will translate it

into Bengali, recording in the space given. 'the student will then hear
the correct Bengali and will repeat it, recording, in the space given.
8.1.3.
"what").

Intonation drill #3 (pattern 3, questions with /4/ meaning

the system will be the same au for the drills above.

9 Word order:

In Bengali a modifier precedes that which it modifies:

a hot city
Very good (very, well)

gorom gahor
khub bhalo

easy Bengali

gohoj

Bengali sentence formation: Form Bengali sentences (both as questions and statements -- note differences of intonation between the types
of formations), from the following outlines and translate them into
Use forms in parentheses (interrogatives) for question
English.
10.

formation.

10.1.

Modifier

Noun

(Interrogative)

nam

(ki)

(ki)

ram

apnar

verbal
modifier
or object

verb
stem

apni

gekhane

6e

gohore

khmlbog-

ram
robi

bavite
gikagote

noun or
pronoun

(Interrogative)

ami
(ki)

10.3.

(Interrogative)

robi

amar

10.2.

Noun

kothae
ki (what)

kor-

suffix

(Interrogative)

66

Noun

10.4.

Interrogative

Modifiers

Noun

(Verb)

Interrogative

khub boo

Sikago
(ki)

Sohor
choVo

'Davi

ghor

(ki)

(noe)

koto

Sohor
(ki)

bar)la

Sokto

Noun
(locative)
Sikagote

gorom
koto

ekhane

(noe)
Thai 4a

bavite
6ohore

(ki)

lesson lt_part 4.
1.

My
My
My
My
My

name
name
name
name
name

Pattern:

is
is
is
is
is

Naresh (Cnore61). What is your name?

Shuhash (C6uha6.1). What is your name?
Probash (Cprobafl). What is your name?
Shomdeb (ESomdeb]). What is your name?
Shamir (C6omirJ). What is your name?

sentences 3, 5.

a. My name is Nira (Clairol).

b.
c.
d.
e.
3.

Pattern drills.

Pattern: sentences 3, 4, 5.
a.
b.
c.
d.
eo

2.

(ki)

My
My
My
My

name
name
name
name

Pattern:

a.
b.
c.
do

Where
Where
Whore
Where

is
is
is
is

Rita (Critaj).
Shanta (E6antai).
Shita (C6itai).
Shillra ([64ra]).

sentences 6, 8, 10.

do
do
do
do

you
you
you
you

live?
sit?
play?
study?

e. What do you do?

4.

Pattern:

sentences 7, 9.

a. I live in the city.

b. I sit in the chair.
I play here.

d. I study in Chicago.
e. I study here.
5.

Pattern:

sentences 6, 8, 10.

a What do you do?

b. What do you study?
c. What do Tiu play?
d. What do you study?
e. What do you read?
6.

Pattern:

sentence 11.

a. I study in the college.

b. I study Bengali.
c. I play games.
d. I study language.
e. I read English.
7.

Pattern:

sentence 12.

a. Is the college difficult?

b. Is Bengali difficult?
c. Are the games easy?
d Is language easy?
e. Is English very difficult?
8.

Pattern:

sentence 13.

a. No, it is not difficult.

b. No, it is not very difficult.

c. No, not very easy.

d. No, language is not easy.
e. No, it is not difficult.
9.

Pattern:

sentence 12 and 14.

a. Is it very hot in the city?

68
b.
c.
d.
e.

Is
Is
Is
Is

it
it
it
it

10. Pattern:

very
very
very
very

cold in the house?

hot there?
cold in Chicago?
cold here?

15 and 17.

a. No, it is not very hot.

b. No, it is not very cold.
c. No, it is not very hot there.
d. No, it is not very cold in Chicago.
e. No, it is not very cold here.
11.

Pattern:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
12.

Is
Is
Is
Is
Is

it
it
it
it
it

Pattern:

12 and 14.

very
very
very
very
very

cold in the city?

hot in the house?
cold there?
hot in Chicago?
hot here?

15 and 17.

a. Yes, it is very cold.

b. Yes, it is very hot.

c. Yes, it is very cold there.

d. Yes, it is very hot in Chicago.
e. Yes, it is very hot here.
13.

Pattern:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
14.

How
How
How
How
How

18.

big is the city?

difficult is Bengali?
cold is Chicago?
hot is your house?
easy is English?

Pattern:

19.

a Chicago is a very big city,

b. Bengali is a very easy language.
c. Chicago is a very cold city.
d. My house is very hot.
e. English is a very difficult language.

69
15. Pattern:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

How
How
How
How
How

20.

many
many
many
many
many

16. Pattern:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

There
There
There
There
There

How
How
How
How
How

are
are
are
are
are

do
do
do
do
do

18. Pattern:

are
are
are
are
are

there
there
there
there
there

in
in
in
in
in

the city?
the country?
Chicago?
your house?
your college?

21.

17. Pattern:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

people
people
people
people
people

many
many
many
many
many

people
people
people
people
people

in
in
in
in
in

Chicago.
the country.
the city.
my house.
my college.

22.

you
you
you
you
you

like
like
like
like
like

the city?
Bengali?
Chicago?
your house?
the college?

23.

a. I like the city very much.

b. I like Bengali very much.
c. I do not like Chicago very much.
d. I do not like my house very much.
e. I like the college very much.
Lesson 1, part 5.

Drills.

Translate into Bengali:

Drill 1

Drill 2

What is your name?

My name is Naresh.
Where do you sit?
I sit here.
-- Do you sit in this chair?

-- Where is your house?

-- My house is in the city.
-- How big is your house?

-----

-- My house is very big.

-- In what city is your house?

70

-- No, I sit in that chair.

-- It is in Chicago.

-----

-----

What do you study?

I study Bengali.
How do you like Bengali?
Very much.

-- Is Bengali very difficult?

-- No, it is not very difficult.
Lesson 1

art 6.

How do you like Chicago?

It is very hot there.
Is Chicago a big city?
Yes, there are many people
in Chicago.

Vocabulary

Nouns

Verbs

Bengali

English

bavi
ghor

house
room

kaj

work

khml a

(Note: verbs are given in stem form; the

endings are added directly to the
stem; see also Lesson 2, grammar.)

Bengali

English

game

bob-

sit

cear

chair

de6

country

khaelkor-

play
do, make

bha6a

English (language)
language
college

kolej

Adjectives

Other

Bengali

English

Bengali

English

60hoj

easy

ei, e

this

6okto

difficult
small

oil o

that

ekhane

okhane

here
there

6ekhane

there

cholio

Idioms
amar

bhalo
lage
kharap

apnar kmmon lage

me -of

good

strikes-(it)

bad

you-of how strikes (it)

(I like/dont like it.)

(How do you like it?)

Lesson 2, part 1.

1.

Conversation.

Analysis and translation

Bengali

2nd person ordinary pronoun "you"

stem of verb "do, make"
2nd person (ordinary) verbal
ending

tumi

kor-

"you (ordinary) do"

(tumi) koro

A. What do you dog,

2.

noun stem, "office"

(note that Bengali /ph/ is
frequently pronounced much like
English f -- see Phonology, 4.2.6.

A. tumi

ki koro, "

ophi6

locative case ending for stems

with consonant final
"in the (an) office"
noun stem, "work"

kaj

alternative (high) stem of

verb "do, make" (see grammar,
section 1)

kor-

"I do"

(ami) kori

B. I work in ax: office.

3.

-o

stem of 2nd person (ordinary)

pronoun "you"

genitive case ending for stems

with vowel final
"of you (ordinary)"
noun stem, " father"
"your father"

-e

ophi6e

B. ami

ophi6e kaj kori "

toma-r

tomar
baba

tomar baba

72

demonstrative, "that"
morpheme indicating place
locative ease ending

se

"in that place, there"

2nd/3rd person honorific ending

liekhane

"he (honorific) does"

koren

A. Does your father work there?

4.

5.

6.

3rd person honorific pronoun

"he, she"

-e

-en

A. tomar baba ki
kaj koren "

B. na
tini
koren na "

A. What does your father do?

A. tomar baba

"some, any"
"none at all"

6ekhane kaj

ki koren "

na

kono

B. tini

noun stem, "brother"

present stem of defective verb
"be"; see grammar, section 3.
3rd person (ordinary) verbal
ending

bhai

B. Yes, Z have two brothers.

(yes, me-of two-(qualifier)
brother there-is)

'

kono

B. He doesn't do any work at all.

form of numeral "two" used in

compounds
qualifying suffix, used with
reference to human beings

tiekhane

tini

B. No, he doesn't work there,.

A. Do you have any brothers?

(you-of ? any brother there is)
8.

-khan-

'

kono kaj

'

koren na"

ach-e

A. tomar ki ' kono bhai ache "

du-

-jon
B. hie " amar

dujon bhai ache"

73
9

3rd person (ordinary) pronoun

stem
nominative plural ending, used
with pronouns and nouns having
reference to living beings
"they, those people" (ordinary)
3rd person ordinary verbal ending
(note that the ending is the
same for singular and plural)
"they (ordinary) live"
A. Where do they live?

10.

noun stem, "house"

locative case ending
"in the house, at home"
B. They live at home.

l].

12.

13.

"big"

tara
-e

tara thake
kothae thake "

A. tara
bavi
-te
barite

B. tara

'

barite thake,"

bovo

As tomar boro bhai

kaj koren "

B. He works in an office.

B. tini

"little"

verb stem, "read, study"

B. My younger brother studies.

15

-ra

A. Ylatt4.1211.2EIE211-9.22_12K9142E
work.

A. What work does your younger

brother do?
l4

ta-

3rd person (ordinary) pronoun

stem "he/she/it"
genitive case ending for stems
with vowel final
"of him/her (ordinary)"
noun stem, "age"

'

kothae

ophigie kaj koren "

choto

ki kaj

A. tomar choto bhai

kore "
P0:7-

B. amar choto bhai

ta-

-r

tar
boe6

'

pore "

74.
A. How old is he?
(how much is his age?)
16.

17.

18.

"twenty"

koto "

kuri

B. He is twenty.
(his age is twenty)

B. tar bees

A. Does your younger brother

study in college?

A. tomar choto bhai ki

koleje pore "

B. Yes, he studies in college.

B. hie " Se ' koleje pore "

19.

stem of verb "go"

ja-

3rd person (ordinary) ending

"he goes"
"daily, every day"

-e

A. Does your younger brother go

to college every day?
noun stem, "week"
locative case ending
"in the week"

20.

"four"

noun stem, "day"

B. No, four days a week he does

not
to college.
21.

"which"

"which (plural)"
"which day"
"which days"
A.

1419Aglaxts1A1:194talslataha
not go to college.

22.

A. tar bees

Sunday
Monday

'

kuri "

'

(se) jae
roj

A. tomar choto bhai ki

koleje jae "

roj

Soptaho
-e

Soptahe (see grammar,

section 8)
car
din
B. na '
optahe
car din
6e koleje jae na "
'

kon
kon kon
kon din
kon kon din
A. Se Soptahe
kon kon din
koleje jae na
robibar
Sombar

'

75
Tuesday
Wednesday

mcmgolbar
budhbar

"and"

ar

B. He does not go to college

Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays,

23.

B. 15e robibar
moligolbar

'

15ombar

'

or Wednesdays,.

ar budhbar
koleje jae na "

"only"

kebol

Thursday
Friday
Saturday

briholipotibar

B. He goes to college only

Thursdays, Fridays, and
Saturdays,.

'

'

6ukrobar
6onibar
B.

15e kebol
iiukrobar

brihamotibar
ar iionibar

koleje jae "

76
Lesson 2, part 2.

Drills.

The taped drills will follow the same pattern as in Lesson I.

Lesson 2, part 3.

Grammar.

Many Bengali nouns, pronouns, and verbs have two alternative stems.
The two alternative verb stems will hereafter be distinguished as "high"
1.

and "low" stems, the terms referring to the height of the stem-vowel
(see chart below).
The low-stem form is the basic form, the form which
you will be given throughout this text, since through it the system of
vowel change is more easily understood.
The basic form -- low stem -- can be considered as the verbal noun
minus the nominal suffix:
1.1.

1.2.

Verbal noun,

Basic stem

kora
kena
khmla
jaoa

"playing"

knrkenkhml-

"going"

ja-

"doing"

"buying"

The system of Bengali vowels is charted as follows:

Front

High

Middle

Back

Mid
Low
1.2.1.

The system of vowel alternation is as follows:

When the low-stem vowel is /V, the high-stem vowel is /i /.

/m/1
/0/,

/e/.
/u/.

Ail,

/0/.

The stem-vowel /a/ presents a special case, and will be considered in

detail at a later time; for the present, we can consider stems with /a/
as having no vowel change.
Stems in /i/ and /u/, these being the
highest vowels, have no higher form.

77
1.3.

In some cases the stem-vowel alternation can be phonologically

defined, as for example in sentences 1 and 2 in this exercise. In sentence 1, the verb "do, make" occurs with the stem /kor -/.
In sentence
2, the same verb occurs with the stem /kor-/. Note that the 1st person
(personal ending -i) form of the verb, i.e, /kori /, is the form which
occurs in sentence 2.
It is a general phonological rule for the language
that when a word of this shape: consonant-vowel-(consonant), has for the

second vowel either /i/ or /u /, the preceding vowel of the word is high.
In sentence 2, the second vowel of /kori/ is /1/, and the /0/ vowel of
the low stem becomes the high vowel /0/.

1.3.1.

Other examples of this type of vowel-alternation in verb stems

are:

Vowel Alternation
e/i

m/e

0/43

o/u

1.4.

Stem

Simple Present Tense Paradigm

ken-

ami kini

"I buy"

tumi keno
apni kenen
6e kene

"you (ord.) buy"

"you (hon.) buy"
"he (ord.) buys"

tini kenen

"he (hon.) buys"

ami kheli

"I play"

tumi khmlo

"you play"

apni khmlen

"you play"

6e khmle

"he plays"

tini khmlen

"he plays"

ami boft

"I sit"

tumi bolo

"you sit"

apni b06en
6e b06e

"you sit"

tini ben

"he sits"

ami u$hi

"I rise up"

tumi o$ho

"you rise up"

apni open,

"you rise up"

6e ()the

"he rises up"

tini o$hen

"he rises up"

khml-

b06-

"he sits"

Stems with /a/ have no change in the simple present tense.

78
Stem

Simple Present Tense Paradigm

jan-

ami jani

"I know"

tumi jano

"you know"

apni janen
6e jane

"you know"

tini janen

"he knows"

ami jai

"I go"

tumi jao

"you go"

apni jan
6e jae

"you go"

tini jan

"he goes"

ja-

"he knows"

"he goes"

Note that stems with vowel final have the ending /-n/ in the honorific
forms.
1.5.

Drills on these vowel changes will follow the same pattern as in

Lesson 1.
1.6.

Examples of this type of alternation in pronoun and noun stems are:

Vowel Alternation
o/u

0/o

Genitive

Nominative

tomar

tumi

"of you"

"you (ord.)"

Masculine

Feminine

n01

noIi

"actor!,

"actress"

There are other stem-vowel changes which are not phonologically

definable; these will be considered at a later time.
1.7.

1.8.

Write the simile present tense paradigms for the following verb

stems;

(to) read

pot-

(to)
(to)
(to)
(to)

phl-

drop, throw
know, recognize
hear
remain

cen-

6on-

thak-

The verb /de-/, "give", is irregular in the simple present tense,

and has the following paradigm.
1.9.

ami dii

"I give"

79
tumi dao

"you (ord.) give"

apni dmn

"you (hon.) give"

6e dace

"he (ord.) gives"

tini daen

"he (hon.) gives"

The /khan/ morpheme, indicating place, as in sentence 3, is usually

used in the locative, i.e., /-khane/. Various kinds of demonstratives
and interrogatives can be substituted as the first element of a word,
2.

e.g.,

ekhane
okhane

6ekhane

konkhane
3.

"in this place, here"

"in that place, there"
(with specific reference)
"in that place, there"
(used in a more generalized
way than the preceding)
"in which place, where"

The defective verb /ach-/, sentence 7.

3.1.

In statements which imply a permanent condition, some form of the

verb /ach-/, which exists only in the simple present and simple past
forms, is used. A good rule of thumb is that this verb can be used in
statements or questions which may have the expression "there is" in
English.
In sentence 7, for example, the literal translation is: "Is
there any brother of you?"
3.2.

The negative form of the verb /ache /, "there is", is /nei/,

"there is not":

tomar ki'kono bhai ache"

na " amar
kono bhai nei"
'

Do you have any brothers?

No, I don't have any brothers.

There is no simple Bengali equivalent for the transitive English

verb "have, possess". As in sentence 7, a possessive construction is
formed by the use of the genitive case for the subject and the ,3rd
4.

person (or impersonal) form of the verb /ach-/, thus:

amar'mkVa boi ache"

5.

me-of one -( qualifier)

I have a

book (there)-is

book.

tar'mkVa bozo kukur

him-of one -( qualifier)

ache"

He has a

big dog (there)-is

big dog.

We have now had two types of second person pronoun -- the stems

80

/apn-/ and apna-/, in Lesson 1, and /tum-/ and /toma-/, in Lesson 2.

The distinction between these two forms is that /apn- apna-/ (used with
verbal ending /-en/) is an honorific form of address, while /tum- toma-/
(used with the verbal ending /-o/) is an ordinary form of address .
There is also a distinction between ordinary and honorific forms
of address in the 3rd person. The 3rd person ordinary pronoun forms
are /6e/ (nominative) and /ta-/ (stem to which inflectional endings are
The 3rd person honorific pronoun form is /tini/. Note that the
added).
5.1.

honorific verbal endings are the same for both 2nd and 3rd persons.
apni koren

you do

tini koren

he/she does

apni janen
tini janen

you know
he/she knows

apni jan

you go
he/she goes

tini jan
5.2.

The circumstances which govern the distribution of these forms are

not easily defined, but a basic rule of thumb might be the following:

The polite or honorific form is used by Bengalis when addressing or

referring to a person of superior rank, an elder, or an equal with whom
the speaker is not on intimate terms. The ordinary form is used with
intimate equals and *members of one's immediate family; it is also used
It is to be noted, however, that
by Bengalis when addressing servants.
a non-native Bengali speaker will not go wrong by using the honorific
It
form in every circumstance except perhaps when addressing servants.
is a matter about which it is well to be careful, since the form you use
indicates to the listener your attitude toward him.

There is another degree of second person address, of which the

The inflection of this pronoun is:
pronoun stem is /to- to -/.
5.3.

Nominative:
Genitive:
(Objective:

The verbal ending is /-i6/, thus:

tui
for
toke)

tui jani6

"you know"

This form is sometimes used for addressing very intimate friends and

younger family members, sometimes for servants and children, and for
animals.
It is not a form which a foreigner can often use; therefore
there will be little stress laid upon it in these lessons.
6.

The nominative stem of the 3rd person pronoun is /6e/ or, in the
honorific, /tini/. The inflectional stem, however, is /ta-/ or, in the
honorific, /ta-/.
Thus:
He reads his book.

6e'tar boi pore"

He (hon.) reads his book.

tini'tar boi poven"

7.

The nominative plural ending for pronouns and nouns which have reference to human beings is /-ra/ (for stems with vowel final) and /-era/
for stems with consonant final). Thus:
chele

boy

chelera khae

the boys eat

ta-

3rd person pronoun stem

they know

tara jane
manu6

manusera jae

man
men go

Note that the rule is not inflexible: the forms /manu6ra/ and /lokra/
(people) are possible.
7.1.

The personal endings of the verb are identical for singular and
plural:

English

Bengali,

I do

ami kori
tumi koro
tui kori6

you (ord.) do
you (inf.) do
you (hon.) do
he (she, it)

apni koren

does

se kore

he (she, it hon.) does

tini koren

we do

you (ord.) do
you (inf.) do

amra kori
tomra koro
tora kori6

82

you (hon) do

apnara koren
tara kore
tara koren

they (ord.) do
they (hon.) do
7.2.

Make complete paradigms, singular and plural, for the following

verbs:

(to) buy
(to) go

ken-

(to) play
(to) hear

khmlson-

(to) know

jan-

ja-

7.3.

Note that, as in sentence 8, when the noun is accompanied by a

plural adjective (here /dujon /), it takes no plural suffix.
8.

Noun stems ending in /-o/ are inflected by the replacement of final

/0/ by the inflectional suffix.
"week"

6optaho

"of the week''

6optaher
6optahe

"in the week"

9.

91.

Sentence formation:

Modifier

construct possible Bengali sentences:

Noun or
Pronoun

Interrogative

ami

tumi

(ki)

ekhane
6ekhane

ja-

bavite

6e

ghore

tins

eichore

tara

apnar
tomar
tar
tar

Verb
Stem

apni

baba
dada
bhai
bon
ma

khmlpovthak-

koleje

bondhu

(etc.)

kothae

Suffix

Icor-

amar

Verbal
Modifier

y
Xy
e

83

9.2.

Modifier

Noun or
Pronoun

Interr.

(Genitive) (ki)
tomar
amar

apnar

amar

boet5

koto

tomar

boeti

kuvi

apnar
bondhur

9.3

Modifiers
and Nouns

Verb

kono baba

ach-

Modifier

Modifier

ami

6optahe

apni

kon kon
kon
mk

6e

du

ram

tin
robibar

bhai

Noun

din

Verbal
Modifier

Verb

koleje

ja-

ekhane

khml-

barite

poi

6ohore

at5-

gilonibar

roj

Lesson 2, part 4.

a.

b.
0.

d.
e.
2.

What
What
What
What
What

Pattern:

Pattern drills.

sentences 1, 5.

does
does
does
does
work

your
your
your
your
does

younger brother do?

younger brother study?
older brother do?
older brother study?
your father do?

sentences 2, 12.

a He (ord.) goes to college.

b.

He (ord.) studies Bengali.

c He (hon.) works at the college.

d.

(ki)

dada
choto bhai
bovo bondhu

Noun or
Pronoun

Pattern:

Interr.

tirit5

tumi

1.

Suffix

He (hon.) studies English.

Suffix

Yel)/
e

81i.

e.
3.

Pattern: sentence 3.
a.

Does your younger b/c:ther study there?

b.

Does
Does
Does
Does

c.

d.
e.

4.

Pattern:
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

5.

your
your
your
your

younger brother speak Bengali?

older brotxier study there?
older brother study at the college?
older brother work there?

sentence 4.

Yes, he (ord) studies there.

Yes, he (ord.) speaks Bengali.
Yes, he (hon.) studies there.
No, he (hon.) does not study at the college.
No, he (hon.) does not work in the office.

Pattern: sentence 5.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.
6.

He (hon.) works in an office.

That
What
What
What
What

Pattern:
a.

b.

work does your younger brother do?

language does your older brother know?
work does your older brother do?
books does your older brother read?
work does your older brother do?
sentence 6.

(Use appropriate pronoun and verb forme.)

He doesn't do any work at all.

He doesn't know any Bengali at all.

c He doesn't do any work at all.

d.
et,

7.

Pattern:
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

8.

He doesn't read any books at all.

He doesn't study any books at all.

Do you have any older brothers?

Does he have any Bengali books?
Do you (hon.) have any younger brothers?
Does he have any English books?
Does he have any work?

Pattern:
a.

sentence 7.

sentence 8.

Yes, I have one older brother.

85

d.

Yes, he has some Bengali books.

Yes, I have four younger brothers.
Yes, he has some English books.

e.

Yes, he has some work.

b.
c.

Pattern:

9.

Where
Where
Where
Where
Where

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

10.

b.
c.

d.
e.

b.
c.

d.
e.

13.

He lives at college.
He buys books in the city.
They study in the room.
He lives at home.
He works at the college.
sentence 15.

Pattern:
a.

12.

does he live?
does he buy books?
do they study?
does your older brother live?
does he work?

Pattern: sentences 10, 12.

a.

11.

sentences 9, 11.

How
How
How
How
How

old
old
old
old
old

Pattern:

is
is
is
is
is

he?

your
your
your
your

younger brother?
older brother?
older sister?
father?

sentence 16.

a.

He is thirty.

b.

He is twenty.

c.

d.

He is twenty-five.
He is forty.

e.

He is fifty.

Pattern: sentence 17.

a.

b.
c.

d.

Does
Does
Does
Does

he study at the college?

at the college?
your younger brother study
he live at home?
he study at home?

86
e.

l4.

Pattern:

Yes, he studies at the college.

b.

Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,

d.
e.

Pattern:
a.

b.
0.

d.
e.

16.

b.
c.

d.
e.

b.
c.

d.
e.

he go home every day?

he study at the college every day?
he come home every day?
he study every day?
your father go home every day?

two days a week he does not go home.

three days a week he does not go to college.
four days a week he does not come home.
five days a week he does not study.
one day a week he stays at the college.

Which
Which
Which
Which
Which

Pattern:

younger brother studies at the college.

older brother lives at home.
studies in the room.
lives in the city.

sentence 20.

Pattern:
a.

18.

Does
Does
Does
Does
Does

No,
No,
No,
No,
No,

my
my
he
he

sentence 19.

Pattern:
a.

17.

sentence 18.

a.

c.

15.

Does your father live in the city?

sentence 21.

days of the week does he not

days of the week does he not
days of the week does he not
days of the week does he not
day of the week does he stay

go home?

go to college?
come home?
study?
at the college?

sentences 22, 23.

He does not go home Sunday and Monday.

b He does not go to college Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
c.
He does not come home Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
He does not study Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and
a.

Fridays

e.

He stays at the college Saturday.

87
a.

He goes home only Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and

Saturday.

b.

He goes to college only Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and

Saturday.

c.

He comes home only Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

He studies only Saturday and Sunday.
He comes home Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and
Friday.

d.
e.

Lesson 2, part 4.

Sentence Drill.

Drill 1

Drill 2

--Where do you (ord.) work?

--I work at the college.
- -Do you study there?

--Have you any sisters?

--Yes, I have two sisters.

--No, I work in the office.

- -She studies English.

--What work does your father do?

--My father is (a) doctor.
--Where does he live?
- -He lives in Calcutta.
--Do you have any brothers?
- -Yes, I have three brothers.

- -Does she speak English?

--What does the older sister do?

--What do they do?

- -They study at the college.
- -Do you stay at home Mondays?
- -Yes, I stay at home two days
a week, Monday and Tuesday.

--No, she speaks only Bengali.

- -Where does your younger sister live?
- -She lives at my father's house.

--Does your sister have any sons?

--Yes, she has two sons and one daughter.
--How old is the daughter?
- -She is ten.

Lesson 2___, part

Vocabular1y.

Nouns

Bengali

English

rokom
kind
4aktar
doctor
kolkata, kolikata Calcutta

colli6

twenty-five
thirty
forty

1:16210a6

fifty

tiri6

Bengali

English

bon
ma
dada
chele
mee
bondhu

sister

mother
older brother
son, boy
daughter, girl
friend

88
Adjectives

Verbs

English

Bengali

English

Bengali

nacbol-

dance

Cardinal Numbers:

say

one

we

come

mk
dui, du
tin
car

a$

four
five
six
seven
eight

noe
do6
kavil bi6

nine
ten
twenty

Other

mattro
kebol
kichu

pac
only

some, a few

shoe
gat

two

three

Days of the Week:

robibar
gombar
mongolbar
budhbar (budbar)

briho6potibar
6ukrobar
6onibar

Sunday

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

Lesson 3, part 1 Conversation.

1.

Analysis and translation

Bengali

"news"

khobor

"what news" -- form of

greeting

ki khobor

A. What news?
"of you (ordinary)"

2.

B. Good.

What's the news with you?

A. ki khobor "
tomar

B. bhalo " tomar

ki khobor "

demonstrative, "that"
qualifying suffix; see grammar,
section 2.

"that (particular)"
A.

Good.

What book is that?

"one"

4.

qualifying suffix; see grammar,

section 2.
"a, an"

noun stem, "poetry, poem"

genitive case suffix for stems
with vowel final
"of poetry"
"book of poetry"
B.

(It is) a book of poetry.

A. bhalo " ota

ki boi "

mk

-Ia
mkVa
kobita
-r

kobitar
kobitar boi

B. aka ' kobitar boi "

90
5.

noun stem, "book"

qualifying suffix; see Grammar,
section 2
"that book"

boi

genitive case suffix

"of that book"

-r

A. What is the name of that book?

6.

name of a book of poems by

Tagore

B. That book's name is Balaka

7,

8.

demonstrative pronoun, "that"

qualifying suffix
genitive case suffix
"of that (particular) one"
verb stem, "write"
noun stem, "writer"

boia
boi4ar

A. o boitar

bolaka
B. o boitar nam

oVar
lekh-

lekhok
ke

A. Who is the writer of it?

A. otar

B. Rabindranath is the writer of

'

lekhok ke "

robindronath (Vhakur)

B. o ar lekhok

it.

verb stem, "know, recognize"

"you (ordinary) know"

B. Do you know Rabindranath's name?,

bolaka "

-r

interrogative, "who"

name of a famous Bengali poet,

Rabindranath (Tagore)

nam ki "

robindronath "

jan-

(tumi) jano

B. tumi ki robindronather

nam

jano "
10.

(inflectional) stem of 3rd

person (honorific) pronoun
"of him (honorific)"

A. No, 2 don't know his name.

ta-

tar

A. na " ami

tar nam

jani na "

91
11 A. Who is he?
12.

"one"

mk

qualifying suffix, used with

reference to human beings
"one (person)"
noun stem, "poet"

-jon
mkjon
kobi

B. He is a poet,.
13.

14

mkjon kobi "

gan

A. Does he write songs?

A. tini ki

for this use of the future tense,

see grammar, section 3.10
basic stem of verb "hear"
high stem of verb "hear"
sign of the future tense

B. Yes. Would you like to hear a

song by Rabindranath?

for this use of the genitive case,

see grammar, section 4
verb stem, "hear"
sign of the future tense
1st person verbal ending,
future tense
"I will/shall hear"
A. Yes, I should like to hear a
song by him.

160

B. tini

noun stem, "song"

2nd person (ordinary) verbal

ending used with future tense
"you (ordinary) will hear"

150

A. tini ke "

type of Indian stringed

instrument
verb stem, "play (an instrument)"
you (ordinary) will play"

gan lekhen "

son 6un-

-b-e

(tumi) 6unbe
B. hga " tumi ki
gan
Ounbe

'

robindronather

'

sun-

-b-o

(ami) 6unbo
A. hga " ami

'

tar gan

6etar

baja(tumi) bajabe

'

6unbo "

92

A. Will you play the sitar?

A. tumi ki
behala

type of instrument, violin

17.

B. No, I shall play the behala.

B. na " ami

A. I shall accom an

you on the

tables.

'

behala ba4abo

toma-

2nd person (ord.) pronoun stem

genitive case suffix with vowel
stems
post-position "with" (accompaniment), governing a preceding
genitive
"with you"
type of Indian drum

18.

6etar bajabe "

'

-r

gorze
tomar 6orjge

tobla

tomar 6onge
A. ami
bajabo "
'

19. B. Will your brother play the

sitar?

B. tomar bhai ki
bajabe "

20. A. as, he will play.

A.

Lesson 3, part 2.
1.

Genitive case endings.

'

tobla

6etar

lige " bajabe "

Grammar.

The genitive case ending has two forms:

The general rule for the formation of the genitive case is that
when a word has a vowel final, the suffix is /-r/. When a word has a
There is an exception to this
consonant final, the suffix is /-er/.
1.1.

rule:

When the word has the shape CV (consonant-vowel) and the final vowel is
/i/, /u/, or /a/, the genitive suffix is either /-r/ or /-er/. When the
word has the shape OVV (consonant-vowel-vowel), and the final vowel is
/i/ or /u/, the genitive suffix is /-er/. Examples:

CV:

CVV:

English

Nominative

Genitive

mother
foot

ma
pa

mar, maer

book

boi

boier

par, paer

93
brother
wife

bhai
bou

bhaier
bouer

But the genitive of /kobi /, "poet", is /kobir /, the word being of CVCV
shape.
2.

The use of qualifiers.

There are various qualifiers (sometimes called "particles") in

Bengali, which have different usages and meanings. The most commonly
2.1.

used one is the one which we have in sentences 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 -i.e., /.14/.
It is often difficult to assign a lexical meaning to these
qualifiers.
They are frequently added to adjectives or, as here, demonstrative pronouns, which are not accompanied hy a noun.
Examples:

English

Bengali

What book is that (or, depending

on the intonation, "Is that a
book?")
What book is this (or: Is this
a book?)
Is this easy?
Is that bad?
That is bad.
That is easy work.

oIa ki boi"

eta ki boi"
eVa ki'60hoj"
6eVa ki'kharap"
6dIa'kharap"
olay6ohoj kaj"

When the demonstrative is accompanied by a noun, the qualifier is affixed

to the noun.
Note also differences in meaning.
What is that book?
That work is easy.
This poetry is very beautiful.

o boi4a'ki"
o kajVaigohoj"
o kobitaVa'khub 6undor"

Drill carefully (using the tapes) on these usages and distinctions.

2.1.1.

How would you say the following?

That work is difficult.
That is difficult work.
That book is good.
That is a good book.

That poem is beautiful.

That is a beautiful poem.

Is that difficult work?

Is that work difficult?
2.1.2.

The difference might be defined in this way: that

when the
demonstrative (/e/, /o/, or /6e/) is used
adjectivally (i.e., accompanying a noun), the noun takes the qualifier.
When it is used pronominally
(i.e., standing alone, as the subject
or object of the sentence), the
demonstrative itself takes the qualifier.
2.2.

Qualifiers are usually added to numerals and other

adjectives of
quantity even when accompanied by a noun, as in sentence
4.
Again, in
such cases, there is no transferrable meaning in i!Inglish.
An exception
to this rule is when adjectives of quantity
accompany nouns referring to
money or measure.
For example:
"two annas"

du aria

"five rupees"
"two seers"

pac Iaka
du 6er

The numerals /du/ ("two"), /tin/ ("three")

and /car/ ("four") usually
take special forms of the qualifier, thus:
I want two books.

I shall hear three songs.

I shall eat four mangoes.

ami'duIo boi cai"

ami'tinIe gan 6unbo"

ami'carIe am khabo"

Note that when adjectives of quantity

are used, the nouns which they
accompany are singular in form.
2.3.

The qualifier /-$a/ can be used with reference

to any person or
object.
The qualifier /-jon/, however, as in
sentence 2, can be used
only in reference to human beings.
Although /- a/ can also be used with
human reference, the use of /-jon/
is preferable in this situation.
2.4

Examples of these various usages are as follows:

I shall fetch a book.

amittek$a boi anbo"

I shall fetch that book.

I shall fetch that.

ami'o boila anbo"

ami'o$a anbo"

95

3.

He (hon) will sing a song.

He (hon) will sing two songs.

tinilmkVa gan gaiben"

tini'duIo gan gaiben"

He (hon.) will sing that song.

He (hon.) will sing that (one).

tini'o ganIa gaiben"

gaiben"

I have a book.

amar'mk.pa boi ache"

I have a brother.

amartmkjon bhai ache"

The simple future tense.

3.1.

The two uses of the future tense which are illustrated in this

lesson are the following:

The indication of action that will take place in the future

a.

time.
b.

An expression equivalent to the .English "would you ...fl (i.e.,

do you want to) as in sentence 15.

The future tense is formed by the addition of the future sign /-b-/
/a /,
to the high stem of the verb, unless the vowel of the verb stem is
If the vowel of the stem is /a/
and with the exception of the stem /h0-/.
the future tense. The
or the stela is /h0-/, the low vowel is preserved in
b
personal endings of the future tense are then added to the stem
complex. The future tense personal endings are:
3.2.

1st person (ami)

2nd person (ordinary -- tumi)
2nd person (inferior -- tui)
apni)
2nd person (honorific
3rd person (ordinary -- 6e)
3rd person (honorific -- tini)
3.3.

,-o

-e

-en
-e

-en

sample simple future paradigms are:

son--

"hear"

ami 6unbo

I shall hear

tumi, 6unbe

you (ord.) will hear

you (inf.) will hear
you (hon.) will hear

tui 6unbi
apni 6unben
6e 6unbe

tini 6unben

he (ord.) will hear

he (hon.) will hear

96
ken-

"buy"

ami kinbo

I shall buy

tumi kinbe

you (ord.) will buy

you (inf.) will buy
you (hon.) will buy

tui kinbi
apni kinben
6e kinbe

tini kinben

he (ord.) will buy

he (hon.) will buy

"play"

kheel-

ami khelbo

I shall play

tumi khelbe
tui khelbi
apni khelben

you (ord.) will play

you (inf.) will play
you (hon.) will play

6e khelbe
tini khelben

he (ord.) will play

he (hon.) will play

kor-

"do, make"

ami korbo

I shall do

tumi korbe
tui korbi
apni korben

you (ord.) will do

you (inf.) will do
you (hon.) will do

6e korbe
tini korben

he (ord.) will do
he (hone) will do

,fan?

"know"

ami janbo

I shall know

tumi janbe
tui janbi

you (ord.) will know

you (inf.) will know
you (hon.) will know

apni janben

tini janben

he (ord.) will know

he (hon.) will know

ami jabo

I shall go

tumi jabe

you (ord.) will go

6e janbe

97
tui jabi

you (inf.) will go

apni jaben

you (hon.) will go

6e jabe

he (ord.) will go
he (hon.) will go

tini jaben

There are two types of verbs which are irregular in the future.
The first is the stem /ho-/ "be, become". This preserves its low stem
in the future, except where it is changed by a final high vowel:
3.4.

"be, become"

ho-

ami hobo

I shall become

tumi hobe
tui hobi

you (ord.) will become

you (inf.) will become
you (hon.) will become

apni hoben
6e hobe

tini hoben

he (ord.) will become

he (hon.) will become

Note however that there are other stems of shape Co-, which take the
high stem in the future.

The second class of verbs which is irregular in the future tense

is the one which includes the stems /ca-/ "want", /ga-/ "sing", /60-/
They are conjugated thus:
"bear, endure", and /bo-/ "carry".
3.5.

ca-

"want"

ami caibo

I shall want

tumi caibe
tui caibi
apni caiben

you (ord.) will want

you (inf.) will want
you (hon.) will want

6e caibe

he (ord.) will want

he (hon.) will want

tini caiben
kin-

"endure"

ami tfloibo

I shall endure

tumi Libe
tui

you (ord.) will endure

you (inf.) will endure

apni Liben

you (hon.) will endure

98
6e 6oibe

he (ord.) will endure

he (hon.) will endure

tini 6oiben

The genitive case can be used to denote authorship, as in

sentences 15 and 16. Another example:

4.

noun stem "story"

"Is that a story by Mitre"
5.

golpo

ova kiimittrer golpo"

Syntax.

Form possible Bengali sentences:

Modifiers

5.1.

Noun

Interrogative

eV.

Interrogative

boi

(ki)

6okto
6ohoj

oIa

golper

(ki)

bhalo

e/a
seta
boi/a

53

Noun

bhalo

(ki)

oIa
6e/a
boi4a

5.2.

Complement

60kto
60hoj

Modifiers

Noun

boi4ar
robindronather
rawer

nam

Interro_I
gative

(ki)

Noun

Verb

jan-

or

oIar

Interrogative

(ki)

(ki)

lekhok

(ke)

er

ear

robindronath

lekhok
boi/ar

(ki)

ram

--.

99

5.4.

Modifiers

Noun
(Subject)

Modifiers

(ki)

amar
tomar

gan

apnar
tar
tar

tobla
golpo

ami

tumi

tomra
amar

bhai

tomar

ma
baba

ramer

Noun
(Object)

Interrogative

6etar

bhalo

kharap
60hoj
60kto

aka
Lesson 3, part 3.
1.

Pattern: grammar, section 2.1.

a.

b.

d.

Is that a novel?
Is that a play?

e.

Is that a story?

c.

2.

Pattern: grammar, section 2.1.

a.

b.

Yes, this is a book.

Yes, this is a poem.

d.

Yes, this is a novel.

Yes, this is a play

e.

Yes, this is a story.

c.

3.

Is that a book?
Is that a poem?

Pattern: sentence 3.
a.

cihat book is that?

b.

that poem is that?

c.

,chat novel is that`:'

d.

What play is that?

What story is that?

c.

Pattern Drills.

Verb

baja6on-

Interrogative
(ki)

100
4.

Pattern: sentence 4.

It is a book of songs (use singular form).

It is a poem by (i.e., of) Rabindranath.
It is a novel by Rabindranath.

d.

It is a play by Rabindranath.

e.

It is a story by Jomdev.

a.

b.

5.

Pattern: sentence 5.
a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

6.

What is the name

What is the name
Jhat is the name
What is the name
What is the name

of that book?
of that poem?
of that novel?
of that play?
of that story?

Pattern: sentence 6, grammar section 2.

a.

That book's name is Jicitra Cbicittra].

the book.

b.

That poem's name is Balaka Lbolaka].

the book.

c That novel's name is Gora [gora].

novel.
d.

That play's name is Raja [raja].

That is the name of

And that is the name of

That is the name of the

That is the name of the play.

e That story's name is Trene LIrene]. That is the name of the
story.

Pattern: grammar, section

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

8.

Is that a very good book?

Is that a book of poetry?
Is that a good novel?
Is that a difficult play?
Is that a Bengali story?

Pattern: grammar, section

a.

b.

2.

2.

Yes

it is a good book.
Yes, it is a book of poetry.

c Yes, it is a very good novel.

d.
e.

No, it is an easy play.

Yes, it is a Bengali story.

101
9.

Pattern: sentence 7.

a
d.

Who is the author of it?

Is Rabindranath the author of the book?
Is Rabindranath the author of it?
Is Rabindranath the author of the play?

e.

Is Somdev the author of the story?

b.
c.

10.

Pattern: sentences 8, 9.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

11.

Pattern: sentences 10, 11.

a.

h.
c.

d.
e.

12.

Who is he?

Who is he?

d.
e.

He is a friend.

c.

And he is a writer.

Pattern: sentence 14.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Is
Is
Is
Is
Is

he
he
he
he
he

a
a
a
a
a

poet of Bengal? *
writer of poems?
writer of many novels?
writer of stories?
friend of yours (i.e., of you)?

Pattern: sentence 15.

a.

know his name.

his name.
his poetry.
his stories.
know his name.

He is a writer. You will hear his name.

He is a good writer. You will read his poetry.
He is a very good writer. You will read his novels.
He is a poet. You will hear his songs.

b.

14.

No, I don't
Yes, I know
Yes, I know
Yes, I know
No, I don't

Pattern: sentence 12, 13.

a.

13.

Do you know his name?

Rabindranath is the writer of the book.
Yes, he is the writer of it. Do yGu know his name?
Yes, he is the writer of the novel. Do yuu know his name?
Yes, he is the writer of the play. Do you know his name?
Yes, he is the writer of the story. Do you know his name?

Yes.

Would you like to hear his Bengali?

/baljlade6er mkjon kobi/ -- "one of Bengal's poets."

102

15.

b.

Yes. Would you like to hear a song' by him? (i.e., a song

of his?)

c.

Yes.

d.

Yes.

Would you like to read his novels?

Would you like to read his stories?

e.

Yes.

WoUld you like to hear a song by him?

Pattern: sentence 16.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,

I
I
I
I
I

should
should
should
should
should

like
like
like
like
like

to
to
to
to
to

hear
hear
read
read
hear

his Bengali.
a song by him.
his novels.
his stories.
a song by him.

Pattern: sentence 17.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

16.

you
you
you
you
you

read
play
read
read
sing

his poetry?
the sitar?
a novel?
a story?
a song?

Pattern: sentence 18.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

17.

Will
Will
Will
Will
Will

Yes, I shall read a poem.

No, I shall play the tabla.
No, I shall read a story.
No, I shall read a poem.
Yes, l shall sing a song.

Pattern: sentence 19.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

I shall read with you.

I shall play the sitar with you.

I shall read a story with you.

I shall read a poem with you.
I shall sing a song with you.
Lesson 3, part 4.

Sentence Drill.

Drill 1

--What book is that?

--This book? Its name is Gitanjali Egitanjoli].

103

Who is its author?

not know that name.
--It is a book by Rabindranath.
-I

do

- -Is it a novel?

--No, it is a book of poetry.

--Is it a good book?

- -Yes, it is a very good book.
--Is it in Bengali?
--No, it is in English. Shall I read a poem?
- -Yes, I should like to hear a poem (i.e., I shall hear ...).
--I shall read the first poem.

Now will you sing a song by Rabindranath?

- -No, I shall not sing. My brother will sing.
--Will you play the tabla?
Will you dance?
- -Yes, I shall play the tabla
- -That is a good poem.

- -Yes, I shall dance.

Drill 2
--This is a good story.
--What story?
--A story by Bonaphul Lbonaphul].
- -Is that his real name?
--No, his real name is Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay Lbalai cand
mukhopaddhaej. He is a good writer.

--In which country does he live?

--He lives in Bengal. Will you read this story?
I do not know Bengali.
--I cannot.
--Will you learn Bengali?
He will read it.
- -My brother speaks Bengali well.
--Is Bengali difficult?
You will learn Bengali quickly.
--No, it is easy.
--That will be good.
--Yes, that will be good.
Lesson 3, part 5.

naIok
nobhel
kobita

play
novel
poetry, poem

Vocabulary.

104

iryeiji

English (language)

bal)la

gan

Bengali (language)
song

des

country

bar)lade6

Bengal
story
writing

golpo

lekha

gan ga-

sing (a song)
(Fut.: gan gai-)

par6ekh-

be able
learn

prothom
ditio
tritio
a6o1
tavatavi

first

ba

or

second
third

ar

and

pore
age

after, afterwards
before
now

kon
ke

which
who

true, original
quick, quickly

Idiom: to hole

that becomes-(if)

mkhon

then, if that is so

Review I

1.

Th; following items and formations should now be at your command and
you should know their particular place of occurence in a sentence.

Noun stems:

nam
banla
glikago
150hor

kaj

baba
ma
bhai.
bon
chele
mee
rokom
4aktar
inriji

name
Bengali (language)
Chicago
city
work
father
mother
brother
sister
son, boy
daughter, girl
kind
doctor
English (language)

bavi
ghor
kolkata

house
room
Calcutta

boeti

age

6optaho

week
day
book
story
poem, poetry

din

boi

golpo
kobita

nobhel
lekhok
kobi
gan

novel
writer
poet
song

Personal Pronouns:
ami

tumi

you
you
you
he,
he,

tui

apni
60

tini

Lainra

we

(inferior)

Ctomra
Ctora

(honorific)

Capnara

you (ordinary)]
you (inferior)]
you (honorific)]

she (ordinary)

Ctara

they (ordinary) ]

she (honorific)

Ctgra

they (honorific)]

(ordinary)

Adjectives:

bhalo
gorom

good

$harl4a

cold

hot

bovo

big

io6
choto

small

60hoj

easy

onek
kichu

many
a few, some

gokto

difficult

Other modifiers:
ei, e

this

Oil o

that

6ei, 6e
6ekhane

that (non-specific reference)

here
there

prae

about

khub

very

ekhane

Interrogatives:
ki

what

ki

koto

? (i.e., involving yes-no answer)

who
how many, how much

kola
kmmon
kothae
kon

how many (an easily countable number)

how
where
which

ke

Verb stems:

kor-/korthak100V-/P0V-

lag-

do, make

be, remain, live

read, study
strike, touch

b06-/boSsit
khml-/khel- play (a game)
ach-, (ache) be, (have)
ja-

go

jan-

know, recognize
hear
play (an instrument)
dance
sky, speak

glon-/6un-

bajanacbol-/bolgan ga-/
gan gaipar-

sing

be able

107

6ekh-

learn

Other:

ar

and

ba

or

Numbers, 1-10 (See Lesson 2, part 5.)

Days of the week (See Lesson 2, part 5.)
2.

Genitive case suffix.

Thus far we have seen that the genitive suffix in Bengali appears in
two variant forms, /-er/ and /-r/. Their selection depends upon the
structure of the word taking the ending.
2.1.

2.1.1.

The suffix is /-er/:

If the word ends in a consonant; examples are:

robindronath

robindronather

"of (or by) RabindranathP

6ohor

6ohorer
ghorer

"of city"

ghor
gan
kaj

gaper
kajer

"of room"
"of song"
"of work"

If the word is monosyllabic and ends in a sequence of two

vowels; examples are:
2.1.2.

boi
bhai

bou

2.2
2.2.1

boier
bhaier
bouer

"of book"

"of brother"
"of wife"

The suffix is /-r/:

If the word is not monosyllabic and ends in a vowel; examples

are:

bavi
6ikago

kobita

bavir
6ikagor
kobitar

"of house"
"of Chicago"
"of poetry"

The suffix is either /-er/ or /-r/ if the word is monosyllabic

and ends in /-a/ or /-1/; examples are:
2.3.

108

ma
pa
ghi
3.

maer,-mar
paer, par
ghier, ghir

"of mother"
"of foot"

"of ghi" (i.e., butter)

Locative case suffix (place in or to which).

The locative suffix in Bengali has two variants, /-e/ and /-te/.
choice of a particular suffix is determined phonologically.

The

The suffix is I-el:

3.1.

3.1.1.

If the word ends in a consonant; examples are:

6ohor

3.1.2.

"in city"

kolej

6ohore
koleje

"in college"

gan

gane

"4n song"

If the word is monosyllabic and ends in a vowel or a sequence

of vowels:

pa
boi

pa.e
boi.e

"on foot"

"in book"

The suffix is /-te/ if the word is multisyllabic and ends in a

3.2.

vowel:

bayi
goru
3.3.

bayite
gorute

"in house"
"on cow"

The suffix /-te/ is freely variant with /-e/ if the word is

multisyllabic and ends in either /-a/ or /-o/:

6ikago

kolkata

4.

6ikagote, 6ikagoe
kolkatate,
koikatae

"in Chicago"
"in Calcutta"

The following inflections should now be at your command:

Person

Nominative

Genitive

lst

ami

2nd (o'rd.)

tumi

2nd (hon.)

apni

2nd (inf.)

tui

ama-r
toma-r
apna-r
for

109

3rd (ord.)
3rd (hon.)

6e

ta-r

tini

to -r

5.

The following inflectional endings of finite verbal forms should

now be at your command:
5.1.

Simple present tense:

Person

Stem

V-stem

0-stem

-i

-i

2nd (ord. - tumi)

-o

-o

2nd (inf. - tui)

-6

-i6

2nd (hon. - apni)

3rd (ord. - 6e)

-n

-en

-e

-e

3rd (hon. - tini)

-n

-en

ja-

jan-

Simple future tense:

Person

Tense si

Stem

V-stem

0-stem

-o

-o

turd

-e

-e

tui

-i

-i

apni

-en

-en

se

-e

-e

tini

-en

-en

ja-

0-stem

Ending
V-stem

IIL

6.

0-stem

Ending
V-stem

1st (ami)

5.2.

Tense sign

jan-

-b-

The formation of negatives:

We have had so far three types of negatives, the negative verb "be not"
(/no-/), the negative particle /na,/, which serves to negate other verbs,
and the particle /nei/1 "there is not".
6.1.

6.2.

Negative verb "be not":

It is hot in the city.

ob.orelgorom"

It is not hot in the city.

ohorelgorom noe"

Negatives of other verbs:

110

6.3.

I know.

ami jani"

I do not know.

ami jani na"

I like it.

amar'bhalo lage"

I do not like it.

amarlbhalo lage na"

The particle /nei/

There are trees in the garden.

There is no tree in the garden.

bagane'gaeh ache"
bagane'gach nei"

I have a pen.

amartkl)lom ache"

I have no pen

amar'kolom nei"

Lesson 4, part 1.

Conversation.

Analysis and Translation

1.

Bengali

2nd person (ord.) pronoun stem

genitive plural ending (for
pronouns and nouns with reference
to human beings)

toma-der

"of you, your" (ordinary plural)

"so many"
"people"

tomader
mto
lok
keno

"why"

"why so many people"

to lok keno

A. Why are there so many people at

your housgr--

2.

"today"

aj

noun stem, "sister"

"of sister"

ben

noun stem, "wedding"

B. Today is my sister's wedding.
3.

0
A. argALIELlitlgia1211

boner
bie
B. aj

"that is why"

tai

noun stem, "people"

"of people"
noun stem, "crowd"
"a crowd of people"

lok
loker

B. That is why there is a crowd

of ,people

amar boner

bie "

bhiy
loker bhi
B. tai

loker bhi

II

112

noun stem, "sister"

genitive plural ending (for nouns
with reference to human beings)
"of sisters"

4.

bon
-eder
boneder
moddhe

"among" (post-position with

preceding genitive)
"among sisters"

boneder moddhe

inflectional stem of interrogative

pronoun "who"

xa-

genitive case ending

"of whom"

kar

A. Who among your sisters is getting

married?
(your sisters among whose wedding)
It is my little sister's wedding.
6.

A. tomar boneder moddhe

kar bie "

B. laune_r2cho3onera42 "

"of whom"

kar

post-position "with", with

preceding genitive
"with whom"

6orlge

kar ginnge

verb stem, "be"

hoh,be

"(he/she/it) will be"

A. Nham_lg.ahl_matalas?
(with whom her wedding will-be)

MA.

A. kar lionge

surname, "Uen"
B. She will marry the Sens' eon.

tar bie hobe "

6en
B.

tar bie h,be "

8.

noun stem, "boy"

chele

qualifying suffix, pee grammar,

section 4.
"the boy"

cheleVi

A. What .does

et..19221%.1.11.1.2.c
re

"

113
9.

noun stem, "student"

"college student"
B. He is a college studen

10.

nominative plural suffix for nouns

with reference to human beings
A. Where do the Sens live?

11.

3rd person (honorific) pronoun stem

nominative plural case ending for
pronouns and noun stems with reference to human beings
"they (honorific)"
name of a town
noun stem, "market"
post-position, "near ", with
preceding genitive
"near the market"
B. TheV live in Rs.' ur near the
market.

12.

noun stem, "brother"

nominative case plural ending
for noun stems
"brothers"
"to the wedding"
verb stem, "come"
3rd person future "(he/she/it/they)
will come"
A. Will your brothers come to the
wedding?

13.

"all, every one" (reference to

human beings)
B. Yes, they will all come.

LANFOOMMIIIINNIMMININ1131-

chattro

kolejer chattro
B. 6e

'

kolejer chattro "

-era
A. 6enera ' kothae thaken "
ta-

-ra

tara
rajpur
bajar
kache
bajarer kache
B. tara 'rajpure
bajarer
kache
thaken "
bhai

-ra
bhaira
biete
as-

a6be

A. tomar bhaira
abbe ki "

biete

60kole
B. h63 " tara 6okole

aebe "

14.

2nd person (ord.) pronoun stem

tom-

nominative case plural ending

"you (ord. plural)"

-ra
tomra

noun stem, "night"

"in/on the night"
"on the night of the wedding"
noun stem, "song"
verb stem, "sing"
"will (you) sing songs"
Note irregular future; see Lesson
Section 3.5.
3, part 2.

rattri

A. Will you sing songs on the night

of the wedding?
15.

first person pronoun stem

nominative plural ending
"we"

16.

gan
ga-

gan gaibe

A. tomra
bier rattre
gaibe ki "
'

-ra
amra
B. hga " amra

noun stem, "girl"

genitive plural suffix
"of the girls"

mee
-der
meeder

nominative plural suffix

"who" (nominative plural)
A. Who among the girls will sing
songs?
noun stem, "friend"
"friends" (nominative plural)
"friends of my sister"
B. Friends of my sister will sing.

gan

am-

B. Yes, we shall sing songs.

"among", post-position with

preceding genititive
"among the girls"
inflectional stem of
interrogative, "who"

17.

rattre
bier rattre

gan gaibo "

moddhe
meeder moddhe
ka-

-ra
kara
A. meeder moddhe
gan gaibe "

kara

bondhu
bondhura
amar boner bondhura

B. amar boner bondhura

MELeagLbIL2

115

18. A. What songs will they sing?

19.

21. B. Yes
22.

con4i
da6

kirtton

Be tara condida6er kirtton

gaibe "

conjunction, "and, also"

"you also"

A. Will you also sing songs?

I also will sing songs.

1st person pronoun stem

genitive plural suffix
"of us, our"
B. Will you listen to our songs?

23. A. Yeel_I should like to listen.

ki gan gaibe "

con4ida6

name of a 14th or 15th century

Vaisnava religious poet "servant
of Candi"
name of goddess
"servant, slave"
type of religious (Vaisnava) song
B. They will sing kirtan (songs) of
Candidas.

20.

A. tara

tum.o

A. tumi.o ki

gan gaibe "

B.

"

ama-

-der

amader

B. tumi ki 'amader gan

sunbe "
A. hi: " 6unbo "

"all right"

be6

"in that case"

ta hole

2nd person ordinary pronoun stem

objective case suffix (see Grammar,
Section 1.)

toma-

verb stem, "call"

"I shall call"
"I shall call you"
"I shall call on you tonight"

ciak-

In that case, I shall

B. All right.
call on you tonight.

'

-ke
4akbo
tomake clakbo

rattre tomake 4akbo

B. be6 " ta hole

tomake .akbo "

rattre

116

"seven"

25.

at

qualifying suffix, see grammar,

section 4.2.

-$a
6atVa

"seven o'clock"
post-position, "before", with
preceding gent five

age

6atVar age

"before seven o'clock"

A. Will you call before seven o'clock?

A. 11221hilAELLIEEatL
dakbe "

26.

"eight"

a$

qualifying suffix, see grammar,

section 4.2.
"eight o'clock"
post-position, "after", with
preceding genitive
"after eight o'clock"
B. No, I shall call after eight.

-$a
a$Ia
pore
a$$ar pore

B. LIALRIELLLIIIEEIEt
dakbo "

Lesson 4, part 2.
1.

Grammar.

The objective case, sentence 24.

For the time being, we can consider that the objective case in
Bengali takes the singular case ending /-ke/ and the plural case ending
/-der/ or /-derke/ for pronouns and nouns which have human reference. A
more elaborate statement describing this case inflection will be given
1.1.

in Lesson 7.

The objective case suffix indicates that a personal noun or pronoun

is the object of the verb. The object of the verb has no case suffix
when it has an inanimate or abstract reference. For example.
1.2.

Uninflected:

He speaks Bengali.
I will hear the song.

60banla bole"
amitganta 6unbo"

117

Inflected:

I shall call your brother.

I know him.
2.

ami'tomar bhaike 4akbo"

amiitake jani"

Plurals.

2.1.

A plural of a noun or pronoun indicates that the referrent is more

than one in number. Note that when a noun is accompanied by an adjective
of number, the noun does not take a plural suffix. For example:
boy

chele

boys

sister
book

bon
boi

sisters
books

chelera
bonera
boigulo

two boys
many sisters
some books

dujon chele
onek bon
kichu boi

2.2.

The plurals of nouns referring to animate beings and of pronouns

are formed by the addition of one of a set of plural suffixes to the
noun or pronoun stem. These case suffixes are:
Nominative
Genitive
Objective

-ra / -era
-der / -eder
-der / -eder, -derke / -ederke

Except in pronominal stems and noun stems with /e/ final, where the
suffix is always /-ra/, /-der/ (or /-derke/), there is free variation
between /-ra
-era/, etc., irrespective of whether the stem has a
consonant or vowel final.
2.3.

A sample plural paradigm

of /chele/, "boy" is:

"boys" (nominative)
"of boys (genitive)

chelera
cheleder
"(to) boys" (objective) cheleder, chelederke
2.4.

A sample plural paradigm of the personal pronouns is:

Person

Nominative

Genitive

Objective

1st

2nd (inferior)

tora

amader
tomader
toder

amader, amaderke

2nd (ordinary)

amra
tomra

tomader, tomaderke
toder, toderke

2nd (honorific)

apnara
tara

apnader
tader

apnader, apnaderke
tader, taderke

3rd (ordinary)

118

3rd (honorific)

tara

tader

tader, taderke

Note:

Pronouns and nouns referring to human beings are very rarely

used in the locative. For such an expression as "among the boys",
Bengali usually employs a so-called post-position or similar device -/cheleder moddhe/ (see below, section 6.).
2.5.

Although only nouns denoting animate objects and personal pronouns

can form their plurals by means of the suffixes / -ra /, etc., all nouns
(but not personal pronouns) can form plurals by means of the suffix
/-gulo/.
A sample plural paradigm of /boi/, "book", is:
"books" (nominative)
"of books" (genitive)

boigulo
boigulor

"books" (objective)

boiguloke (very rare -- inanimate nouns

are usually uninflected in the objective
case)

"on/in books" (locative)

boiguloke

2.6.

The suffix /-gulo/, when used with nouns referring to animate

beings, indicates particularization:
what do boys (in general) do?
what do (those particular) boys do?

cheletki kore"

chelegulofki kore"

2.7.

Nouns denoting both animate and inanimate objects are uninflected

in the plural when the reference is general (i.e., there is no contrast
between singular and plural formations):
"mango falls", or "mangos fall"
"flower blooms", or "flowers bloom"
"boy plays", or "boys play"

am pore
phul phote
chele khmle

When the reference is particular, nouns denoting both animate and

inanimate objects take /-gulo/ in the plural:
"mangos (in general) fall"
"(those particular) mangos fall"

amgulo pore

"flowers (in general) bloom"

"(those particular) flowers bloom"

phul phoIe
phulgulo phote

"boys (in general) play"

chele khmle

"(those particular) boys play"

chelegulo khmle

am pore

119

2.8.

In sum:

2.8.1.

With animate nouns and pronouns:

-ra/-era
-der/-eder
(-der/-eder,
- derke/-ederke)

2.8.2.

nominative plural suffix, group reference.

genitive plural suffix, group reference.
objective plural suffix, group reference.

With all nouns:

-gulo
- gulor
- guloke

gulote

nominative plural suffix, particular reference.

genitive plural suffix, particular reference.
objective plural suffix, particular reference.
locative plural suffix, particular reference.

To put it another way: plurals of animate nouns can be formed in

three ways:
2.8.3.

2.8.3.1.

The noun is uninflected, when the reference is to a general

class of beings:
one girl

ekti mee

two girls

dui mee

He has one or more daughters.

tar mee ache"

The noun takes the suffix /-ra/-era, -der/-eder, -derke/-ederke/

when the reference is to a class or species or clan.
2.8.3.2.

On the night of the wedding,

the girls (all or some) will

bier rattre ' meera gan gaibe"

sing.

The noun takes the suffix /-gulo, -gulor, -guloke/ when the
reference is to a particular or specific surveyed concrete group.
2.8.3.3.

On the night of the wedding,

those particular girls will

bier rattre
gaibe "

meegulo gan

sing.

2.8.4.

Plurals of inanimate nouns can be formed in two ways:

The noun is uninflected, when the reference is to the general

class of objects:
2.8.4.1.

Flowers are red.

phul lal

120

The noun takes the suffix /-gulo, -gulor, -guloke, -gulote/

when the reference is to a particular group within the class:
2.8.4.2.

Those flowers are red.

phulgulo lal

Mutation drills.

2.9.

In a sequence of plural nouns, only the last noun in the sequence

takes the plural suffix. For example,
2.10.

"the mangos
3.

am kola ar jamgulo

and bananas and berries"

Interrogative pronoun (ordinary) stem /ka-/, as in sentence 4.

The interrogative pronoun "who" is declined in this way:

Nominative
Genitive
Objective

Singular

Plural

ke (hon. ke)

kara (hon. kara)

kader (hon. kader)
kader (hon. kader)

kar (hon. kar)

kake (hon. kake)

The equivalent non-personal pronoun, "which", is /konVa/:

which of your dogs
which of your books
4.

tomar kukurgulor'konIa"
tomar boigulor'konVa"

Qualifier -Vi, as in sentence 8.

In addition to the uses of the qualifier already mentioned (see

Section 2.) the qualifier can be added to a noun stem
Lesson 3, part 2.
to give the force of the English definite article "the" or of the demonSo here, /cheleVi/, "the boy, that particular boy".
strative "that".
4.1.

4.2.

The use of the qualifiers /-Ii/ and /-Va/.

The two qualifiers are used under the same circumstances with both animate and inanimate nouns. There is a slight qualitative distinction
between the two. The qualifier /-Ii/ is frequently used to suggest that
the speaker has a personal, positive feeling with reference to the person or object about whom or which he is speaking, and /-.Da/ in more
ordinary circumstances. It is to be noted, however, that the /-Vi/
suffix is often considered a polite form; as such, it can be used
exclusively and in all types of circumstances with complete correctness.

121

5.

Formation of the feminine.

5.1.

Many, though by no means all, nouns in Bengali form a feminine by

the addition of the suffixes /.--i/1 /-ini/, or /-ni/.

5.2.

Some nouns which have /-0/ final replace the final /-o/ with 1-1/,

as:

chattri

"student" (masc.)

chattro

"student" (fem.)

Nouns which have other vowels final frequently add the /-ni/
suffix to the noun stem, as:
dhopani (1.t.) "washerwoman"
"washerman"
dhopa

5.3.

5.4.

/-ini/
Nouns which have consonants final frequently add the suffix

to the stem, as:

bagh

baghini

"tiger"

"tigeress"

It should be carefully noted that the feminines in Bengali are a

"closed class", that is, that one cannot always predict what the femiThe
nine of a given noun will be, or even if it has a feminine form.
student, therefore, will have to learn by experience and by rote which
5.5.

feminines exist and what their forms are.

Bengali phrases of place or time, in which, accompaniment, agency,

Most of these postetc., are expressed by means of post-positions.
positions govern a preceding genitive. Some of the most common ones

6.

are:

amar 6orjge
meeder moddhe

"with me"
"among the girls"

etar pore

"after this"
"before this"

jonne

"after (time)"
"before (time)"
"for (the sake of)"

opore

"on top of"

Vebiler opore

6m3ge

"with"

moddhe

"among"

pore
age

eVar age
tar jonne

"for him/it, for his/

its sake"
"on top of the table"

122

7.

Form possible Bengali sentences.

701.

Modifiers
kader
amar

Post-positional phrase
kar
tar

tomar

boner, -eder
bhaier
-der

apnar
tar

bondhur, -der
cheler, -der

apnar
meer

amader

6me

Subject

Verb

bie

hobe

tomar

bondhur

7.2.

Post-positional phrase
amar
tomar
tar

boner, -eder
bhaier, -der
bondhur, -der

Subject

Object

Verb

6oljge

ami

gan

gai-b-

moddhe
jonne

tumi

kaj

kor-b-

apni

ki

pore

ke

o/
e/

en

kara

Lesson 4, part 3.
1.

Pattern Drills.

Pattern: sentence 1.
a.

b.

Why are there so many people in your room?

Why are there so many friends at your house?

c Why are there so many people here?

d.
e.

2.

Why are there so many books on your table?

Why are there so many books in your room?

Pattern: sentences 2, 3.
a.

b.
c.

Today is my brother's wedding; that is why there is a crowd.

Today is my sister's wedding; that is why there is a crowd there.
Today is my son's wedding; that is why there is a crowd at my
house.

d.
e.
3.

Pattern: sentence 4.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

b.
c.

d.
e.

To which of your friends do the books belong * (i.e., of your

friends, whose book?)
To which of your brothers do the books belong?

It is my elder brother's wedding.

It is my younger sister's wedding.
It is my younger son's wedding.
They are Ram's books.
They are my younger brother's books.

Pattern: sentence 6.
a.

Whom is he marrying? (use /bie ho-/)

b.

Whom is your sister marrying? (use /bie ho-/)

Whom is your son marrying? (use /bie ho-/)

c.

d.
e.

6.

Which of your brothers is getting married?

Which of your sisters is getting married?
Which of your sons is getting married?

Pattern: sentence 5.
a.

5.

Today is my exam; that is why there are so many books.

Today is my exam; that is why there are so many books here.

With whom does your friend live?

With whom does your brother study?

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

He is marrying Rain's daughter.

b.

She is marrying Ram's son.

c.

He is marrying my friend's daughters

* There is an idiomatic peculiarity here.

acceptable:
- -tomar bondhuder moddhe'kar boi"

- -tomar bondhuder moddhe' eigulo kar boi"

--tomar bondhuder moddhe'ei boigulo kar"

Any of the following is

d.
e.
7.

Pattern: sentence 8.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

8.

He is a student.

b.

He is a college student.

c.

He is an artist.

d.

He studies Bengali.
We learn songs.

Pattern: sentence 10.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Where do they live?

Where does the boy live?
Where does he live?
Where does he study?
Where will you (plural) study?

Pattern: sentence 11.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

11.

What does ue study?

What do you (plural) study?

a.

a.

10.

What does your elder brother do?

What work does the boy do?
What work does your friend do?

Pattern: sentence 9.

e.

9.

He lives with his friends.

He studies with me every day.

They live near the city.

He lives in Calcutta, near my house.
He lives in Calcutta, near your house.

He studies at the college near the market.

We will study here, near the window.

Pattern: sentence 12.

ac

b.
co

Will your sisters come to your brother's wedding?

Will your friends come to your sister's wedding?
Will your friends come to your son's wedding?

125

Will you go to his college?

Will he come daily to your room?

d.
e.

12.

Pattern: sentence 13.

Yes, they will come.
Yes, they will all come.
Yes, they will all come to the wedding.

a.

b.
c.

Yes, I will go to his college.

Yes, he will come to my room every day.

d.
e.

13.

Pattern: sentence 14.

a.

b.
c.

do
e.

14.

Will you study Bengali at the college?

Will you study music with him?

Pattern: sentence 15.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

15.

the night of the wedding?

Will you (plural) hear songs on
wedding?
Will they sing good songs on the night of the
night of the
Will they sing kirtan Ekirtton] (songs) on the
wedding?

Yes, we will listen to many songs.

Yes, they will sing many good songs.
Yes, they will sing many kirtan (songs).

Yes, I will study Bengali there.

Yes, we will learn music.

Pattern: sentence 16.

Who among the boys will sing songs?
Who among the girls will sing songs?
b.
c Who among you (plural) will sing songs?
a.

d.
e.

16.

Who among your friends will study Bengali?

Who among your friends will learn music?

Pattern: sentence 17.

a.

Friends of my son will sing songs.

126

b.

Friends of my daughter will sing songs.

Friends of mine will sing songs.

c.

d.

17.

Pattern: sentence 18.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

18.

They all will study Bengali.

My friends all will learn music.

What songs will they sing?

What songs will her friends sing?
What songs will your friends sing?

What writing will they read?

What songs will they learn?

Pattern: sentence 19. (Use /-gulo/ throughout, where plural is

required.)
a.

b.
0.

They will sing many songs.

They will sing kirtan songs.
We will sing Rabindranath's songs.

MICIMOI

19.

d.

They will read poetry.

e.

They will learn bhaj an Ciphojoni (songs).

Pattern: sentence 20.

a Will you also sing many songs?

b.
c.

d.
e.

20.

Will you also sing kirtan (songs)?

Will you also sing Oandida6's Econ4ida5er] songs?
Will you also read poetry?
Will you also learn bhajan (songs)?

Pattern: sentence 21, 22.

b.

Yes, I also shall sing songs. Will you listen?

Yesl I also shall sing kirtan (songs). Will you listen to the
songs?

a.

Yes, I also shall sing his songs.

a.

Will you listen?

..11.6.11MIMMI11111111

d.
e.

Yes, I also shall read poetry. Will you listen to poetry?

Yes, I also shall learn bhajan (songs). Will you listen to
a
bhajan (song)?

127

21.

Pattern: sentence 23.

b.

Yes, I should like to listen.

No, I should not like to listen.

c.

Yes, we all should like to listen.

d.

Yes, I should like to listen to a poem.

Yes, I should like to hear a song.

a.

e.

22.

23.

Pattern: sentence 24.

a.

All right.

In that case, you will hear the songs tonight.

b.

All right.

c.

All right.

In that case I shall not call you tonight.

In that case, you will come here tonight.

d.

All right.

In that case, I shall read a poem tonight.

e.

All right.

In that case, I shall call you tonight.

Pattern: sentence 25.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

24.

Will I come before eight o'clock?

Will you sing before nine o'clock?
Will you call me before ten o'clock?

Will you read before seven o'clock?

Will you call me before six o'clock?

Pattern: sentence 26.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

No, I shall call you after nine.

No, I shall sing after ten.
No, I shall call you after ten.
No, I shall read after eight.
No, I shall call you after seven.

Lesson 4, part 4 Sentence Drill.

Note: Use ordinary plural forms throughout.
Drill 1
- -There will be a celebration at our house today.
- -What time will it be?

Will you come?

128

--It will be at eight o'clock tonight.

--Will there be a crowd of people?
--Yes, many people will come.
--Then I shall not come. I do not like a crowd.
--But they are all your friends. Ram and Naresh will come there.
--All right, then, we shall come. What is the celebration?
--Today is Sarasvati-puja E6oro66oti-pujca. Do you know who Sarasvati
is?

--Yes, she is the goddess of learning and of art.

--Yes.
We shall sing songs on the day of Sarasvati -puja.
--What kind of songs will you sing?
--Kirtan Lkirtton] songs. The time of these songs is very beautiful.
- -Who are the writers of kirtan-songs?
--Vaisnava-bhaktas.
Their names are Candidas Ccon4ida6], Jnanadas,
lgandah], and Vidyapati Ebiddapoti].
--Are they modern writers?
--No, they are very ancient.
- -Who (plural) will sing their songs?

--Some [baijis] will come. My friends will also sing.

--I shall not sing. My voice is bad.
Drill 2

--Somdev will come to my house tonight.

--What time will he go?

Will you come with him?

- -He will come at seven o'clock sharp. Probhas will come too.
--Will Ila sing? She has a beautiful voice.
--Yes, she will sing kirtan songs.

--Then I shall come.

Those songs are very sweet.
--Many people will be coming. They will all bring their
instruments.
--What is the celebration?

--Today is Sarasvati C6oro66oti] puja in Bengal.

--Will the people of Bengal sing songs for her?
--Yes, she is the goddess of music.
--Then I shall come at seven.
Lesson 4, part 5.
po: *ikkha

examination

ut6ob

celebration

Vocabulary.

bidda

learning

6ekh-

learn

kola

art

a6-

come

6or3git

an-

pochondo kor-

bring, fetch
like

6omoe

music
melody
time

boisrlob

Vaioava

roj; protidin

bhokto
pochondo
dada

devotee
liking

aj

elder brother

kal (agami
kal--)

gula

throat, voice
night

kal (goto kal --) yesterday

6okole
all

Sarasvati
goddess
instrument

tai

6ur

rattri

60ro66oti
debi
jontro
6ilpi

baiji

bandhobi
adhunik
purono
mi6Vi
pracin
Idioms:

everyday, daily
today

tomorrow

therefore, that
is why

kintu

artist

professional female singer and dancer

friend (feminine)

modern
old
sweet
ancient
koIar 6omoe a6be
aIIar 6omoe a6bo
aj rattre (rate)

What time will you come?

I shall come at eight.
tonight

Lesson 5, part 1.

1.

Analysis and translation

Bengali

honorific suffix attached to the

given name of a male person
addressed.
noun compound, "mother and father"
(see grammar, section 1.)

-babu

A. Ram, where do your mother and

father live?
2.

ma-baba

apnar ma-baba '

A. rambabu
kothae thaken "

"before, formerly"
name of a city, capital of
East Pakistan
"in Dacca"
simple past tense stem of verb
/ach-/, "be"
sign of the simple past tense

age

honorific verbal ending

"(they - honorific) were"

-en

B. My mother and father were in,

Dacca before.

3.

Conversation.

"this"

morpheme indicating time

"this time, now"
name of a city, capital of West
Bengal
B. Now they live in Calcutta.

4haka
4hakae
chi-

-1(terra) chilen

B. amar ma-baba aye

chilen "

hakae

e/m
-kon
mkhon

kolkata
B. mkhon

kolkatae thaken "

131
4.

2nd person (hon.) pronoun stem

genitive case plural suffix
"of you (hon. plural)"

B. Where is your home?

1st person pronoun stem
genitive case plural suffix
"of us"

5.

A.

6.

apnader

B. apnader ba'i ' kothae "

ama-

-der

amader

name of a city and a district

in western West Bengal

birbhum

3rd person simple past tense

verbal ending

-o

"it (she/ he) was"

chilo

Our house was in Birbhum before.

1st person nominative pronoun

stem

nominative plural case suffix

"we"

conjunctive, "too, also"

"we also"

A. Now we also live in Calcutta.

apna-der

A. amader bari age

chilo "

birbhume

am-

-ra
amra
0

amra.o

A. akhon amra.o
thaki "

kolkatae

"which"

kon

noun stem, "place"

"in which place"

jaega

kon jaegae

"in which part of Calcutta"

kolkatae kon jaegae

B. In which part of Calcutta do

you live,?

B. kolkatae
thaken "

(Calcutta-in which place-in

you live)
8.

'

noun stem, "tank" -- small manmade pond for water storage

dighi

noun stem, "bank, edge, side"

dhar

kon jaegae

'

132
"on the side of the tank"

A. Now we live by the side of the

tank.

9.

-um

(amra) chilum
A.

age

'

apnar 6013ge

ar

ar ke
B.

apnar 61nge
kolkatae
ar ke thaken "
'

A.

amader 6o/36ar

noun stem, "elder brother's wife"

boudi
A.

khub boro "

amar 6onge
ma-baba
dada ' ar boudi thaken "

"how many"

ko-

qualifier
"how many"

ko$i

B. EREJlarachildren does your

elder brother have?

'

60136ar

dada

noun stem, "boy"

noun stem, "girl"
compound noun, "boys and girls,
children"

6ambajare chilum "

6tmge

noun stem, "elder brother"

A. a_mother, father, elder brother,

and sister-in-law live with me.
13.

6ambajar

noun stem, "family"

A. Our family is verylarge.

12.

'

post-position, "with" with

preceding genitive
"with you (honorific)"
"more, and, in addition"
"who in addition, who else"
B. Who else lives with you in
Calcutta?

11.

A. amra mkhon
dighir
dhare
thaki "

name of a section of north Calcutta

1st person simple past verbal
ending
"(we) were"
A. Formerly we were in Syambazar.

10.

dighir dhare

chele

mee
chele-mee

B. apnar dadar
chele-mee "

koti

14.

alternative stem of numeral "one"

qualifier

ek-

"one"

ekIi

stem of numeral "two", used in

compounds
qualifier

du-

"two"

dull

A My elder brother has a son and

two daughters.
15.

noun stem, "father's younger

brother"
noun stem, "father's younger
brother's wife"
compound noun, "father's younger
brother and his wife"
nominative plural case suffix
"father's younger brothers and
their wives"
B. Do your aunts and uncles live
with you?

16.

kaka-kakima
-ra
kaka-kakimara
B. apnar kaka-kakimara ki
apnar 6oge thaken "

emphatic suffix, here translatable

as "even"

-o

"even now, still"

mkhono

loan word, "professor"

A. Before, he was a professor.

19.

kakima

mkhon

17. B. What does your eldest uncle do?

"some, something"
emphatic suffix, see Grammar,
section 7.

'

kaka

"now"

A. No, my aunts and uncles still

live in Syamabazar.

18.

A. amar dadar 'ekti chele

ar duti mee "

'

A. na " kaka-kakimara '

mkhono 6ambajare thaken "
B. apnar boro kaka ' ki
koren "

prophasar
A. tini age
chilen "

kichu

'

prophesar

134
"something (emphatic)"
"nothing at all" see Grammar,
section 7.

A. Now he does nothing at all.

20.

kichui

kichu na

A. mkhon

"that"

se

"what"

ki

"what is that?" or "how can

that be?"

se ki

3rd person (honorific) pronoun

stem

to

kichui koren na "

objective case ending

"him (objective)"
high stem of verb "see"
simple past tense sign
1st person past tense suffix

-um

"I saw"

dekhlum

B. How can that be? I saw him in

the office (just) now.

-ke

take

dekh-1-

B. 6e ki " ami eskhon

ophige dekhlum "

21. A. In what office did you see him?

A. kon ophi6e
dekhlen "

22. B. I saw him in his office.

B. ami take
dekhlum "

23.

perhaps

but

Lesson 5, part 2.
Compound nouns.

take wkhon

tar 0.phi6e

A. tar hoeto 'ophiAe kono

kaj

'

ache "

kintu

A. But he doesn't work there.

1.

take

hoeto

A. Perhaps he has some business

in the office.
24.

'

'

A. kintu tini 6ekhane

koren na "
Grammar

kaj

135
Compound nouns are common in Bengali; they are made up or two or more
noun stems. The case or number inflection, where there ie one, is added
to the last member of the compound only. Therefore such compounds are
treated inflectionally as simple nouns. Examples:
"mother-father, mother and father"
"brother-sister, brother and sister"

ma -bab a

bhai-bon

In some oases, meanings of compound nouns are extended beyond the

meaning of their elements:
gach-pala

"trees and things like that"

onelgach-palagulo'
tavatavi gojae"

2.

2.1.

"In the forest trees and other things

(i.e., vines, bushes, etc.) grow very
quickly."

Simple past tense.

The primary uses of the simple past tense are:

a.

Connected narrative to describe a series of actions in past

time.

b.

To express action which has taken place in the immediate past.

The sign of the simple past tense is -1-, which is added to the
high stem of all verbs except, those of CVO- shape with /a/-vowel stems.
2.2.

2.3.

2.4.

The personal endings for the simple past tense are:

1st

-um (Note alternatives:

-am, -em.)

2nd (ordinary)

-e

2nd (inferior)
2nd (honorific)

-en

3rd (ordinary)

-o

3rd (honorific)

-en

Examples:

ken-

"buy"

ami

kin-l-um

tumi

kin-l-e
kin-l-i
kin-l-en

tui

apni

kor-

khml-

"do"

"play"

"rise up"

Se

kin-l-o

tini

kin-l-en

ami

korlum

tumi

korle, etc.

ami

khellum

tumi

khelle

ami

uplum

tumi

uthle, etc.

But CaC- stems have no vowel change:

jan-

"know"

ami

janlum, etc.

Stems of shape CV-, even where the stem-vowel is /a/, take the high
stem.
For example:
pa-

"get"

ami

pe-l-um

tumi

pe-l-e

tui

apni

pe-l-i
pe-l-en

Se

pe-l-o

tini

pe-l-en

The verb /ja-/, "go", has an irregular stem in the simple past.
The stem /ja-/, is inflected in this way:
2.5.

2.60

ami

ge -1 -um

tumi

ge-l-e

tui

apni

ge-l-i
ge-l-en

Se

gm-l-o

tini

ge-l-en

Give full paradigms for the following verb stems.

P0Tson-

"read"

phml-

"drop"

"hear"

de-

"give"

par-

"be able

kha-

"eat"

137

2.7.

In lesson 7, more intensive work on the simple past is given.

The stem of the simple past tense of the verb "be" (/ach-/) is
The sign of the simple past and the simple past personal
/chi-/.
endings are added to this stem. The simple past is the only past tense
3.

in which this verb occurs.

Plural verbal endings. Note that there is no variation in verbal
personal endings between the singular and plural numbers. Thus:
4.

ami jani
5.

"we know" etc.

amra jani

"I know"

The qualifier /-Vi/, as in oentence 13.

The use of the qualifier in

The form /k0-/ is an adjective of quantity.
sentences 13 and 14 is the use which we have noticed before -- namely,
that the qualifier is added to numerals and other adjectives denoting
quantity when followed by a noun.
6.

The bound morpheme /-khon/ indicates time:

eakhon

"this time, now"

kokhon

"which time, when"

onekkhon

"much time"

to the
There are two particles, /-i/ and 7-0/, which give emphasis
is exword to which they are attached. Often an emphatic negative
pressed in Bengali by the use of the construction
7.

(positive)-(emphatic)

(verb) + na

as in sentence 19:
something-(emphatic) does-do not

kichui koren na

He does nothing at all.

Other examples, using the /-o/ emphatic suffix as in sentence 16, might
be:

they sometimes-(emphatic) there

do-go not
They never go there (at all).

tara kokhonoqekhane

they somewhere-(emphatic) do-go not

They do not go anywhere (at all).

tara kothao'jae na"

He reads no books (at all).

6e kono boilpove na"

jae na"

138
8 When the subject of a sentence is plural the complement takes no
plural suffix; e.g.,

9.

They are writers.

tarallekhok"

They were students.

tarOchattro chilen"

Construct possible Bengali sentences:

Modified

ma-baba/ra
bhai-bon/era
chele-mee/ra

amar
amader
tor
toder

Verb

Verbal Modifiers

Subject

pare

kothae
kolkatae

akhon
age

60hore
ekhane

chi thak -

e jaegae

tomar

tomader

awi/amra
tui/tora
tumi/tomra

pare

dighir dhare

akono

tader 6011ge

tar kache

apni/apnara

Lesson 5, part 3.
1.

Pattern: sentence 1.
a.

b.
c.

d.

e.
2.

Patterns.

Where
Where
Where
Where
Where

do
do
do
do
do

your brother and sister live?

your children live?
your brothers and sisters live?
your aunts and uncles live?
their children live?

Pattern: sentence 2.
a.

b.
c.
d.

e.

They were in Calcutta before.

They were in Dacca before.
Their house was in Faridpur Ephoridpur].
They were with Ram before.
They were in Ram's house before.

-1-b-

um/e/en/o
o/e/en/e

139
Pattern: sentence 3, 4.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

3.

a.

Now we also live in Dacca.

b.

Now
Now
Now
Now

d.
e.

b.
c.
d.
e.

In
In
In
In
In

which
which
which
which
which

part
part
part
part
room

of
of
of
of
of

Dacca do you live?

the city do you live?
Burdwan does he live?
the house does he live?
the house do they live?

a.

Now we live by the side of the river.

b.

Now
Now
Now
Now

d.
e.

we live by the side (use /pa6e/) of the Kali temple.

he lives by the side (use /pa6e/) of the temple.
he lives beside (use /pa6e/) me.
they live in the big room.

Pattern: sentence 10.

a.

Who else lives with you?

b.

Who
Who
Who
Who

c.

d.
e.
7.

we also live in Calcutta.

he also lives in Burdwan.
he also lives with his children.
they also live with us.

Pattern: sentence 8.

c.

6.

Where is your children's

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

5.

Now they live with their father.

home?

Pattern: sentence 5, 6.

c.

4.

Now they live in Dacca. Where is your home?

Now they live in Calcutta. Where is your home?
Now they live in Burdwan Ebordhoman]. Where is your brother's
home?
Now they live with me. Where is your uncle's home?

else
else
else
else

lives
lives
lives
lives

by the side of the temple?

with him?
beside you?
in that room?

Pattern: sentence 11.

a.

Our family is very large.

14.0

b.
c.

d.
e.

Many large families.

His family is very large.

My brother lives with his large family.

Our family is very small.

Pattern: sentence 12.

d.

My aunts and uncles live with us.

My brothers and sisters live near (/kache/) us.
His children live with him.
My uncle also lives with him.

e.

Only the children live in that room.

a.

b.
c.

8.

Pattern: sentence 13.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

9.

b.
c.

d.
e.

children
children
children
children
children

do they have?
does your sister have?
does he have?
does your brother have?
do you have?

They have two sons and two daughters.

She has one son and two daughters.
He has three sons and four daughters.

My brother has one son and one daughter.

We have one son and one daughter.

Pattern: sentence 15.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

11.

many
many
many
many
many

Pattern: sentence 14.

a.

10.

How
How
How
How
How

Do your mother and father live with you?

Do your aunts and uncles live near you?
Dc his brothers live with him?
Does your sister live with him?
Do your brothers live with you?

Pattern: sentence 16.

a.

No, they still live in Calcutta.

b.

No,
No,
No,
No,

c.

d.
e.

they still live

they still live
she still lives
they still live

in Dacca.
in the city.
with my brother.
with my father.

141
12.

Pattern: sentence 17.

c.

What does your father do?

What does your uncle do?
What do your brothers do?

d.

What does your brother do?

a.

b.

e What do they do?

13.

Pattern: sentence 18.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Formerly,
Formerly,
Formerly,
Formerly,
Formerly,

he was a writer.
he was a poet.
they were writers.
he was an artist.
they were students.

Pattern: sentence 19.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

14

b.
c.
d.
e.

How can that be? I saw his writing just now.

How can that be? I saw his book of poetry just now.
How can that be? I saw their writing just now.
How can that be? I saw him in the studio just now.
How can that be? I saw them in class just now.

Pattern: sentence 21.

d.

Which book of his* did you see?

Which poetry book did you see?
Which writing did you see?
In which studio did you see him?

e.

In which class did you see them?

a.

b.
c.

16.

he writes nothing at all.

he reads nothing at all.
they write nothing at all.
he does nothing at all.
they study nothing at all.

Pattern: sentence 20.

a.

15.

Now
Now
Now
Now
Now

Pattern: sentence 22.

I saw his poetry book.

* tar kon boita

142

17.

b.

I saw his bid book.

c.

d.

I saw their new book.

I saw him in his friend's studio.

e.

I saw them in Bengali class.

Pattern: sentence 23, 24.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

He wrote poetry, but he doesn't write now.

He wrote books, but he doesn't write now.
They wrote books, but they don't write now.
He went there, but he doesn't work there now.
They went to class, but they don't study there now.
Lesson 5, part 4.

Sentence Drill.

Drill 1
- -Shall I sit with you a while?
- -Yes, we shall gossip a while.

I have (just) finished my work.

--How many children do you have?

- -I have two sons and two daughters.
- -How old are your daughters?
- -My older girl is twenty.
The younger is only four.
- -Where does the older one live?
- -She lives with us at home.
--What does she do?
--She used to be a student before. Now she is a teacher in Calcutta.
--In what part of Calcutta is her shcool?
- -It is in north Calcutta, by the side of Oitpur Road.
--How many children are there in her class?
- -About ten, I think.

There were twenty, but ten have just gone bomt.

Drill 2.

--Where do your brother and sister-in-law live now?

--They used to live in Birbhum. Now they live in Calcutta, near you.
--Where in Calcutta do they live?
--In south Calcutta, near the Kali temple.
--What does your brother do?
- -He used to be a teacher.
Now he is an artist.

--Yes, I know now.* Their children go to school with our children.

--Do they do often to the temple?
--Yes, but I never go to the temple. He often comes into my shop.
--Is he well?
--Yes, I saw him a little while ago. He is well.
Lesson 5, part 5.

Vocabularz.

d6ch-

see, look

ja-

go

6e6 kor-

finish

pa6e

beside

student (m.)

bhirore

within (post-position)

chattri

student (f.)

dhopa
dhopani

washerman
washerwoman

bhitore
kache

near (post-position)

dokan

shop

mondir
i6kul

temple
school

50136ar

family

6ikkhok
6er
masIar mosae

teacher (m.)

sikkhoitri
didimoni

teacher (f.)

chattro

poribar
ro4
rasta
bharot
bharotbor6o

Idioms:

kichukkhon
mkhon
ekhuni
prae
kokhono na

a while

now
now (emphatic);
just now
often
never

road

India

uttor
dokkhin
purbo

north
south

pacim

west

east

amar mone hoe

I think, it seems to me

golpo koreimattro
6e ki'bhalo ache"

talk, gossip

apni ki'bhalo
achenu
tumi ki'bhalo
acho"

just now
Is he well?
Are you (hon.) well?
Are you (ord.) well?

Use simple past -- the recognition has taken place in the immediate past.

Lesson 6, dart 1.

Analysis and translation

1.

2.

3.

Note: no subject is expressed; /apni/ is understood from the context and

verbal suffix.
verb stem, "want"
honorific verbal ending
"(you honorific) want"

Conversation.*

Bengali

ca-

-n
can

A. What do you want?

A. ki can "

B. I want a book.

B. akta boi cai "

1st person pronoun stem

objective case ending
(see grammar, section 1.1)
"(to) me" (objective)
"that, (those)"
"new"

"history"

noun stem, "book"

plural suffix
"books"
verb stem, "show"
honorific ending for verb
stems with vowel final

ama-ke

awake
of

notun
itiha6
boi
-gulo
boigulo
dekha-n

With apologies to the booksellers of Bengal, who do not act this way
at all, and suffer from our attempt to combine the bargaining situation
with vocabulary and grammar useful to the student.
*

114.5

"please show"
(for this imperative usage,
see grammar, section 2.2.)

B. Please show me those new

history books.

B. amake
of notun itiha6
boigulo
dmkhan "

high stem of verb "buy"

sign of future tense

kin-

honorific verbal ending

"(you hon.) will buy"

-en

A. Will you buy the books now?

5.

dmkhan

-b(apni) kinben

A. apni ki mkhon

high stem of verb "look,

look at"

dekh-

sign of future tense

-b-

1st person future verbal ending

"(I) shall look at"

-o

boigulo kinben "

dekhbo

Note: the change it word order; with /mkhon/ coming first in the
sentence, emphasizes the conc apt now, at this time.
B. No, I shall look at the books
now.
6.

B. na " mkhon ami

dekhbo "

"afterwards"
"this"

pore

"plural suffix

-gulo

"these"

egulo

high stem of verb "take"

ending for past active
participle
PAP, "taking, having taken",
see Grammar, section 4.
stem of verb "go"

ni-

"take away (i.e., take and go)"

B. Afterwards I shall take them.

(Afterwards I them havingtaken shall-go)

boigulo

nie
ja-

nie jaB. pore ami

egulo nie jabo "

2.46
70

"the books"

boigulo

"of the books"

boigulor
dam
de-b-en
(apni) deben

noun stem, "price"

verb stem, "give"
sign of future tense
honorific verbal ending
"you (hon.) will give"

A. Will you pay for the books now?

8.

90

10.

noun stem, "brother"

objective case ending
"(to) brother"

bhai
-ke

verb stem, "send"

"you (hon.) will send"
indicative or imperative;
for the imperative usage,
see grammar, section 3

papapapaben

'

boigulor dam

bhaike

B. No, send (them) to my brother.

B. na " amar bhaikelpathgen "

B. He will pay.

B. 6e

"the price"
high stem of irregular verb

dam-Da

"give"

di-

honorific ending
"please give"
(imperative -- see grammar,
section 5.1.)

-n

A. No, please pay now.

lb

A. apni ki akhon
deben "

"all right"
"how much"

"how much (price)"

B. All right.
the books?

How much are

dam debe "

din

A. na " apni mkhon

'

damVa din "

accha
koto
koto dam

B. accha " boigulor

koto dam "

147
12.

numeral, "three"

tin-

form of qualifier used with

/tin/

-Ie

Note: no plural suffix is used with the noun when the noun is
accompanied by an adjective of quantity.
"these three books"
ei tin-e boi
"the price of these three books"
ei tinIe boier dam
A. The price of these three books
is five rupees.
13.

"very great, excessive"

"very greatly excessive"
B. That's too much.

14.

A. ei time boier dam

beft
bozo beft
B. boro beft dam "
car

"rupee"

Iaka
-te
car Iakate

B. Give irr, the books for (i.e.,

pac,

taka "

numeral, "four"

locative case ending

in (within) four rupees"

'

B. car Iakate

ei boigulo din "

withiij four rupees.

15.

"five"

boi
-gulo
-te
boigulote
pac

"hundred"

60

"page"

pata

noun stem, "book"

plural suffix
locative case ending
"in books"

There are five hundred

A. No.
pages in these books.
16.

"so much"
"small"

"so small"

noun stem, "price"

locative case ending

A. na " ei boigulote
pata "
mto
kom
mto kom
dam
-e

pac 6o

148
locative case ending
"in (within) price"
"within (for) so small a
price"

A. LahallAsztaia.tL-glaull

-e

dame

mto kom dame

debo na "

A. mto kom dame

for such a small _price.

17.

"book"

"the (particular) book"

"this (particular) book"

B. How much will you sell this

book for.

18. A. IlllEiLtiaEILL1111MtLEE

boila
ei boiVa
B. koto dame

'

ei boi a deben "

A. du Iakate

'

eta debo "

two rupees.

19.

kintu
ei boiVate

"but"

"in this (particular) book"

Note that the locative suffix comes after the qualifier.
"only"

mattro

"hundred"

6o

"one hundred"
"one hundred pages"

mk 6o

B. But there are only one hundred

pages in this book.
20. B. Why is it so expensive?
21.

mk 60 pate.

ei borate
B. kintu
mk 6o pata "

mattro

B. mto dam kmno "

"this"

"this (particular) one"

"in this (particular) one"
"picture"

eIa

"there is, there are"

ache

A. There are many

this one.

ictures in

e'ate
chobi

A. e'ate

onek chobi ache "

22. B. Will you give me the book for

one rupee?
23.

B. mk takate

"another"

onno

"shop"

dokan
onno dokane
dekh-

"in another shop"

high stem of verb "look"
honorific imperative ending

1111

dekhun

"please look"

A. No, please go and look in

another shop.
Lesson 6, part 2.

1.

boita deben ki "

na " apni onno dokane

dekhun "

'

Grammar.

The objective case inflectional ending, as in sentences 3 ff.

The objective case ending is used with pronouns and nouns denoting
Except in certain circumstances, inanimate nouns are left unpersons.
inflected in the objective case (see below, 1.3.)
1.1.

When a verb has both a "direct" and an "indirect" object, the case
ending is used with the indirect object, and the direct object is left
uninflected. Thus, in sentence 3, the indirect object /amake/ takes the
case inflection, while the direct object /boigulo/ is left uninflected.
1.2.

Another example of this situation is:

amake'tomar cheleIa dao"
Give your son to me / give me your son

A rare exception to the rule that inanimate nouns do not take

objective case inflection, is when a particular object or group of
In sentence 14, for example, where particular
objects is designated.
books are under discussion, the objective case ending my be used, thus:
car takate'ei boiguloke din"
Give me the (particular)
books for four rupees.
This option is, however, not usually taken in normal speech.

1.3.

Some Bengali verbs do not take indirect objects. Among these

verbs are "read" and "sing"; in such cases, a post-positional construction
is used. This will be treated in its proper place.

1.4.

150
2.

The formation of the present imperative, as in sentience

3.

Do not let our use of the term "imperative" confuse you. There are
reasons for our using it to designate both a command, ("GoJ", "Readin,
"Please gol", "Please readJ") and what is sometimes called an "optative",
the
("Let me/him go", "Let me/him read"). The grammatical analysis of
construction "let me go" in English and Bengali is too complex to allow
explication here. Assume, then, that we arbitrarily assign the term
"first person imperative" to such constructions as "let me read", and the
"let him read ".
term "third person imperative" to such constructions as

The present imperative of regular verb stems is formed by the use

in the
of the present indicative, usually without the personal pronoun
first and second person ordinary. Thus:
2.1.

kini

"let me/us buy"

jai

keno

"buyl"

jao

"let me/us go"

In the 3rd person ordinary and in the 2nd and 3rd person honorific
forms, the imperative is formed by the addition of the suffixes /-uk, -k/
alternative suffixes depends
and /-un, -n /, respectively; the use of the
upon whether the verb stem has a consonant or vowel final.
202.

kinun

"please buy"

kinuk

"let him/her/it
(ord.) buy
"let him (hon.)
buy"

kinun

2.3.

an
(colun)

uk)
a'l
an
(colun)

"please go"

"let him/her/it
(ord.) go
"let him (hon.) go"

Give imperative forms for the following:

poT-

kor-

6on
othpheal-

pa30

Future imperative, as in sentence 8.

The future imperative (i.e., the indicated action is to be performed at

some time in the future) of all persons except for the 2nd person ordinary

,rtr.1.11/1,1WMINIFFIRMMile.T.11MINT.,.....

151.

is the simple future without the personal pronoun.

The formation of the
future imperative of the 2nd person ordinary will be discussed in a later
lesson.
40

Formation and use of the past active participle, as in sentence 6.

The past active participle is formed by the high stem of a verb with the
ending /-e/. There are many "compound verbs" in Bengali,
as here in
sentence 6, some of which consist of the non-finite past active participle
plus an inflected or finite form of another verb.
The past active participle is often translatable either as "-ing" or "having ...-en"; here,
for example, either "taking" or "having taken". There will be a more
full discussion of the past active participle and of compound verbs in
Lesson 8.
5.

The verbs /de-I, "give" (as in sentence 9) and /ne-/, "take" form an
irregular verb class. A paradigm of the simple present, past, and future
tenses will be:

Person

Present

Past

Future

1st

dii

dilum

debo/dobo

2nd (ord.)

dao

dile

debe

2nd (hon.)

2nd (inf.)

dmn
di6

dilen
dili

deben
dibi

3rd (ord.)

dme

dilo

debe

3rd (hon.)

dmn

dilen

deben

5.1.

The 3rd person ordinary and the honorific imperative forms are also
irregular, being formed by means of the high-stem /di-/:
3rd (ord.)

dik

2nd and 3rd (ord.)

din

The use of the locative in various contexts, including

the buying and
selling context, is a peculiar one. The best translation for such a use
might be "within what price ..." "within five rupees ...", etc. Thus:
60

koto dame deben

how-much price-within give-will

How much will you sell it for?

152

7.

Form possible Bengali sentences:

7.1.

Subject

Int

Indirect Object

ami

(ki)

awake

ki

tumi

tomake

eIa

apni

apnake

Oa

6e

take

mkta

tini

take

duIo

aj

amra

amader (ke)

baa
rg

kal

tomra

tomader (ke)

apnara
tara

apnaker (ke)
tader (ke)

terra

Verbal
Modifier

Verb

Neg.

(na)

mkhon
pore

dmkhade-

boi

papa-

boi

6ekhane

ken-

notun
itiha6

boigulo

onno
dokane

nie ja-

tader (Ice)

bovo

dam

ranke

boier
boigulor

ram

lekhok

Direct Object

de-

bhaike
lekhokke

7.2

Subject

Modifier

ami

boier

tumi

boigulor

Object

(Int.)

dam

Verb
an-

de-

e$ar

koto
ki

o$ar

egulor
7.3.

Subject

Indirect
Object

ami

amake*

tumi

tomake

Modifier

(I nt.)

Verb

(Neg.)

e$a

de-

(na)

o$a

pa$ha-

boi$a

ken-

Direct.

Object

mk
du
tin

$akate

bhaike

koto dame
bovo
cho$o

(ki)

153
7.4.

Modifier
boilate

Subject

mattro

boigulote

ask So

pata

du 6o

onek

Lesson 6, part 3.

Patterns.

Note: from this point for the next

several lessons, only the first three
of the patterns will be heard
on the tape.
The last two you will be
expected to produce in class.
1.

Pattern: sentence 1. (use honorific)

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.
2.

What do you hear?

What do you see?
What do you buy?
What do you read?
What do you want?

Pattern: sentence
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

2.

I hear a song.
I see a book.
I buy books.
I read books.
I want many books.

Pattern: sentence 3, grammar section 1.4

a.
Please sing that song.
b.
Please show me that book.
c.
Please show me those new books.
d.
e.

Please send me those new books

Please send me those new Bengali
books.

154
3.

Pattern: sentence 4.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

4.

Will you hear the song now?

Will you listen to the poetry now?
Will yo'i 'auy the books in this shop?
Will you buy the books now?
Will you read the books afterwards?

Pattern: sentence 5.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

No, I shall read this book now.

No, I shall read the poetry now.
No, I shall read the books here.
No, I shall read the books now.
Yes, I shall not read the books now.

Pattern: sentence 6.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

5.

Afterwards I shall buy them.

Afterwards I shall read them.

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

6.

Afterwards I shall listen to the song.

Afterwards I shall listen to the poetry.
Afterwards I shall take them.

Will you pay for that book now?

Will you pay for that poetry book now?
Will you pay for those books now?
Will you pay for them now?
Will you pay for the Bengali books now?

Pattern: sentence 8.
a.

No.

b.

No.

c.

No.

Send it to my brother.
Send the book to my sister.
Send them to my father.

d.

No.

Send the books to my brother.

155
e.

No.

Send the books to me.

Pattern: sentence 9.
a.

b*

He will pay you.

She will pay you.

c He will pay for the books (i.e., "he will give the price of the
books").
d.
e.
7.

Pattern: sentence 10.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

8.

He will pay for them.

I shall pay you afterwards.

No, please pay (me) now.

No, please pay us now.
No, let him pay now.
No, let him pay for them now.
No, please pay for them now.

Pattern: sentence 11.

a All right*
b.

All right.

c.

All right.

How much is the book?

How much are the books?

d.

All right.
All right.

How much are they?

How much are the Bengali books?

e.
9.

Pattern: sentence 12.

a.
1010

c.

d.
e.

10.

How much is it?

The price of that book is three rupees.

Its price is five rupees
The price of these five books is ten rupees.
The price of those two books is four rupees.
Their price is thirty rupees.

Pattern: sentence 13.

a*

That is too little. (khub kom dam)

b.

That is too much.

That price is too much.

co

156
d.
e.

That price is too little.

That is too much.

Pattern: sentence 14.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

11.

Give (me) the book for four rupees.

Give it to me for three rupees.
Give (me) the five books for five rupees.
Give them to me for six rupees.
Give them to me for ten rupees.

Pattern: sentence 15.

where are only two hundred pages in this book.

There are many pages in this book.
There are six hundred pages in these five books.

a.

No.

b.

No.

c.

No.

d.

No, there are only two pictures in these books.

No, there are many pictures in these books.

e.

Pattern: sentence 16.

a.

I shall not sell it (i.e., give it) for such a large price.

b.

I shall not sell it to you for such a small price.

I shall not sell them for five rupees.

c.

d.
e.

12.

Pattern: sentence 17.

b.

All right.
All right.

c.

All right.

d.

All right.

e.

All right.

a.

13.

I shall not sell them for six rupees.

I shall not sell them to you for such a small price.

How much will you sell these for?

How much will you sell those for?
How much will you sell these books for?
How much will you sell these pictures for?
How much will you sell me these books for?

Pattern: sentence 18.

a.

I'll give those for ten rupees.

b.

I'll give you those for seven rupees.

I'll give you these books for five rupees.

c.

157

14.

d.

I'll give you those pictures for one rupee.

e.

I'll give you these books for nine rupees.

Pattern: sentence 19, 20.

a.

But there are only one hundred pages in those books.

Why are they so expensive?

b.

But there are only two pictures in them.

so expensive?

c.

But there are only two hundred pages in them.

they so expensive?

d.

But there are two pictures here.

e.

15.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Why are they so cheap?

But there are only three books here.
Why are they so
expensive?

There are many pictures in those books.

There are five hundred pages in them.
There are twenty pictures in them.

There are many pictures in this shop.

There are many pictures in those three books.

Pattern: sentence 22.

c.

Will you give me the books for five rupees?

Will you give me them for four rupees?
Will you give me those books for three rupees?

d.

Will you give me this one for two rupees?

e.

Will you give me those three books for six rupees?

a.

b.

17.

Why are

Pattern: sentence 21.

a.

16.

Why are they

Pattern: sentence 23.

b.

No, please look in another shop.

No, please look in another place.

c.

No, please look in that shop.

d.

Yes.

e.

No.

a.

Please look at these other pictures.

Please go to another shop.

158

Lesson 6, part 4.

Sentence Drill.

Drill 1
- -What do you want?
- -I want a sari.

--For your wife?

--No, for my sister.

Please show me those two red silk saris.

--These are very fine Murshidabad silk saris. Your sister will like them.
--This is not very good material. How much will you sell them for?
- -Fifty rupees.
But for you, I shall give them for thirty.
- -That is too much.
Give me the saris for twenty-five.
--All right. For you they are twenty-five. Please pay now.
--No, send the saris to my sister.
I shall pay you later.

--No, sir, please pay me now, or I shall not give them to you.
--Then I shall not buy them. I am an honest man.
--But I am a poor man.
I shall sell you these saris for such a small
price and make no profit.
--Then I shall go to another shop.
- -Yes, please go.

Drill 2

--How much will you sell these sandals for?

- -I shall sell you the sandals for ten rupees, sir.
--That is too much.
- -They are very fine sandals, sir.
--They are very bad sandals.

Please show me those Kashmiri shawls.

- -I shall sell you this shawl for thirty rupees.
--The color is very dark. Have you any light-colored shawls?
--This one is exactly the color of ivory.
Its price is fifty rupees.
--All right.
I shall give you twenty-five.
- -For forty I shall sell it, sir.
- -All right.

Send it to my brother. He will pay you.

--I shall send it to him. Please give me twenty rupees now.
- -All right.
You will become very rich.
--There will be no profit, sir.
I am a poor man.

159
Lesson 6, part 5.

Vocabulary.

6avi

sari

bmc-

sell

silk
kapo'

silk

ken-

buy

mo6ae, mo6ae
labh
coppol, coIi

sir, gentleman

6undor

fine, beautiful

profit
sandals

60t

gorib

honest
poor

sal

shawl

phike,

hatirdat

ivory

rare

color

cloth, material

halka

light

ghono

dark; thick

dhoni

rich
red

,_,

accha

all right, OK

.1...eu.

paci6
tiri6
collig

PSnca6

twenty five
thirty
forty
fifty

1.

Bring up to date your file of word cards, to include all the new
vocabulary of Lessons 4-6.
bhiy

crowd

bie

wedding
market
song
friend
type of religious song
Vaigyava
mother and father
place
tank
family
sister-in-law
paternal uncle (father's younger
brother)

bajar
gan

bondhu
kirtton
boisyob
mababa
jaega
dighi
63136ar

boudi
kaka

kakima
chelemee
6ilpi
6ikkhok
6ikkhoittri
chattro
chattri
dhopa

dhopani
dokan
mondir
i6kul
itiha6

father's younger brother's wife

children
artist
teacher (m.)
teacher (f.)
student (m.)
student (f.)
washerman
washerwoman
shop
temple
school
history

163.

dam

price

Taka
pata
chobi

rupec

rasta
sari
silk
kapov
mosae; mosae
lath
coppol, coTi

street

6a1

shawl
ivory

hatirdat
ron

page, leaf
picture
sari

silk

cloth, material
sir, gentleman
profit

sandals

color

mto

so many

kola, koTi
ka -

how many
who (inflectional stem)

1.3.

kmno

why

1.4.

a6-

come
hear, listen to

1.2.

6on4ak-

call, shout

chil-

like
simple past stem of ach-, "be"

oTh

rise up

pa-

get, receive

ja-

go

ge-/gsa-

past stem, "go"

dmkh6e6 kor-

see, look
finish

ca-

want

dmkhanie ja-

show
take (away)

papa-

send

bmcken-

sell

pochondo kor-

buy

162
1050

1.6.

6okole

all

uttor
dokkhin
purbo
po6cim

north
south

con4ida6

proper name of medieval poet

proper name of medieval poet

biddapoti
gmnda6
1.70

proper name of medieval poet

old

migti
pracin
beft
6undor

sweet

60t

honest
poor
light
dark; thick

ghono
dhoni
aj

kal

gotokal
agamikal
askhon

prothome
kichukkon

kichu
prae
1.9.

west

purono

gorib
phike, halka

1.80

east

ancient
a lot, very much

fine, beautiful

rich

today
yesterday, tomorrow
yesterday
tomorrow
now
at first
a while
some, a little
often

tai

conjunction - "that is why"

"also"

kintu

but

1.10. 6onge
kache

moddhe
age

with
near
within, among
before (time or place)

163
pore

after (time or place)

dhare

bhitore; bhetore

beside, on the edge of

beside
within, inside

be6

all right

accha

OK, all right

Onca6

fifty
thirty

pa6e

1.110

1.12.

tiri6

Oci6

twenty=five
forty
hundred

colli6

so
2.

The plural.

2.1.

Nouns can be divided into two broad classes.

Class I is a class
of nouns which denote animate objects. This class may be subdivided
into nouns which denote human beings and nouns which denote other types
of animate beings. These subdivisions will be referred to as Class I. a.
and Class I.b. respectively.
Class II nouns include all other types of
nouns.
2.2.

The plural suffixes:

Nominative
Genitive
Objective

-ra, era
-der, -eder
-der (ke),
-eder (ke)

chelera
cheleder

lokera

chelederke,
cheleder

lokederke,
lokeder

lokeder

These suffixes are used by Class I nouns, and within that class only
rarely by Class I.b. nouns.

The plural suffix /-gulo/1 to which are added the case endings of
the sj.ngular, can be used with both classes of nouns:
2.3.

Nominative
Genitive
Objective
Locative

chelegulo

kukurgulo

gachgulo

chelegulor
cheleguloke

kukurgulor
kukurguloke

gachgulor
gachguloke

- --

gachgulote

- --

164
These two sets of suffixes are often used interchangeably. The use
of one or the other of the suffixes, however, may have significance.
Frequently, the /-ra, -era/ suffix is used to indicate particulars within
2.4.

the class.

Examples:

/lokqohore thake"/
/lokeraqchore thake"/

"(all) people live in the city"

/lokgulot6ohore thake"/

"those (particular) people live in

the city"

"the people live in the city"

There are, then, three levels of plural usage, though the distinctions are not always kept perfectly clear by Bengali speakers.
2.5.

No plural suffix (see below, section 2.6.):

2.5.1.

/dhopaikapov kace"/

/-era, -ra/ plural suffix:

2.5.2.

/dhoparatkapoT kace"/

"the washermen (as opposed to others)

wash clothes"

/-gulo/ plural suffix:

2.5.3.

/dhopagulotkapol' kace"/

2.6.

"(all) washermen (i.e., washermen

as a class) wash clothes"

"(those particular) washermen

(within the caste) wash clothes"

The plural number is not always expressed by means of suffixes.

When an adjective implying plural number is present, the plural

suffix is not used.
2.6.1.

Example:

/6ekhanelonek lok"/

"many people are there"

Reduplication frequently has a plural or a distributive meaning

(see below, Lesson 8)

2.6.2.

Examples:

/ke ke'a6be"/

"who all will come, what (various)

people will come"

/kothae kothaetjabe"/

"to what (various) places will you

go"

165
If the subject of the sentence is plural, its complement does not

2.6.3.

have to agree in number.

Example:

/taraidu6Iu chele"/

"they are naughty boys"

When the reference is to a class of objects, the plural suffix

2.6.4.

may be omitted:
Example:

/boier damlbe6in/
2.6.4.1.

"books are expensive"

When the reference is to a particular group within a class,

however, the plural suffix can be used:

Example:

/boigulor dam'be6i"/

"(those) books are expensive"

The suffix /-gulo/ may be used with certain adjectives of quantity,

e.g., /koto/ and /onek /, and with demonstrative pronouns and adjectives.
2.7.

The plural suffix /-gulo/ may be used with the demonstratives

2.7.1.

/e, 0/2 "this, that", when they are used as pronouns.

Example:

/egulo ki'boi"/

"are these books?"

2.7.2. When the demonstrative is used as an adjective, the plural suffix

is attached to the noun which it modifies.
Example:

/e boigulo ki'bhalo"/
3.

"are those books good?"

Qualifiers.

3.1.

There are two sets of qualifiers which are commonly used in Bengali.

These sets are /-Ia, -ti/ and /-khana, - khani /.

3.1.1.

The qualifier /--Da, -.Di/ may be used with all nouns.

The qualifier /- khana, -khani/ (increasingly rare in spoken

Bengali, thus not stressed in the lessons) is used with inanimate objects
3.1.2.

which are square, flat, or cubical in shape, e.g., /boi /, "book", /bard /,

166
"house", etc.

Example:

/amake'boikhana din"/

"Please give me the book."

3.2.

The qualifiers/-Ta, -khana/, of which the final vowel is /a /, are

used with reference to ordinary objects, toward which the speaker feels
no special emotion.
The qualifiers / -Ti, -khani/, of which the final vowel is /WI are used
with reference to objects toward which the speaker feels a particular
attraction.
3.3.

Qualifiers are used with numerals and other adjectives of quantity

when followed by a noun.
Example:

/mkIa boi cai"/

"I want a book."

3.4.

Qualifiers may be added to a singular noun to give the force of the

English definite article.
Example:

/koto dame'boita deben"/

3.4.1.

"How much will you sell the book

for?" (lit. give the book for)

The case endings are added after the qualifier, in cases of this

kind.

Example:

/cheleIake'boila dao"/

"Give the book to the boy."

3.5.

Qualifiers may be added to demonstratives without a following noun

when the demonstrative is the subject or object of the sentence.
When the demonstrative functions as an adjective, the qualifier is used
with the following noun.
Examples:

/ota'ki boi"/
/o boi-Da' ki"/
4.

"What book is that?"

"What is that book?"

Verbal inflection.

You should now have three verb tenses at your command: the simple present

167
the simple future, and the simple past.
4.1.

Future

Verbs except for /a/-stem verbs form their future

tense by the addition
of the future morpheme /-b-/ and the
future personal endings to the high
stem of the verb.
The following are exceptions to this rule.
4.1.1.

The verb /ho-/, "be, become" forms its future with

the low stem.
ami hobo

tumi hobe
tui hobi -- (Note: the stem changes here for
phonological reasons)
apni hoben
6e hobe

tini hoben
4.1.2.

Other vowel-stem verbs, of which the

vowel is /o /, take the alternate stem /Coi-/ in the future. Thus the verb /60-/,
"bear",
ami 6oibo

tumi 6oibe
tui 6oibi
apni 6oiben
6e 6oibe

tini 6oiben
4.1.3.

Certain vowel stem verbs in /a/ also take an alternate

stem for
the future: /Cai-/: thus the verbs /ca-/
"want" and /ga-/ "sing":
ami

caibo

gaibo

tumi

caibe

gaibe

etc.

4.1.4.

Vowel-stem verbs in /e/, i.e., /de/, "give"

and /ne-/, "take",
preserve their low stems in the future.
4.2.

Simple past

The simple past is formed by the addition of the /-1-/ (past)

morpheme
and the past tense personal endings to the
high stem of the verb,
except for CO- verbs, which preserve their low stems.

5.

We have had the various uses and meanings of 42/.

Demonstrative, "that"

amake o boita dao

"Give me that book"

Conjunctive, "and"

amra.o jabo

"We too will go"

Emphatic

akhono bavite thake

"Even now they live

in the house"

2nd person ord.

personal ending

tumi 6ekhane jao

"You go there"

Lesson

1.

art 1.

Conversation.

Analysis and Translation

Bengali

noun stem, "river"

noun stem, "bank"
"bank of the river"

nodi
dhar

post-position, "from",
preceding genitive
optional
"from the river-bank"

alternative stem of verb

qqt

nodir dhar
theke

nodir dharer theke, nodir dhar theke

99stV tITURf

"come "; see Grammar,

section 3.

e-

sign of simple past tense

honorific verbal ending
"you came" (simple past)

-1- g-

"you came now" (i.e., "you

just came")
A. Rambabu, have you just come
from the river bank?

99sM

-en

VIC-4;

dff

apni elen

Wm-Novi-1
apni mkhon elen aTe9.

A. rambabu " apni ki mkhon ' nodir

dhar theke
elen "
LI219t.!161,1*

2.

dP19. aff9.

"daily"

roj .0Ta

noun stem, "bank"

dhar

locative case ending

"to/on the bank"
"to the river bank"

-e

trru
.1.7C

dhare

141-0

nodir dhare

Trz-c--

170

B. Yes, I go to the river

bank every day.

B.

11.""

nodir dhare

" ami roj

1-4Te 141

3.

4.

A. Why do you go?

verb stem, "walk"

verbal noun suffix
verbal noun, "walking"

B. Walking on the river

bank is good.

noun stem, "fish"

high stem of verb "buy"
B. And I buy fish every day.

-a -T

haIa 43T
B. nodir dhare hats,

WM

mach
kin-

tvq-

B. ar ami roj

"1

51

"you bought (simple past)"

apni kinlen

name of a type of fish

name of a type of fish
high stem of verb "buy"
sign of simple past tense
1st person verbal ending
for simple past tense
"I bought (simple past)"

mach kini

'

kin-1-

-en

A. a ni ki a
aT911-9*

7.

bhalo "

oil 1

high stem of verb "buy"

sign of simple past tense
honorific verbal ending

A. Did you buy fish there

today?

<1-0 zri-

ta-

Trd 6'ri5:1

6.

jai "

A. kano j an "

991-U 'QM

'

"1"'

6fFirq

6ekhane ' mach kinlen"

'

aTe

rui mach

"C"Mr-C9'

1,10,WM

katla mach -qtiTOTI- 901M

kin- f-1ura

70

ami kinlum

UTit NuicioM

T<P-.1(.11 ?

171

B. Yes, I bou ht rui and katla B. h " ami

fish.
kinlum "
I

Trivl

171.1

8.

noun stem, "fisherman"

objective case ending
"(to) the fisherman"
high stem of verb "give"
sign of simple past tense
honorific verbal ending
"you gave (simple past)"

rui ar katla mach '

Tr-4.

Tr-QT-rr q'Th

jele

vatq

-ke

jeleke Tucq-N
di- "19--1-

-T 9
apni dilen
-en

Us(-e9 NL619

Note: /jeleke/ is the indirect object of the verb /dilen/; /dam/

is the direct object of the verb.
A. How much did you pay the
fisherman?

A. jeleke

koto dam ' dilen "

'

T35(.16.0

9.

B. I gave the fisherman one

1 itc14

B. ami jeleke

ask Iaka dilum

'

rupee.

Trtg

10.

"very, quite"

be6

adjective, "cheap"
adverb, "cheaply"

60sta

high stem of verb "get,

acquire"
"you got (simple past)"

A. You got the fish very

cheaply.

LTP trw

wcf
Mier

costae

Aarm

tqapni pelen diTe9' Termq

pe-

A. a ni mach ulo
5r--x-ffr

11.

verb stem, "come"

2nd person honorific
imperative ending
Why don't you come,
please come

as

-un

be6 costae

t41t )icfm Invil

aTN079*

asun na

5'T31749 9T

Note: /na/ here does not have the force of a negative, see
Grammar, section 7.

elen"

"together, in one group"

B. X22!a2/!121LLIT11119.

to our house; theh we will

eat together.

dwpr

mk6013ge

B. ha " amader barite a6un na " to

mkgonge khabo "
hole
'

eT, W1\41 Li< 4rilP1 60

Dic0

1/4-51"

LTFAttrirczrr

12. A. All right, I shall come

tonight.

13.

war

6rrrsT 6rm -rcLa u-prwr

alternative stem, "how much"

ko-

qualifier (see Grammar,

section 6, for this usage)
noun stem, "time"
idiomatic usage: "at what
time"

-la -ST

B. At what time will you come?

6omoe APE
koIar tomoe

a6ben "

1 c Ali 01-1A6d N

urG

numeral "eight"
qualifier

al

"at eight o'clock"

aar somoe

A. I shall come at eight

Q .61-U "PUT

ko,ar 6omoe

B. a ni

5741
14.

a6bo

A. accha " ami aj rattre

-Va.

-ST

A. attar 6omoe

611-66TU NWT

afto

o'clock.
)1901 UTAT4T

15.

verb stem "come"

alternate verbal noun
suffix
genitive case ending

as orm-

"of coming"
post-position, "before",
with preceding genitive

a6bar OTTATM

"before coming"
loan word, "telephone"
compound verb, "(to)
telephone"

a6bar age 5117WRI NMI

-ba-

-4T-

-r
age

phon

51TT51

TUTff

phon kor-

XrPT9'

11

173
"(please) phone (future)"

phon korben

TUT9' *Kiri

For this use of the future imperative, which is identical in form

with the simple future honorific, see Grammar, section 4.2.)
B. All right. (Please) phone
me before you come.

B. accha " a6bar age

korben "

aff
16.

verb stem, "telephone"

verbal noun suffix
genitive case ending
"of telephoning"
post-position, "after",
with preceding genitive
"after calling"
A. All right. I shall come
after calling you.

6f1714"-rd

al

awake phon

'

C51

6M:ITW "CUT9*

phon kor-ba-r

TUTff

phon korbar
pore gr-0

TUT9.

phon korbar pore

n'161TU

tUTff

`':5:11-d 410

A. accia,laolliseallo korbax_pore
ami asbo "

ultr

arn9m -017 WT17 'TO

d1N 01171T4T

17.

post-position, "with" with

6onge ,Iiirpr
preceding genitive
"with you (honorific)"
apnar 6onge
Note that below, /apnar/ is not stated.
noun stem, "wife"
stri lit
verb stem, "bring, fetch"
an- 011
B. Will you bring your wife
Eithayou?

B. inge ' apnar strike

A Ct

18.

N id

51-0 611 9'0.9-

Note: for this usage of the future tense, see Grammar, section 4.1.

A. She is going to her

sister's house.

A. 6e

'

tar boner barite

V T K-51-4' 7411-9?1

19.

anben ki "

'

"so, therefore"

tai

a1kplco

'

jabe "

Vf-cd I

verb stem, "bring"

an- uTn-a
-7
ana aT9T

verbal noun suffix

verbal noun, "bringing
Note that the verbal noun, like other verbal forms,
can take an
object.
/take/ in this sentence is the object of
the
verbal noun
/ana/.
"possible"
"it will not be possible"

A. So it won't be possible
to bring her.

sombhob

5;04
6ombhob hobe na
A. tai

(i.e., Bringing her will

not be possible)
20.

TIMP Oriffi

a Q(.< 911

ta hole

"sons" (objective case

plural)

chelederke, cheleder

OT z641

B. ta hole
apnar chelederke '
anben ki "

OT

N110i

gT919-M

"them" (objective case

plural)

taderke, tader

PAP of verb /ne-/, "take"

verb stem, "go"

nie

t9Tal

ja-

laff

compound verb stem "take"

(from this place to that)
"taking them"

verb stem, "go"

alternative vcdrbal noun
suffixl(see Grammar,
section 2.2.)

verbal noun, "going"

"difficult"
"going will be difficult"

4C4 71"

take ana ' 6ombhob hobe na "

'

"then, in that case"

B. Then will you bring your

sons?

21.

)14

nie ja-

01(.1111"V

t9TP

taderke nie jaoa oT61.0v1. 1 9TU 71765T

ja- zir-oa -OVT

jaoa

44TOUT

60kto

jaoa 6okto hobe

zrrksur

aila 'mod

175
A. It will be difficult to
take them.

A. taderke nie

(i.e., Taking them will

be difficult.)
22.

aoa

60kto hobe "

91(.1911.4i fi9t14 ZITOUT 'RP

alternative verb stems9

"sleep"

ghuma-, ghumo-

A. They will be sleeping

tonight.

A. tara

VC 4

979Tp- kwm

rattre ghumobe

OT4T SIT ulLa WJWTO 1

Lesson 7, part 2.

Grammar.

1.

Review the formation of the simple past tense: Lesson 5, Grammar, 2.

2.

The formation and usage of verb nouns (sentences 4, 15, 16, 19, 21).

Verbal nouns are formed by the addition of one of the suffixes /a /,

/oa /, (or lano/2 which will be dealt with in a later lesson) to the
simple stem of the verb, or the suffix As./ to the high stem of all verbs
except /a/-stems.
To the verbal noun suffix is added the inflectional
2.1.

case ending, if any.

as any other noun.
Stem

bol- ("speak")

A verbal noun can be inflected for all four cases,

Verbal noun suffix

-a

Inflected forms

bola
bolar
(bolake -- rare)
bolate

bol- ("speak")

-ba

bolba
bolbar

pa- ("get")

-oa

paoa
paoar
( paoate -- rare)

paoate

-ba

paba
pabar

176
2.2.

The use of the suffixes /a/ and /oa/ depends upon the shape of the
verb stem. When the stem shape is Ca-, the suffix is /oa/:
jaoa

"going"

paoa
deoa

"getting"
"giving"

When the stem has the shape CVO-, the suffix is /a/:

kena
pova

"buying"
"reading"

2.3.

The verbal noun suffix /-ba/ is frequently used, with stems of all
shapes, when the case of the verbal noun is genitive.
The genitive case
suffix is added to the verbal noun suffix:
jabar age

'

ami qakbo "

eIa kenbar pore

'

I shall call
before going.

ami a6bo "

call aloud)

I shall come after buying it.

The verbal noun suffix is usually translatable by the English

verbal noun suffix "-ing":
2.4.

bal3la bola '

60kto "
6ekhane jaoa '-o6ombhob
eIa paoa ' 6ohoj hobe "

"

Speaking Bengali is difficult.

Going there is impossible.
Getting it will be easy.

The verbal noun can take an object, as can any other verbal form;
in the second example in 2.3., the object of the verbal
noun is /eIa/.
2.5.

2.6.

A verbal noun is used in Bengali in some cases in which an

"infinitive" can be used in English.
gekhane jaoa

'

ogombhob "

To go there is impossible.
Going there is impossible.

2.6.1.

Note that in English, the "infinitive" has two separate functions;

though in both functions its form is the same, there is a difference in
functional characteristics.
Take these two examples:
To study is a good thing.
I ought to study now.
In the first of these two examples, "to study" is the subject of
the

177
sentence; it functions as a noun.
In the second example, "to study" is
a function of "ought".
In the first example, "to study"
can be replaced
by "studying", with no change
of meaning; it is, then, a verbal noun, and
must be translated by one in Bengali.
'Thus:

ppTa'bhalo jini6"

3.

To study is a good thing. or:

Studying is a good thing.

The verb /a6-/, "come" (sentence 1).

3.1.

The verb /a6-/ is an irregular

verb, having the two stems /a6-/
and /e-/.
The stem /e-/ occurs in the present
ordinary imperative/go/2
and in free variation with /a6-/
in the simple past. Thus:

glum

elum

rile

ele

gli

eli

glen
glo
glen

elen
elo

elen

Like other verbs with /a/-vowel

stems, /a6-/ retains its low stem in the
simple future.
4.

Uses of the future (sentences 15, 18).

4.1.

In Bengali the simple future tense may be used

for any action which
will take place, regardless of what
terse occurs in the English.
6e 6ekhane jabe"

He will go there.
He is going there (in the future).

4.2.

The future honorific imperative

is identical in form with the
simple future honorific, When the imperative
is signified, the personal
pronoun is usually omitted:
apni jaben"
jaben"

You (hon.) will go.

(Please) go (in the future).

As in sentences 3 and 17, a personal

pronoun can frequently be
omitted, when the reference is clear
from context. When such a pronoun
is the subject of a verb and is omitted,
the person of the subject will
of course be indicated by the
personal ending of the verb.
The number of
5.

178
the subject, however, will not be clear. Therefore take
care, in the
omission of a pronoun subject, that there is no confusion
between, say,
2nd and 3rd person honorific, or as to the number of the
subject.
6.

Use of the qualifier / -ta/ as in sentences 13 and 14.

Refer to
Lesson 3, Grammar, 2.2.: Qualifiers are added to numerals and
other
adjectives of quantity when accompanied by a noun.

Use of /na/ as in sentence 11.

7.

When used with a present imperative form, /na/

does not have the force
of a negative, but as a polite request, "why
don't you ...11.
Examples:
(apni) a6un na"

Why don't you come; please come.

Why don't you eat; please eat.

(apni) khan na"

8.

Form possible Bengali sentences:

Subject

ram
ami
apni
tumi
6e

tini

tara

Indirect
Object

Interr.

jeleke

ki

amake
take

Verbal Modifiers

roj

1.

akhon

amaderke
taderke

rattre

tomaderke
meeke

nodir dhar(er) theke

6ohorer kache
6ekhane

Pattern: sentence
a.
b.
c.

d.
e.

mach (gulo)
eta
seta

aj

kotar 6omoe

Lesson 7, part

3.

Direct
Object

mto take

Patterns.

1.

Ram, have you just come from

the city?
Ram, has he (ord.) just come
from the city?
Ram, has he (hon.) just gone

to the city?
Ram, has he (hon.) just gone
to the river bank?
Ram, has he (ord.) just come
from the store?

Verb

a6ja-

kenneande-

179
2.

Pattern: sentence 2.
a.

b.
co

d.
e.

b.
c.

d.
e.

5.

do you go?
does he (ord.)
does he (hon.)
does he (hon.)
does he (ord.)

come?
go?
walk?
go?

a.

Going to the city is fun.

b.

Coming here is easy.

c.

d.

Buying there is easy.

Walking there is good.

e.

Going to the store is fun.

Pattern: sentence 6.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Did
Did
Did
Did
Did

you buy things there today?

he buy food here today?
he buy books there today?
he eat there today?
he walk there today?

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Why
Why
Why
Why
Why

Pattern: sentence 4.

a.

6.

I go to the city every day.

he comes from the city every day.
he goes to the city every day.
he walks on the river bank every day.
he goes to the store every day.

Pattern: sentence 3.
a.

Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,

Yes, I bought cloth and sandals.

Yes, he bought rice and sweets.
Yes, he bought poetry and history books.
Yes he ate fish and rice today.
Yes, he took his clothes there today.

Pattern: sentence 8.
a.

b.

How much did you pay the weaver?

How much did he pay the sweet-maker?

ea

gib

180

c.

d.
e.
8.

Pattern: sentence 9.
a.

I gave the weaver ten rupees.

b.

He
He
He
He

c.

d.
e.

9.

paid
paid
paid
paid

him
him
the
the

tiree rupees.
twenty rupees.
fisherman two rupees.
washerman five rupees.

Pattern: sentence 10.

d.

You
You
You
He

e.

He did not give the washerman very much.

a.

b.
c.

10.

How much did he pay the grocer?

How much did he pay the fisherman?
How much did he pay the washerman?

got
got
got
did

the
the
the
not

cloth very cheaply.

sweets very cheaply
books very cheaply
get the fish very cheaply.

Pattern: sentence 11.

a.

Yes.

b.

Yes.

c.

Yes.

d.

Yes.

e.

No.

Why
Why
Why
Why

don't
don't
don't
don't

you
you
you
you

come
come
come
come

to
to
to
to

my house and see the cloth.

his house and eat the sweets.
his house and read the books.
his house and eat the fish.

Why don't you go to the washerman's house and give him ten

rupees.
11.

Pattern: sentence 12.

a.

All right.

I shall come tomorrow.

b.

All right.

We shall go this evening.

c.

All right.

d.

All right.
All right.

We shall go tomorrow evening.

We shall go tonight.

e.

12.

Pattern: sentence 13.

a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

13.

I shall go afterwards.

At
At
At
At
At

what
what
what
what
what

time
time
time
time
time

will you come?

shall we go?
tomorrow shall we go?
tonight shall we go?
will you go?

Pattern: sentence 14.

a.

I shall come at five o'clock.

3.81

b.

We shall go at six o'clock.

c.

We shall go at seven o'clock.

d.

We shall go at nine o'clock.

I shall go at ten o'clock.

e.

14

Pattern: sentence 15.

a.

b.
c.

do
e.

15.

a.

All right.

b.

All right.
All right.

d.
e.

you
you
you
you

phone me before you come?

phone me before we go?
phone him before we go?
tell me before we go?

Will you phone me before you see him?

All right.
All right.

I shall come after calling you.

We shall go after my calling you.
We shall go after my calling him.
We shall go after my telling you.
I shall see nim after calling you.

Pattern: sentence 17.

d.

Will you bring your sister with you?

Shall we bring our wives with us?
Shall I bring my brother with me?
shall we bring our friends with us?

e.

Will you bring your son with you?

a.

b.
c.

17.

Will
Will
Will
Will

Pattern: sentence 16.

c.

16.

All right.
All right.
All right.
All right.
All right.

Pattern: sentence 18.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

No, I won't bring her. She is going to her friend's house.

No, we won't bring them. They are going to a friend's house.
No, you won't bring him. He is going to his friend's house.
No, we won't bring them. They are going to Ram's house.
No, I won't bring him. He is going to Lila's house.

Pattern: sentence 19.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

So,
So,
So,
So,
So,

it
it
it
it
it

won't
won't
won't
won't
won't

be
be
be
be
be

possible
possible
possible
possible
possible

to
to
to
to
to

bring
bring
bring
bring
bring

her.
them.
him.
Ram.
Lila.

182
18.

Pattern: sentence 20.

a.

b.
co

d.
e.

19.

Then
Then
Then
Then
Then

will
will
will
will
will

you bring your brother?

they bring their friend?
we bring his friend?
we bring our children?
you bring your daughter?

Pattern: sentence 21.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

No, it will be difficult to bring him.

No, it will be difficult to bring their friend.
No, it will not be possible to bring him.
No, it will not be possible to bring them.
No, it will be difficult to bring her.

Pattern: sentence 22.

a.

b.

He will be studyingiin the evening.

Their friend will be sleeping in the evening.

d.

He will be going home in the evening.

They will be sleeping in the evening.

e.

She will be working in the evening.

c.

Lesson 7, part 4.

Sentence Drill.

Drill 1
--Hello, Ram.

Is Naresh-babu at home?
He came in a little while ago. (Please) come in the house.

--Yes, sir.
--Will you tell him that I am here?
--Yes sir.

I shall call him.

--Hello, Naresh.
--Hello Probhas. Why are you in Calcutta?
I have some work outside the city.
--I arrived this morning.
brought some sondes for your children.
Will you come and eat with us this evening?
- -Fine.

What time?
Is your wife with you?
--At eight sharp.
--No, but my three sons are at the station.
Will you. bring them with you?
--Good.
- -All right.

I have

183
- - -No, they are going (i.e., "will go") to their friends' house tonight.
- -How long will you be here?
- -I leave tomorrow.
Will you come with me to Ashim's Col5imer] house?
--When are you going?
- -Right now.

- -No, I just came from the university, and I'm very tired.
you tonight.
- -All right.

I'll see

See you later.

Drill 2
- -Where have you just come from?

--I have just come from the tank. It is beautiful there in the evening.
- -Do you have business (i.e., "work") there?
It is beautiful; that is why I go there every evening.
- -What is that in your hand?
- -No.

- -It is a garland.

I just bought it from a man on the side of the road.

- -To whom will you give it?
- -I shall give it to my sister.
She is coming to my house tomorrow
morning.
- -Will she stay with you long?
- -She will leave before tomorrow night.

She lives outside the city.

- -I shall come and see her.
Will her children be with her?
--No, her children are at home. Come at six tomorrow evening.
- -Good.
I'll see you then.
Lesson 7, part 5.
Bakal

bikel
6ondhel

6ondhebmla
s6nde6

mala
hat

moja
tati

moera
mudi

morning
afternoon

Vocabulary.

Ihik

exactly

klanto

tired

gicmge

with

joime

for, for the sake of

theke

kachtheke

from (place)
from (person)

bhetore,
bhitore

within

baire

outside

evening
type of
Bengali
sweet

garland
hand
fun
weaver
sweet-maker
grocer

Expressions of time:

kichukkhon
kotokkhon

a little time, a little while

how much time, how long (when the answer is expected
to be in terms of a short while
minutes or
hours).

onekkhon

much time, a long time (in terms of minutes or hours).

kichu din
koto din

a few days

how long (when the answer is expected to be in terms

of days or weeks)

onek din

a long time (not necessarily literally "many days").

kokhon
kobe

when, at what time (on the same day)

when, on what day

kotar 6omoe

at what time, at what hour

ekIu age

a little while ago

Idioms:
deckha kobe

See you later (lit. "seeing will be ").

dmkha korbo

See you later (lit. "seeing (I) shall make").

The full forms of these idiomatic expressions are:

apnar soweldakha hobe"

apnar soi)ge'dmkha korbo"

In the first of them, the subject of the sentence is the verbal noun
/dmkha/ -- therefore the verb is in the third person and is the inactive
verb /ho -/.
The subject of the second is the pronoun /ami/, and the
verb is the active /kor-/ -- the subject of the sentence is actively
bringing the "seeing" about.

Lesson 8, part 1.

1.

Conversation.

Analysis and Translation

Bengali

"when, on what day,

after how long"
noun stem, "Bengal"

kobe

A. Ram, when are you going

to Bengal?

baijlade6

A. ram
UST

2.

name of a Bengali
month -- April-May
noun stem, "end"
"at the end of Boi6akh"
B. I shall go at the end of
Boibakh.

'

inflectional stem of interrogative pronoun "who"

objective case suffix

B. ami

ka-

i (.11(M kri 6Q ?

tzirm , wrcarm

Twin

boi6akher sere

tzTalTMI 111

boi6akher sere

kake

"take"

ni-

14TO

-e

nie

'

taiirrm txraf zrrtzrr

-ke

"whom" (objective)
high stem of verb /ne-/,

past active participial

ending'(see Grammar, 1.)
"taking, having taken"
compound verb, "take away"

IL< ZIT

boi6akh, boEiek
6e6

banlade6e jabe "

tumi klbe

al

4TWICTI

1.-MW

nie ja-

WWI

jabo

186
A. Whom will you take with
22-0

A. tomar 6ovge

kake nie jabe "

1.011.1111 gclr *l 4d'

4.

noun stem, "wife"

stri
201Note that the objective case suffix is attached to the last
member of the series /stri
cheleke/.

B. I shall take my wife

and little boy.

B. ami

amar stri

'

'

=71 nie 'abo

rr14 Trwai

5.

zn-c4

noun stem, "road, way,

path"

"

Tru rwr6

poth (pot)
IT%
Pothe

"on the road, on the way"

"where"

ar choto

,912

kothae

TWITIV
kothae kothae
W'1'2111 WTZT/la

"what various places"

(For this type of reduplicasee Grammar, 2.)

high stem of verb /ghur-/

"turn around, spin around"
past active participial
ending

ghur-e

-T

u70

"having turned around"

ghure

compound verb, "visit"

ghure ja-

A. What
What various places will
you visit on the way?

A. tumi pothe

E170
'

kothae kothae

ghure

'

jabe

IT% TOT= W.= kiocc.0 kiT(A

6.

name of the city, London

B. Having visited London, I
shall go to Calcutta.

lonlon

B. ami london ghure

'

kolkatae jabo "

04-x?! :141-o-r-c5m zrroT

alternative stem of verb

/ja-/, "go" -- See Grammar, 3.
past active participle
ending

gi-e

'151-

-Tn

"going, having gone"

"having gone to Calcuuta"

A. What will you study when

you get to Calcutta?

gie

kolkatae gie

A. tumi kolkatae gie ' kiEube "

ovr4
8.

B. When I go to Calcutta I
shall study Bengali.

447W3TU

1414TZTRI ?'iii

B. kolkatae gie

'

ami banla porbo "

WWWU
9.

"again"

abar

high stem of verb, /pher-/

"turn, return"
past active participial
ending

phire

compound verb, "return"

(from there to here)

phire

noun stem, "year"

post-position, "after"
(preceding genitive
optional)
compound verb, "return
(from here to there)"
B. After two years. When
will you go back to
Bengal?

af<Isi

-e

A.

tMU
"IKU

abar kobe

I 74l 4I
10.

q" MT eWc4T I

phir-

"returning, having
returned"

A. When will you come back

again to this country?

4UT4

bochor
pore

e de6e phire a6be "

itrcd MA<

ZMU
.fiTU

phire jat*TU ZIT

B. du bochor pore " tumi kobe
'banla
de6e phire jabe "
7,1; W ITU I 0,,,N 41i 4TW rfftwr

TKU km.< ?
11.

loan word, "degree"

(Note: for this usage of
term /de6/1 see Grammar,
5the
)

4igri

188
A. I shall return to the
country after taking my
degree.
12.

A. ami digrita nie

or r

ib b I ih CW

"which"

kon

"which (various)"

kon kon
dekhe

"seeing, having seen"

B. What various laces will

you see on the way home

017

7T4
'

beri-

"wandering about, having

wandered about"

berie

home.

(I also Europe-in havingwandered-about home returning shall-go)

14.

"from" post-position,
preceding genitive
optional
loan word, "camera"
"for me"

Lag

r ccri

\5n

'

u511- 1-91"41 7171

iurop

A. ami.o
jabo "

pt.i4

'

iurop berie

'

arNe lnun

bazi phire

itpcs]

47T 4T I

theke

TWC74;

PAP, "taking, having taken"

kmmera
4T1TRUT
amar jonne
011-1.11
nie
f14f

compound verb, "bring" (lit.

"having taken come")

nie

B. Will you bring me a

camera from Europe?

B. tumi pothe
kon kon jaega dekhe
dele phirbe "

noun stem, "Europe"

high stem of verb /bmra-/,
"wander about"

A. I also shall wander about

Europe and then return

tO171 KITRIT

5ivis

-NW TM-

B. tumi ki amar jonne

iurop theke
mkta 'camera nie abbe "
'

"

011

#117).1

13.

detie phire abo

'

10 T T

M Zi s

dOT *TTWUT Ii

V3rr rzr4

aTAW

'

189
15.

high stem of verb /an-/,

"bring, fetch"
"bringing, having brought"
"I shall give", alternative
forms

A. Yes, I shall bring one

(for you.) What priced
camera do you want?

enene

5I-

6E7

debo, dobo

ZITOT

" ene dobo " koto darner

A. h.e

'

'camera cao "

,

aff wrwr

Trow.

411 04i Fre ?

16.

negative verb stem,

"be not"
"twenty"
high stem of verb "buy"

no-

"buying, having bought"

kine

B. Not very expensive. Buy

one for twenty rupees and
bring it.

9-

kuvi
kin-

S'1-

TWO'

B. be6i darner noe " ku,i take. die

mkta kmmera kine
nie eso "

T4T1t 4T04 9a

acluTwr

t.f.W4T 4111-W4T T-01-ff

17.

quickly, immediately

A. Do you want the camera

right away?

tavatavi

A. tumi ki

&LW I

Z517,175Tt

'

kmmerata

'

taratari cao

'a T4 T-44i 011048I1 5T 791170Tt

18.

genitive verbal noun,

"of coming"

noun stem, "time" or

"at the time"
"at the time of coming,
when (you) come"

B. No, bring it with you

when you come.

'

'

a6bar

alAil<

60moe

)M4

a6bar 6omoe UMW AW

B. na " a6bar 6imoe
songe
nie eso "

al-grFU 7171C

11(.44 don

'

tomar

yror

bT3 ?

190

Lesson 8, part 2.
1.

1.1.

Grammar.

Formation and usage of the past active participle.

The past active participle is formed by the addition of the suffix

1-e/ to the high stem of the verb.

Stem

Past Active Participle

ken-

kin-e

kheel-

khele

son

sun e

kor-

kor-e

jan-

jen-e

de-

di -e

pa-

pe-e

Translation
buying, having bought
playing, having played

hearing, having heard

doing, having done
knowing, having known
giving, having given
received, having received

There are large numbers of what are called "compound verbs" in

Bengali; these compound verbs are made up, in some cases, of a non1.2.

finite verbal form (here a past active participle) plus an inflected or

The semantic signalling of these compounds is often
finite verbal form.
We have, for example, in sentence 3, the compound /nie ja-/,
clear.
"taking (or 'having taken'), go" i.e., "take away". In other cases, as
will be seen later, the meaning is not so easily derived from the eleIt is therefore wise to consider these compound verbs for the
ments.
present as verbal units, rather than as a cluster of two or more separate
verbal elements. The verb "take" will thus be considered as /nie ja-/,
rather than as /nie/ plus /ja-/, the verb "wander about", as in sentence
5, will be considered as /ghure ja-/, rather than as /ghure/ plus /ja-/.
The past active participle is frequently used to express sequences
of thought, and avoids a series of clauses connected by "and". An example
is in sentence 6, which could be translated, "I shall visit London, and
(then) I shall go to Calcutta". When used in this way, and not as an
element of a compound verb, the past active participle marks the end of a
clause and of a breath-group.
1.3.

Note carefully that this sequential type of construction can be used

only when the subjects of all clauses are the same. Thus, you can say:

1.4.

191

kolkatae gie

mkIa boi likhbe "

When he goes to Calcutta, he

will write a book.

This type of construction could not be used to express:

When I go to Calcutta, he will write a book.

There must be one inflected verb for each subject in the sentence.
Repetition, as in sentence 5, gives either a distributive or intensive
In sentence 5, the meaning is distributive, i.e., "what difmeaning.
Other examples might be: /din din /, "daily,
ferent or various places".
day after day, every day"; /bone bone /, "throughout the forest, in all
2.

the parts of the forest ".

3.

The irregular verb /ja /, "go", as in sentence 7.

verbs in /a/,
The verb /ja-/ is regular, within its class of vowel-stem
for the simple present and simple future, i.e., /ami jai/ "I go", and
/ami jabo/ "I shall go", etc. In the simple past and in the past active
participle forms, there are alternative stems. A paradigm of the simple
past is:
ami

gelum

tumi gele
tui geli

apni gelen
6e

gmlo

tini gelen

The stem for the past active participle is /gi-/.

Therefore, PAP /gie /,

"going, having gone ".

There is sometimes some confusion as to which of the several

equivalents of the verb "be" should be used in which circumstances.
this point, the following rules of usage might be noted:

4.

4.1.

The stem /thak-/ is used when permanence or habitual condition is

implied:

chelemee'barite thake"

4.2.

At

The children are (i.e., reside) in the

house

The stem /ach/(is used when continuity is implied:

192

chelemee'ba,ite ache"

The children are (still, even now) in the

house.

No verb is used when the condition is temporary:

4.3.

chelemee'bavite"

The children are in the house (but they

may not be there much longer).

The stem /ho-/ is used in the sense of "to become, to be born, to

4.4.

be posted at some place ".

chelemeetbaTite hoe"

The children get born in the house.

A Bengal villager
may mean by it his village and the countryside he knows well. A sophisticated Bengali may mean by it all India. The meaning of the term
varies according to the sophistication of the speaker, and the place
A Bengali in the United States might
where he is when he is speaking.
mean by /de6/1 India; a Bengali in Delhi might use the term to refer to
5.

The term /de6/ has several meanings in Bengali.

Bengal; a Bengali villager might use it to refer to his village.

In

this sense, it is used much like the English "home".

6.

Form possible Bengali sentences:

Subject

Verbal Modifier

Verb

Verbal Modifier

Verb

ami

lon4on

ghure

kolkatae

as

amra

pmris

gie

ja-

tumi

kothae

dekhe

60hore
baTite

tomra

kothae kothae
6ekhane

apni

apnara
Direct Object

Direct Object

eta

nie

eta

nie 013-

la

kine

ota

coppol

dekhe

boigulo

6avita

gie

nie japhire jadekhe

pherkine an-

193
Lesson 8, Part 3.
1.

Pattern: sentence 1.
a.

When will you go back to India?

b.

When
When
When
When

c.

d.
e.
2.

will
will
will
will

you go back to Bengal?

you come back to Bengal?
you come bank here?
he come bank here?

Pattern: sentence 2.
a.

b.
0.

d.
e.
3.

Patterns.

I shall go at the end of Oaitro Looittroman.

I shall go at the beginning of Asarh CaiaTmatii.
I shall come back at the and of Phalgun Ephalgunmat53.

I shall come bank at the end of the month.

He will come bank here at the end of the week.

Pattern: sentence 3.
a.

b.
o.

e.

Whom
What
Whom
What

will
will
will
will

you
you
you
you

take with you?

take with you?
bring with you?
bring with you?

Whom will he bring with him?

Pattern: sentence 4.
a.

b.

d.

I shall bring my children with me.

I shall bring my books With me.

e.

He will bring his brother with him.

o.

5.

Pattern: sentence 5.

d.

What
What
What
What

e.

What (various) places will he visit on the way?

a.

b.
c.

6.

I shall take my wife with me.

I shall take my clothes with me.

(various)
(various)
(various)
(various)

Pattern: sentence 6

countries will you visit on the way?

cities will you visit on the way?
places will you visit on the way?
shops will you visit on the way?

(use PAP).

d.

Having
Having
Having
Having

e.

Having visited Oaloutta, they will come back here.

a.

b.
o.

7.

Europe, I shall
London, I shall
Paris, we shall
the book shops,

go to India.
go back to Bengal.
go back to Bengal.
I shall oome back here.

Pattern: sentenoe 7 (use PAP, though other constructions are possible).

a.

b.

What will you do when you go to India?

What will you do when you go back to Bengal?

d.

What will you do when you oome back to Bengal?

What will you do when you oome bank here?

e.

What will they do when they come back here?

o.

8.

visited
visited
visited
visited

Pattern: sentence 8 (uoe PAP).

I
I
I
I

go bank to India, I shall write a book.

go back to Bengal, I shall buy a sari.
oome back to Bengal, I shall study Bengali.
come back here, I shall call you.

d.

When
When
When
When

e.

When they oome back here, they will call us.

a.

b.
o.

Pattern: sentence 9.
a.

b.
o.

d.
e.
9.

When will you oome back home?

When will we come back here?

Pattern: sentence 11 (use PAP).

a.

b.
o.
d.
e.

10.

When will you come back?

When will you oome back to Bengal?
When will you go back?

I shall return after taking my degree.

I shall return to Bengal after taking my degree.
I shall go back after finishing my work.
I shall oome back after buying the books.
We shall oome back after buying the cloth.

Pattern: sentence 12 (use PAP).

a.

b.
o.

d.

What (various) countries will you see on the way home?

What (various) places will you see on the way home?
What (various) cities will you see on the way home?
What (various) shops will you see on the way home?

195
e.

11.

Pattern: sentence 13.

d.

I
I
I
I

e.

We also shall wander in many plaoes and then return home.

a.

b.
o.

12.

shall
shall
shall
shall

wander
wander
wander
wander

in
in
in
in

many countries and them return home.

many plaoes and then return home.
various oities and then return home.
many shops and then return home.

b.

Will you bring me books from Europe?

Will you being me oloth from London?

o.

Will you bring me sandals from Poona Lpuna] ?

d.

Will you bring me sweets from the shop?

Will we bring them a sari from the shop?

e.

14.

also
also
also
also

Pattern: sentence 14.

a.

13.

What (various) plaoes will we see on the way home?

Pattern: sentenoe 15.

a.

Yes, I shall bring (one).

b.

Yes, I shall bring (some).

o.

Yes, I shall bring (some).

d.

Yes, I shall bring (some).

e.

Yes, we shall bring (one).

What priced books do you want?

What prioed oloth do you want?
What prioed sandals do you want?
What prioed sweets do you want?
What priced sari does she want?

Pattern: sentenoe 16.

a.

b.
o.

d.
e.

Buy
Buy
Buy
Buy
Buy

some for fifty rupees and bring them.

the cloth for twenty rupees and bring it.
the sandals for ten rupees and bring them.
the sweets for five rupees and bring them.
one for thirty rupees and bring it.

Pattern: sentenoes 17, 18.

a.

b.
c.

I do not want them right away. Bring them with you when you
oome. (/tomar/ optional)
I do not want it right away. Bring it with you when you oome.
(/tomar/ optional)
Take them with you when you go.
I do not want them right away.
(/tomar/ optional)
I shall eat them when I come.
I do not ItaiAL them right away.
She does not want it right away.

She will wear it when she goes.

196

Lesson 8, Part 4.

Drills.

Note: Use compound verb forms wherever possible.

Will .1
--Rahim Crohim] , are you going back to Calcutta soon?
--Yes, I shall be going there at the end of next month.

--Will you stop at many planes on the way?

--Yes, I shall visit Delhi Willi) and Benares ebanar10 on my way.
--Will you take your family with you?
--No, not this time. I shall go alone.
--Do you know how long you will be staying in Calcutta?
--About two months.
--Will you study when you have reached Calcutta?

--Yes, I shall write a book.

--Will you do me a favor? (i.e., will you do a favor of me?)
--What favor shall I do for you?
--Will .you bring me a sari and sandals form Calcutta?
--Yes, I shall bring them. What price sari do you want?
sandals for ten.
--Not very expensive. Buy a sari for thirty rupees and
--Do you want the sari right away?

--No, bring it with you when you come.

Drill 2,_

--I'll go home now. But I'll come back tonight.

--Will you stop on the way home and give this to bomdev?
--Yes, I'll stop there on the way. Where does he live?
of Hajra Road and go (use simple
- -Get down from the tram at the corner
future) to the third house on the left.
I won't get lost. Where shall I oatoh the tram (or: "get
--All right.
up on the tram")?
- -In front of the house.
What shall I take for him?
--All right.
I brought (use simple past) it for him from
this watch for him.
- -Take

America.

--How much did it cost?

--I got it for thirty dollars.

197
--It is a nice watch. What did
you bring for me?
--Nothing. Why do you keep sitting there?
Go along.
--All right.
I'll come bank and see you tonight.

Lesson 8, Part 5.
guru
salsar
upokar

beginning
family

mas

favor, help
clothes
watch, clock
corner, junction
month

beral

cat

jama, kapor
ghori
mor

onek, nana
ekhuni
mka
ebar
ba dik
den dik

various
right away
alone
this time
left (side)
right (side)

agami

next, approaching

VocabularY
tham-

stop

harie ja-

get lost (/hata-,/

"lose")

neme as-

get down (/nam-/

"descent ")

bole thak-

remain sitting ( /bas -/

"sit")

bo6e aohnie aglekh

remain sitting

dhorPor-

6amne

Bengali months:

bo6ek, boi6akh
jo6Vi, joigpo
agar
erabon
bhaddro
a66in
kartik
ogghran, ogrohaon
po6, pou6
magh (mag)
phalgun
cot, coittro

April-May
May-June
June-July
July-August
August-September
September-October
October- November
November-December
December-January
January-February
February-March
March-April

bring ( /ne -/ "take")

write
catch
wear

in front of -- post
position with genitive

Lesson 9, part 1.

1.

Analysis and Translation

Bengali

proper name (Muslim)

noun stem, "necessity"
"there is"
"it is necessary"

mustapha
dorkar

"it is necessary to go,

there is a necessity of
going"
A.

Conversation.

MiTrouoW
Mustafa, is it neoessar;;

5174177T

WOW'

UTM

ache

dorkar ache

jabar dIrkar ache Z1r4171 W001.0 UTte

A. mustapha ' tomar mkhon ' barite

labar ' dorkar ache ki "
-iW,

zrrm
2.

w41

ZOTWIT LW WW1-0 qT413T

-11F ?

emphatic suffix
"right now, right away"
ekhuni
Lfac7rff
Note: the locative suffix on /bari/ is optional in this context.

B. Yes, I have to go home

right away.

B. hie " amar ekhuni

7:41-14

3.

'

bari Jabar

dorkar ache "

,

UT9TM LI2re-tqc
alc.

alternative stem of verb

"g0"

gi-

past active participial

ending
"going, having gone"

-e

gie

1151-

7ca
fffug

kil<1.4

199
A. AlafaMI.J.Eq4EILLAllk

willl

A. tumi bari gie 'ki korbe "

you do,
010,N 4171. tA,14 fo

4.

"much, many"

noun stem, "work"

(singular)
"much work, many jobs"
B. I have a lot of work.

onek

v1-M4

wra
onek kaj

kaj

n31 0*M

all4TQ UCIO

5.

"that"

plural suffix
"those"

ache "

B. amar ' lnek ka

15e

17
-117 MT

-gulo

171517MT

fiegulo

Note that /onek kaj/ in sentence 4 is a plural formation, though

singular in English.
twin
6,36
noun stem, "end, finish"
6e6 korrqn
compound verb, "finish"
B. When I go home, I shall
finish that.

r$1

6.

seaulo 6e6 korbo "

B. baxi gie

1/511T1 "CR)101 Len t

"again"

abar

verb stem, "return"

PAP, "returning, having
returned"
compound verb, "returning
come, return here"

pher-

tz1V-

phire

1\0.4

A. Will you come back here

again?

B. No, I won't come back

here today.

phire Et6'

11'(.11

abar phire ar5be ki "

A. tumi ekhane

8.

"once more, again"

C21117

mkbar

ik5(

010-aUl

,nda MAT<

'Ng ?

hire artibo na "

B. na " ekhane a

9T

oa4 1.0

oar4 k54TrffOli1.0

7.

z3:11ZIT

1.40 a Pm] 9T I

200
A. When you finish your work
will you meet me again

A. tumi
kal 6e6 kore
amar songs
mkbar dmkha korbe ki "

trwr
9.

B. No, I won't be able to

see you again today.

gclr owl%

'Pp 4"C?1

Wr4 "1-4 ?

B. na n-utr
ora

om

91

137.crni

ob

a 83,r
obe na "

Yrcir 6rrst am?' vprr

iTarn =4 9T I

10.

noun stem, "time"

"get time, find time"

A. Can't you find a little

time today?

6omoe

MWDI

60moe kor-

AJ W-

A. ai tomar
ektu 60moe kora '
6ombhob hobe na "

zrre vT3J LffS;

iFf' 'PT

Ard 91- ?

Is there some need?

11. B. Why?

B. kmino

kichu dorkar ache ki "

? t4t74 411/111

12. A. Yes, there is some need.

A. hfe " ekIu dorkar ache "

t i
13. B. OK

in that case I'll come

tonight.

B. accha " to hole

UT IN I

'

ami rattre

phire an "

al M OT 'TO'
orTAW I
14.

114

2nd person ordinary imperative stem of /as-/

"come"

e6-

"comel" (2nd ordinary

imperative)

e6o

kfig

OPT

SFr 77I

Prvi

'

hmk a

201

A. No, come back when you

have finished your work.

tomar kaj 6436

A. na " tumi
phire eeo "
kore
'

01,A (.0T4T4 411 71U 4r4 1`411V0

aMT
15.

proper name (f.)

B. Look, I have to meet

Roti toda

roti

4110

amar
B. dmkho " ai rotir 6onge
dmkha korar ' dorkar ache "
'

aim I

ItTU

16.

verb stem, "learn"

verb stem, "teach"
"today"
"today also"

A. Why? Is she going to teach

you English again today?

gekh-

711--

eekha -IT
aj

-orrin

ajo

A. kmno " ifie ki ajo tomake

eekhabe "

M
7P1TT4
17.

"some" - a bound form

"some (plural)"
3rd person ordinary
genitive pronoun
post-position, "from (a
person)" with preceding
genitive
"from him, from her"

B. No, I have to get some

poetry books from her
today.

ntorvw4

5TU Q

t9

ZETZ6 131's TrM WW1'

kotokkotokgulo

Wa7461747qT

OW

tar

kach theke

Z'

5T4 WM WO

kach theke

amar
B. na " ai tar kach theke
kotokgulo kobitar boi ' nebar
dorkar ache "
6 O6<1* 1,114111
i1
v
91W51517MT4 Wse Zr91-4 Zrt rIzT131

1Q<M Q

18.

inriji

adjective (bound), "coming"

agami-

"tomorrow"

agamikal

01151

"

OFIVN14Tr1

202

A. Go and get the books of

poetry tomorrow.

A. tumi
agamikal gie
boigulo
nie ego "

kobitar

'

'

UT5iTerWM t5IVE

19. B. No, I won't be able to go

tomorro

B. na " agamikal
hobe na "
9T

PAP of /an-/, "bring,

f-tch"
compound verb, "bring and
give"

A. Then I shall get you the

books tomorrow.

'

amar jaoa

ene

dn Tff-

ene de-

A. ta hole
ami tomake
boigulo ene dobo "
'

OT

A. amar jaoa

'

agamikal

uTATOcrici

orIN Tursrr

zrt51717T drff c71 cal

21. A. I can go.

6ombhob

'

alv1111 WWI 311,11.

M 9T
20.

ziti;TRT

LIM I

Sombhob hobe "

'

Tiar4 4c

In that case? I
22. B. Good.
shall come back right

B. be6 " ta hole

phire ab-bo

'

ami taratari

"

away.
Orr?TOT

OT 4V 1

7.7111

onmeil
23.

"much, a lot"

be6i

"much time"

be6ikkhon

verbal noun, "remaining"

thaka

B. But I won't be able to

spend much time with you.

WNIPT

TNT

B. tobe
amar
tomar 6onge
6-ombhob hobe na "
bebikkhon thaka
'

'

'

OT4 WrNT11 )1MTUTITM

)Q74 Ta4 9T
24.

adjective, "right, exact"

Vhik

idiom: "that's all right"

noun stem, "word, story,
subject matter"

Vhik ache

kotha

WIT

lt4

TMT

203

"speak, say"

bol-

"converse"

4g-

kotha bol-

A. That's all right.

to talk to you.

I have

A. .1hik ache " amar

tomakekltokgulo

kotha bolardorkarMe

ts-M

"

arM I UTV1V 1.3=0 01517,1gT

a IM I

25.

idiom, "good enough"

be6 to

B. Good enough. When I come

back I'll listen.

WI ZOT

B. be6 to " ami phire eSe

'

T44 ZOT I TrfsT tTh-C4 ar3T

26. A. When you come back,

bring
Nina with you.

Sunbo "

oirmwr

A. Vhire aSbar
Somoe ' ninake tomar
songe
nie ebo "
'

UPAIII

91.11(./

dENT 1

27. A. She also has to hear it.

A. taro ' knthaEulo sonar

ache "
d3 9.11-517(Wr "CMT9W

Lesson 9, part

2.

TZTVIU mt.

'

dorkar

9404W UTT

Grammar.

The purpose of this lesson is

primarily to summarize the usages of
the verbal noun and past active
participle forms which we had in the
previous two lessons. There are two
1.

general types of usage:

1.1.

As the verb in a subordinate

clause, the PAP has two types of
English equivalents: having done (gone,
said, etc.)", and "when I (you,
he, etc.) did (went, said, etc.) ".
For example:
a) ami'Sekhane gie'boila
nie aSbo"

b) ganIa Sune'Se'amar
kachelelo"

When I go there I shall take

(away) the
book. (i.e., I shall bring
the
book from
there to here.)
Having gone there, I shall
book. (i.e., I shall bring take (away) the
the book from
there to here.)
When he heard the song, he
came to me.
Having heard the song, he came to me.

2011.

It is important to remember that in a structure of this kind, the subjects

of both clauses must be the same.

Note that in the English of sentence a) above, there are two

1.2.

semantic categories:
1.
2.

To go with the purpose of getting the book.

To go with some purposes, including getting the book.

It is important that these two categories, formally undistinguished in

English, are formally distinguished in Bengali. The formation /ami
6ekhane gie / refers to category 1, i.e., to go with the purpose of
Category 2 cannot be expressed by the PAP. This type
getting the book.
of expression will be dealt with in a later lesson.
As a part of a compound verb.

1.3.

A compound verb in Bengali has at least two members, one of which, the
second member, is a finite verb (i.e., a verb which is inflected for perThe first member may be one of a number of classes of
son and tense).
words -- nouns, adjectives, verbs -- but in the cases before us at present,
the first member of the compound is a past active participle. PAP + verb
is in fact the commonest form of the compound verb. Also, in the cases
before us, the nucleus of meaning of the compound verb is the participial
form.

For example:

tumi phire ego

you come back (lit., "returning come")

tumi (era) nie ego

you bring (it) back (lit., "taking come")

In these two examples, the second member of the compound is the same,
In Bengali, as we shall see
yet the meaning of the compound changes.
later on, this type of formation lends itself to great subtlety where by
variation of one or another member of the compound, minute shades of
distinction can be attained.

Bengali tends toward economy of expression. Note that in sentences

2 and 3, the locative case ending /-te/ on bavi is not used, since there
is no possibility of confusion. The use of -case endings in cases of this
kind is optional. We have noticed before that there are places in which
2.

the pronoun subject may be omitted also.

3.

The use of /dorkar/, "necessity".

205

The form /dorkar/ functions as a noun, and is beet considered as equivalent

It does not imply compulsion or obligation;
to the English "necessity ".
each of these types of expression has its own form in Bengali. Note that
when /dorkar/ is used, it takes a possessive case of noun or pronoun
(i.e., there is a necessity of something); in oases where the necessity
is related to someone, that noun or pronoun is also in the posessive case.
Bengali would phrase it this way:

There is a necessity of me of
going (i.e., it's necessary for
me to go).

amar jabar'dorkar ache"

There is a necessity of him

reading (i.e., it is necessary
for him to read).

tar po'bar'dorkar ache"

4.

Uses of. /-ke/ and /jonne/.

Mere are several ways of expressing an indirect object. Sentence

20 is "I shall get you the books tomorrow". The Bengali for this,
depending upon the speaker's stylistic choice, can be either:

4.1.

ami tomar jonne'agamikal'boigulo nie who", or,

ami tomake'agamikal'boigulo ene dobo"

The use of the verb /de-/ in either its simple form or in a compound,
permits the /-ke/ suffix denoting the indirect object. But with /de-/,
the post-positional phrase with /jonne/ may be used. Thus another
possibility, depending entirely on the speaker's stylistic choice, is:
tomar jonne'boigulo ene dobo"
There are some Bengali verbs such as /ga-/ which do not take
indirect objects. In "I shall sing you a song," "you" will not be translated as /tomake/. In Bengali, the expression will be either:
4.2.

ami tomar jonne'gan gaibo"

"I shall sing a song for your benefit" (i.e., to bring you some kind
of profit).
or:

ami tomar pokkhe'gan gaibo"

"I shall sing a song on your behalf."

4.3.

Note that "to you", as in the English expression "I shall come to
you" does 2,21 use the suffix /-ke/. Here also a post-position is required, namely /kache/, "near, in the vicinity of":
ami'tomar kache atibou
5.

To this point, we have had verbal nouns used only with such formations

as:

eta

karaliSckto"

It is difficult to do this.
(The doing of this is difficult.)

In such formations, ASokto, isombhob, 60hojA etc., are adjectives.

In this
lesson, we have another use of the verbal noun, this time as the object
of the verb.
Examples:

gekhane jaoaspochando kori"

I like to go there.
(I like going there.)

ami'bal3la pna'pochando kori"

I like to read Bengali.

(I like reading Bengali.)

ami tomake'baiala pora 6ekhabou

I will teach you to read Bengali.

(I will teach you reading Bengali.)

apni ki take' tabla bajano

Will you teach him to play the tabla?

(Will you teach him playing the
tabla?)

tfiekhaben"

6.

The formation of PAP from -a final verb stems (/dmkha/, /bmTa-/, etc.)

6.1.

The PAP of -a final verb stems takes the high stem-vowel, except
where the stem-vowel is /a/9 and replaces stem-final -a by -i, thus:

But:

Stem

PAP

dmkha-

bra-

dekhie
be;ie

elekha-

Eiikhie

ghumajana-

ghumie
janie

Gloss

showing, having shown

wandering, having wandered

teaching, having taught
sleeping, having slept
informing, having informed

Lesson 9, Dart 3.

1.

Pattern: sentence 1.

d.

Is
Is
Is
Is

e.

Is it necessary for us to come to the office?

a.

b.
c.

2.

it
it
it
it

necessary
necessary
necessary
necessary

for
for
for
for

you to study now?

you to go there now?
him to go tonight?
them to come tomorrow?

Pattern: sentence 2.
a.

b.
c.
d.
e.
3.

Pattern Drills.

Yes, I have to study right away.

Yes, I have to go there right away.

Yes, it is necessary for him to go tonight.

Yea, it is necessary for them to come tomorrow.
Yes, it is necessary for you to come to the office.

Pattern: sentence 3.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

When you finish, what will you do?

When you go there, what will you do?
When he arrives* there, what will he do?
When they come here, what will they do?
When I come to the office, what will I do?

Pattern: sentence 4.
a.

I have a lot of work.

b.

I have a lot of studying.

He has a lot of studying.

c.

d.
e.

They have a lot of work.

You have a lot of work.

Pattern: sentence 5.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

When I finish studying, I shall do that.

When I go there, I shall do that.
When he goes there, he will finish that.
When they come here, they will finish that.
When you come here, you will do that.

* either /poeche/ or /poechie/ is possible.

208
5.

Pattern: sentence 6.
a.

b.
o.
de
e.
6.

d.

No, I will not finish tonight.

Yes, I shall come back home tonight.
Yes, he will go back home tonight.
No, they will not come back home tonight.

e.

Yes, you will come back tomorrow.

b.
c.

Pattern: sentence 8.
a.

When you finish your studying, will you meet me again?

b.

When
When
When
When

c.

d.
e.

8.

b.
c.

d.
e.

No, I won't be able to meet you.

Yes, I will be able to meet you again.
No, he won't be able to meet her today.
No, they won't be able to meet us tomorrow.
No, you won't be able to meet me here.

Pattern: sentences 10, 11, 12.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

10.

you come back home, will you meet me again?

he goes back home, will he meet Lila?
they come back home, will they meet us again?
I come back, will I meet you here?

Pattern: sentence 9.
a.

9.

you finish studying tonight?

you come back home tonight?
he go back home tonight?
they come back home tonight?
I come back to the office tomorrow?

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

7.

Will
Will
Will
Will
Will

Can't you find a little time tonight? There is some need.

Can't you find a little time today? There is some need.
Can't he find a little time tonight? There is some need.
Can they find a little time today? There is some need.
Can you find a little time today? There is some need.

Pattern: sentence 13.

a.

OK.

b.

OK.

In that case I'll come back this evening.

In that case, I'll come back this morning.

11.

c.

OK.

In that case, he'll come back tonight.

d.

OK.

e.

OK.

In that case, they'll come back this evening.

In that case, I'll come back soon.

Pattern: sentence 14.

a.

b.
0.
d.
e.

12.

b.
c.

d.
e.

14.

15.

come back when you have finished your studying.

come back home when you have finished your work
he'll come back when he has finished everything.
they'll come back when they have bought everything.
come back when you have bought the books.

Pattern: sentence 15.

a.

13.

No,
No,
No,
No,
No,

Look,
Look,
Look,
Look,
Look,

I have to
I have to
he has to
they have
I have to

meet Ram today.

meet Lila today.
meet me today.
to study today.
study Bengali today.

Pattern: sentence 16 (use verbal nouns).

a.

Why?

Is he going to teach you to speak Bengali?

b.

Why?

c.

Why?

d.

Why?

e.

Why?

Is she going to teach you to play the tabla?

Are you going to teach him to eat Bengali sweets?
Are they going to learn to read Bengali?
Are you going to learn to read the language?

Pattern: sentence 17.

a.

No, I have to take some history books from him.

b.

No, I have to take some history books for her.

c.

No, I have to take some new books for him.

d.

No, they have to bring some new books for me.

e.

No, I have to buy some Bengali books from Ram.

Pattern: sentence 18.

a.

Go and get the history books tomorrow.

b.

Go
Go
Go
Go

c.
d.
e.

and
and
and
and

get the history books for her tomorrow.

bring the new books to him tomorrow.
get the new books tomorrow.
buy the books from Ram tomorrow.

210

Pattern: sentence 19.

16.

a.

b.
o.

d.
e.

17.

No, I won't be able to get them tomorrow.

No, I won't be able to go there tomorrow.
No, I won't be able to buy them tomorrow.

Pattern: sentences 20, 21 (note: refer to grammar, 4.1.)

a.

b.
o.

d.
e.

18.

No, I won't be able to get them tomorrow.

No, I won't be able to get them for her tomorrow.

I can go.
Then I shall get you the books tomorrow.
I can go.
Then I shall get the books for you tomorrow.
Then I shall bring them for you tomorrow. I can go.
I can go.
Then I shall get you them tomorrow.
I can go.
Then I shall buy you them tomorrow.

Pattern: sentences 22, 14.

a.

In that case, I shall come back when I have finished my

studying.

b.

In that case, I shall come home when I have finished my work.

c.

In that case, he will come when he has finished everything.

In that case, they will come back when they have bought
everything.
In that case, I shall come back when I have bought the books.

d.
e.

Pattern: sentence 23.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

19.

But I won't be able to stay here long.

But I won't be able to stay with you long.
But he won't be able to stay with you long.
But they won't be able to stay long.
But I won't be able to stay in the office long.

Pattern: sentence 24.

a.

That's all right.

I have to give you a new sari.

b.

That's all right.

c.

That's all right.

d.

That's all right.

I have to give you a new shawl.

I have to send* him some new books.
I have to show them some new things.

e.

That's all right.

I have to tell you some good news.

Either /pathabar/ or /pathanor/ (which you will hear on the tape) is

possible.

211

20.

21.

Pattern: general.
a.

Good.

I like to get new saris.

b.

Good.

I like to get new shawls.

c.

Good.

d.

Good.

He likes to get new books.

They like to see new things.

e.

Good.

I like to hear good news.

Pattern: sentence 26.

d.

When
When
When
When

e.

When you come back, bring Sipra with you.

a.

b.
c.

you come back, bring Lila with you.

you come back, bring your daughters with you.
he comes back, he will bring his children with him.
they come back, they will bring Nira with them.

Pattern: sentence 27.

a.

She also has to get a sari.

b.
c.

They also have to get new shawls.

They also have to get new books.

d.

She also has to see the new things.

e.

She also has to hear the news.

Lesson 9, part 4.

Sentence Drills.

Drill 1
- -I must go home right away.

--Why do you have to go so soon? Do you have work there?

--Yes, a few things need to be done. When I finish my work, I shall come
back.

When we have bathed and eaten, shall we take these things to

Lila's house?
I heard that she is sick.
- -Yes.
--No, she fell on the ice this morning and broke her arm.
--Then let us bring her flowers and sweets. Then let's come back here
and sleep a while.
--All right. After we have slept a while, we shall have to go to the
market.
Shall I buy some fruit on my way home and bring it back?
--All right.
--Yes, bring it back when you come. What else shall we bring to Lila?
- -Good.

- -We'll buy some flowers on the way and give them to her.

vgallialmommillin..1111111111111111111011111.111111011MMININIMMUMMIX11111111111111111111j

212

- -Good.

Then I'll see you later.

Drill 2
- -When will you go to Puri?
- -Next week.

I shall stay a week in Puri, and then return to Calcutta.

- -Will you also go to Cattack CkoIold?

after I have seen the temple of Jagannath Ejogonnathi in Puri, I

shall go to Cuttack.
--There is a beautiful temple there also.
- -Yes, I shall wander around Cuttack a day and then come back.
- -Yes,

- -Will you see the images?

- -No, I shall not be able.

I shall have to remain standing outside the

temple walls.

--It will be a nice trip. What will you do after you have seen Puri and
Cuttack?
- -Then I shall return to Calcutta and sleep. Travelling makes me tired.
Lesson 9, part 5.

mis$i
murti
bhromon
bajar
boroph
jini6

sweet (meats)
image
travelling, trip

market
ice
thing (material goods)

deoal

hand, arm
illness
moon
paper
wall

lal

red

nil
holde

blue
yellow

flobuj

green

hat

o6ukh
cad
kagoj

begune
begne

violet

Vocabulary.

beea

wander around

beyie jasnan korcan cor-

bathe

P0V
poye jabhalr
divaghuma(ghumie-PAP)

fall

poficha

arrive

opor
karon

on, over
because

break
stand, wait
sleep

o6ukh kor

get sick (with genitive)

tar oitukh korlo

she/he got sick

bhalo kore
bhalo kore 6ekho

well
learn (it) well

-7-=-7.....707"010"01,001"111.11101111141WIMIIIIIIIMMI

Lesson 10, part 1.

1.

Conversation.

Analysis and Translation

Bengali

proper name (m.)

"a little"

montu
ektu

"before, ago"

age

"a little while ago"

ektu age

A. Montu, I called you on

the phone a little
while ago.

W4i
d06 a'

WIT%

LNG: UM'

A. montu
tomake ektu age
daklam "

'

phone

rOIVIT4 OfOba UTrq TWO

Dl 441114

A. Where were you?

A. tumi

kothae chile "

0;t4 TW2TUI
2.

noun stem, "food"; see

Grammar, 3.
PAP "eating, having
eaten"
"a little"
high stem of verb /6o-/,
"lie down"

6u-

PAP "lying down, having

lain down"
to be (in a condition of)
lying down

sue ach-

B. After I had eaten, I was

lying down for a while.

khabar
khee

ektu

0100a
97e-

1474TU

B. ami khabar khee

i %4

"suddenly"

44T4T4.

ektu sue chilam

*rtmv ti4itu aFb3;

ho that

VrM

twritt

214
PAP, "sldeping, having
slept"
high stem of verb /per /,

$17,fm7

"fall"

por-

"fall asleep"

ghumie por-

B. But suddenly I fell

asleep.

ghumie

41ghumie porlam "

B. kintu hothat

tqg

417MTW

W;Nr;13

41-TrTU
bmpar
noun stem, "matter"
Note that the tense is understood by the context of the
conversation.

A. What was the matter?

A. ki bmpar "

zrrmal ?
noun stem, "body"
idiom, "be feeling badly"
(with 3rd person verb)
For /naki/, see Grammar,

1.01.0
6orir
6orir kharap ho-

1ft *1131Tei

2.

A. Were you feeling badly?

A. tomar 6orir

town' Iggtt
4.

demonstrative, "that"

ta

B. No, it wasn't exactly

B. na

"but"

413f 1

-ccqr

9T1--4 ?

thik ta noe "

that.

9T

kharap holo naki "

tobe

Ii?).4.

or

911

URI

adjective, "whole,
41111
6ara
entire"
NWT f49
6ara din
"the whole day"
'1i5'
klanto
adjective, "tired"
For the use of the verb /ach-/, see Grammar, 4.

215

B. But all day long I've

been very tired.

B. tobe ami ai
achi "

'

Sara

din

1TN 31T3 7131-r tii7 4071

5.

noun stem, "rest"

bissram

compound verb, "rest"

bissram knrbissram ne-

'

Q(M

A. I'll come again tomorrow

after seeing Gita.

6.

171

"what happened to Gita"

gitar ki holo

B. War

!WU
611-0TU

abar ki holo "

rrzrr-4 4?-4

noun stem, "ice"

boroph IJ

PAP, "falling, having

fallen"

pore

compound verb, "fall"

pore ja- a

PAP of of compound,

kal abar a6bo "

'OW Wrg ari.tn A

abar
UTTM
ki holo

erum

A-cwr ?

41C1

"falling,

having fallen"

511'3I

"again, this time"

"what happened"

B. What happened to Gita

this time?

7.

aj bissram nao

A. ami gitake dekhe

on

T itA

I iew4

UTU t4nrq 71T6

gita

343'

i4mN

A. In that case, rest today. A. to hole

proper name (f.)

khub klanto

'

noun stem, "hand, arm"

pore gie
hat
WO

PAP of verb, /bhar) -/,

"break"

bherje

to be (in a condition of)

sitting

bo6e ach-

.frc

tircu

Tuc
16)1 01M-

ktn)m)

216

A. She fell on the ice and

broke her arm, and she
is laid up.

bhene

tx <1,0091 6.914. 4117

al cz

8.

idiom, "is that so?", an

expression of concern

bose ache "

'

Tal$ it)i

tital

3T

tai naki

'ii

ami tomar 6onge

B. Is that so? In that case, B. tai naki " to hole
take dekhe abbo "
die
I'll go with you to see
her and come back.
'

'

? 3T "um' , aTN
Tqui kniCI T9 Z1 UT,T4T I

9.

"decide"
conjunctive, "that"

A. But I decided that I'll

see her in the evening.

Vhik korje

tin

A. kintu
take

'
'

ami
ami thik korlum e
sondhebmla ' dekhe asbo "
'

1b<I. wria4 171 OrT

ti
"then, at that time"

PAP, "picking up, having

picked up"
compound verb, "pick up a
and take"
A. Shall I call you then
and pick you up?

69N1a

j64r1i 171-4 almAi

tokhon

\r an-4

01-QM

WM'

tule

tule ne-

oatei 1"9"

ami tomake cleke

A. tokhon
nebo ki "
'

3:0 Yrisl TZTPIr

tule

(.1A-4 ucTrq vivo

10.

noun stem, "car, cart"

B. Will you take your car?

5t-

gavi

B. tumi

'

tomar garita

00IN rannu 5111/4;161

11. A. Yes, I'll take my car.

A. hi " ami

Vrt

dr

'

nie jabe ki

Ii 63.f

amar garita ' nie jabo "

U11117 511$1,

V= I

217

12. B. Good.
Then when you are
going will you call and
pick me up?

B. be6 " to hole

a ar s moe
u e ne e
e e

amake

'

Wq 13r r91 1174W Xi UNiC4 (oa

wiz-Pr 'ow

13. A. Yes. Shall I pick you

UP at seven 0 clock?

" tomake 15attar 15omoe

WITITCRF )1106"R I Yr; III

t4; ?
14.

'

tule nebo

fl

adjective, "ready,
prepared"
"be (remain) ready"

toiri

c31111 Lica]

IAN

toiri thak-

00

(a.)

B. All right. I shall be

ready at seven o'clock.

B. be6 " ami

thakbo "
watt

attar 6omoe

mo614 ;MU tog, =WM' I

oll"

toiri

(b.)

What time will you come

back home?

B. tumi

kotar 6omoe

`.4 NI

15.

nine

A. I'll come home at nine

o'clock.

16.

A. ami

verb stem, "reach,

arrive at"
PAP of stem /poacha-/;
see Grammar, 1.
compound verb, "cause
to reach"

911

notar 6omoe

poncho -, poacha-

B.

baTi phire a6boil

1614 Nqg 4N1 I PC I O1AW1

poache deFor this use of /de-/, see Grammar, 5.

B. When you come back will

you leave me at my
house?

ba'i phire abbe "

741 4 T1 1\16(.4 01Divi ?

no, noe

al

'

tOtW17-

titi-M rff-

itenttrd!z:oleci'lltumi amake

t' N[

Lic.a 1)4 ?

oaNi

aTsiro

'

alp 1.0

barite

218
17. A. Yes, I shall.

A. hie

'

dob0 "

TITT4T
18.

PAP of verb /ken-/,

"buying, having bought"

kine

compound verb, "buy and

bring"

kine an-

imperative form of stem

/an-/

eno

B.. Look, when youcome,,

bring some flowers.

t470
NFL' Orff-

kg9T

B. dmkho
alibar filmoe
kine eno "
l"74

19. A. For whom?

'

kichu phul

OrrjR1731 RqU 4P-49; 7,37 N1G1 drffr

A. kar t onne "

1,140

20.

For this use of the future, see Lesson 2.

B. I want to bring Gita

flowers.

B. ami sitar jonne ' phulgulo

'

laka "

nie

011114 Otani U1-ii U7561411

wrwr
21. A. All right. Then when
I come, I shall bring
some flowers.

A. accha " ta hole

afibar Flomoe
kichu phul
kine anbo "
'

"afterwards, later"
B. Good. Then I'll see you
later.

pore

UTTOT I
err?!

B. be6 " ta hole

'

pare dmkha hobe "

T44 131 Z.4:1 ITV t9IT VC:4

23. A. OK. See you later.

ami

YN1

13T Q.611 alA41.0

U-0-eff

22.

'

'

A. accha " dmkha korbo "

TV wr wa-zrr

Lesson 10, Rart 2.

1.

Grammar.

The stem /poacha-/ has alternative forms in the PAP, namely /poache/

(as in sentence 16) and /poachie/.

2.

The particle /naki/.

A Bengali speaker will use the particle /naki/ to express surprise or

consternation at the unexpectedness of an action that is taking place,
has taken place, or will take place. There is a contrast with the simple
interrogative particle /ki/:
tumi jaccho ki'

tumi jaccho naki"

Are you going?

Are you going? (i.e., I am surprised
or disturbed that you are going.)

Note also the difference in intonation.

3.

The form /khabar/

The verbal noun of the stem /kha-/, "eat", is formed with the suffix
/-ba/; as in sentence 2, however, there is another form /khabar /, a noun
meaning "food".
4.

The form /achi /, sentence 4.

In Bengali, the expression of actions or conditions originated in the

past but continuing in the present necessitates a present form of the
verb, even though a translation in the English present tense might not
In this case, tiredness is a conSo it is in sentence 4.
make sense.
dition which originated at an earlier time, but which is still existent.
A fragment question a foreigner in Bengal will hear is:
apnilko'i;o din achen"
5.

How long have you been here?

The use of /de-/, sentence 16.

First of
The use of /de-/ as an "auxilliary" in Bengali is very complex.
all, as in this lesson, there is the sense of giving assistance to someone
in doing something. Thus, using sentence 16 as an example,
tumi'bavite poachobe ki"

tumi amakelbavite poache

debe ki"

Will you reach the house?

Will you help me reach my house? or
Will you get me to my house?

220
Another example:

amiieVa korbo"
amiie$a kore debo"

I shall do it.

I shall do it (for him, you, etc.).

There are other usages, which we shall deal with later on.

The nominative form of the word "someone, anyone" is /keu/; the stem
is /kau-/ before the objective suffix -ke.
Thus:
6.

kauke'die atibo"
6.1.

The negative of this formation is /kauke

kauke'die a6bo na"

7.

I shall come and give (it) to anyone.

na/:

I shall not come and give (it) to

anyone, or
I shall come and give it to no one.

The use of the morphemes giomoe/, /-khon/, and /-bar /, indicating

time.
7.1.

/onek elomoe/ -- many times, much time continuously spent

/ektu glomoe/ -- a little time, continuously spent

7.2.

/onek-bar/
/koek-bar/

-- many times, separated by intervals

-- a few times, separated by intervals

7.3.

/onekkhon/
/ektukkhon/

-- quite a while, quite some time (in terms of hours)

-- a little while (in terms of hours)

221
8.

Form possible Bengali sentences:

Clause I

Clause II

Subj.

Obj./VM

Verb

ami

khabar

khee

tomake

4ak-

tumi

take

dekhe

pher-

tomra
tara

6ekhane
tomar

pore

eta
boita

6oue

Verb

Obj./VM

phire ja-

gie

phire at15-

dekh-

eg5e

eta
tomake

nie
4eke

dekhe al5-

dekhe Jane-

Verb

nie a6nie jatol2

tule neponcho -, poucha

de-

die asdie ja-

pouche dekenkine ankine de-

kine nie asLesson 10, part 3.

1.

Pattern: sentence 1.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.
2.

Patterns.

I sent you a letter a while ago.

Did you receive it?

I sent Robi some books a while ago. Did he receive them?
I called Robi on the phone a while ago.
Where was he?
I saw him on the street a while ago. Where were you?
I saw them in the library last night.
Where were you?

Pattern: sentence 2.
a.

After I read it, I gave it to Das.

b.

After
After
After
After

c.

d.
e.

he got them, he put them on a

he had eaten, he lay down for
I had studied, I lay down for
I had finished my work, I lay

table.
a while.

a while.
down for a while.

222
a.

b.

After that, I didn't see it. (use simple past)

After that, I didn't see them. (use simple past)

d.

After that, he fell asleep.

But for a long time, I didn't fall asleep. (use simple past)

e.

And suddenly I fell asleep.

0.

Pattern: sentence 3 (use simple past).

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

4.

b.
c.

d.
e.

the
the
the
the
the

matter?
matter?
matter?
matter?
matter?

Didn't you show it to Gita?

Did you fall asleep?

Was he very tired?

Weren't you well?
Are you well?

She fell asleep.

She was very tired all day.
So I fell asleep.
All day long I was very tired.
Yes.
All week long he's been very tired. He fell asleep.
Yes.
Sleeping was not possible.
Yes, but I was very tired.
Yes, but I'm a little tired. So suddenly I fell asleep.
No.

Pattern: sentence 5, Lesson 9.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.
a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

6.

was
was
was
was
was

Pattern: sentence 4.
a.

5.

What
What
What
What
What

Then tell her that it's necessary that she rest today.
Then it's necessary that you rest today.
Then it's necessary that he rest today.
Then it's necessary that you rest this week.
Then it's necessary that you rest now.
I'll come back after seeing Ram.
Come back after resting.

Will he come back tomorrow, after resting?

Come back next week, after resting.
Rest now and come back tomorrow.

Pattern: sentence 6.

b.

What happened to Ram?

What happened to Ram yesterday?

c.

Yes.

a.

d.
e.

What will happen to him tomorrow?

What will happen next week?
All right. What will happen tomorrow?

223
7.

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

b.
(3.

d.
e.

8.

b.

In that case, I will go with you to see him and

In that case, I will go with you to see him now.
In that case, it will be difficult to see him

Is that so?
tomorrow.

d.

Is that so?
week.

In that case, it will be difficult to rest this

e.

Is that so?

In that case, it will be necessary to work now.

Pattern: sentence 9.

b.
c.

d.
e.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

I decided that I'll see him tomorrow morning.

I decided that I'll see him afterwards.
I decided that it's necessary for us to see him now.
I decided that it's necessary for you to rest this week.
I decided that it's necessary for you to rest now.

Shall
Shall
Shall
Shall
Shall

I
I
I
I
I

call
call
call
call
call

you
you
him
you
you

tomorrow morning and pick you up?

and take you there?
now and take you there?
next week and pick you up?
tomorrow and bring you here?

Pattern: sentence 10.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

11.

Is that so?
come back.
Is that so?

c.

a.

10.

You will come to my house and study.

You will come to my house and eat.

Pattern: sentence 8 (use verbal noun where possible).

a.

9.

He fell from a tree and broke his arm.

He fell from a tree and broke his leg.
He will go to the library and study.

Will
Will
Will
Will
Will

you take your car tomorrow?

it be possible to take your car afterwards?
it be difficult for you to take your car now?
it be possible for you to take your car next week?
it be possible for you to take your car tomorrow?

Pattern: sentence 12.

a.

Yes.

b.

Yes.

When I am going, I shall call you and pick you up.

When I reach home, I shall call you and pick you up.

224
c.

d.
e.

12.

b.
c.

d.
e.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Will you be ready at eight?

What time will you be ready?
Will you be ready at nine?
Will you be ready at ten?
Will you be ready before nine?

Pattern: sentence 14 (b).

a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

15.

Will you pick me up at eight?

What time will you pick me up?
What time will you call me and pick me up?
What time will you come and pick me up?
Will you pick me up at nine sharp (i.e., "exactly nine")?

Pattern: sentence 14 (a).

a.

14.

When I reach home, I shall take my car and pick you up.
Yes When I call you, I shall come and pick you up.
Yes.
When you call me, I shall come and pick you up.

Pattern: sentence 13.

a.

13.

No.

Yes.

Will it be possible to come home at ten sharp?

At six. Will you come home before nine?
Yes.
It will be difficult to be ready before nine.
Yes.
It will be impossible to be ready before ten.
Yes.

It will be possible to be ready at eight.

Pattern: sentence 15.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Yes.

We shall come back at ten.

Yes.
We shall come back before nine.
All right. We shall come back home before ten.
All right. We shall come back home before eleven.
All right.
We shall come back at nine.

Pattern: sentence 16.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

When we come back, I shall leave you at your house.

On the way back we shall leave Ram at his house.
On the way back I shall leave you at Ram's house.

After coming back, I shall leave Ram at your house.

After leaving you, I shall leave Ram at his house.

225
16.

Pattern: sentence 18.

a.

b.

When you come, will you bring some flowers?

When we go, shall we take some sweets?

e When I go to Ram's house, shall I take some flowers?

d.
When Ram comes, will he bring* some new books?
e.
When you go, will you take some things for Ram?
Pattern: sentence 20.
a.

I want to bring Gita some flowers.

b.

I want to bring her some sweets.

I want to bring him some flowers.

c.
d.
e.

17.

He wants to bring me new books.

I want to give Ram some new things.

Pattern: sentence 21.

a.

All right.
store.

b.

All right.

c.

d.

When I come, I shall bring some flowers from the

When I come, I shall bring some sweets for you.

All right. When we go, we shall take him some flowers.
Yes.
When he comes, he will bring you some new books from the
store.

e.

Yes.

When I go, I shall take the new things for him.

Lesson 10, part 4.

Drills.

Drill I
--Did you call me on the phone a while ago? I fell asleep.
--But what's the matter? Don't you feel well, or do you always sleep
in the middle of the day?
--I don't exactly know.
I've been feeling tired all week long. But let
that go. What time is it?
--Almost half-past four. Are you going to class today?
--Yes.
Look, will you do me a favor? When you are ready, will you pick
me up? It's impossible for me to walk.
--Of course.
I'll bring my car and pick you up in (i.e., "within"--use
either /bhetore/ or the locative case) half an hour.
--There is one other matter. Will you buy the new books at the store and
bring them to me when you come?
--That won't be possible for me. I won't go to the store today.
* "buy and bring"

226

--It doesn't matter. Will it be possible for you to leave me back here
before half-past seven?
--Why? What will happen at half-past seven?
It is neces3ary for me to buy and cook the food before
--Robi is coming.
half-past eight.
I shall drop you back here by (i.e., "within") half -past
--All right.
seven.

Drill 2

--Will you come to the museum with me today?

I'll go at about three-

thirty.

--Yes, I'll certainly come. There's a Jamini Roy exhibition (i.e., "an
exhibition of Jamini Roy's work"), isn't there?
I told her that I would take her.
Ila likes his work very much.
--Yes.
--Good.
--Yes.

Will you take your car?

I'll call you before I pick you up.

--Do you know Jamini Roy?

I go to his house often. He is a wonderful man and a wonderful
--Yes.
painter.
Is that so?
--People say that he is a truly Bengali painter.
--I think so. Other painters copy European work or the work of the
Mogul school. Jamini Roy copies no one.
Is that
--I hear that he paints in the manner of Bengali folk artists.
true?
--That's not exactly true. His colors and his forms are like Bengali
But he is not a folk artist.
folk art.
--How would you describe him, then?
--It is impossible to describe him.

That is why he is a great artist.

Lesson 10, part 5.

khabar
6ilpol kola
aka (verbal
noun)
6ilpi
loko-6ilpi
dhoron
mogol
ciVhi
pa

Vocabulary.

food

iuropio

European (adj.)

art

bharotio

Indian

comotkar
a6o1

wonderful
true, genuine

6otti

true

ni6coi
moto, moton
agami

certainly
like, similar

painting
painter, artist
folk artist
form (as in
painting)
Mogul
letter
leg, foot

(adj.)

next, approaching

227
rakh-

keep, put, place

majhe, moddhe

in the middle

ak-

paint

Lave

half-past

bornona kor-

describe

nokol korranna korkotha boldmkha-

copy
cook

save carte
save car'a
adh

converse
show

adh ghonta

half-past four
half
half an hour

Idioms:

mkebare
kola baje
tai na
tai naki

at all
what time is it?

isn't that so?

is that so?

jak

ta jete

let it go

ta charo

ar mkta
tate khoti nei

one more, another

there's no harm in that, that doesn't matter

Conversation.

Lesson 11, part 1.

1.

Analysis and translation

Bengali

"noun, "crowd"
"crowd of people"

bhiz'

A. There is a crowd of
people over there.

clkp

loker bhir Ziff

A. okhane

loker bhir "

GqTrff viT(Awa o

2.

high stem of verb

"be, become"
continuative suffix for
vowel stems; see Grammar, 2.
3rd person present
verbal ending
"it is becoming"
B. What is happening?

ho-

-cch- A3E-e

-.1'

hocche

(.ip,t

B. ki hocche

vcv ?
3.

"perhaps"

noun, "game"
A. I don't know. Perhaps
there is some game
going on.

bodhoe
khmla

T1TI

'MT

A. ami i ani na " bodhoe

hocche "

Ii

3FTcrsT

"WM

9T

1--4174

kono

khmla

r4T913 "MT

4.

B. Will you go over and

see what is hamening?

tumi ki
oo

5.

'

tilTU rn11-44 tl

idiom, "think"

mone ho-

"mutual striking ";

see Grammar, 7.

maramari

verb, "fight" (i.e.,

physical combat)
high stem of verb
"do, make"

continuative suffix for

consonant stems
3rd person present
verbal ending
"(they) are fighting"

Rio dekhbe ' ki h000he

$41111141

maramari kor-

Icy

WpalWroi

kor-

(taxa) maramari korche

(WW1 qT4TWTC wrn

A. I think that people are
fight.

A. agar mone hooche

maramari korche "
=111 t

ITT 4T41

wrn
6.

loan word, "riot"

"beginning"

raot
guru

compound verb, "be

begun"

guru ho-

B. Do you think a riot is

beginning?

9:4
971

B. tomar ki mone hocche ie

raoI ' buru hocche "
(A9114-% 11"

verb stem, "flee"

mitmivir gT4TATilt

41111

10 ww?
7.

lokera_L

pala-

mkpa

grn =141:01 drIST 4TUS

1111T-

Note: for this use of the future, see Grammar, 5.

A. No

if that were so

people won. d

A. na " to hole

eeing.

nr

37

lokera 13alabe

cm:(04.01 11(11-44

noun, "crowd"

bhi'

verb, "form a crowd".

bhir kor-

d%1

It

230
A. They wouldn't form a

korbe na "

A. bhir

crowd.

e'M
8.

B. Then who are fighting?

B. to hole

'

kara

maramari korche "

Orr 1m WTZT grawitc

9.

noun, "fight" (either

physical or verbal
conflict)
verb, "fight"

A. I think that little

ETys are fighting.

loTai
lovai kor-

choto chelera

A. amar mone hoe :le

loTai korche "

MV1111

oriNn.a qtR IN Tq

WM

present imperative,"move",
idiomatic, "let's go"
1st person present imperative, "let's see"
AA Come on, let's go see.

'

colo um"
dekhi

A. colo dekhi "

51T,t14I
10.

noun, "snake"

sap

noun, "game"
"snake charmer's
performance"

khmla MT

B. No I think that there's

a snake charmer s per or-

31Tff

Wq MT

sap khmla

B. na " amar mone hoe ;le

hocche "

!Sap khmla

mance, going oil.

7T

noun, "fear"
verb, "be afraid of, fear"
B. I am afraid of snakes.

NNT4 q1-9' IN tZT 31Tft MT Illt1

an
bhoe
bhoe korB. ami tilapke

an 4*-

'

bhoe kori "

atN XTIU'l an

231
11.

109-

dujon

"both"

For the /-e/ suffix, see Grammar, 6.

A. All r

ht

Dome on.

A. accha cplo " duJone gie dekh.i

ki hocche "

what's happening.

N II

FM'

11*1

12.

B. No, I won't go.

You go.

14.

B. na " ami Jabo na " tumi Jao "

01114 WWI 9T J

13. A. Why won't you go?

I viotrf 1r r9- 4

We I

A. kmno Jabe na "

dekh-

high stem of verb, "see"

present continuative suffix for consonant stems
1st person present
verbal ending
noun, "bull"

7C4.-

-oh-

-i

64

at

B. ami mkhon dekhchi je

B. I can see now that bulls
hocche "
are fighting (i.e., that
a bull-fight is happening).
rq
all4 dffq

B. People are running away.

004

6A Ter 10;ai

B. lokera palacche "

IIRTTI44Tr #1171111E I

15. A. In that case, move.

Let's run too.

A. to hole

OT
Lesson 11, hart 2.

641

colo " amra. o palai "

'

Nfill

57q470 4ITT1

Grammar.

Note that from this lesson on, there will be no mutation drills given on
the tapes. The reason for this is that by this time the student has at
his command a variety of correct ways to express a thought; the usage of
one or another form is a matter of style. All of these alternatives
It is expected, however, that the instructor
cannot be given on the tape.

232

will continue the mutation drills in class, where allowance can be made
for the student's style.
1.

The use of the present continuative, as in sentences 1 ff.

The primary use of the present continuative (sometimes termed

present imperfect) is indication of an action that is taking place at
the time of speaking, that an action begun in the past is not completed.
Bengali often uses this emphasis on continuity where English, for example,
is content with a simple present. A frequent Bengali phrasing is:
1.1.

I understand (i.e., I am understanding)

what you are saying.

ami bujohi"

1.2.

Further, Bengali frequently uses the present continuative if the

action is going on in the present, even if that action was originated

in the distant past:

hajar boohor dhoreqgotalera ' ekhane ba6 korche"

Santa's have been living (i.e., "are living") here for 1000 years.
A less frequent but still common usage of the present continuative
is expression of action that is to take place in the immediate future.
1.3.

An exchange might be:

2.

ekhane ego'

Come here'

accha"ami alSchi"

All right, I am coming.

The formation of the present continuative:

The present continuative of consonant-final verb stems is formed

by the high stem (except for /a/ stems) of the verb plus the suffix
/-ch-/, plus the present tense personal endings. Thus:
2.1.

6on

"hear"

ami sun -ch-i

tumi gun -ch-o

tui bun -ch-is

apni sun -ch-en

6e gun -oh-e

tini sun -ch-en

khml-

"play"

ami

kor-

"do"

ami

etc.
etc.

233

2.2.

stems, thus:
/a/-vowel retain their low
with
the
Consonant stems

ami jan-oh-i, etc.

"know"

jan-

/a/-stems retain
follow the same pattern:
vowel
final
Stems with
2.3.
However, all stems of
high-stems.
take
their
their low stem form, others
affix, thus: /- och -/.
CV -shape double the /oh/
de -

"give"

ami di-coh-i, eto.

kha -

"eat"

ami kha-och-i, etc.

"be,

ami ho-cch-i, etc.

120 -

become"
2.3.1.

double the /oh/ affix:

Stems of CVV-shape do not

ga-/gai-

"sing"

ami gai-ch-i, etc.

of the verbal noun.

Review of formation and use
formed by the addition of
verbs
are
consonant-stem
Verbal nouns of
of
3.1.
stem of the verb. Verbal nouns
the
low
the suffixes, /-a/ or /-ba/ to
/-oa/ or /-ba/ to
the
suffixes
addition
of
vowel-stem verbs are formed by
the low stem of the verb, thus:

3.

pa-

deoa or debapaoa or paba-

ho

hooa or hobs.-

de-

usual when the noun is

/-a/
or
1-cal
are
3.2. The suffixes
/-ba-/
locative cases; the suffix
objective,
or
nominative,
freely variant with
genitive,
being
when the noun is in the
in
verbal noun are very common
with
the
Constructions
3.3.

in the

occurs only
/-a/ or /oa/
Bengali. For

example:

Nominative:

khmla hocche"
tar a6a,holo na"

Genitive:

tar atibar / sitar

immoe'bri6ti holo"

Playing is going on.

of him coming was not
(He did not come.)
It was raining when he came.

231.

4.

In Bengali, "drinking water" is

called "jol khaoa".

Objective:
rare)

balalae pan korake'

Locative:

e kotha bolate' amra

cole gelum"

jol khaoa bole"

The form /maramari/ (sentences 5

On being told this, we vent away.

ff.) :

This type of reduplicated formation is frequent in Bengali, and in

fact in many modern languages of India. The significance is often mutual
action of some type. For example:
4.1.

kaTakavi

lapalapi
gatogati

mutual snatching
mutual fighting with sticks
mutual pushing aside with elbows

The first vowel of the reduplicated portion of the expression

(except where /a/), is the high vowel, due to the yziesence of the final

4.2.

high vowel -i.

5.

Uses of the future tense, as in sentence 7.

It is not infrequent in Bengali to use the simple future to express

Another example might be:
the English conditional, as here.
5.1.

Why should you go there?

tumi 6ekhane'kmno jabe"

5.2.

In sentence 7, the conditional aspect of the sentence is stated in

the first clause, "if that were son.

6.

6.1.

Use of the locative, as in sentence 11.

The locative case form is frequently used in nominative constructions

to indicate mutual action or reciprocity.

Note that sentences 9 and 14 suggest the transitive-intransitive

equivalence which we have seen before. Note the distinction between:

7.

654"lovai korche"

bulls are fighting

6aver'lovai hocche"

bulls are fighting (i.e., a fight of

bulls is happening)

and

235
or between
chelerallovai korche"

boys are fighting

cheledertloTai hocche"

boys are fighting (lit., a fight of

boys is happening

and

7.1.

The contrast is clearest in cases in which there is no case

inflection.
For example:

oIaquru hocche

It is beginning. (intransitive)

oIaquru korche"

He is beginning it. (transitive)

and

Lesson 11, part 3.

Patterns.

Note: from this lesson on, only the first two patterns will be heard on
the tape.
1.

Pattern: sentences 1, 2, Grammar, 6.

a.

b.
c.

What is happening in that crowd of people?

What are those people doing?
What is he doing in that crowd of people?

Are you listening to the story?

e Are you looking at the crowd of people?

d.

2.

3.

Pattern: sentence 3, Grammar, 6.

a.

Perhaps there is a riot going on.

b.
c.

Perhaps a riot is beginning.

Perhaps he is starting a riot.

d.

No, I am looking at this book.

e.

No, I am listening to his reading of poetry.

Pattern: sentence 4.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Shall we go and see what is happening?

Shall we go and see what they are doing?
Shall we go and listen to what he is saying?.
Shall we go and listen to his reading?
Shall we go and see what the crowd is doing?

236
4.

5.

Pattern: sentence 5.
a.

No.

b.

No.

c.

No.

d.

No.

e.

No.

b.
c.

What are you reading now?

e.

What poem is he reading now?

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

No.

b.

No.

c.

No.

d.

I am reading a new novel by Buddhadev (lbuddhodeb)).

He is reading some poems by Jibananda Das (Ejibanondo das]).

b.
c.

d.
e.

Then what do you think is going on?

Then do you think that people are fighting?
Then why do you think the crowd is forming?

Is Buddhadev writing another novel now?

Which poems of Jibananda is he reading?

c.

I think that some boys are fighting.

Yes, perhaps people are fighting.
I think that boys are fighting; that is why the crowd is forming.

d.

Yes.

a.

b.

e.

9.

If that were so, everyone would be running away.

If that were so, people would not be staying there.
If that were so, everyone would be shouting.

Pattern: sentence 8.
a.

8.

Do you think that some trouble is beginning?

Do you think that a fight is starting?
Do you think that he is starting a riot?

d.

e.

7.

I think that I shall sit here and read.

I think that I shall remain here and listen.

Pattern: sentence 6.
a.

6.

I think that they are fighting.

I think that they are only shouting.
I think that he is saying nothing.

I think that he is writing a new novel.

I don't know.
I am not hearing it very well.

Pattern: sentence 10.

a.

Let's go see.
on.

Perhaps a snake-charmer's performance is going

237

c.

Let's go see.
Let's go see.

d.

I see.

e.

Why?

b.

10.

I'm afraid of snakes.

b.

I'm not going.

I don't like football.

c.

I'm not going.

I don't like snake-performances.

d.

I like it very much. He writes well.

Also he is reading very softly (/cup kore/).
Yes.

Pattern: sentence 11.

c.

Come on; let's both go and see the snake-performance.

Come on; let's both go and watch the football game.
Come on; let's both go and see the snake.

d.

Yes.

e.

Yes.

He writes simple but very strong Bengali.

Let's go sit near him.
It's difficult to hear.

Pattern: sentence 14.

a.

No.

b.

No.

c.

No.

d.

Yes.

e.

Now I see that some boys are fighting.

Now I see that a snake and a mongoose are fighting.*
Now I see that the snake-performance is ending.

He is becoming very famous.

Yes, let's go. Let's sit in front of him and listen.

Pattern: sentence 14.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

14.

Are the people shouting too loudly?

I'm not going.

b.

13.

How is that novel striking you? (use /lag-/.)

a.

a.

12.

Perhaps he is beginning a snake-performance.

Pattern: sentence 10.

e.

11.

Perhaps there is a football game going on.

And people are becoming tired of it.

Yes, and little boys are fleeing.
Yes, and people are going home.

Yes.

These days he is writing only in colloquial Bengali (Ecolit

bha6ai), is he not?
But now he is finishing his reading.
Yes.

Pattern: sentence 15.

a.

In that case, let's not go.

* either /sap - neuler lorai/ or /caper ar neuler lorai/.

238
b.
c.

d.

In that case, let's go and see.

In that case, let's go home too.
Yes.

He is certainly not writing literary Bengali ([64dhu

bhaita]).
e.

Yes.

It is being finished.
Lesson 11, part 4.

Let's go home.
Sentence Drill.

Drill 1
- -What are those people doing over there?
- -I don't know.

Let's go see.
- -No, there is a lot of elbowing going on in that crowd.
- -All right, then, get up on that wall and look.
--I can see now (i.e., I am seeing now).
- -What is going on?
- -A snake and a mongoose are fighting.
--Who is winning?

--The mongoose always wins.

--Come on, let's look.*
--No, I am afraid of snakes.

Before I came to Calcutta a snake bit me.

--There is a magician there too. He is doing tricks.
--What kind of tricks is he doing?
--He is walking bare-foot (i.e., in bare feet) on a fire.
--Why is he doing that?
--Because people are giving him money.
--It's finishing now. The people are coming away (i.e., returning back).
--All right, then, let's go home. I am getting hungry.
Drill 2

When in doubt, use present continuative.

--How are you getting on?

--Fine.
--Are you studying Bengali?
--Yes, I am studying the language and the literature.
--How do you like it?
--I like it very much. But it is becoming more difficult.
--Are you studying tonight?
--No, I don't think that I will study tonight.
It is getting very hot.
* an idiomatic possibility is /dmkha jak/.

239
- -Good.

Then come to the movies with me.

- -All right.

When are you going?

- -Right now.
Come on.
--All right, I'll get (i.e., take) my coat, and be right back.
Lesson 11, part 5.
jadukor
jadu
pa

agun
gahitto

sinema
golmal

magician
trick
foot
fire
literature
cinema
trouble, hubbub

Vocabulary.

jet-

citkar kor-

win, conquer
bite
shout

bikkhmto

famous

joralo

strong

aste

jore

slowly, softly
more, even more
empty, bare
loud, loudly

cup kore

quietly, softly

kamva

aro

khali

Idioms:

kmmon colche

how is it going (with you), how are you

getting on?

kono rokome colche

so-so, somehow or other it's going

it is getting hot - lit. "heat is falling"
money - lit. "rupees and lesser coins"
to get hungry

gorom poi; the

Iaka pea
khide pa-

Lesson 12, part 1.

1.

Conversation.

Analysis and translation

Bengali

verb. stem, "go"

ja-

continuative suffix
with vowel stems
2nd person present
ending
"(you) are going"
A. Where are you going?

41T-

-cch.

-o Z T
jaccho

IITT1ET

A. tumi

It

kothae jacchd

0;1"ST "CiTZT4R xliTTTIT ?

2.

proper name (Muslim)

B. I am going to Rahim's
house.

em

rahim
B. ami

'

rohimer barite

all4 aw411
3.

A. What is happening there?

A. 6ekhane

1$1.01.11

'

jacchi

te

ki hocche "

VNITTff lc? VCIF

4.

noun, "birth"
noun, "day"
compound noun, "birthday"
noun, "celebration"

jonmodin
ut6ob

"birthday celebration"

jonmodine ut6ob

jonmo
din

Itff

Nzr

141 11(.1 avgi.

Ralaimle foon's birthday'

celebration is going

cc e

on.

MMQ airt9rff

5.

"who"

ke

pluralizing reduplication, "who (all)"

ke ke

A. Who 411) are coming

r4

A. 6ekhane

ke ke aiJohe

there?
lirff T4 tl UT71112 ?
6.

B. I don't know exactly.

But aren't you coming?

B. ar4

thik jani na " tobe

9T?

A. Yes, I'm also going.

tumi ki

AM41M "
off

7.

'

ftl atrff 9T 130.4

A. hie " ami.o Jacchi "

Uitqg qT1j1
8.

noun, "present"

B. Are you taking any

present for him?

upohar
B. tumi ki
niocho "

e0MTU

'

tar .tonne

'

kono upohar

'

V` 1i 14 UTZ 'urn L/11 OfraTU Tnniu

Note: this formation, using /ache/1 indicates that the present

was bought some time ago, that it has been in existence for some
time.

B. I have a present for

B. Isnatcnne

ohar

ache "

him.

3f f

"now"

emphatic suffix
"even now, up until
now"

negative past tense particle; see Grammar, 2.

iNC-9T al1414

0419
mkhon
-o
-r T

mkhono
ni

1i

dOtil

effraf

2142

A. As of now I have

bought

A ami

tar onne
uPohar kini ni "

no Present for him.

mkhono

'

kono

agrffT 71 Offt131

A. But before oin

I
going to uv a presen

A.

t, be

' vi

10. B. 1tilateouar

aye

u ohar

'

an% MST

kifa

B. ki upohar niccho

Rf

1 /1 lei

11

ta. ring

t4
11.

noun, "story"

A. I am taking a story-

golpo

trit.

591

A. mkta golPer boi

nicchi

book.

aTs-r 5Trric zrt -1VvE

12.

/je

tar .../, see Grammar, 3.

/-khana/, qualifying suffix; see Review II, 3.2.

B. What is the name of the

book which you are
bringing?
13. A. The book's name is
Debe-bideIe.

B.

;le boikhana niccho

Present completive tense,

"you have read", see
Grammar, 1.

B. Have you read the book?

tar nam ki

ZIT Z114T9T se9T1ET d111 9Tq

A. boitar nam
Zi6111 9- s1

14.

'

porecho

B. tumi ki

de6e-bide6e

1LICI

1T7OT

boikhana pnecho "

oaN t4 zit4rrTr 41ci ?

15.

negative particle, indieating past time; see

Grammar, 2.

ni

A. No, I haven't read it.

A. na

POTi ni "

9-r

present completive
completive tense,
"I have heard"; see
Grammar, 1.
A. But I have heard that
the book is very good.

A. tlbe

URI

16.

m;r9-N

Iftunechi

present completive tense,

"he has said"; see Grammar,

tgunechi ie

'

:1791114 tZ

c,t

l'AST

'

boila khub bhalo"

471,1 arq

boleche

1.

B. Who has said (so)?

B. ke boleche "
"C- <Lim ?

17. A. My brother has said (so). A. amar bhai

boleche "

orTWU
A. He has read the book.

A. 6e

'

boita poveche "

ZI4GI fickpm

18.

/ja

ta ../9 see Grammar, 3.

"true"

B. What he said is true.

B. ja 6e boleche
ZIT

19. A. What present are you

taking?

4D1

glotti

PT

A. tumi

.4-Ccal.

'

ta 6otti "

37"

1 ol

upohar niccho "

0,,,Pw 1'4 6,1-04 -191-611

20.

noun, "bird"

B. I am going to take a

pakhi

91T I1

B. ami mk$a pakhi

'

nie jacchi "

bird.

oT r dPST 41T*1" lc= atVE

21.

noun, "color"

?It

rod)

A. g rkhita

A. What color is the bird

which you are taking?

tumi niccho

'

tar roil

g1T 41-er k9aN NA' unr cc

22.

A40

"green" (see Grammar, 4.)

tiobuj

noun, "parrot"

tiapakhi
" ota

B. Pakhita

B. The bird is green.

It's a parrot.

mkta tiapakhi"

ITItsr m-crm I tar aleT ItrITITqt

23.

A. mkta gobuj rover pakhi " comotkar "

A. A green colored bird/

Wonderfull

tfg6T mo cc= ITOr 1

kotha bol-

1211"

kotha bole naki "

A. tiapakhita

A. The parrot talks,

doesn't it?

fr rr

he talks a little.

1iii

41

T WM' 11

ektu ektu kotha bole

B. hii
,

af8; 04.G. MIT ?MO

A. ki kotha bole "

25. A. What does he say?

.

26. B. He only says,

uqs4T-4.

kotha

noun, "word, story"

compound verb, "talk,
converse"

24. B. Yes

Ug%4TU

comotkar

"wonderful"

'14 wr zirq ?

kebol bole

khabar dao "

"Give food /"

t44R WCR
Lesson 12, part 2.
1.

*IT4TU 970

Grammar.

The formation and use of the present completive (or "present perfect")
tense.

245
1.1.

The present completive is

a frequently used past tense in Bengali;
it is fairly general in reference.
In general, it is a fair rule of
thumb to consider that any English
construction which has or can have the
form "has/have (read, shut, done, eaten, etc.)"
will take the present
completive in Bengali. The tense is
frequently used where English would
have a simple past, but its
primary usage is to indicate an action which
has been completed in the recent
past but which has results which continue
into the present.
1.2.

The PAP forms the base of the

present completive with the -chsuffix and the present tense personal endings
added to it, thus;
Stem
ken-

PA
"buy"

ami

kinekine-

ch-i

kinekine-

ch-i6
ch-e

tini

kinekine-

"play"

ami

khele-

ch-i

etc.

"know"

ami

jene-

ch-i

etc.

"do"

ami

kore-

ch-i

etc.

"understand"

ami

bujhe-

ch-i

etc.

"give"

ami

die-

ch-i

etc.

"eat"

ami

Achee-

ch-i

etc.

"be"

ami

hoe-

ch-i

etc.

tumi
tui
apni
6e

khmlJan-

kor-

bojhde-

khaho-

Suffixes

ch-o

ch-en

ch-en

1.3.

The present completive of /ja-/ "go" is

irregular.
/gar M gie-/ and the paradigm runs thus:
ami

tumi

gechi, giechi
gmcho, giecho

tui

gechi6, giechi6

apni
se

gmchen, giechen
gmche, gieche
gmchen, giechen

tini

The stem is

The past negative, as in sentence 15.

2.

the
The past tenses in the negative are formed by the use of
simple present tense with the negative particle /ni/, thus:
2.1.

ami illunechi"

I have heard.

ami Muni ni"

I have not heard.

ami'oi boita porechi"

ami'oi boita poi ni"

I have read that book.

I have not read that book.

The particle
An exception* to this rule is the simple past tense.
/na/ may optionally be used with a simple past verbal form:
2.2.

ami porlum na
ami pori ni
3.

T did not read (in recent past).

I did not read (non-definite past).

Relative clauses.

following forms:
In Bengali, correlative constructions have the
3.1.

Personal pronouns, with reference to human beings only:

3.1.1.

je

6e ...
je ache ' 6e ke "

he, she ...

(he, she) who
Who is he/she who is coming?

3.1.2.

tara
jara
jara'ei barite thake'
tara chattro"

they
(those) who
Those who live in this house are
students.

3.2.

Impersonal references:
ja

to

ja ami dekhchi'ta ki"

jegulo amicaichiqegulo
bhalo"
3.3.

(that) which ... that

What is that which I see?

Those which I want are good.

Adjectival formations:

The relative /je/ accompanied by a noun:

(that) which ... that
6e ...
je
Where is that book which I have
je boitaitomake diechi'
given you?
seta kothae"
not yet met
*Another exception is the past habitual tense, which we have

3.3.1.

247
je chelegulo ergecheqegulo
bostir chele"
joto

3.3.2.

toto

tomar'joto taka ache'tnto

taka ami cai"

The boys who have come are boys of

the busti (slum).

as much as .. so much
I want as much money as you have.

Other types of formations:

3.4.

3.4.1.

6ekhane
jekhane
jekhane tumi jabeqekhane
ami jabo"

there
where
I shall go where you go.

3.4.2.

tokhon
jokhon
tumi jokhon jabe'tokhon ami

then
when
When you go, I shall go.

jabo"

3.4.3.

3.4.4.

jokhoni (jokkhuni)
tnkhoni (tokkhuni)
jokhoni tumi bolbe'tokhoni
boita ene dobo"

Amon

tmmon

jmmon apni bolben'te3non ami

korbo"
jemni

temni

jemni apni bolben'temni ami

korbo"

the very monent .. at that moment

The moment you tell me (at that
very moment), I'll bring the book.
as

so

As you will tell (me), so I will

do.

just as .. just so .
Just as you will tell me, just so
I will do.

sentence 12.
Note that the correlative can be inflected, as in

3.5.

Other examples:

je a6che'tar (6e loktir) nam ki"

What is the name of him who is

coming?

jara a6che'tader (6e lokgulor)

nam ki"

What are the names of those

(people) who are coming?

je cheleraqekhane bo6che'

Do you like those boys who are

sitting there?

taderke (6e chelederke)

pochondo koro ki"
je bondhura e6eche'tara rawer
bondhu"
3.6.

Drills on tape.

Those friends who have come are

Ram's friends.

4.

Use of adjectives of color.

Some adjectives of color have two forms, the usage of each of

which is limited. For example:
4.1.

holde, holud

yellow

The distribution of these forms is as follows:

pakhita holde

The bird is yellow.

pakhita holud raver

holde pakhita

The yellow bird.

holud raver pakhia

Note that these pairs are not in absolute contrast; for example, the
form /holde raver/ is possible.
4.2.

The following vocabulary items occur with or without following

/raze/ "color".

Bengali

English

lal

red

kalo
6ada

black

nil
6obuj
holde
begne
golapi
badami
khoeri
4.2.1.

yellow
violet
rosy
brown
toast brown

Examples:

6avitaslal raver"
6avita lal"
6avitar rare' lal"

4.3.

white
blue
green

The sari is of red color.

The sari is red (color).
The color of the sari is red.

The following vocabulary items must be followed by /r013/ "color ".

komla lebu rare
chai 'Doi)

mourkonthi rare

orange color, or color of an orange

ash color, or color like ash
color like the peacock's neck

214.9

ghie ron
tate ron

color like clarified butter

color like turquoise

holud /ion

of turmeric color

dudhe alta ron

color of milk and alta mixed - a kind

of red dye which women use to decorate
their feet.
sky color

a6mani ron
15onali ron
rupoli ron

golden color
silvery color

koci kolapatar ron

abir rota

color of a young banana leaf

color of red powder used at Holi
festival

sidur ron

vermillion

5.

For purposes of the pattern drills, it is important to note the

distinction between /komkjon/ and /kono kono/:
komkjon lok

a few people (a small number that can

be specified)

kono kono lok

some people (indefinite number)

Form possible Bengali sentences:

6.

6.1.

Possessive noun
or pronoun

Post-positional
phrase

amar

tar

tomar
apnar
tar
tar

rawer
boner
rohimer

amader
cheleder

jonne

Noun or'pronoun subject

upohar
boi
pakhi
$aka

Negative verb
"there is not"
nei

Correlative Clause
Pronoun/
adjective
je

ja

Subject

Verb

boila
pakhila
cheleIi
kukurVa
bevalVa
lokIa

niccho

6e

Relative Clause
Pronoun

Subject

tar

nam

kincho

roil

ache
bo6che
khacche
6e

boleche
poveche

to

6otti

bhalo

dekheche

60kto

ache

60hoj

ki
1

Lesson 12, part 3.

1.

Pattern: sentence 1.
a.

b.
c.
d.
e.
2.

Where are you going now?

What are you reading now?
Where is he going now?
What are you listening to now?
What are the boys doing now?

Pattern: sentence 2.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.
3.

Patterns.

I am going to class.
I am reading a play.

He is going to Somdeb's house

I am listening to a kirtan.
They are playing in the field.

Pattern: sentence 3.
a.

What is happening in class today?

Interrogative

ki

251
b.
c.

d.
e.

4.

b.
c.

d.
e.

6.

A party is going on today.

I am listening to an old kirtan.
A football game is going on.

a.

Who (all) is coming to class today?

b.

Who (all) is reading in class today?

c.

dho (all) is going there?

d.

Who (all) is singing the kirtan?

e.

Who (all) is playing football?

Pattern: sentence 6.

d.

Aren t you coming to class?

Are y u coming to class today?
Somdeb.
Aren't you going there?
I don't know.
Some Vaisnavas. Aren't you listening to the song?

e.

some boys.

b.
c.

Everyone.

'4/

Aren't you playing football today?

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

Yes, I'm coming.

b.

Yes, I'm going today.

c.

Yes, I'm going there.

Yes, I'm listening.
No, I'm not playing.

d.
e.

8.

Somdeb is teaching us Bengali.

I am reading Tagore's Raja.

Pattern: sentence 5.

a.

7.

play are you reading?

is happening at Somdeb's house?
kirtan are you listening to?
are they playing?

Pattern: sentence 4.
a.

5.

What
What
What
What

Pattern: sentence 8.
a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

Do
Do
Do
Do
Do

you
you
you
you
you

have
have
have
have
have

the books for the class?

the papers for the class?
any present for Somdeb?
the book for me?
some time for me?

252
9.

Pattern: sentence 9.

d.

No,
No,
No,
No,

e.

No, I do not have any time.

a.

b.
c.

I
I
I
I

do
do
do
do

not
not
not
not

have
have
have
have

the books.
the papers.
a present.
the book.

Pattern: sentence 9.
a.

b.
c.

d.

Before
Before
Before
Before

going
going
going
going

I
I
I
I

am
am
am
am

going
going
going
going

to
to
to
to

get
get
get
get

(i.e.,
(i.e.,
(i.e.,
(i.e.,

I
I
I
I

am getting) the books.

am getting) the work.

am getting) a present.

am getting) the book.

e Before meeting you I am going to get (i.e., I am getting) a
book.

10.

Pattern: sentence 10.

a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

11.

12.

books are you getting?

work are you doing?
present are you buying?
book are you buying?
book are you reading?

Pattern: sentence 11.

a.

I am getting poetry books.

b.

I am studying Bengali history.

c.

d.

I am buying a history book.

I am buying a poetry book.

e.

I am reading a Bengali novel.

Pattern: sentence 12.

a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

13.

What
What
What
What
What

What are the names of the books which you are getting?
What are the names of the books which you are studying?
What is the name of the history book which you are buying?
What is, the name of the poetry book which you are buying?
What is the name of the novel which you are reading?

Pattern; sentence 13.

a.

b.

The books' names are Balaka [bolakai and Gitan'ali Cgitanjoli].

The books are histories of Bengal.

c.

The book's name is Bailgalir itihas Cbaijaliritihag].

d.

The book's name is Ityadi attadi].

The name of the novel is Gora Cgora].

e.

Pattern: sentence 14.

a.

b.
c.
d.

e.

14.

Have
Have
Have
Have
Have

you
you
you
you
you

read the books?

studied history?
read that book?
seen that book?
read that novel?

Pattern: sentence 15.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

No, I haven't read them.

No, I haven't studied history.
No, I haven't gotten that book.
No, I haven't seen that book.
No, I haven't read that novel.

Pattern: sentence 15.

a.

I have heard that they are very difficult.

b.

d.

I have heard that history is very difficult.

I have heard that it is very difficult to get.
I have heard that it is very good.

e.

I have heard that it is very difficult to read.

c.

15.

Pattern: sentence 16.

d.

Who
Who
Who
Who

e.

Who has said that it is difficult to read?

a.

b.
c.

16.

has
has
has
has

said
said
said
said

that
that
that
that

they are difficult?

it is difficult?
it is difficult to get?
it is good?

Pattern: selltL.Jace 17.

b.

My friend has said so.

My sister has said so.

c.

My brother has said so.

d.

My friends have said so.

My teacher has said so.

a.

e.

17.

Pattern: sentence 18.

a.

b.

What he has said is not true.

What.she has said is right.

d.

What he has said is true.

What they have said is not true.

e.

What he has said is not correct.

c.

Pattern: sentences 19, 20, 21.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

18.

The
The
The
The
The

books which I have read are not difficult.

history which I have studied is difficult.
books which I have wanted I have not found.
book which I have read is not very good.*
book which I have read is very easy.

Pattern: sentence 18.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Then the friend who told me was not correct.

Then what she told me was correct.
Then what my brother told me was correct.
Then the friends who told me were not correct.
Then the teacher who told me is not a good teacher.
Lesson 12, part 4.

Sentence Drill.

Drill 1
--Where are you going?
--I am going to Somdev's house.
--Have you gone to the market?
--Yes, I have bought all the things that you have asked for.
--And have you finished your work and bathed?

--Yes, I have finished everything.

--All right, then, go along. What's going on at his house?
I think that his brother has returned from
--I don't know exactly.
Europe.
he will stay
--I have not heard that he has returned. I have heard that
in America for two years.

/khub bhalo noe/ means that the

* The English is ambiguous, the Bengali
be used here.
book is good, but not very good. This construction may

255

--Those who leave Bengal often come back quickly. Are you coming with me?
--Yes, I'm coming. But I have not bought a present for him.
- -That's all right.
We will buy one on the way.
Drill 2
--Have you read the paper today?
- -No, I have not seen it yet (i.e., 'even now').
What does it say?
--It says ;that there was a hartal Lhortal] in Bombay.
- -What is aappening there?
- -Yesterday there was a riot, and three people were
- -Is there:any good news?
--Yes, the paper says that the summer will be
very hot this year, and that
the monsoon will be late (i.e., 'will come after').
--Has Buddadev written about my book?

--Yes, he says that it is a very bad book.

--Is that all?

Is

--Yes, he has not written much.

--I think that I shall lie down for a while
Lesson 12, part 5.

Vocabulary.

khobor
kagoj

news
paper

aghat pa-

aghat

injury, blow
rain

ca-, cai-

bor6a, brisi
kal
bissram
na.pke
be6i

time, season
rest, nap

drama, play
much,
very much

want, ask for

bissram k1)r- rest, take a rest
6olie down
sue nelie down
paget, find
khaje pafind after searching
charleave, abandon
60mmondhel
60mbondhe

Idioms:

Ihik ache

gorom kal
bor6a kal
bozo be6i

that's all right

summer
rainy season
too much

get a blow, get

injured

post-position, "about,
in regard to", with
genitive

Lesson 132._part 1.

Analysis and Translation

1.

Conversation.

Bengali

high stem of verb /ja-/,

"go"

je-

infinitive ending
-te
-T75
"to go"
jete
1.21(A9
For use of the infinitive, see Grammar, 1.

A. AmamIILLIELAPEa

A. ramke

'

bajare jete

'

bolecho ki "

to the market?

14 TI51TO
2.

alternative stem of verb

/ja-/, "go" -- see Lesson 5
"he/she has gone"

B. Yes, I gave him two

rupees; he has gone to
the market.

gm

t51-

T5IM

gmche

B. hre " du jaka diechi " se ba'are

gmche,

971.irdrl-

TI-M
3.

A. Has he come back from

the market?

TN

11/41-LT

17 aWir Zvi

A. ge ki bajar theke

'

phire egeche "

-01.114 41 a14 =41, `IVO LIC) = ?

4.

"just now"

B. Yes, he has just come

eimattro
B. hre " ge

atwa
eimattro phireche "

back.
Qt I

TA*

0-11virx tzFcv ox4cA

257
5

compound verb, "(buy

and) bring"
A. What has he brought__ from

kine an-

A. 6e

'

t*Tff UTff-

ki kine eneche "

bajar theke

the market?

Two

<11\511c4

6.

noun, "fish"
noun, "meat"

noun, "vegetables"
B. He has brought fish, meat,
and vegetables.

mach
siTM
marAo
torkari

B. 6e mach
eneche "
TY!

7.

mango

'

'

ar torkari

ilgTCYT al< X41 cii

kine

1 kg1 utisiM

high stem of verb /ken-/I

"buy"

kin-

infinitive ending

-te

"to buy"

kinte

past negative particle

ni

A. Didn't he go to bux
fruit?

11.t-

tqq0

119*

phol kinte jae ni "

A. 6e ki

"1149.0

8.

d f<FL-9-

noun, "banana"
noun, "mango"
noun, a mall, violetcolored fruit

B. Yes, he has bought bana-

kola
am

OffT

OrN

a14

jam

B. hie " 6e kola ' am

eneche "

Att.

oxlm

VT WIT

high stem of verb

/kha -/, "eat"

khe-

infinitive ending
"to eat"

-te

khete

-t5

TWO

ar jam

yrsz anr arcl

kine

258
A. Have you given Binu the
bananas to eat?

"outside"
high stem of verb
/khml-/, "play"

baire

infinitive ending

-te

"to play"

khelte

B. No, he has gone out

side to play.

a snack taken between the

two main meals (one around
noon, the other in the late
evening)

A. Won't he come back to

have a snack?

T1V3

B. na " 6e baire
.11(.11

khabar

'

khelte

noun, "afternoon"

B. Yes, Z think that he will

come back home for a snack
in the afternoon.

creche

WqT3 "DiG

phire a6be

khabar khete

A. 6e ki
na "

W171-C4 9T ?

t411-041-MT

bikelbmla

6e khabar
B. hie " amar mone hoe je
bavi
phirbe "
bikelbmla
khete
'

Atr

uTp-Rs

mr

`fit "Dr

!Trzrm

r4ro Itr<priLicir zrre- tftw

13.

high stem of verb

/dmkh-/, "see"
infinitive ending

T944-

dekh-te

"to oee"

dekhte

verb stem, "want"

ca-

1 want to see him.

AA Goods
(i.ei, I have never seen
him before and want to
meet him)

"

*riqT.*

t<f :MTV ZITO

12.

liTu

V2R-

khel-

ffT

11.

khete

'

-151;TT 1.1"0

4110,VP

10.

kolagulo

A. tumi binuke
diecho ki "

A. pol5

WI I

TWO
5T
ami oke

dekhte cai "

3rifST Grcl; Two

259
noun, "field"
compound verb, "cause
to come by calling"

14.

B. In that case, I shall g o

to the field and call Binu
back right away.

Vit

math

.eke an-

to hole
taatarri

'

ami mathe gie

eke anchi

binuke

(,"1 %,

T-01"

1292onlarliar
1.

The formation and use of the infinitive:

101.

The most frequent use of the infinitive form is as supplement to

another verb, as in .Onglish:

ami'jete cai"
ami'dekhte pari na"

I want to go.
I cannot see; I am not able to see.

okeia6te bollum"

I told him to come.

The infinitive of consonant-final stems is formed by the high

stem of the verb (except where the stem-vowel is /a/) plus the infinitive
ending /-te/.
1.2.

khml-

buy
play

kor-

do

6on

hear

kinte
khelte
korte
6unte

But: jan-

know

jante

ken-

to
to
to
to

buy
play
do
hear

to know

The infinitive of all CV- stems, regardless of stem -- vowel, is

formed by the high stem plus /-te/:

1.30

hode-

be, become
give

kha-

eat

hote
dite
khete

The stem /ja-/ is regular in this form.

1.4.

to be, to become
to give
to eat

Its infinitive is /jete/.

tems of OVV- or OV0a- shape, however, preserve their low vowels:

260
gaite

ga-/gai-

sing

bna-

wander about bate

to sing
to wander about

It should be noted that there are two ways of expressing such a

phrase as "he bought (it) for me":
He has bought it for me (but has not
60amar jonnele-p.
a.
given it to me yet).
kineche"
2.

b.

se amake'eta kine
dieche"

He has bought (and given) it to me.

In
Note that in b., /awake/ is the indirect object of the verb /de-/.
Bengali, verbs such as /ken-/ cannot take indirect ob;iects and require

/jonne/.

261
3.

Form possible Bengali sentences from the following:

Neg.

D. 0.

(Int.

V 1.

(ki)

jete

bol-

na

dokane

mach
marAo

aste

ca-

ni

bhaike

ekhane

torkari

kobike

bavite

am

kinte janite de-

6e

ghore

khabar

khete

tini

60hore

bolte

amra
tomra

eimattro

ante

tavatavi
tarpore

phire

VM

Subj.

Ind. O.

ami

ramke

bajare

tumi

take

tui
apni

tora
apnar&
tara
tara
ram
binu
Subj.

VM

nie
kine

D.O.

(Int.)

V1

(ki)

.eke

an-

nie
bole

d-

gie

binuke

tumi

tavatavi
akhon

de

kapovta

tui

eimattro

phire

awake

apni

dokane

take

se

maThe

bola

ami

cheleke

tins

amra

tora
apnara
tara
tara
ram
binu

bajar
heke
theke
klat5er

theke

dekhe

ja-

Lesson 13, part 3.

1.

Pattern: sentence 1.
a.

Have you told Ram to go to the river?

b.

Have
Have
Have
Have

c.

d.
e.
2.

b.
c.

d.
e.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Yes, I gave him ten rupees and he has gone there.

Yes, I gave him six rupees and sent him there.
Yes, I gave her some money and told her that.
Yes, I sent them money and told them to come back here.
No, I have not told them to come back here*

Has he come back from the river?

Has he come back from the store?
Has she brought it back from the market?
Have they come back here?
Have they not returned from the class?

Pattern: sentence 4.
a.

b.
c.
di
e.

5.

told him to go to the store?

told her to bring it here?
told them to come back here?
not told them to come back here?

Pattern: sentence 3.
a.

4.

you
you
you
you

Pattern: sentence 2.
a.

3*

Patterns.

Yes, he has just come back.

No, he has just gone there.
Yes, she has just brought it back*
No, they have not come back.
Yes, they have just returned.

Pattern: sentence 5.

a What has he brought from the store?

b.
What have you told him to bring from the store?
c.
What book has she bought ani brought back from the store?
d.
What have you told them to bring with them?
e.

What have they brought from class?

Pattern: sentence 6.

263
He has brought meat and vegetables from the store.
I told him to bring fruit and flowers from the store.
She has brought several Bengali books from the store.
I have told them to bring many kinds of things.
They have brought nothing at all from class.

a.

b.
c.
d.

e.

7.

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

8.

b.
c.
d.
e.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,

he has brought rui and hilsa fish.

but he has bought only mangoes and berries.
but she has not been able to buy English books.
but they have not been able to bring many clothes.
but they have not been able to bring newspapers.

Have
Have
Have
Have
Have

you
you
you
you
you

given the boy the hilsa fish to eat?

given the girl the mangoes to eat?
given her the books to take back?
given them clothes to wear?
told them to send the newspapers to me?

Pattern: sentence 10.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

11

buy fish?
him to bring vegetables?
her to bring English books?
them to bring only clothes?
them to bring me some Bengali newspapers?

Pattern: sentence 9.
a.

10.

he go to
you tell
you tell
you tell
you tell

Pattern: sentence 8.
a.

9.

Didn't
Didn't
Didn't
Didn't
Didn't

No, he has not come in to eat.

No, she has gone to the field to play.
No, she has gone back to the store again.
No, they have said that they don't want to wear these clothes.
No, they have told me that they were not able to send them.

Pattern: sentence 11.

a.

b.
c.

d.

Won't
Won't
Won't
Won't

he come back to eat the fish?

she come back to eat the mangoes?
she come back to rest?
they go back to buy the papers?

264
e.

12.

Pattern: sentence 12.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

13.

Won't they go back to bring their clothes?

Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,

I
I
I
I
I

think
think
think
think
think

he will come back this evening.

that she will come back quickly.
that she will come back in the afternoon.
that they will go back to buy them.
that they will go back to bring them.

Pattern: sentence 13.

a.

b.
c.
d.

e.

Then I
Then I
Then I
I will
I will

want to see him.

will be able to see her.
will come back to see her.
go with them to buy them.
go to bring them.
Lesson 13, part 4.

Sentence Drills.

Drill 1
- -Have you told Tipu to buy milk at the market?

--No, I forgot to tell him that.

He has brought only rice and bananas.

--Then he has already come back from the market?
- -Yes, he has just come back.
- -Then where has he gone?
I cannot find him anywhere.
- -I don't know.
Perhaps he has gone to take a bath. I think he'll come
back soon.
--Tell him that I want to see him. He will take this letter to Ballygunge
Lbaliganj].
- -He cannot go today.

He has not finished his work in the house.

--He can finish his work later. Go and call him.
--All right, I'll go.
Drill 2

Note: pay special attention to the order of relative clauses; see ante,
Lesson 12, Grammar.
- -Rain, do you want to go to the market with Tipu?

--Yes, I like to go with him.

- -I don't like that.
good to eat.

He buys me sweets.
The sweets which you buy at the market are not

265
--Why not?

I have eaten them often. They taste good.

--Those sweets are made of bad milk. That is why Binu has gotten sick.
--But you like to drink gholer 6orbot. You have not gotten sick.
--That is another matter. I have told you what I want.
Go with Tipu.

--Tipu, will you buy me sweets?

--No, your mother does not want you to eat them.
--Then I shall tell her that you have bought me sweets.
--All right, then, what kind of sweets do you want to eat?
--I have not eaten the red kind before. Buy me those.
Lesson 13, part 5.

gholer 6orbot

bmpar
rokom
dudh
ciIhi

buttermilk
preparation
matter
kind
milk
letter

Vocabulary.
toiri

jothesto

made, prepared
make, preparation
another
enough

kothao

anywhere

age

already (previously)
already (in the meantime)

onno

er moddhe

pochondo korkine
khar-

par-

like

buy and give

eat, drink

dekhte pa-

be able (physical ability)

forget
find

khaje papor-

find (after searching)

wear

harie Janie ja-

get lost

bhuleja-

take (from here to there)

Idioms:

tate hobe na
khete bhalo
khaoa bhalo

that will not do (i.e., it is insufficient)

taste good (good to eat)
good (i.e., healthy) to eat

Lesson 14, part 1.

Analysis and translation

1.

A. What are you going to

do tonight?

Conversation.

Bengali
A. tumi a7 rattre

ki korbe "
W-Cq

oo,)\4

2.

compound verbal noun

stem, "studying"
verb, "study"

B. I'm going to study

tonight.

pova6ona
povagona kor-

q31--

B. ami aj rattre

'

pova6ona korbo "

artsi a-1-o

41 La ep1oc1T9T

loan word, "cinema"

sinema

1.>1

infinitive of verb
/ja-/, "go"

jete

OLIC-0

verb item, "be able"

par-

erriit-

A. Then won't you be able to

go to the movies with us?

'

tsar

4 T

A. ILIEQL,Liatini!____Illalmlimjanjo_l

sinemate jete parbe na "

p,cci

wc-fe4

arszrm icK

V.R.04Trinza 9T I
4.

verb stem, "wander around"

bmvaNote the use of the present tense /pari/; the meaning in this
context is "I may be able".
No, but I may be able to go, B. na " kintu ami
about with you for a little
chu khon
while.

9T,
t(nt:tivrc

'

tomader 60 :e
e par

UTtlq 'COMM ALlr

-C-41TTZ

eite?1

267
5.

"studying"

pnvaliona

post-position, "after"

pnr, pore

A. Good.
What are you going
ILL12E1122ELISLY1-110

A. be

9,171117 9131 .91?1

variant stem of verb /ghuma-/,

"sleep"; see Grammar, 1.
ghumo-

B. After studying, I am going

to go to sleep.

" pnralionar pnr

,

6.

egTMIT9T
910

B. ami

A. Will you not go to eat

before sleeping (i.e.,
before going to sleep)?

pnragionar pnr

A.

409Ki

(371sT

'

ghurnote jabo"

ki0(041(.0 ZrIVIT

ELtwni''huml'obEjIRLLg'gtILialttlil"
.ErilITKI31

i 451 =3 UM'

9T ?

high stem of verb /kor-/,

8.

"do"

kor-

ending for conditional

conjunctive
"if I (you, he) do (does)";
see Grammar, 2.

B. Yes, if I finish studying

quickly, I shall go to

-le

-Tq'

korle

B. 13Z " taratari

'

Pf)Sa6ona 6e6 korle !

khete jato "

eat.

Atr zWiwrlit
=0 WWI I
infinitive of verb
/pov-/, "study"

q.

A.

Will it am a.soo_lo,

Egyiy

you?

poste

high ,stem of verb

/pa-/, "get"

ending for conditional

conjunctive
"if (he) gets"

WV1

4WIlirqr

'9W3

A. ram.o ki

tomar ginnge

'

po'te

Labe "
401010 110 1OTI1(W

10.

Q7JOTT-

611 iss7 4111-C91-9-1-?1 9f 1

7.

tumi ki korbe"

pe-le
pele

-'0*

nit 1/4170 111 vi ?

268

B. Yes, if he gets the

time, he will come.

B. ha " rgomoe pele

'T
11. A. But I heard that he wants
to go to the city tonight.

751111 WM VT apivi

A. kintu
rattre

ami Egunlum je

ww

alternative stem of verb

/ja-/, "go"
ending for conditional
conjunctive
"if (he) goes"

B. In that case) if he goes

to thesjaxlhe will not

se aj

'

6ohore jete cae

grtq qui1c,0i1

12.

ige atgbe "

VT ara allwr

x
I

'M-

-17

-le

VAci

gele

B. to hole
rge rgohore gele
ante parbe na "

porte

'

btAlikt112MELAIAIAU.
VI TAW Inter 9P-t3 aviLko

(.41

o Fr I
13. A. Do you know what he is
Aping to do tomorrow?

A. tuni_j_oLitjii.Lanamikal,
ki korbe "

arrffr

Toft

VT Yr)1141

wrg

171 q.111.4

14.

"in the morning"

Egokale, Egolcalbmla

noun, "picture"
verb stem, "paint"

chobi

B. Yes he has told me that,

he i s going to he riverto 13a nt tomorrow
morning.

WTO

tit

ak-

' se

B. ha " rge amake boleche je

kal
bokale
nodir dhare,
chobi Ilktj
;Woe,"
i

qtr

wrrT
74,Trsirtict stiLcum ,w
i
a/totrir<

mv.q 971V 41-1131

noun, "noontime"
verb stem, "come"
conditional conjunctive
ending
"if (he) comes"

)Nritivrir

dupur, dupurbmla
a6

-le

ale

6mi-VFT

9 174r

17X7R1.4rT

2.69

B. If he comes back before

noon he will come to my,
house to eat.

B. ee dupurbmlar age
amar barite

phire able
khete abbe "
'

'

'

51TO7 tirCU 3r1,117

UTTTIC W7-$70 114-0 v'1 M< I
171

15.

noun, "afternoon"

c$174-C4f1131

t400

bikel, bikelbwla

A. What will he do in the

afternoons

"

13-41-01WIT

16.

loan word, "football"

(like American soccer)
variant stem of /ca-/,

phu$bol

"want"

oai-

conditional conjunctive
ending
"if (he) wants"; see
Grammar, 2.3.
noun, "field"

B. I don't know exactly, but

if he wants to see a football game, we shall both

je<11441LOIT

z1,745414

VT/H

-le

'PT

caile

.DTtO
gra

math

B. ami

inuol ?

thik Ijani na " tnbe

hu bnl khmla dekhte caile

ma e a o
du one

'

amra

,go to the field.

37?)41r4'01.119.91-

O4 1731'0(640

'MT VP= Vitrg UTIMT 900 9,41-0

nrmr
17.

noun, "evening"
A. After that
to wander around in the

6ondhe, eondhebela
tomra ki
A. tarpnr
glhore bwrate ,jabs
'Mot?!

high stem of verb

/ha- /, "be, become"

ho-

conditional conjunctive
ending
"if (it) finishes"

-le

eee hole

AT4Owqr

gondhebgla

4N4 )1M1V4rIT 1q="4

IMITO 411TM ?
18.

Mir

cvi

270

B. Yes, if the game is over

soon, we shall go to the
city.

B. I
" tarataId khmla fiefi hole
'whore ;tab "
!2111

ZiVrOtitp' V`ff"1" T9 3

'

amra

Trsra

9671311ZiMT

19. A. Can I come with you?

A ami.o ki

tomader 6onge

ante

TZNI 4 111 Mt TM -0

mit ?

pari, "

UTINM

20. B. Yes, you can come.

B. h

" tumi

e-ro
Lesson 14, part 2.
1.

eztt

ante paro "

argo 4Trufr

Grammar,

Stems of CVCV verbs, as in sentences 4, 6, and 7.

1.1.

The verbal noun and the infinitive of this type of stem are usually
formed by the addition of the infinitive or verbal noun suffix to the low
stem of the verb:
Stem

bikakamvajiro-

Infinitivs
"bend"

bEekate

"bite"

kamvate
jirote

"rest"

Verbal Noun
bEkano, bckabakamvanol kamvabajirono, jiroba-

1.20

Verb stems which have /u/ or /ou/ as the stem-vowel, however, have
the alternative stem CVCo- before the suffixes / -te /, /-no /, and /-ba..../
Stem

Infinitive

ghumo

"sleep"

ghumote

poach -

"arrive at"

poechote

Verbal Noun
ghumono, ghumobapoechono$ poechoba-

The conditional conjunctive is formed by the addition of the suffix

/-le/ to the high stem of the verb, except for verbs of shape CVO- where
2.

the vowel is /a /, and verbs of CVO- shape (1.1. and 1.2. above).

ken-

"buy"

ami kin-le
tumi kin-le
tui kin-le
apni kin-le

"if I buy"

"if you buy"

"if you (inf.) buy"

"if you (hon.) buy"

271

6e kin-le

"if he buys"

tini kin-le

"if he (hon.) buys"

khml-

"play"

ami khel-le

"if I play"

etc.

kor-

"do"

ami kor-le

"if I do"

etc.

son-

"hear"

ami 6un-le

Ilif

I hear"

etc.

But:jan-

"know"

ami jan-le

111f

I know"

etc.

de-

"give"

ami di-le

"if I give"

etc.

hokha-

"be"

"if I were"

etc.

"eat"

ami ho-le
ami khe-le

"if I eat"

etc.

bakakamya-

"bend"

ami brecka-le

"if I bend"

etc.

"bite"

"if I bite"

etc.

jiro-

"rest"

kamva-le
jiro-le

"if I rest"

etc.

ghumo-

"sleep"

ghumo-le

"if I sleep"

etc.

poacho-

"reach"

poncho -le

"if I reach"

etc.

Also:

Note that the conditional conjunctive:: is a non-finite from; it does

not change with change of person or number,
2.2.

OVV-stems with /a/ also preserve the low vowel in the conditional
conjunctive:
2.3.

ca-

"want"

caile

"if I want"

etc.

ga-

"sing"

gaile

"if I sing"

etc.

The commonest use of the conditional conjunctive is that which we

have in this lesson: the expression of a condition, using xInglish "if":
2.4.

oke dekhletami bolbo"

If I see him, 1 shall tell him.

ami gsunletbujhte parbo"

If I hear (it), 1 shall be able to

understand (it).

tumi ekhane
Bobo"

If you come here, I shall give (you)

$aka

money.

Other usages will be seen in Leeson 15.

Note that although this is a non-finite verb form, the subjects of

the two clauses may differ, as they do in the third example above.
When
2.5.

272
they do differ, however, both subjects must be expressed.

Note that in a conditional clause, the negative particle precedes

3.

the verb:

If you do not go, 1 shall not go.

tumi na gele'ami jabo
bri6Ii na hole'pho6ol habe na" If there is no rain, there will be
no harvest.

Vorm possible Bengali sentences.

4.

4.1.
Verbal
Modifier

Subject

Direct
Object

(Int)

agami kal
kal 60kale
aj rattre
kichukkhon

tumi
6e

amra dujone
ram

V2

Neg.

..

ami

(ki)

korte

povar5ona

6e6

ja-

kaj

9.6

poste
gkte

chobi

khabar
khoborer
kagoj

fiondhebeela

na
ni

par-

Icor-

khete
.._,...................

__

4.2.
Subject

Noun/Object

povationa

6e6

khmla

Conditional
Conjunctive

hole
korle

Subject

Modifier

ami

6ekhane

15e

tara

apnara
661

6omoe

pele

amra
tini
ram
apnara
tomra

boiVa

kinle
becle

coppol
daporpa
chobi

gkle

ba'ite

Finite
Verb

273
Lesson 14, part 3.
1.

Pattern: sentence 1.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.
2.

b.
C.

d.
e.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Then
Then
Then
Then
Then

you
you
you
you
you

won't
won't
won't
won't
won't

be
be
be
be
be

able to go to the store with us.

able to come home with us.
able to meet my brother with us.
able to come to the museum with us.
able to come to class with us.

Pattern: sentence 4.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

5.

I'm going to read tonight.

I'm going to sleep tonight.
I'm going to see any mother tonight.
I'm going to buy clothes tonight.
I'm going to read books tonight.

Pattern: sentence 3.
a.

4.

What are you going to do tonight?

Where are you going to go tonight?
Whom are you going to meet tonight?
What are you going to buy tonight?
What are you going to read tonight?

Pattern: sentence 2.
a.

3.

Patterns.

No, but I'll be able to come home with you for a little while.
Yes, I'll be able to go with you for a little while.
No, but I'll be able to come to your house for a little while.
Yes, I'll be able to talk with you for a little while.
Yes, I'll be able to go and stay for a little while.

Pattern: sentence 5.
a.

b.
c.

What are you going to do when you have finished your reading?*
What are you going to do after you have finished sleeping?
What are you going to do after coming back from the store?

* Either the PAP construction or verbal noun plus post-position Apo'',

pore/ is acceptable.

2714.

d.
e.

6.

Pattern: sentence 6.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

7.

b.
c.
d.
e.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Will
Will
Will
Will

you
you
you
you

want
want
want
come

to
to
to
to

rest before sleeping?

eat before going to the library?
sleep before going to Buhas's house?

see me before studying?

Will you want to wander around a little before coming back?

Yes, if I finish veading* before nine, I shall rest a little.

Yes, if 1 go to the library before eight, it will be good.
Yes, if I come back from the store before seven, I shall sleep
a little.
Yes, if l come back from my brother's house before six, I shall
come to see you.
Yes, if 1 come back from my mother's house before five, 1 shall
wander around the city.

Pattern: sentence 9
a.

b.

c
d.
e.

10.

After I come back from the store I am going to Suhasta house.

After I meet my brother I am going to study.
After I meet my mother I am going to the store.

Pattern: sentence 8.
a.

9.

After I finish reading I am going to go to sleep.

After I finish sleeping I am going to go to the library.

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

8.

What are you going to do after you meet your brother?

What are you going to do after you meet your mother?

Will Ram also study with you tonight?

dill Ram also go with you to eat?
Will Ram also go with you to Suhas's house?
Will Lila also come to see me?
Will Jita also go with you to wander around?

Pattern: sentence 10.

a.

b.
c.

Yes, if he gets the time, he will come to study with me.

Yes, if he finishes writing, he will go with me.
Yes, if he is able to come, he will come.

* Either transitive or intransitive form is acceptable.

275
d.
e.

11.

Pattern: sentence 11.

a.

b.
0.

d.
e.

12.

I
I
I
I
I

heard
heard
heard
heard
heard

that
that
that
that
that

he wants to go to Lila's house tonight.

he wants to come to my house tonight.
he wants to study tonight.
she wants to paint pictures tonight.
she does not want to go tonight.

a.

If he wants to go to Lila's house, he will not be able to come

with me.

b.

If he wants to go to your house, he will not be able to

with me.

c.

If he wants

e.

come

to study tonight, he will not be able to come.

If she wants to paint tonight, she will not be able to come.
If she does not want to go to the city, then she will not go.

Pattern: sentence 13.

a.

b.
0.
d.

e.

14.

But
But
But
But
But

Pattern: sentence 12.

d.

13.

Yes, if she gets the time, she will come.

Yes, if she finishes studying, she will come with me.

Do
Do
Do
Do
Do

you
you
you
you
you

know
know
know
know
know

what
what
what
what
what

Lila wants to do tomorrow?

he will do tomorrow morning?
he wants to do on Saturday?
she will do tomorrow night?
she wants to do tomorrow night?

Pattern: sentence 14a.

a.

b.
0.

d.
e.

Yes, she has told me that she is going to the office to work.
Yes, he has told me that he is going to start writing another
novel.
Yes, he has told me that he is going to see a movie.
Yes, she has told me that she is going to meet Probhas.
Yes, she has told me that she is going to meet Lila.

Pattern: sentence 14b.

d.

If
If
If
If

e.

If they come to the city, they will come to my house.

a.

b.
c.

she comes back quickly, she will study.

he feels tired, (use /klanto bodh kor-/) he will go to paint.
he comes back before night, he will come to my house.
they eat before ten, they will come to my house.

276
15.

Pattern: sentence 15.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

16.

Do
Do
Do
Do
Do

you
you
you
you
yoq

know
know
know
know
know

what
what
what
what
what

she will do tomorrow night?

he will do in the evening?
he will do in the morning?
they will do tomorrow morning?
they will do on Sunday?

Pattern: sentence 16.

d.

If
If
If
If

e.

If they want to eat, we shall all go to eat.

a.

b.
c.

she wants to go to the movies, we shall both go.

he wants to go to Ram's house, we shall both go.
he wants to go to the city, we shall both go.
they want to study in the library, we shall all go.

Pattern: sentence 18.

a.

And if she wants to go walking (use /baate /), I shall go with

her.

b.
c.
d.
e.

And
And
And
And

if
if
if
if

he wants to begin work, we shall both work.

he wants to stay at home, I shall stay with him.
they want to rest, we shall stay here.
they want to begin writing, we shall all work.
Lesson 14, part 4.

Sentence Drills.

Drill 1

--Will you be able to come to the movies with us tonight?

--No, I am going to work tonight. Perhaps I'll be able to come for a
little while.
--We are going to see Pather Pancali [pother pacali] . You'll be able to
finish your studying after the movie.
I won't be able to go.
--No, it's a long picture.
--We are going to eat something after the picture is over. Will you be
able to come with us then?
--Yes, I like to eat a little before going to sleep.
--Then if we come back soon, will you come with us?
Is Ram going with us too?
--No, he is going to see Lila this evening.
--Yes.

--What is he going to do tomorrow?

He won't be able to come.

277
--He said that he is going to look at pictures in the museum in the morning.
But he'll come to my house to eat tomorrow night.
- -Good.

Can I come to see (i.e., "to meet") him then?

--Yes, you can come.
Drill 2
- -Ila, will you be able to come with me to the movies tonight?
- -No, my mother does not want me to go with you.
She doesn't like you.
--Then if you come, don't tell her. Why doesn't she like me?
--You don't have any money. My mother says that if you work you can make
money.
- -I have not begun
of money.

to work.

After I get my degree, I shall make lots

- -Then after you take your degree, I'll be able to go to the movies with
you
- -After the movie we'll go dancing.
- -No, I am going to study tonight. After I have finished studying, I am
going to sleep.

--And after dancing, we'll go to listen to some music.

- -No, I am going to work. What music?
- -There is a good singer of folk-songs here. We'll go to hear his songs.
--Can you come at eight sharp?
Lesson 14, part 5.
chobi

polli-giti
gaeok
pother pacali

gorge dakha kor

guru korarombho korlag-

Vocabulary.

picture (i.e., either painting or motion picture)

village-song (i.e., "folk song")
singer
name of a novel and a motion picture
meet with, visit a person (with genitive of
person)
begin (i.e., "make a beginning")
begin
begin (with infinitive), a colloquial usage

i.e.,

ge porte lage
se kaj korte
lage

"he begins to read"

"he begins to work"

278
be6i
kom

very much

boo

big
small
fat, plump
lean
tall
short

choIo

moIa
roga
lombe
bete

coora
6oru
klanto

tokhon

then

ae

revenue, income

less

wide
narrow, thin
tired

Iaka poe6a
ae koruparjon

uparjon korupae kor-

make money
earning, gain
earn
earn

Lesson 15, part 1.

Bengali

Analysis and translation

1.

noun, festival of the goddess

Durga, which takes place in
early October
conditional particle, "if ";
see Grammar, 2.
"if I go"
A. If I go to my village house
for Durga-puja, will you be
able to go with me?

Conversation.

10)1 #17VNT

durga pujo

141
ami jodi jai
jodi

3T'ris7 kirl

A. 97;51-L7 fl ,WIT NU' 011197 qd.9. MTIW

<10 w 141 3T (.11 Z;t1I
>1 Or V.R. 1/49

*1 ill

ami jodi
durga pujor 60moe
tumi
to hole
gramer barite jai
jete parbe "
amar 6onge
ki
'

'

'

2.

alternative stem of
verb /ja-/, "go" see
Grammar, 1.
conditional conjunctive
ending

B. If you go, I'll go with

ge-

T51-

-le

-Tq.

Nifig WisITU TrOVITOT 1

B. oc,1%.1 t5

Z.92.

tumi gele
jabo "

3.

'

ami

pronoun "self, one's

self"

noun, "that which is

related to one's self,
a relative"
nominal plural,
"relatives"

a'tto

attic)

attiora

UT4tU
51017MT

tomar 6onge

280

"if relatives come"

attiora jodi alien

negative prefix, "not in-,

un-"
"convenience"
"inconvenience"

0-

UV:411RM Kfrn

N.--

6ubidhe, 6ubidha
06ubidhe, 06ubidha

A. If my relatives come, will

that be an inconvenience
for you?

WET

3f'
13151131

Trc7-141

OT

(A

'

ta hole'

Note the position of the negative particle, before the verb in

the conditional clause; see Grammar, 3.
adjective, "any"
kono
'01"9.
"none at all"
kono
na
B. If it is no inconvenience
for you, it will be no inconvenience for me at all.

B. VOTSTM

0(14 (AI 9T 4tc1

U1',714t4 U4 91'

"C-479.

>i

tomar 06ubidhe
kono 06ubidhe

(.41

amar attiora
jodi alien
tomar 06ubidhe hobe ki "
4.

3Pic,, Off

01>10(141.41

141%1

0Y171-4W

(7117411T

noun, "end"
loan word, "mile"

15e6

'

na hole
babe na "

'

amar

'

GN4

mail

Wil-FT

"walk"

hete

co

compound verb, "walk, go

by walking"
"if we walk"

h6te ja(AG qTamra Jodi Wite jai

PAP of verb stem /hat-/,

A. If we walk the last five

miles of the way, will you
be able to walk with us?

A.

alwi
crA

YTTRIT

.1

OT

VI

ect (AO

(6

T-4

trETO *1131171 ?

amra odi ' pother

6e6 .ac mail

tumi ki
ta hole
amader tionge
hatte parbe "

ate jai

6.

"cart, wheeled vehicle"

"motor -car, automobile"

gari

'

'

"arrangements"

11011U
motor gari
41-qT
bmbostha

"make arrangements"

babostha kor-

11111'

IIITt

281
But if you make arB. No.
rangements for a car, I
can go with you.

drw 04164

B. 91-

ffriet4.
1

.0441vi

tomader

ami

bmbostha korle
Elluge ;fete pari "

Note position of negative particle.

7.

A. All right. If we are not

able to make arrangements
for a car, then what?

A. 3111V

M\4111

eff,-CsTin WI-eV
?

zazrzr <1,11(.0

accha " amra Jodi ' motor garir

to hole "
bmbostha korte na pari
T11131;
goru
gorur gavi

"bullock"
"bullock cart"

8.

Bs

If

ou

Int2trran:ements

fora bullock cart,

'll

W4cen

B. 'WI WI OCT 1"57.40 51TerU a1 451'

67-nq V.9NTVK1 >11.2' ZTrc4

go with you.

tomrairt

b&bostha korle
bonge jabo "

9.

51Ter

negative prefix,
"non-, in-, un-"
"flesh, fish, meat"
"vegetarian (food)"
"if we eat vegetarian food"

'

ami' tomader

niramigi

kill N4
nirami6
amra jodi niramigi khai
z1.1.19. tVatqn

A.
A. If we eat vegetarian food
during the Durga-puja, then
will_you also eat vegetarian
food?

trin .97,51m7a1.4. Yisga

,

11.aNz,

3r p.Li 0.4140 *1.

*ITT4

durga pujor 150moe

amra Jodi
niramie khai to hole tumi,o
niramio khabe "
ki
1

'

10.

"certainly"

niecoi1

282
If you eat
B. Certainly.
vegetarian food, so shall

rorwr

riligT%411

B.

*ITT-4T

Is

qzr r4ver alto

I

I.

ami.o

nit5coi "tomra nirami6 khele

niramit5 khabo "
11.

adjective, "the whole"

6ara

verb stem, "be awake,

stay awake"
"if we are awake"

jag-

A. And if we are awake the

whole night, then will
you stay awake the whole
night?

71-41"

UT%amra jodi jagi

A.

W-N

ofto UT4-4T,14N2IWT ?FM elt%

?1T3 UM.< ?
4T-4"1 ovisTe

6ara rat jagi

amra jodi
ar
tiara rat
tumi ki
ta hole
jagbe "
'

'

'

'

12. B. Yes. If you stay awake

the whole night, I shall
also stay awake the whole
night.

B.

P.TI,

(.01

it

?fr-.5 3T1-`21 LG1

umwr 1

altm wur

6ara rat jagle

" tomra
tiara rat jagbo "
ami.0

12.6!=

13.

noun, "fast"
verb, "fast, make a fast"

'(TMTg
upo6, upoba6
upoba6 korupo6

"if we fast"

amra jodi upot5 kori

Q'611.11A

67mi w

yrswir Z.I I1 6tfrpi vft

A. And if we fast on DurgaPula day, then will you
also fast?

A.

TM UT91-;fr
OVITYT "1-44

074-1116

LT-T

Orerpi 1 G ?

ar amra jodi
upotii kori

durga Dujor din

tumi.o ki
ta hole
1

'

woos korbe "

14. B. If you fast, I shall

also fast.

B. ro-rwr 6-cerm aim-q ar le

wc.li

tomra upo6 korle

korbo "
15.

"Wednesday"

neirg

budhbar

WWI-ZET-4

'

ami.o

upo6

'

'

283

A. Good.
In that case, we
shall go on lednesday.

A.

1I 13T

t: (.c1 on

beki " to hole

jabo "
16

"before"

age

adjective, "prepared"
"if you are ready"

toiri

amra budhbar din

'

'

ail X%

*Ott
tumi jodi toiri h,o
u;;Tq kIN toe.

B. All right. If you are

ready before (then),
will you call me?

z174M-1-4' ii i zITIM'

q-19 MT% tat 3

B.

OT

O11 ql-0 U1',K

accha " tomi 'odi

age toiri
ta hole
amake dakbe ki
'

hoo
17. A. All ri ght.

If I am

A.

ready before then T

I shall call you.

'

TNT- I wris:TMT%

accha " ami age

tomake dakbo "

Lesson 15, part 2.

Lot

GONFILO UMWIT I
'

toiri hole

I.

Grammar.

The /erb stem /ja-/, "go", is irregular in the conditional conjunctive

The stem of the conditional conjunctive is /ge-/.
1.

2.

Note that there are two ways of forming a conditional sentence.

The first is that which we have already covered in Lesson 14: the
use of the non-finite conjunctive in the conditional clause, with an
indicative verb of appropriate tense in the main clause. Remember that
2.1.

the conditional clause always stands first in the sentence.

The second type of formation uses the form /jodi/, "if, when".
The position or /jodi/ can be either first in the sentence or following
the subject, depenling upon style.
Note that when fjodi/ is used in the
2.2.

conditional clause, the main clause is usually introduced by /ta hole/.

The position of the negative particle in conditional clauses, as in
sentences 4 and 7.
3.

2814.

In a conditional clause, whether formed with /jodi/ or by the conditional conjunctive, the negative particle always stands before the verb.
tumi'6ekhane na gele'ami jabo na"

If you do not go there, I shall

not go.

tumi jodi'6ekhane na jao'ta hole'

ami jabo na"

If you do not go there, I shall

not go.

There are various ways of making negative nouns and adjectives in

Bengali. Two of the most common are represented in sertences 3 and 9.
4.

4.1.

/o /: 60mbhob

jana
6ustho

"possible"
"known"
"healthy"

060mbhob
ojana
o ustho

"impossible"
"unknown"
"ill"

This prefix takes the form /on-/ before vowels:

acar

"conduct"

onacar

"bad conduct"

abo660k

"necessary"

"unnecessary"

aet3.6

"labor"

onabo660k
onaea6

"disease"

nirog

4.2. /ni - /:rog

"without labor,
easily"

"free of disease"

This prefix takes the form /nir-/ before vowels and voiced consonants
except /r/.
Examples:
jon

"people, man"

nirjon

"without people,
alone"

akar

"form"

nirakar

"formless"

Such forms, however, are mostly found in the 6adhu-bha6a.

in the colit-bha6a only as loans.

They are found

ghumale
dile

khele

baire

khabar
nirami6

amra
tomra

tini

6e

ale
bole

korle
jagle

6ara rat
barite
age
pore

gele

Verb

tumi
apni

(na)

(Neg.)

jag-

ghumakhabaraghor-

ekhane

Modifiers/Object

Clause I

nodir dhare
ei pothe

ekhane
50hore

ha I-

tumi

ami

b0.5

thak-

khane-

Cl. e"---

amader 60/ge jagekhane

dEraekhane
korbhetore
ja-

tomar 60/3ge

amar 60/3ge

Modifiers

Verb

Verb

bwra-

a6-

ja-

khab06bol-

he ja-

(na)

(Neg.)

gramer barite

tokhon
sei 60moe
5ekhane

sara rat

tomader 60/3ge

amader

Clause II

amra

tini

ge

tumi

ami

Modifiers

Clause II

Subject

khabar
niramis

to hole

Conj.

Subject

ghumote jakhete ja-

he ja-

Verb

ami

Subject

smra

tini

ere

jodi

durga pujor dine

gramar barite
6ara rat
age

tumi

apni

of dine

Verbal Modifiers

ami

Cond.

Clause I

Form possible Bengali sentences.

Subject

5.1.

5.

286

Lesson 15, part 3.

1.

Pattern: sentence 1.
a.

b.
c.

d.

e.

2.

If Igo home tomorrow, will you be able to go with me?

If I come back tomorrow, will you be able to come with me?
If I do not go home next week, will you be able to stay with me?
If I am not able to come back tonight, will you come to my
house?
If you do not stop on the way to India, will you get there
before kargammia?

Pattern: sentence 2.
a.

if you 3.o home tomorrow, 'I'll go with you.

b.

If you come back tomorrow, I'll come back with you.

c.

If you don't t;o home, I'll stay here with you.

d.

If you cannot come back tonight, i ll come to your house.

If I do not stop on the way, I'll get there before Jurga-:Quja.

e.

3.

Patterns.

Pattern: sentence 3.
a
b.

If my mother and fu.ther are there, will that be an inconvenience

for you?

If my relatives come with us, will that be an inconvenience for

you?

c.

If my brothers also stay with us, will that be an inconvenience

for you?

d.

If my friend wants to come with you, will that be an

inconvenience for you?
if you do not et there before .uurga-puja, will that be an
inconvenience for you?

e.

4.

Pattern: sentence 4.
a.

If it is no inconvenience for them, it will be no inconvenience

for me.

b.
c.

If it is no inconvenience for your relatives, it will be no

inconvenience for me.
if it is no inconvenience for them, it will certainly be no
inconveniency; for me.

d.

if he will be ready before eight, it will be no inconvenience

at all.

c.

If I do not Get there before Durga-puAa, it will be a great

inconvenience for me.

287
5.

Pattern: sentence 5.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

6.

If they cannot walk, will you be able to take your car?

If we walk, will you be able to walk with us?
If
If
If
my

they cannot take their car, will you be able to pick them up?
he cannot be ready before eight, will he be able to come?
you get there before Durga-puja, will you be able to go to
village?

Pattern: sentence 6.
a.

b.
c.

d.

No, but
No, but
No, but
be able
No, but

if
if
if
to
if

you make arrangements for a car, I can pick them up.

you make arrangements for a car, I can go with you.
I can make arrangements for a bullock-cart, they will
come.
you can make arrangements for a car, he can come

later.
e.

No, if you cannot make arrangements for a car, I shall not be

able to go?

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

b.

If you cannot make arrangements for that, I shall not go.

If you cannot make arrangements for a car, I shall not be able
to go.

c.

d.

If I can make arrangements for that, they can come afterwards.

If you cannot make arrangements for that, he will not be able
to come.

e,

If you cannot make arrangements for that, I shall stay in

Calcutta.

7.

Pattern: sentence 9.
a.

If we eat Indian food, will you be able to eat it?

b.

If my relatives eat vegetarian food, will that be an

inconvenience for you?
If we do not eat vegetarian food, will you be able to eat with

c.

us?

8.

d.

If we eat meat, will you also be able to eat meat?

e.

If they eat only vegetarian food, will you also eat only
vegetarian food?

Pattern: sentence 10.

a.

If you give me Indian food, I shall eat it.

b.

If you do not give me meat, I shall eat vegetarian food.

If you do not give me vegetarian food, I shall not eat anything.

c.

288
d.
e.

If you do not give me vegetarian food, I shall eat meat.

If they give me only vegetarian food, I shall eat it.

Pattern: sentence 11.

9.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

10.

If we talk the whole night long, will you be able to stay awake?
If we sing the whole night long, will you be able to stay awake?
If
If
If
to

we dance the whole night long, will you also dance?

we sing the whole night long, will you also sing?
they stay awake all day and all night long, will you be able
stay awake?

Pattern: sentence 12.

a.

b.
c.
d.

e.

If you talk the whole night long, I also shall talk the whole
night long.
If you sing the whole night long, I also shall sing the whole
night long.
If you dance the whole night long, I also shall dance the whole
night long.
If you sing the whole night long, I shall stay awake easily. *
If they dance and sing the whole day and night, I shall stay
awake easily.
Lesson 15, part 4.

Sentence Drills:

Use conditional conjunctive and /jodi/ constructions alternatively.

Drill 1
- -If I go home at the end of next month, will you be able to come with
me?
--If your wife says that it is all right, I'll go with you. If it is an
inconvenience for her, I won't come.
She expects
- -If you don't come, it will be an inconvenience for her.
you.

- -If she is expecting me, then of course I shall come. How shall we go?
- -If I can make arrangements for a car, then we shall go by car.
--If you cannot make arrangements for a car, then what?

--Then we shall go by train.

I do not like trains.
--If you go by train, I'll meet you there.
- -If you do not go by train, how will you go?
* Either /60hoje/ or /onaeage/.

289
--I shall go by plane. If I go by train, I shall not be able to sleep
the whole night.
Then we shall go at the end of next month.
--Al]. right.
If you are ready to go before that, will you call me?
When I get ready, I shall call you.
- -All right.
--Good.

Drill 2
- -If you come to India, will you come to Calcutta?
- -Yes, if I come to India, I shall come first to Calcutta.
- -When you come to Calcutta, will you visit us?

If I stay with you,. will it cause you an inconvenience?

--All right.
It will be a
- -If you stay with us, it will not be an inconvenience.
pleasure for us.
- -If I want to stay in Calcutta for a long time, where will I live?
- -If you want to live in old Calcutta, you can live on Citpur Road.

- -But if I don't want to live in old Calcutta, what then?

- -If you want to live in the new city, you can live in Ballygunge.

- -If I decide to live in Ballygunge, will I be able to find a house?

But if you want to live in North Calcutta, it will be difficult

--Yes.
to find a house.
Lesson 15, part 5.
Vren

train

rel gavi
6ukh

train

opekkha
ma/Ao
ki6e
ki kore

happiness
waiting
meat

Vocabulary.

notun
6ukhi
Sara

new
happy
whole, complete

purono

old

bharotio

Indian (adj.)

how, by what means

Idioms:

be in a state of expectation (with genitive)

opekkhae achwait (with /jonno/, "for", and preceding genitive)
opekkha kor--6onge dakha kor- visit with
decide; fix
thik kormany days, a long time
onek din

Lesson 16, part 1.

Analysis and translation

1.

adjective, "past"
"last month"
PAP of verb ija-/ "go",
base of past completive
tense

Conversation.

Bengali
goto

53

goto ma6

515 W17

gie-

past completive tense

suffix
2nd person ordinary
past tense ending
"(you) did go"

A. Robi, where did you go

last month?

-T
giechile

"r`A VA NCI

A. al

57,t4 5179 ANN -047911

J6-1(XIN-M

robi
tumi goto ma6e
viechile "
2.

noun, "vacation"

kothae

chuIi

Note: conditional conjunctive plus /-i/ emphatic suffix can mean

"just EJ.s, as, since"
"as it began"
ox17: !Vaci
Guru holei
leA2 of verb /ja-/, "go"
base of past completive
tense
giepast completive tense
suffix
-chil1st person past tense
suffix
-um
-4.
"(I) did go"
giechilum
"N1,117;q

291

B. As I began my vacation
last month, I went to

B.

5Titf

50 SITTY1
c,

Delhi.

goto ma6e
chub Guru holei
ami dillite giechilum "
PAP of verb /son -/, "hear"
base of past completive
tense

past completive tense

suffix
1st person past
tense suffix
"I heard"
A. I heard that you went
home to Calcutta.

97m-

sun e-

-chil-um

-7,;(sT

6unechilum
A.

4.17,1-9TW74A

UTTW 117(Ter.pff;ST

qc147hr,q(A9

"c5Tvr131 Tr-Or "INUITVM

ami 6unechilum je
turni
kolkatate
tomar bavi giechile "
'

'

4.

Note: the conditional conjunctive plus /-o/ emphatic suffix

means "even though" or in some circumstances "even if".
"even though they stay"
tara thakleo
Di<1 211VM3
B. No, even though my mother
B. 9T ,
aiFivrom
and father live in Calcutta,
211"qMO
317 vUTZTV5
I went to wander around
(AIL)1L5 "N(XtFr7i
Delhi and Agra.
na " amar ma-baba
kolkatae
thakleo
ami dilli ar aerate
I

'

bEerate giechilum "

5.

PAP of verb /bra; a -/,

beanie-

TclIkpL1.1-

"wander about, visit", base

of past completive tense
particle, "then, so, if that
be so"

A. Then what various places

did you visit in Delhi?

ta

01"

oc414 TVT5 TWMTU 'MVP

A. OT
(.<

GUI

ff

to
tumi dillite
beviechile "
6.

"(it) fell"

povlo

idiom: "get hot"

gorom poT

*17cqr

51W

kothae kothae'

4,..71770rP.

292
"suddenly"

ho that

idiom: "no more"

ar

B. Suddenly it got very hot in B.

Delhi, and so I did not
wander around much any more.

kii

al<

na

...

*17:t< '404 fr-Cffr

ai< 1-491fi Likpi (Ai

VT 9T

khub vrom

dillite
tai amar
baarano holo na "

hothat
psslo

7.

A. Still, which places in

Delhi did you see?

A.

ar best

"C"TM-

c/11

aTorr -orem-o. ?

noun, a carriage drawn

by one horse
"in, by"; for this usage,
see Grammar, 4.
PAP of verb /ghor-/,
"tour, visit"
B. I only toured Delhi for
one day in a Conga.

'

3 ,71-q -1911115

Dloc

tobu
jaega
8.

'

dekhe-

PAP of verb /dmkh-/, "see"

9T

tumi dillite
dekhechile "

'

S/T

Iorjga

OC

kore
ghureB.

kon kon

kiotL

UTtq .iii
9451 klL.01

W?" tffffT
`'1c

tonga kore
ami kebol akdin
ghurechilum
"
dilli lohor '
'

9.

A. Did you see the Biria

Temple in Delhi?

A.

1141. (.0 tzFqTT stiVI -C-9-C*ItWM

birla mondir
dillite
dikhechile ki "
'

10.

"enough"

bek Writ

idiom: "have time"

hate 6omoe ach-

B. No, I did not have enough

B. 9T

Qi

719Th

'

'

.M."0 Ni 5T
1\zi Fr

time.

na " hate

'

be6i 60moe chilo na "

293

post-position, "within"
"within two hours"

U'Or
ghonIa
qT411moddhe
du ghonIar moddhe

"mosque"

motijid

"hour"

901 VIVIT AIL" WIt"

if
the Jumma Masjid within two . Wgr 101711-U7 t9r414eW:q

B. 3o I saw the Delhi Port and

B.

hours.

tai

dilli

du ghon ar moddhe

'

horar'unnamos'id'.

dekhechilum "

11.

onn'o

"other"

A. What did you do on all

the other days?

519T

A all

T-0 114Nti

onno 60b din

12.

baki

"remaining"

B. On all the remaining days,

I sat in the house and read
a boo

B.

7zIt97 <TO Lo 1(di L.TF8T

Zit

barite bo6e
bald 60b din
porechilum "
Okla boi
A.

'

'

c3-71t1 alauLo Wft9R tWM

tumi agrate

14. B. I was in Agra only two

ki korechile "

ZIT01"

Ult4
ami

13. A. How many days were you

An Agra?

'

B.

NrisT Tr17

'

kotodin chile, "

097Nq 01-1211 (.0

f1

days.

mattro du din
ami
chilum "
'

15. A. What did you see in

Agra?

A.

16. B. In Agra I saw the Taj Mahal

and the Agra Port.

B.

'

ki dekhechile "

NitminIno 01%4Qc1
T9V4TWIT4sq

agrate

tneNtff

00N 31-mrco
tumi agrate

'

Olau PITt

taj mohol ar agra

ami agrate
dekhechilum "
phort
'

'

291.
17. A. How did you like the
Agra Fort?

A.

LDivi< 61T511

Wit

"CM.5isek-Wr ?

tomar
agra phorii ' kmon
legechilo "
'

18.

"extreme, extremely"

be6

"good, well"

bhalo

Zvi
5Tff

emphatic suffix
bes bhaloi

"very much indeed"

B. I liked the Agra Port

very much indeed.

B.

T441

umt

61TsM'kT121) Z

(.61(.5fr
amar
agra phort
legechilo "
'

19.

A. And the Taj Mahal?

raNT-o-mt

A.

'

be6 bhaloi

UTU OTalqff ?

ar taj mohol "

20. B. Wonderfuli

B.

55A4 1W I

comotkar "

Lesson 16, part

1.

2.

Grammar.

The formation and use of the past completive.

The most frequent use of the past completive tense is to refer to

an action which has been completed before the time stipulated in the
context of the utterance.
A rule of thumb for the use of the tense is
that whatever is expressed in xjnglish with the use of the auxilliary
"had" is expressed in Bengali by the past completive, as:
1.1.

6e bavite giechilo"
6e kaj 6e6 korechilo"

he had gone home

he had finished his work

The past completive is also used to designate an action completed

in the distant past:
1.2.

6e bavite giechilo"

pae bochor age 6e

kolkatae e6echilo"

he went home (a long time ago)

he came to Calcutta five years ago

295
The past active participle forms the base of the past completive
To this base are added the past suffix /chi-/, the past tense
tense.
1.3.

sign /-1-/, and the past tense personal endings.

ami kine-chi-l-um
tumi kine-chi-l-e
apni kine-chi-l-en
6e kine-chi-l-o
tini kine-chi-l-en

I bought, I had bought

you (ord.) bought, you had bought
you (hon.) bought, you had bought
he (ord.) bought, he had bought
he (hon.) bought, he had bought

Additional uses of the conditional conjunctive, as in sentences 2

2.

and 4.

The conditional conjunctive plus the emphatic suffix /-i/ can mean,
as it does in sentence 2, "as", "just as", "just when", or "since". The
conditional conjunctive plus this /-i/ suffix can also mean "if only",
2.1.

as:

tumi'6ekhane jete parlei'

tar 6onge dmkha hobe"

If only you could go there, you would

meet him.
-orAs soon as you can go there, you will
meet him.

ami'car Iaka pete parlei'

boiVa kinbo"

If only I could get four rupees, I

would buy the book.

The infinitive plus the emphatic suffix /-i/ is in some circumstances used in this same way, to mean "as" or "just as". The infinitive
plus /-i/1 i.e., /hotei/ could also have been used in sentence 2.
2.1.1.

2.2.

The conditional conjunctive plus the emphatic suffix /-o/ carries

the meaning "even if

as:

6e ekhane a6leo'ami
take'kichu debo na"

Even if he comes here, I

shall give him nothing.

If the conditional with /jodi/ is used, the emphatic suffix can

be added to the verb form with the same result:
2.2.1.

to hole
jodi 6e aseo
take'kichu debo na"
'

2.2.2.

Even if he comes, I shall

give him nothing.

If, however, the emphatic /-o/ is added to the /jodi/ particle,

296
the meaning is "even though he comes (i.e., in spite of the fact that
he comes ...)fl:

jodio'6e ekhane ase'

ami take'kichu dii na"
2.2.2.1.

Even though he comes here,

I give him nothing.

The morpheme /jodio/ meaning "even though" can be thought of

as entirely different from the conditional morpheme /jodi/, "if". An

indication that this is grammatically sound is that the negative particle follows the verb when /jodio/ is used, while it precedes the verb
in a clause with /jodi/:

6e jodio jae ni'ami

aiechilum"
6e jodi na jae'ami
jabo na"

Even though he didn't go, I went.

If he doesn't go, I won't go.

Verb stems of shape OVOa- form their verbal nouns by the addition of
the suffix /-no/ The most common of these include:
3.

ba'a -no

hara-no
lapha-no

douro-, doura-no
poncho -, poacha-no
ghumo-, ghuma-no
b:ika-no

kamra-no
4.

wander about
defeat; be lost
leap
run
reach, arrive at
sleep
bend
bite

The use of the PAP /kore/ in sentence 8.

The PAP /kore/ is frequently used to form a phrase expressing

means, particularly means of transportation. Other examples:
4.1.

6e nouko kore'e6echilo"

He came by boat.

ami motor kore'ehechi"

I have come by car.

The locative ending with this usage is optional; you will find
both /nouko kore/ and /noukote kore/ or /noukoe kore/.
4.2.

4.3.

Other PAPs are also used in the same way.

6efrasta dhore'jae"

For example:

He goes along the path.

297
He killed him by means of a knife.

6e take'churi die,
merechilo

mentioned here, though it will

/kore/
should
be
Another usage of
4.4.
That is the so-called adverbial formation,
again
later.
be mentioned
noun or adjective + /kore/:
6okto kore
64e'okto kore'dhore"

firmly
He holds it firmly.

forcibly
jor kore
it away forcibly.
6e oIa'jor kore'kere nilo" He snatched
adverbial function of a word is
circumstances
the
In
certain
4.4.1.
words in the sentence:
defined only by its position in the order of
tumi'kharap gan'gao"

tumi gan'kharap gao"

You sing bad songs.

You sing badly (habitually).

meaning of the sentence:

The use of /kore/ may alter the
tumi gan'kharap kore'gao"

You sing badly (on this particular

occasion; i.e., you have the capacity
to sing well, but are not doing it).

Lesson 16, part

1.

Pattern: sentence
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

2.

Robi,
Robi,
Robi,
Robi,
Robi,

b.
c.

d.
e.

Patterns,.

1.

where did you stay last week?

where did you go last month?
where did you go in India?
what did you see in the village?
what did you buy at the store?

Pattern: sentence
a.

3.

2.

Calcutta.
began work last week, I went to
month, I went on my vacation.
finished my work last
went to Delhi.
finished seeing Agra, I
Ca66in] , I saw the Durga-puja.
came to the village in Asvin
not able to buy anything.
As I arrived there late, I was

As
As
As
As

I
I
I
I

298
3.

Pattern: sentence 3.
a.

b.
0.

d.
e.

4.

that
that
that
that
that

you
you
you
you
you

did not stay in Delhi.

had gone to Delhi.
also went to Bengal.
had lived in a village before.
had bought a new car.

Even though I live in Delhi, they sent me to Calcutta.

a.

Yes.

b.

No, even though I live in Calcutta, I went there this tine.

Yes, even though I didn't go to Calcutta, I saw Bengal.
No, even though I lived in India, I always lived in cities.
No, even though I want a new car, I have never been able to
buy one.

d.
e.

Pattern: sentence 5.
a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

6.

heard
heard
heard
heard
heard

Pattern: sentence 4.

c.

5.

I
I
I
I
I

What
What
What
What
What

things did you like in Calcutta?

people did you meet in Calcutta?
places did you go in India?
cities have you visited in India?
other things did you see at the store?

Pattern: sentence 6.

suddenly it got very hot in Calcutta, and I wasn't

Nothing.
able to rest.
Suddenly it got very hot in Calcutta, and my
b.
No one.
travelling about was hampered.
Suddenly it got very hot in Bay, and my travelling
Nowhere.
c.
was stopped.
It gets very cool in Delhi, and I always went there in
d. tliany.
winter.
But I had no money, and I was not able to buy.
e.
iiany things.
a.

7.

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Still, did you see any places in the city?

Still, did you meet any people there?
Still, did you go to many places in Bengal?
But did you go to the mountains in the summer?
But did you not go to the bank?

299
8.

Pattern: sentence 8.

d.

Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,

e.

Yes, I went to the bank by tram this morning.

a.

b.
c.

9.

b.
c.

d.
e.

b.

you
you
you
you
you

see the Kali temple in Kalighat?

meet any painters or writers?
see the temple at Puri?
go to Dehra Dun?
get some money there?

Yes, I had time to see that.

No, I did not have time to meet them.

d.
e.

No.

The bank was closed, and I had no time to wait.

Pattern: sentence 11.

a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

What did you do on the other days?

Where did you go on the other days?
What did you do for the remaining time?
What did you do in Dehra Dun?
Where did you go after that?

Pattern: sentence 12.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

13.

Did
Did
Did
Did
Did

No, I did not have time to go there.

Yes, I went to Dehra Dun and MUssoorie au6uri3.

c.

12.

around the Hugli one day by boat.

around the city one day by taxi and saw people.
toKonarok in Orissa by bullock-cart.
to the mountains by train.

Pattern: sentence 10.

a.

11.

went
went
went
went

Pattern: sentence 9.
a.

10.

I
I
I
I

The remaining days I sat on my veranda and slept.

The remaining days I sat in my chair and read.
The remaining days I went and looked at paintings.
I rested and talked with people.
I went and looked in some book shops.

Pattern: sentence 13.

c.

How many weeks were you in Calcutta?

How many months were you in Bengal?
How long were you in India?

d.

How many years were you in India before?

a.

b.

300
e.

f.

14.

Pattern: sentence 14.

a.
b.
c.

d.
e.

15.

I
I
I
I
I

was
was
was
was
was

in
in
in
in
in

Calcutta only five weeks.

Bengal exactly two months and three days.
India five months.
India almost five years before.
the shops about two hours.

Pattern: sentence 17.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

16.

How long were you in India before?

How long were you in the book shops?

How
How
How
How
How

did
did
did
did
did

you
you
you
you
you

like
like
like
like
like

the trip?
Bengal?
India?
coming home?
the shops?

Pattern: sentence 18.

b.

I liked the trip very well.

I didn't like Calcutta at all.

c.

I liked the country very well.

a.

d.
e.

1 liked coming home.

I didn't like the shops very well.
Lesson 16, part 4.

Sentence Drills.

Drill 1

--I did not see you last month. Were you not in the city?
--No, I went to Calcutta.
brother and
--I thought perhaps you had gone there. Did you see your
sister there?
to see
--No, even though they live there, I did not have time enough
them.

--Did you,see many places in the city?

wander
--No, if only I get my vacation next month, I shall go back and
around the city.
--Did you like it, then?
I
--Yes, I liked it very much. But it got very hot in the city and
could not wander around very much.

301

--Were you able to see the Jain temple?

I had heard about it, and I wanted to go.
- -No.

But I did not have the

time.

--What did you do there, then?

--When it was not too hot, I worked. When I could not work, I stayed in
my room and read a book.
--How many days were you there?
- -I stayed there only three days. Then I went on to Cuttack.
Drill 2

--Did you go to a village for Durga-puja?

--Yes, I went to the house of a friend of mine in a village near Bankura.
--How did you like it?
The people were very open-hearted and took good care of me,
--Wonderful.
even though I was a foreigner.
--What did you do?
In the afternoon
--In the morning and the evening we went to the temple.
we often went for a walk.
--There is a Santal village nearby, isn't there? Did you see the Santals?
--Yes, there is a village there in the jungle. One night we went there
to see a dance.
- -And did you hear any Baul songs?
--Yes, one afternoon a Baul came and sang for us. Even though he was
very old, he sang beautifully.
--If only I could collect those Baul songs, people would be able to hear
their sweetness.
They are beautiful.
- -Rabindranath did collect a few.
Lesson 16, part 5.

buro, briddho

foreigner
sweetness
old man

ador

love,

bide6i
madhurjo, mi6Vota

affection
it kal
porbot
jongol

ebar, eibar

winter
mountain

Vocabulary.
6orjgraho kor-

collect

bi6e6
prankhola

special, especially

pran
khola
opurbo

unprecedented,
very wonderful

bondho

hindered, stopped,
closed

jungle

this time

open-hearted
heart
open, frank, candid

302

60mmondhe

post-position, "in regard to", with genitive

Idioms:

--ke odor jotno korhate be6i 60moe achsomoe patai na

to take good care of, to treat

with great kindness
to have enough time
is it not so? (note intonation)

Lesson 17, part 1.

1.

Conversation.

Analysis and translation

Bengali

stem of verb "remain"

past habitual tense
suffix

thak-

WM-

-t-

2nd person ordinary

past tense ending
"(you) used to remain/

-e

live"

thakte

A. Where did you used to

A.

-T
21T-*T3

k9oc14 0110i TWMITU

9.1-1-4-1K5

live?

tumi age
2.

past habitual tense

suffix
1st person past
tense ending
"(I) used to remain/

-t-

-um

live"

B. I used to live in 8yambazar before. Now I

live in Bhowanipur.

-7;i7

thaktum
B.

211IND.M

37-15:1 Oil

igirnwurca4. 2n <room

LIQM

0'774 2111-4

ii9st.

ami age
rokhon

3.

kothae thakte "

'

Lambajare thaktum "

bhlbanipure thaki "
'

'

high stem of verb

/p1-/, "study"

pot-

past habitual tense

suffix

-t-

-s-

-e

-T

2nd person ordinary

past tense ending
"(you) used to study"

porte

"7P-

9170

.Inwp,frep--.

304
bi66obiddaloe

"university"

A. Did you used to study

at Calcutta University?

a1ii 111U

c,

A.

Iltii<I1TMTU

074-PR /61161Q1

9171
0

kolkata bi66obiddaloe
tumi
porte ki "
4.

bi.e poT-

"study for the B.A."

B. Yes, I studied for the

B.A. at Calcutta
University.

B.

tq.d.

471TVIT-5T

'eT
t4.0.

<111-1(34

."

bi66obiddaloe

kolkata
bi.e porechilum "

ha

5.

'

V51101 IV fb

iunibhar6iTi

loan word, "university"

A. At which college of the

University did you used
to study?

" ami

A.

0" 4 '-Q371951Ttg13u '017 *C'1(

4W,0?
iunibharktir
tumi
porte "

6.

kon koleje

'

name of a college of
Calcutta University,

tAT3

"City (Jollege"

siti kolej

name of a college of
Calcutta University,
"Presidency College"

presidensi kolej

B. Virot I used to study at

City College, after that
at Presidency College.

B.

721zyg

fib'

Cd.M(.061

ftrio

1 Ivice /(1

'q'MU

\nu 1t

tar
siti koleje
ami prothome
sPortum "
presidensi koleje
Pore
'

'

'

7.

A. Did you used to go to

see many football games
in Calcutta?

A.

0c41\-1 1

<P61/101i4 *17

071313ff

two 0Q(.0
khub pL1.02.91
tumi ki kolkatae
dekhte
jete
"
khmla

305
8.

"often"

-t

emphatic suffix
"very often"

B. Yes, when friends went

with me, I used to g2
to watch the game very

arg

prae

praei gMt
B.

TINT RI 3117t 1-51Cff

71.41'

amt Z 1T 'MI75 cklocm

often.

" bondhura ' amar sofge gele

ami praei
khmla dekhte jietum "
h-th

'

'

9.

loan word, "coffee house";

there are several in Calcutta, very popular with
students and intellectuals
"conversation, gossip"

A. And did you used to go

to the coffee house to
talk very often?

kophi haus

golpogujob
A.

F .k"1"aq

54404

17 Qc,(N tq; ET5t 5f2f2100 1.A VD

'-1` 6C7 wto
1

ar tumi ki praei
golpogujob
korte
kophi hause
fete "
'

'

'

10.

"between"

majhe VITTW
majhe majhe

"from time to time"

B. When I had no more studying, I used to go there

from time to time.

901-0 9UTW

B. 1 K9T6 iiii 9T 211-qcff Y11\4 VITTW soiTTW

ZMITff Lkioom

Pora6ona na thakle
ami majhe
majhe
eekhane jetum "
'

'

11.

"vacation, day off"

A. What did you used to do

on 7011ILIME211,

chuIi
A.

W-441t

Wc74t641 111N(.4111.0 0,N 10 411(.0

chutir dingulote
12.

"field", a large common

in the middle of a city
like Calcutta

moedan

911g9T'

tumi

ki korte "

306
B. When my sister used to
come to see me, I used
to take her for a walk
on the maidan.

B.

111741 Lill Zvi

6rh,R1J )irt

WM" OlLci

cIL/

v1179-rt7 cat,51 (A9 tkiool4

amar bon
dmkha korte ele
take
amar 6onge nie ' moedane bmrate
jetum "
'

13.

"heat, hot season"

A. What did you used to do

in the long summer
vacation?

gri6 6 o

A.

'

51-lag

Ucti

5117-1M q"ArT

gri66er :Lomba chutite

korte "
14.

"body"

6orir

"be in good health"

6orir bhalo thak-

hill station in
North India

6imla

B. When my mother and father B.

were in good health, we
used to go to visit Simla.

.cps3

tumi ki

wl4t.4" a7M 21V-

ftTT1-

ris,44,7,1 (A7-774W 9-441-44 511ff 2174-cq

MIT3 11:1-07T

amar ma-babar
6orir bhalo thakle'
tiimlate bmrate jetum "
15.

idiom: "didn't you?,

isn't that so?"

A. You used to write poetry

in college, didn't you?

tai na
A.

OTt 9.1"

Wit ovv.e.
tumi koleje
na "

16.

ter413,01t 9i ?
kobita likhte

noun, "journal", a common

name of journals

potrika

ifft2Wr

compound verb, "be

published, come out"

bar b.1).-

zr131

B. Yes, my poetry used to be

published in the college
journal very often.

B.

'et
ewaT
Emit 41-- 'nor
" amar kobita
Draei bar oto "

'

tai

4.11741Lo

kole*

otrikate

'

307
17. A. You used to do other
things in college,
didn't you?

A. 00A

0-1 Le NTU t4%74 1191 G0 6110 ?

tumi koleje
naki "

18. B. Yes, I used to play tennis B.

when I got a little time,
and I used to play cricket

0'1

,M

ar kichu korte

LTFrat" Yilqa,711.7 Te'97

isTf 171-0" WK5-js7 f

IM"(57sT( ,00c1 6il.1

often.

hg3 " and ektu 60moe pele

kheltum
ar prae 6-0moe
kheltum "
19.

"job"

cakri

"games"

khmladhulo

compound verb stem,

"give up, leave"

cheve de- INW

B. But now I have a job.

That is why I have
given up games.

11:

teni6
kriket

574941*
TM-1-417,1-ffT

ti

'NU dPRI Tr5Tpa 57VIrm

et:7cm-

ur-

kintu mkhon
amar cakri ache " tai
kheladhulo chere diechi "
'

Lesson 17, part 2.

1.

Grammar.

Formation and use of the past habitual:

1.1.

The most common use of the past habitual is that which we have seen
in this lesson -- reference to action which was customary in the past;
the tense can be used wherever English can use the phrase "used to".
1.2.

The formation of the past habitual is by the high stem of all verbs
except verb stems of (0)V0- shape where the vowel is /a/, and stems of
OV0a- shape.
These two types of stems preserve their low vowels. The
sign of the past habitual is /-t-/, which is affixed to the verb stem.
To the tense sign /-t-/ are then added the past tense personal endings.
ken-

"buy"

ami kin - t

tumi kin - t
tui kin - t

um
e

apni kin - t - en
tgle kin - t
o
tini kin - t
en

508

But:

khal-

"play"

ami khel - t - um, etc.

korson-

"do"

ami kor - t - um, etc.

"hear"

ami Sun - t - um, etc.

jan-

"know"

baara-

"wander about"

ami jan - t - um, etc.

ami lane, - t - um, etc.

de-

"give"

ami di - t - um, etc.

hokha-

"be"

ami ho - t - um, etc.

ami khe - t - um, etc.

"eat"

The verb stem /ja-/ is regular, having the stem /je-/ in the past
habitual.
1.3.

This tense and the simple past are the only tenses which permit

the formation of the negative with /na/:

I used to play
I did not used to play

kheltum
kheltum na

As in sentence 4, the Bengali usage is to make /bi.e/ the direct

object of /poy-/, "study (or "read") B.A.", where English usage will be
2.

"study for the B.A.11

Lesson 17, part 3.

1.

Pattern: sentence 1.

d.

Where
Where
Where
Where

e.

Where did he used to live?

a.

b.
c.

2.

Patterns.

did
did
did
did

you used to go?

she used to live?
they used to meet you?
you (pl.) used to study?

Pattern: sentence 2.
a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

I used to go often to Kalighat (/kalighaV) before.

She used to live in Ballygunge before.
They used to come to my house, a long time ago.
We used to study in that room.
He used to live in Calcutta.

3.

Pattern: sentence 5.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

4.

What part of Kalighat did you used to go to see?

In what part of Ballygunge did she used to live?
In what part of the city did they used to live?
In what field of study did you (pl.) used to work?
In what part of the city did he used to live?

Pattern: sentence 6a.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

I used to go to see the Kali temple.

She used to live near lariahat ( /goTiahaI/).

They used to live in Citpur Road (/citpur roil /).

We used to study Bengali literature.
He used to live near the river.

Pattern: sentence 6b.

a.

b.
0.

d.
e.
5.

that I used to walk along the river.

that she used to live near the lake.
living there for ten years, they went to Poona.
that we began to study Sanskrit (/60/36krit/).
that he used to live with me most of the time.

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

6.

After
After
After
After
After

Did you used to see many boats on the river?

Did she used to be able to see the lake from her home?
Did they used to be able to come back to Calcutta?
Did you used to be able to read Sanskrit well?
Did you (pl.) used to meet Sipra often?

Pattern: sentence 8.
a.

Yes, when my friends went with me, we used to go in a boat to

Shalimar.

b.

Yes, when she lived in that house, she used to see the lake
very clearly ( /epoliVo/).

c.

d.
e.

No, when they went there, they didn't used to come back often.
Yes, when we were studying, we used to read very well.
Yes, when my friend went with me, I used to go to her house
often.

310
7.

Pattern: sentence 9.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

8.

b.
c.

d.
e.

When I had no more studying, we used to go from time to time.

When she had no more studying, she ased to walk there.
When we had the time, we used to go to see them.
When we had learned enough, we used to read kavya.
When we went there, her parents always used to be there.

Pattern: sentence 11.

d.

What did you used to do on the trip?

there did she used to walk there?
Where did you used to stay in Poona?
Where did you (pl.) used to study Sanskrit?

e.

What did her father used to do?

a.

b.
c.

10.

Did you (pl.) used to read kavya (/kabbo/)?

Did you used to meet her parents often?

Pattern: sentence 10.

a.

9.

Did you (pl.) used to go in the boat often?

Did she used to go to the lake often?
Did you used to see them very often?

Pattern: sentence 12.

a.

When we used to go on the river, we used to read anC sleep

all the time.

b.

Jhen she used to walk there, she used to walk along the lake
shore.

,,`hen we used to go to Poona, we used to stay with my sister.

d.

,then we studied Sanskrit, we used to

( /ponclit/ -- see vocabulary).

e.

When we knew him, her father used to write poetry.

Lesson 17, part 4.

study with a Raga

Sentence Drills.

Drill 1

--Have you been to Calcutta?

--Yes,
used to live in Calcutta, a few years ago.
1 used to study
at Calcutta University.
--At what college of the Univursity did you used to study'?
--I studied for the B.A. at 2residency Uollege. When 1 studied for the
1100 at St. Xavderfs ColleL;e.
--Did you like the city?

311
--Yes.
When I had no studying, I used to walk through the maidan
( /moedaner bhetor die/) and along the bank of the river.

--Did you used to stay in Calcutta during the summer also?

- -No, when my friends would go with me, I used to go to Darjeeling.
We also used to go to Puri from time to time.
--You used to play cricket in college, didn't you?
- -Yes, I used to play cricket when I got the chance, but usually I had
too much studying.

--Did you used to go to the movies very often?

--No, not often.
From time to time I used to take my sister there.
--Did your sister used to live in Calcutta too?
- -No, she lived in Delhi. But she used to come to Calcutta often to see
me.

Drill 2

--We used to be able to buy a seer of rice for four annas. Do you
remember?
--Yes, I remember.
Prices are not what they used to be (i.e., what
price was, now that is not).
--And we used to be able to buy a silk sari for fifteen rupees.
--Yes'
When we used to live in the village, things were much cheaper.
--We used to sit on the veranda, in our village house, and people used
to come and talk.
--Yes, the nld men used to gossip incessantly.
--They used to say that the old days were good, and that modern times
are bad.
--They used to tell stories from the Ramayana (/ramaeon/) and
Mahabharata (/mohabharot/).
--Yes, I used to like those stories. But in the village we did not used
to be able to go to the movies.
Lesson 1

part 5.

Vocabular

vs,

bibhag
6ujog
cal

jini6pottro, jini6pottor
jini6

pottro, pottor
kagojpottro, kagojpottor
ciIhipottro, cipipottor
golpo

department, division
chance, opportunity
rice (husked rice)
things (in general)
thing
suffix, "and such"
papers and other such things
letters and other such things
story

312

bortoman (somoe)
nouko

present (time)
boat

lek, dighi

lake

bhromon
6er

trip

ba6 korgolpo bol-

golpo kormone rakh-

live (make dwelling)

tell a story
gossip
remember

purono din

olden times

6p061o, po610

clear, clearly
cheap

costa
koek
ponero

60b 6omoe
praei
pong.iter kache

baevate (gie)
mk 6er cal

seer (about two pounds weight)

a few, several
fifteen

all the time, incessantly

usually, very often
with a pandit (scholar)
(going) on the trip
a seer of rice

Lesson 18, part 1.

Analysis and translation

1.

Conversation.

Bengali

high stem of verb

/poV -/, "read"

pot-

past tense suffix

2nd person ordinary
past tense ending
past continuative,
"you were reading"

-chil-

A. John, what book were

you reading?

povchile
A.

tumi

'

noun, "novel"
high stem of verb

uponna6

/clich-/, "see"

dekh-

past tense suffix

1st person past
tense ending
past continuative,
"I was looking at"

-chil-

B. I was looking at a
Bengali novel.

9I1 C41

k.1,N N. Zit 4rKPiCci

Uff

ion
2.

-V

-e

-UM

ki boi porchile

V91-

-71
T94.NrioM

UTtg altTTI-Wr 691111>1 V9vi1sr1.(4

ami mkta
barla uponna6
dekhchilum "
'

interrogative pronoun
stem, "who"
"whose, of whom"
verb stem, "write"

11

Gff-q1-17

dekhchilum
B.

'

ka-

lekh-

314
verbal noun/adjective
"writing, written"
"written by whom"
A. Who wrote the novel you
were looking at?

4.

t9I'1
lekha
kar lekha

TWN-M

A. qM ZW4IT

dekhchile "

kar lekha uponna6

name of a 19th century

Bengali novelist
name of a Bengali novel
B. It was Anandamath, written by your Bankim-babu.

IMT

ail pr

bonkim

anon domop.

B.

VOTRIT797.1 qlifs:Rrmo-7-4.

-m*rr u-r---4kst

tomader boijkim babur lekha

anondomcyh "

5.

6.

naki

"is it not so?"

A. You read Bengali books,

don't you?

A.

a stem of irregular
verb "go" ( /ja -/)
an adjectival suffix
"gone, past"
high stem of verb,
"learn"

B. Yes, in the past two years B.

I have been learning a
little Bengali.

1st person present of

'

9,;(1\1

zrrcqr

9-11

tumi

go-to

51--T5

goto

510

trRf-

Sikh-

Tr-1=w

"OTUT

5T5 -ff;

2'-1 am

zmu

cW;

oto du bochor
sikhchilum "
Bala bhasa
" ami

dekhi

stem /dmich-/, "see ";

"I see" or "let me see"

question marker

ki

negative
"whether or not"

9T
na
kina

1"9"N

ek u

33.5

B. So I thought, "Let me see B. Orli ti1 .ig10 4Tlq TIN qp-417474. TMT
LLD 117-4. Tqi9T ?
whether or not I can read
the writing of Bankim-babu."
bonkim
dekhi
bhablum je
po'te
pari
kina
"
babur lekha
tai

untranslatable particle
which transmits a feeling
of condition or doubt on
the part of the speaker
"strike, or seem or be
difficult (for)"

'

'

to

60kto lag- (with genitive)

'Te'sqT5T-

A. UTPTU TOT w.1 (atotT41

A. I think that his writing
TOTiTT-4' uw-; limPwria
will be a little difficult
for you.

&RI .M*IT
I

tar
mone hocche,le
amar to
ek$u sokto lagbe "
tomar
lekha
'

'

'

'

8.- B. Why do you say that?

B.

LI1

11M 1 TOT ?

kaeno bib
9

WUff

"because"

karon

"Sanskrit"

60/36krito

noun, "word"
noun, "use"
compound verb, "use"

60bdo

A. Because at the time when

Bankim was writing, almost
all the writers were using
Sanskrit words.

to "

eft'1713

1174

bmbohar
bmbohar kor-

ZTf-

A. 'Mg

>NW

l*FNIc11

ETU

TI*J.

kg.tt1Wq

71k

bo kim likhchilen1
*e 60moe
karon
prae
sob
lekhok
e somoe
bmbohar
600krito 60bdo
korchilen "
'

10. B. That is why I was finding the book so hard.

Ota ZJI6T Tr-gni t..i3 417 qT5T1'17qT

boita
tai
lagchilo "
'

amar

to 60kto

'

316
11.

adjective, "current"

colit

name for colloquial

Bengali language
adjective, "pure"
name for literary
Bengali language

colit bha6a
'Mc(
6adhu

6adhu bha6a
9T
na, ba

"or"

A. When you were learning

Bengali, were you learning the colloquial or
the literary language?

51E10

A.

UPIT
,

Doit%,1 ZNI9 T TT 5T 'ZIT 11evo' 049

9T SITS
0,x) pr4C 0141 tr41

5'1'$T

tumi jokhon
ba la bha6a 6ikhchilei
tumi ki
colit bhasa
tokhon
6ikhchile
na 6adhu bha6a
sikhchile "
'

'

12.

"two, both"

dui

emphatic suffix

B. I was learning both the

colloquial and the

ILPELMELJETIRE

B. aTisT bicio

Tirkl;

.N*1Thc-1 0(14

c4

colit o 6adhu bhasa

sikhchilum "
ami

13. A. Look, if you learn a

A. Tnq , 00,N ai
little Sanskrit it will,
.7cg TOM"?'
be very expedient for you.
dmkho
15ekho

Lfl-107(

duii

'

'

114*1

)ic414(.<

ekIu 60n6krito
tumi Jodi
boro
to hole tomar
'

'

6ubidhe hobe, "

14

noun, "India"

bharot, bharotbort5o

stem of, verb, "go"

ja-

past tense suffix

with vowel-stem verbs)
1st person past suffix
"I was going"
"another"

1101T-

-cchil-um

-071

kilNeom
Sacchilum
orRI do
ar ak

ljective, "cultivated"
"person"

bhoddro

"gentleman"

bhoddrolok

Jolt

TIMTO

aaxTro

01.20

5T441654*

317
"that"

OT
ta.i
Ort
ta

"that (emphatic)"

B. When I was going to India

last year, another Bengali gentleman told me
the same thing.

B. 50 zIW Trivi q19'

Mrq 1d OW 413FMT
ariN(.11

1411)42;10m

goto bochor
ami jokhon
bharotbor6e Jacchilum
tokhon
ar mkjon banali bhoddrolok ' ta.i
bolchilen "
'

15. A. Why were you going to

India last year?

A. WI w:(Tql 50 ziW

ITaliErq

ta tumi
goto bochor
bharotbortie 'acchile kan
16.

"speech, address"

B. To give speeches in
your country.

boktrita
B.

(.11

11

.41r3T

to

Z31 I14 LICIT <VT

tomader de6e boktrita dite "

17.

post-position, "concerning" (preceding

genitive optional)
A. To give speeches about
America?

bi6oe

A.

itang

6M-sift-Mt-NM

z731- 1\ic.9 1'4 ?

amerikar bif5oe
18.

stem of verb, "read"

p03;

causative stein of verb

"read" (i.e., "teach")

pova-

past suffix ( with

vowel stems)
let person past suffix
"I was teaching"
"connection, relation"
post-position "in regard
to, about" (preceding
genitive optional)

boktrita dite ki "

-cchil-um 74.

povacchilum

N4-Nolom

Elommondho

Nilq

sommondhe

441i

318
I was teaching
B. Yes.
(about) American
literature.

B.

rr

,P77rT

6reiti 1s 1 'ti vviii

'1C(

" ami

6mmondhe

"government"

B. That is why the govern

ment's wish was that I

'

amerikan 6ahitto
poracchilum "

icche
tClE
YMTM
6orkar

"wish, desire"

19.

B.

o Ta(giar

K511 >113cPTTW
4-1r-zrfi9-

give a speech about that.

6orkarer icche chilo

boktrita dii "
51737e
tai

"whereabouts, in which
different places"

20.

A. In which different places

in India were ougiving,

'

kothae kothae

WMITU I-4T=
r*T2ITT:f WM= 91-3T"

A.

speeches,?

tumi bharot borne

boktrita dicchile
Zz 9Th
be6i
-0
be6ir

"the greatest, the most"

21.

"of the greatest"

bhag

"part, portion"
"the majority, the
greatest part"

B. DatLintgItaltnarl_aLat

ami of

kothae kothae

"fir

OT%

be6ir bhag

7191315751

ziTZT

171191T -61-51 Mzi jai

B.

time I was giving speeches

in Calcutta itself.
ami

bekr bhag 60moe

kolkatatei!

boktrita dicchilum "

22. A.

LowilizoujAKeienzal?

A.

07-07s1W:Wicfll" TIM

banla deb
to tomar
rai6HIT71)

23.

"extremely"
"special, particular"

function word; see

Grammar, 3.

bhari
bi6e6
kore

*cm'
4z:4'

q1'
kmmon

``f7 ?

319
bi6e6 kore

"especially"

T.WVIZ It<

t5'1 unt 7474-4T

B. I think that Bengal is an B. UTITM
15W51T I tt-OW WN WiTrOT 9V1 I
extremely beautiful place,
eznecially Calcutta city.

bhari
ba la de6
amar mone hoe 'e
kolkata
bises kore
sundor jaega
60hor "
'

'

24.

mukh

"mouth"

A. I like very much to hear

this (word) from your
mouth.

A.

Tr,74

Tz11411J qc74-4 WO d WT

UM" arq w75rm

(TX-9' UTi11s1

e kotha rune
tomar mukh theke
amar bhari bhalo lagche "
'

Lesson 18, part 2.

1.

Grammar.

The formation and use of the past continuative.

Yhe use of the past continuative (sometimes termed past imperfect)

is to indicate that an action had begun in the past and was continuing at
the past time referred to by the speaker. A rule of thumb is that
wherever the form "was/were ..ing" is used in English, the past continua1.1.

tive is used in Bengali.

Thus:

6unchilum

"I was listening"

dekhchile
khelchilo

"you were looking"

"he was playing", etc.

'.she tense is formed by the addition of the past tense suffix and
past personal endings to the high, stem of the verb, except where the
stem-vowel is /a/ or the shape of the stem is OV0a- Where the stem-

1.2.

vowel is /a/ and where the shape of the stem is OV0a-, the low stem is
retained.

Thus:
son--

"hear"

ami sun- chit -um

tumi sun -chil-e

tui sun -chit -i

apni sun -chil-en

6e sun -chil-o

320

tini sun -chil-en

ph,-

"drop"

ami phel-chil-um, etc.

b06-

"sit"

ami bo6-chit -um, etc.

/a/ -stems retain their low forms:

"know"

jan-chil-um, etc.

jana-

"cause to
know"

jana- chil --um, etc.

6ona

"cause to
hear"

6ona-chil-um, etc.

jan-

as do OV0a-stems:

1.3.

CV -stems follow this same pattern: all stems are high except where
the stem-vowel is /a/.
CV- stems, however, also double the /-c-/ of the
/-chil-/ suffix:

2.

ne-

"take"

ami ni -cchil -um, etc.

ho-

"become"

ami ho -cchil -um, etc.

ja-

"go"

ami ja -cchil -um,

etc.

Formation of verbal adjectives, as in sentence 3.

2.1.

Verbal adjectives may be identical in form with verbal nouns; only

their syntactical function separates the two classes. Some examples of
verbal adjectives:
e'amar hate lekha boi"

this is my hand-written book (this book

is written by my hand (i.e., in my handwriting))

aka6 kalo kora dh6a"

the smoke making the sky black (i.e., the

sky-black-making smoke; /aka6 kalo kora/
is an adjectival complex modifying
/dh6a/.)

ota'kharap lekha boi"

that is a badly written book (extremely

colloquial)

eta'bhalo aka chobi"

that is a well painted picture (extremely

colloquial)

It should be mentioned that there is another type of verbal

adjective, which functions somewhat differently syntactically. This
2.2.

321
second type of formation is much less frequent (except in certain
stylized idioms) than the one above. Note the 6adhu-bha6a vocabulary
in the following examples:
e boilamar hosto likhito"

this book is written by my hand

o bona'mondobhabe likhito"

that book is badly written

2.2.1.

This form is called in traditional grammars "past .passive

participle"; it should be noted that the construction /aka.6 kalo kora
dh6a/ cannot be transformed in this way; "past passive participles" form
a limited class in modern spoken Bengali.
3.

Function word /kore /, as in sentence 23.

3.1.

It should be noted that in this situation, as in that mentioned in

lesson 16, the form /kore/, while it has the same form as the PAP of the
stem /kor-/, "do", does not act in the same way. A PAP has a verbal
function in a sentence:
se kaj korelgmlo"

He did the work and went.

6e baVite phire'boko"

He returned home and sat down.

The function word /kore/ occurs either in immediate relation as a noun:

se nouko kore'age"

He comes by boat.

or, as in the present case, as an adjective:

se bigsegs korel6ohor*Va'

He especially likes the city.

poohondo koren
se glokto kore'dhore"

He holds it firmly.

Lesson 18, part 3.

1.

Patterns.

Pattern: sentence 1.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

What
What
What
What
What

picture were you looking at?

song were you listening to?
stories were you reading?
songs were they singing?
novels was he reading?

322

2.

Pattern: sentence 2.

d.

I was looking at a picture by a Bengali painter.

I was listening to a song by a Bengali writer.
I was reading some Bengali short stories.
They were singing some Bengali songs.

e.

He was reading some Bengali novels.

a.

b.
c.

3.

Pattern: sentence 3.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

4.

a.

It was a picture painted by Jamini Roy.

b.

It was a song written by liabindranath.

c.

They were stories written by different people.

They were songs written by kaviwallas ( /kobioala /).
They were novels by Uaro.tcandra ( /alrotelndro/).

e.

Pattern: sentence 5.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

6.

Who wrote the song you were listening to?

iiho wrote the stories you were reading?
Who wrote the songs they were singing?
Who wrote the novels he was reading?

Pattern: sentence 4.

d.

5.

rho painted the picture you were looking at?

You
You
You
You
You

like Bengali pictures, don't you?

like kabindranath's songs, don't you?
have studied Bengali a lot, haven't you?
listen to all kinds of folk songs, don't you?
can read that kind of Bengali, can't you?

Pattern: sentence 6.
a.

b.
c.

di

Yes, for the past

Yes, for the past
Indian songs.
Yes, for the past
Yes, for the past

ten years I have been studying Indian painting

few years I have been listening to many
six years I have been studying Jengali.
twenty years I have been listening to folk

songs.
e.

Yes, for the past several months I have been learning to read
tgadhu-bha6a.

Pattern: sentence 6

323
a.

So I thought, "Let me see whether or not I like Bengali

painting."

b.

So I thought, "Let me see whether or not I can like

Rabindranath's songs."
So I thought, "Let me see whether or not I can read short stories
easily."

c.

7.

d.

So I thought, "Let me see whether or not I can understand

kaviwalla songs."

e.

So I thought, "Let me see whether or not I can read Saratcandra's

writing."

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

b.
c.

d.

e.

8.

you will like Bengali painting very much.

you will like Rabindranath's songs very much.
you will read these short stories easily.
these songs will be a little hard for you to

I think that his writing will be very difficult for you to read.

Pattern: sentence 8.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

9.

I think that
I think that
I think that
I think that
understand.

Why do you think that?

Why do you do that?

Why do you say that?

Why do you say they will be difficult?
Why do you say that it will be hard to read?

Pattern: sentence 9.
a.

b.
c.

Because at the time when modern painters were learning, many

painters were using folk art.
Because when Rabindranath was writing songs, he liked folk songs
very much.
Because when writers write short stories, they often use colitbha6a.

d.

Because the poets who wrote those songs were not often educated
people.

e.

10.

Because when Jaratcandra was writing, many writers were using

difficult language.

Pattern: sentence 10.

a.

b.

I like folk art.

That is why, when I was looking at the
picture, I liked (i.e., "was liking") it ver.,, much.
I like folk songs.
That is why, when I was listening to
Aabindranath's songs, I liked them very much.

324
c.

e.

11.

Pattern: sentence 11.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

12.

d.
e.

I was studying Bankim-candra.

c.

was
was
was
was

studying
studying
studying
studying

ancient and modern painting.

both Indian and European folk songs.
both the colloquial and the literary language?
only the literary language.

I
I
I
I

b.

Pattern: sentence 13.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

14.

When you were studying painting, were you studying ancient or

modern painting?
When you were studying folk songs, were you studying Indian
or European folk songs?
When you were studying Bengali, were you studying the colloquial
or the literary language?
When you were learning Bengali, what kind of Bengali were you
learning?
When you were studying 6adhu-bha6a, whose writing were you
studying?

Pattern: sentence 12.

a.

13.

That is why, when I was trying to read the stories, I was

finding (use /lag-/) them so easy.
That is why, when I was listening to the songs, I was not able
to understand the language.
That is why, when I was looking at the books, I was finding
(use /lag-/) them hard to read.

If you learn a little about Indian sculpture, it will be very

helpful to you.
If you learn a little about Indian classical music, it will be
very helpful to you.
If you are studying the 6adhu-bha6a, learning a little Sanskrit
will be very helpful to you.
If you are studying the colit-bha6a, speaking the language will
be very helpful to you.
If you want to learn the literary language, studying a little
Sanskrit will be helpful to you.

Pattern: sentence 14.

a.

b.
c.

When I was in Calcutta last year, my professor said the same

thing to me.
When I was studying music, my teacher said the same thing to me.
When I was living in Bengal, my friends said the same thing to me.

325
d.

When I was going to India, many people said the same thing to
me.

e.

When I was studying Bengali, other people said the same thing
to me.

15.

Pattern: sentence 15.

a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

16.

What were you doing in Calcutta last year?

Where were you studying Indian music?
Where were you living in Bengal?
When were you going to India.
Why were you studying Bengali?

Pattern: sentence 16.

a.

b.
c.

The government was sending me there to teach at the University.

The government was sending me to Madras to study music.
The government was sending me; therefore I was living on Park
Street.

d.
e.

17.

Pattern: sentence 17.

d.

To teach about folk art?

To teach about folk music?
The government sent you to study the language?
They were sending you to learn Bengali?

e.

They were sending you to study only Bengali?

a.

b.
c.

18.

Pattern: sentence 18.

c.

Yes, I was teaching a little about folk art.

Yes, I was also learning to play the vina ( /bina /).
Yes, I was studying the language ani the literature.

d.

Yes, I was also teaching a little.

e.

No, I was studying other languages also.

a.

b.

19.

The government was sending me to India last year.

The government was sending me to study; also, I wanted (i.e.,
was wanting) to read Bengali literature.

Pattern: sentence 20.

a.

b.
c.
d.

In what different places were you teaching?

What other instruments were you learning to play?
In what various places were you living in Bengal?
In what various places were you teaching in India?

326
e.

20.

What other different languages were you studying?

Pattern: sentence 21.

a.

b.
c.
d.

The greatest part of the time I was teaching in Calcutta itself.

The greatest part of the time I was learning to play the
vina itself.

The greatest part of the time I was living right

Jalcutta.
The greatest part of the time I was teaching in CalcUtta
itself.

e.

21.

Pattern: sentence 22.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

22.

The greatest part of the time I was studying Bengali; I was

learning a little Hindi also.

How
How
How
How
How

did
did
did
did
did

you
you
you
you
you

like
like
like
like
like

(use past continuative)

Calcutta?
playing the vina?
living in Calcutta?
teaching in India?
learning Indian languages?

Pattern: sentence 23.

a.

b.
c.
d.

I think that Calcutta is a wonderful city, especially at night.

I think that all Indian instruments are beautiful, but
especially the vina.
I think that all Bengal is beautiful, but especially Calcutta.
I think that teaching is wonderful, especially in India.
I think that learning all languages is hard, but especially
Indian languages.

1.1222orLIEitutrt

4.

Sentence Drills.

Drill 1

--What were you doing when you went to India last year?
--I was studying Indian languages, especially Bengali.
--Before going, were you studying Bengali in the United Mates?
--Yes, I was studying Bengali for about two years before going.
--Where were you living for most of the time when you were in India?
--I was living most of the time in Calcutta, though I was able to go
from time to time to other parts of the country.
--Which parts of the country did you like particularly?
--I particularly liked ,Jengal.
I was able to speak with people in

327
Bengali and to read the literature.

--With whom were you studying?

--I was studying with Professor Sen, at Calcutta University.
--How long were you working with Professor Sen.
--About a year. I was learning a great deal, and I was having wonderful
fun, but then I became ill.
Were you eating bad food?
- -Why?
vihatever other people were eating, I ate. Maybe that is
- -Perhaps.
why I became ill.
Drill 2
- -What were you doing when I came in?
- -I was working on my book.
- -What book are you writing?

- -I am writing a book about religion in India, especially Bengal.

Bengal,
- -You were doing work on the 6aktas (/6akto/) when you were in

weren't you?
--Yes, but I was also reading the biographies of Caitanya (/coitonno/)
and the Vaisnava padaboli (/boisnob podaboli/).
--I have heard people say that Vaisnavism (/boisnob dhormo/) ruined
What do you think of that?
Bengal.
--I have also heard people say that Vaisnavas are too peace-loving.
People say that those who do not eat meat, etc., do not fight well.
--Do you think that this is true?
People say that the terrorist movement against the
- -1 don't know.
British was the work of the gaktas.
--But I do not think that anyone has ever proved that, is that not so?
But until
--I do not know whether or not anyone has tried to prove it.
someone does we will not know for certain.
Lesson 18, part

ra6liro

United States
of America

majhe ruajhe,

from =time to time

markin jukto

same 6n moo

Vocabulary..

sthapotto

4ccango
songit
Elikkha

6ikkhito

bibhinno

uirATent,

onnd

various
other, different

dhirmo
jiboni

6antipprio
andolon

sculpture
classical music

education
educated
religion

biography
peace-loving
movement

328

Lontra6badi

terrorism
terrorist

podaboli

Vainava religious

6ontra6bad

Idioms:

onek kichu

a great deal

jokhono
porjonto,
jotokkhon
ni6cito bhabe

until

for certain,
certainly

lyrics
dhsg6o Icor-

(to) ruin

nosIo korproman korce6Ia kor-

prove

bhabbiruddhe

think
post-position, "against"

try

Lesson 19, part 1.

Bengali

Analysis and Translation

1.

Conversation.

"worthless, rotten,
baje
ItTTO
insignificant"
Note: when refering to "your city", "your country", etc., the
plural of "your" is always used.

A. Amiyababu, your

is

very

t-ta,

city.

A.

UTert ff1

611kNWRI;
WITO 'TAV

apnader kolkata ' boo

omiobabu
baje aohor "
2.

stem of verb, "come"

past conditional suffix

honorific personal
ending
"if you had come"

-t-

"such"

moron

high stem of verb

/b01-/, "say"
past conditional suffix
honorific personal
ending
"you would have said"

EtrL1if
aoulile
B.
to Oitleutta fifteen yeare
aKoi, you would not have,

-0-

-en

-V 9.

jodi atiten
dRin

bol-t-

-en

-V n

bolten

461(.01

Ylvern

141T-W1llrg

1 #11"9-4` zire?1

WzMom 611709* T ng
imoi 91

,said such things,.

6mith6aheb
bnehor a e
moron
ho e

'

a ni 'odi
o
a

one o

a ae as en

en na

330
3.

noun or form of address,

"gentleman" or "sir"

mo6ae

"even if I had come"

ami asleo

9q9TU

aT'itT UT7TMO

01101. <4'EWIT5TU3
A. No sir, even if I had come A. 9T ig91iq
1.9*K-5;s4
almmc d
to Calcutta fifteen years
ago, I would have seen
that same crowd of people.
vonero bochor age
na mo6ae
kolkatate asleo
of loker bhi
I

'

'

delchtum "

"rotten, putrid, sticky"

A. And this sticky heat,
would have been here.

poca

#TUT

A. TM A,' 915T 51?13T 21 ROT I

thakto "

ar ei poca gorom
4.

loan word, "partition"

parVi6an

eifttffff
par.pkan ho
"be partitioned"
Note the position of the negative terticle in the conditional

clause.

If the country
B. No sir.
had not been partitioned,
you yould not see such
crowds of people,.

1761 Urff 'ITttff9 9T UOT

OT 4,71 tO -C-ffirqUUT T9-41-09 9T

B. 9T 3A 1111

naaaKLIALL11L_LsIEILiNg_aa
ta hole
hoto
dekhten na "
'

5.

loan word, "refugee"

A. Then is that crowd all

rephiuji

ato loker bhivl

'

-0T74.41-

r,

A. 3T tzGcl

714

,F1/40711-471 ?
.71

of refuG220
of bhiN ki
rephiujider "
ta, hole

6.

"thousand"

"thousands and thousands"

noun, "refuge"
"take refuge"

'

6ob

hajar 4101T
hajar hajar WaTil TTUT.0
UTMET
assroe

assroe ne flW "C9

333.

B. Yes, when the couirpry was

eft

4L vi VTUTU .TTWR
Jvst" Iv1I11/4.91 Ck9 Ofidi 01-5g AZT

B.

partitioned, thousands and

thousands of refugees came
to Calcutta and have taken
refuge here.

'7irftwiff

hajar
partisan hole
kolkatate ege
hajar rephiuji
assroe nieche "
'

15:6 " des.

'

Ur Ac.1

"then, in that case"

Ta hole

emphatic suffix

-o

"even then"
"that kind, in that way"

ta holeo
oi rokom

-t3

WA

6'11 tom'"

noijra

"filthy"
"so filthy"

OT 4(.113

oi rokom nonra

r
terodal3ir 4reen 91 114
1-9TtMC144 l'Ir4z

1 %tglIGMT4(
or tz.1.10

even if the reguilees had not come, your

But

21-10TOT

citY

d <144 tnrwr

nah.or

s;11,ELIJaailelssT1411ijaaLlsALlia
a
a

9...LTAonljada2? a 1...:_thakt o "

ki kore

"how"

ta

B. If there were not such a

Calcutta
gaml_gmgalatLJ
would not be so filthy.

honorific imperative,
"look, please look"
"habit"

"perhaps"
"more, in addition"

"a little more"

OW' 4v1v4-f

OT

B. How can you say that?

B.

4144

ki koro

bolehen "

4FTOTOT
03 -01174,T 071 9T AZ elf

t9T la-ZT 9T

kolkata
wkto lokor phi na hole
mto nonra hoto na "
sohor
'

rimn
dekhun
obbhe6 obbhm6
hoot

a (.0 $

3EUTTY1'

TUC OT

ar
ar ekiva

00bc4

eirtru
speaker wantu
that
/apnuder/
indicates
the
use
of
gote: here
the hearer's concern; students
to be considered remote from
should be wary of using such a form.
"clean"

pori6kar

332
5174'MT"
A. Look, if your Bengalis did A. t9 , 61719-1. 4TPUiltr9V
not have so many bad habit's, Twin aorm 41111 'ffl` 2.11VOT51-.7tg
0.tko1
wo-T. vtizaT dm;
perhaps the city would be
a little cleaner.

ba alider
'odi na
obbhms
kf)tok ulo
sohor+a
ta hole hoeto
thakto
hoto
ar ek
dekhun

'

'

10.

"only"

23. AlmsnlYEmaalla?

'10;

6udhu

B. ToN;

zfitret-41" 'MT ?

---I&wabAJ?ILISgjlnLJEEE2

noun, "state, place"

verb stem, "abandon,
leave"

B. g_people of other places

would abandon their bad
habits) the city would
become cleaner.

EZ71

prode6
chav-

B. 3FTT OIRTWTa 7171:47-ar zrrii onnTa firixrfr

aarm-urffr ":4-15COT OT ATiq nwr

mixr ltirtm rwor

odi tader
ta
cha to
o
aro poris ar

onno rode6er lokera

kl2.02.222101) :s :u

6nhorta
hole
thakto
'

11.

"street"

rasta

"bull"

64

verbal noun, "walking,

moving"
noun, "prevention,
hindrance"
compound verb,
"prevent, stop"
"genteel, civilized"

cola

WNW
15LIT

bnndho

zrz&

bondho icor-

bhoddro

03

333

affr-i-mr
siarrm
cara
t`TI-161 5ffT zit <NLoci

A. Still, sir, if you would

prevent the wandering of
bulls about the streets,
the city would become a
little civilized.

.V-101 Lk9

alW"GT

1I

,W67( 5"a

rastate
apnara jodi
tobe mo6ae
ta
bondho korten
saner cola
ektu bhoddro
A-ohorta
hole
hoto "
'

'

'

'

'

'

12.

noun, "side"
"side by side"

pas

negative prefix
"uncivilized"

0-

B. Look, we don't consider

that walking side by
side with bulls in the
street is uncivilized.

q1-41

ITITFITM

pa6apa6i
U.-

aoh

obhoddro
B.

19 7

TreirM

UTWUT it17714

TIV 9T

cillgrprrm b-wr aoh

saner 6onge
amra
dekhun
obhoddro
rastae pa8apa6i cola
mone kori na "
1

'

'

'

13.

"can you say, can

you imagine"

bolte paren

generalizing nominative suffix

"people (in general)"
"bulls (in general)"
A. Can you imagine, if bulls
wandered about the streets
of New York or Paris, what
People would say?

tc.u.9 4717U9

-e

A.

loke

"MTO

save

81-r

-1961-4t zfT

c-fC\D ,9111-49

X15 T1s6A

C-4-151-01-

ki at Lc!

(1 Tiff-0

zrfft-CDT ?

niuiork
sane jodi
bolte paren
ghure bmrato
ba pmriser rastate
loke ki bolto "
ta hole
'

'

'

'

14. B. I don't know what people

would say, sir.

B.

L'11(..41

qq7.0TUT tff 9T , NTW I

loke ki bolto R' jani na sar "

noun, "gentleman"
noun, "European lady"
compound noun, "ladies
and gentlemen"

6aeb, saheb
TqW
mem

6aeb-mem

AI W

AIW4-1.5154

>I1 (.*1

334

B. But I think that if they

saw a bull in New York,
the ladies and gentlemen
would run to escape.

TVISq-MT-

chot-

verb stem, "run"

verb stem, "flee"
compound verb,
"run to escape"

pala-

chute palaq.4 UTVIU s4(..:I

B.

1 Tql

*Ntaci #17 Zit

q.

amar move he je
tube
laeb-memera ' niuiork eohore
chute palato "
dekhle
'

'

sar

'

verb stem, "stand,

stand around"
noun, "fun, amusement"
compound verb, "be amused,
look on with amusement"

B. And in Paris, the people

would probably stand
around and be amused.

dava-

moja

ATTqUT

moja dakhB.

WUT 1-9v1-

-wczT TffrOvINT A71%41

TN- 1/111

WUT T9'4175T

ar pmrise hoeto

'

lokera da ie

moja dekhto "

Lesson 19, part 2.

1.

Grammar.

Formation and use of the past conditional tense.

The past conditional is formed by the addition of the sign /-t-/

The
to the high stem of verbs except verbs of CaC- and CVCa- shapes.
personal endings are identical with those of other past tenses
1.1.

Stem

Gloss

Past conditional

ken-

"buy"

um
kin - t
kin - t - e

iS
kin - t
kin - t - en
kin - t - o
kin - t - en
khml-

"play"

khel - t - um, etc.

son

"hear"

sun - t - um, etc.

335
kor-

"do"

kor - t - um, etc.

de-

"give"

pa-

"get"

di - t - um, etc.
t - um, etc.
pe

jan-

jan - t - um, etc.

jana-

"know"
"cause to know"

dmkha-

"show"

dakha - t - um, etc.

khmla-

"cause to play"

khmla - t - um, etc

But:

jana - t - um, etc.

The past conditional is identical in form with the past habitual

tense, but functions differently. It is used to express past action
1.2.

which was not realized:

If you had come before,
I would not have gone.
1.3.

apni jodi'age aftentta hole'ami

jetum na"

The past conditional may be used on two types of constructions:

When the conditional clause of the sentence includes the conditional particle /jodi/. When /jodi/ is used, the past conditional is
used in both clauses of the sentence; the second clause of the sentence
1.3.1.

is introduced by /ta hole/:

If he had given me the book,
I would have read it.

6e amake'jodi boila dito'

to holetamitoIa povtum"

When the conditional aspect of the sentence is expressed by the

non-finite conditional conjunctive stem -le. Since the conditional
conjunctive is non-finite, the tense of the sentence is carried wholly
1.3.2.

by the finite past conditional verb in the second clause.

If he had given me the book,
I would have read it.

6e amake'boiIa dile'ami oIa

povtum"

2.2.

2.1.

2.

apnara

6e

tgra
i

kortjantjete part-

6unthot-

thakleo
holeo
korleo

thakle
hole
korle

jete part-

jant-

hot-

boltdekht-

tar 6013ge

e6ob

06u6tho
klanto

aunt-

deklit-

take
Va

gan
kobita

bolt- (na)

Tmon kotha

Verb

a6leo
geleo

to hole

Object

Clause II

axle
gele

6e6

kajIa

hoto
korten
hoto
korten

thakt-

jet-

(na) aft-

6e6

jodi

Conditional

pova6ona

sekhane
ekhane

60hore

ami

tumi
apni

Modifier

Subject

Clause I

Form possible Bengali sentences:

337
Lesson 19, part 3.
1.

Pattern: sentence 1.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

2.

Your city is a very beautiful place.

Your Bengali conversation is very good.
The habits of Bengalis are very good.
Your room is very dirty.
Your country is very uncivilized.

Pattern: sentence 2.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

3.

Patterns.

If you had not come in the summer time, you w4;uld not have
said such things.
If you had heard me in class today, you would not have said
such things.
If you had lived in Calcutta, you would not have said such
things.
If my wife had cleaned it today, you would not have said such
things.
If you had come before the partition, you would not have said
such things.

Pattern: sentence 3.
a.

Even if I haa come in the winter time, I would have liked the
city.

b.
c.

d.
e.

4.

Even if
Bengali
Even if
Even if

I had heard you in class, I would have liked your

conversation.
I had lived in Calcutta, I would like Bengalis.
she had cleaned it today, it would have been dirty,

Even if I had come before partition, I would have thought

(use /bhab-/) it uncivilized.

Pattern: sentence 4.
a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

If you had
No, sir.
very cold.
If you had
No, sir.
bad Bengali.
If you had
No, sir.
habits of Bengalis.
If she had
No, sir.

come in the winter, you would have been

come to class, you would have heard very

lived there, you would have seen the bad
cleaned it, it would not be so filthy.

If you had come at that time, you would not have

No, sir.
seen the city so dirty.

338
5.

Pattern: sentence 5.
a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

6.

b.
c.
d.
e.

b.
c.

d.

when it gets cold, people stay in their houses.

I speak Bengali to you, I speak more easily.
when you orb to Bengal, you will see.
when you come to see me again, you will see.
when the refugees came, the city became dirty.

But even if
been cold.
But even if
be good.
But even if
liked then.
But even if
cigarettes.
Jut even if
the streets

I had not come in the summer, I would not have

you had not learned to speak, your Bengali would
I had not known so many Bengali::, I would have

your wife had cleaned, you smoke (/kha/)

the refugees had not come, the bulls would be in

Pattern: sentence 8.
a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

9.

Yes,
When
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

8.

is the place so cold in the winter?

why is your Bengali so good out of class?
are the habits of Bengalis so bad?
are your habits so good?
is the dirt the fault of the refugees?*

Pattern: sentence 6.
a.

7.

when
Then
Then
Then
Then

How can you say that? If it were not so cold in the winter,
more people would like the city.
How can you say that? If I had not learned to speak Bengali,
I would not know the language well.
How can you say that? If you have not gone to Bengal, how
can you know Bengalis?
That is true.
If I did not smoke so many cigarettes, perhaps
my room would be neater.
How can you say that? If there were not so many people the
city would be clean.

Pattern: sentence 9.

Look, if people did not like the place, they would not come
here.

* a possible construction is /ta hole norga rephiuji der dose hoeche/.

339
b.
c.

d.

e.

10.

b.
c.

d.
e.

If you did not smoke so many cigarettes, your

room
would be cleaner
Look, if people would abandon their
bad habi6s, the city would
be cleaner.

Still, if we could prevent people from coming here

in the
winter, we would do so.
Still, if we could prevent people
from learning only reading,
we would teach them better Bengali.
Still, if Bengalis would stop talking
of Bengal, they would
be more popular.
If I would stop my cigarette smoking,
my wife would be happier.
If you would tell us how to prevent people
from sleeping on
the streets, we would be very happy.

Pattern: sentence 12.

a.

b.
c.
d.

e.

12.

Yes.

Pattern: sentence 11.

a.

11.

Look, if people do not learn to

read Bengali, they do not
know the language.
Look, if there were not so many Bengalis
here, I would not
know them so well.

I don't consider
I don't consider
1 don't consider
I don't consider
I don't consider
is enough.

that coming here in the winter is so bad.

that speaking a language is enough.
that speaking of one's own country is so bad.
that smoking cigarettes is good.
that stopping people sleeping on the street

Pattern: sentence 14.

a.

b
c.

d.

Can you imagine, if someone from Ceylon

came here in the
winter, what he would say?
Can you imagine, if someone could not speak
a language, what
people would say?
Can you imagine, if you talked only about
your country, what
people would say?
Can you imagine) if you smoked cigars, what
your wife would
say?
Can you imagine, if people slept on the streets of New York,
what people would say?
lesson 1

Sentence 'Drills

--Nareshbabu, your Calcutta is a very beautiful city.

34.0

--Mr. Jones, if you had lived in Oitupr Road or in Sealdah (/6ealda/),

you would not have said that.
--Even if I had lived in those places, people would have taken care of me.
--If you had not lived in Park Street, you would certainly have become
ill.

--Even though I lived in Park Street, I became ill.

--Then why do you think that Calcutta is such a pleasant place?
--Even if I had found it ugly, I would have liked it.
If there were not so many people, the
--But there are so many people.
city would be cleaner.
--If the city were cleaner, it would not be such an interesting place.
--Mr. Jones, you are a strange American.
Drill 2
--That is a big old house.
--Yes, Rabindranath Tagore and his family used to live in that house.
--Really? If we had lived fifty years ago, perhaps we woula have come
to see him there.
--Yes, if we had lived in those days, perhaps we would have been
invited to meet him.
--I have heard that there used to be two hundred people in his family.
--Yes, and they all lived here. We would have been very fortunate, i.1
we had been born into that family.
--Why would we have been so fortunate?.
--Because we would have grown up among writers and painters and
musicians.
--But is is not always good to be surrounded by great men.
--Why do you say that? If we had lived in this house, we would
ourselves be great writers or painters.
--Perhaps not. If our friend Oatyen ( /gotten /) had not been the son of
a great painter, perhaps he would be a better painter today.
Lesson 19, part 5.
jaega

place

kllaeilpi

artist

giouitogg8

musician
illness
dirt, filth

nEiukh

dos

fault

Vocabulary.

gire thakporibe6Tito thak-

be surrounded

jonmabovo hl-

be born
grow up
be built up
consider
smoke cigarettes

gore o/hbhab-

tagaret kha-

31
6undor
osustho

beautiful
ill

odbhut
ajob

strange

mohot

great

bhaaoban

fortunate, lucky

6otti

really, truly
always

gob 6omoe

nimontrito
amontrito

Note:

He becomes ill.

tini 06ustho hon

tar 06ukh kore

invited

Lesson 20

art 1.

Analysis and translation

1.

Conversation.

Bengali

high stem of verb

/de-/, "give"
2nd person singular
imperative ending
future imperative, "give";

t9"

di-0

see Gramma:71 1.

-,01

IMO

dio

A. Mhenyougoto Calcutta,

A.

give this money to my

brother.

3 egt94 v414101(.0 4NIV

LSIA

b-rvi-61-7fro

Ito

31.57131 UM-4

tumi
kolkatate gie
ei takagulo
dio "
2.

amar bhaike

Note that /hole/ is not conditional here. The conditional

conjunctive can be translated by "when", depending on context.
B. All right. And when
meet your brother, shall

B.

=SET

MI! WINTRT "Ort11?1 mst-mr

urco

4ffRIT

accha " ar tomar bhaier some

dakha hole
take kichu
bolbo
I

ki "
(a)

A. No, ;just Five the pioney,

to him.

A.

9T

na
variant stem of verb
/ne-/, "bake"
2nd person singular
imperative ending
present imperative "take"

"04ff OTrO linfT517401- 191

kebol take

na-o

nao

-G
9 TO

'

takagulo dio "

343
verb stem, "place,
guard, keep"
2nd person present
imperative, "guard"
"carefully"

UP4-

rakhrakho

sabdhane

YT174<TI'ff

(b)

A. Take the money in a box

and guard it carefully.

A.

07YsT IMT510,(Mi VoT9'

441T 4T

9TG 3117

tumi Vakaplo

kono bak6ote
ar sabdhane rakho "

nao

conjunctive, "that,
lest"; see Lesson 21,

jmno

V41

Grammar, 2.

verb stem, "be lost"

hara-

VT-417-

(c)

A. See that it doesn't

get lost (i.e., keep it
carefully lest it get

1-T4 4 J1

T I

-21V1-11

Amkho jmno

harae na "

lost).

high stem of verb

/kha-/, "eat"
2nd person singular
imperative ending
future imperative, "eat"
"how, how about that?"
B. All right. But before 1
leave the country, come to
ply house

and

eat one cilm.

khe-o

-117

kheo

kmmon

-C4q"q

B. 7TT I 1149FWINTM 1.14 Z7V6fitIf

wrim zrivrco a>1 dIC-P19. r43
eck1-9.

How about it?

aecha " kintu
amar des chavar
a e
tumi amar
ite 262222rdin
kheo " kmmon "
'

"instead"

5.

IY
Aa

lia_gattftalt_iaa_taI
with us tomorrow.

boron

ZRA
e-4.14s1 ?RR

YlITTVIG

31T5Int ofrq dTTITMI

na
tumi boron
agapi kal
amader bonge
kheo "
'

344
A. I am going now, OK?

A. 09' B14

1-0949'

khon cola
6.

noun, "rain"

brigIi

high stem of verb

/jai, "go"

je-

2nd person singular

future imperative, "go"

jeo

B. Igo, don't go home in

this rain.

B. 9T

Ij1.exInsteadste.e-Loslay.

B.

.4

I1111;

na
B.

kmmon "

Trig 91-

ei bri6tite

verb stem, "stop"

thaw- =-

compound verb stem,

'tome to a stop"

theme

A. Look, the rain outside

has almost stopped.

A.

Tn1

aj thako "

znit-4 q?Iterm
baire

t eme e = eche

"umbrella"

chata

"easily (without
di2ficulty)"

nnaesee

ala1111AaAala12att
home easily,.

"PiCtr6n-Yr--

dmkho

A. kalY.ALLITIM.alant11111

bari jeo na "

arC9'ZI3St 5TU QT.TrqT

ekhane boron

bri6

LIG)K.

'rae

'

59Tang

OFT9111Tv r<Rizr Leti3T, wroT rrre

'

am

ek a chata dao
.naease
baK

talamaebo "

drrsirz t3T

Vcr-rmr

1_2.101 'CO I

,mar to ',kono chata nei "

bor6ati

i*J1

TeMt

UTIV UFM-1171 W177.2 TzTO fiTVW1

to holei

"raincoat"

WrZT

ainake kebol

3. I have no umbrella.

345
B. Take my raincoat instead.

B.

.9,,r4 ZMk 3(14143 erftri

tumi boron
122 "
9.

A. Good.
In that case,
give me your raincoat.

A. WI I

'

OT

A.

<4.11

high stem of verb

/ken-/, "buy"
2nd person singular future imperative, "buy"
B. All right. Before you
come tomorrow, buy these
things for me, OK?

Ari-

kino

-1-4r9T

ami pherot dobo "

kin-

B.

nie

tomar bor6atita

'

Ohl l 1 q CO1Jo CliVIT

..-447M

kal 60kale
10.

amar bor6atiIa

6r1 ZOTsTRI <411631-970

be6 " ta hole

dao "
A. I shall return it
tomorrow morning.

16W WO I

on

Wff U-1714T4

01 U-IsTrd

51 .c11 "1 T9T ,

VI 4,11

accha " kal a6bar age

amar jonne
ei jinisgulo
kino " kamon "
'

11. A. Look, tomorrow I will

not have the time.

A.

daekho

"self"; see Grammar, 4.

'

'

60moe hobe na"

-en
eno

dE9T

t9TU NW 1

A.

tumi blro

12. B. All right. Then I

shall go myself.

'TO 9T

i'fff

amar to kal

nije, nijei

high stem of verb

/an-/, "bring, fetch"
2nd person singular
future imperative,
"bring, fetch"
A. Instead, go and get
them yourself.

3tT9ITTU TOT

I7*1

B.

TITW

OT

'

1 0(.11

nije gie kine eno "

al t4 T9Ta`-i. IITT4T

accha " ta hole

'

ami nijei jabo "

314.6

Lesson 20, part 2.

Grammar.

Formation and use of the future imperative. As there is no future

imperative in English, both present and future imperatives in Bengali
have only one translation.
1.

1.1.

The future imperative of the 2nd person ordinary of all verbs is

formed by the ad.qttion of the 2nd person imperative ending /-o/ to the
high stem, thus:
Stem

Gloss

kend6chkorson-

buy

kin-o

see
do

dekh-o
kor-o

hear

sun -o

jen-o

de-

know
give

ja-

go

je-o

dkha-

show

dekhi-o

jan-

Future Imperative

di-o

1.2.

The future imperative in the honorific form is identical with the

simple future honorific:
ken-

buy

kinben

1.3.

The future imperative is used to indicate that a command or wish

is to be carried out at some future time, thus:
After eating, read this.
When you get there, call him.

khabar porle$a po'o

6ekhane poachettake cleko"

1.4.

Be wary of the use of negatives with imperative expressions.

negative imperative will be treated in Lesson 21.
2.

2.1.

The

The formation of "adverbs" in Bengali.

The class of words called "adverbs" by western grammarians is

sometimes paralleled in Bengali by a formation consisting of a noun or
adjective with the suffix /-e/ or the suffix /bhabe/.
Of the former type
we have two examples in this lesson:

347
carefully, care
carefully, (in care)

6abdhan

easy, ease
easily, in ease

60hoj

6abdhane

60hoje

The suffix /-bhabe/ means "in the condition of".

2.2.

silence, silent
silently, (in a condition of silence)

Therefore:

mouno
mounobhabe

This /-bhabe/ formation is more frequent in 6adhu-bha6a or literary

Bengali than it is in the colloquial language. Note that the two morphs,
/-e/ and - /bhabe /, are not always substitutable for one another.
3.

The partical /to/.

It sometimes
The particle /to/ has a great variety of uses,
But perhaps the most common
implies doubt on the part of the speaker.
3.1.

use is a purely stylistic one: the particle is used in the sentence

simply because it sounds good to the ear of the speaker. There has been
much speculation on the use of this particle, some people feeling that
it is used to lengthen a breath-group to proper portions. But it seems
as if all that can be said about it is that it has an esthetic rather
Thus, its use is difficult to teach. The student
than a semantic value.
will simply have to listen to enough Bengali to allow his ear to become
sufficiently adjusted to the rythms of the language to tell him when
the particle should be used.

It should be noted, however, that in some cases /to/ does have

definite assignable semantic value. For example, it can have the force
of the .143nglish expressions "so, at any rate, whatever else happens", as:
3.2.

So you'll go anyway.
So you'll go whether anyone else
else goes or not.

apni to jaben"

So you're well?
You're well, aren't you?

apni bhalo achen to"

Take careful note of the intonation of the above expressions.

The particle may have the force of "since, but, although"
relating to the previous and subsequent utterances in the discourse.
3.3.

348
An example of this is in sentence 8.
But/since I have no umbrella,
take my raincoat instead
3.4.

The particle may also function for /ta hole/:

If you will come tomorrow,

that will be good.
4.

amar to'kono chata nei'boro/3 amar

bor6atita nao"

tumi jodi'kal a6olto bhalo hoe"

The use of /nije/.

The form /nije /, "self", is uninflected for person (though it agrees in

case with its noun or pronoun, as we shall see), and can be used with all
nouns or pronouns:
I myself shall go.

You yourself buy it.

ami nije jabo"

tumi jije oIa keno"

Lesson 20, part 3.

1.

Pattern: sentence 1.
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.
2.

Patterns.

If you go to Delhi, take this letter to my sister.

If you go to Calcutta, take this book to my father.
If you go to Calcutta, send these things to my brother.
If you go to Delhi, tell my brother that I am well.
If you go to Calcutta, tell my brother that I shall come home soon.

Pattern: sentence 2.
a.

b.

When I meet your sister, what should I tell her?

When I take the book to your father, shall I take him anything
else?

c.

When I send them to your brother, shall I send him a letter also?

d.

When I meet your brother, shall I give him anything from you?
When I meet your brother, shall I ask him to send you anything?

e.
3.

Pattern: sentence 3(a).

b.

Nothing. Just take the letter to her.

No, just take the book to him.

c.

No, but bring back a letter from him.

d.

No, just tell him that he must write soon.

No, just go and meet him.

a.

e.

11111.111111"Prs.-wpmwww.T-7

31.9
Pattern: sentence 3(b).
a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

4.

5.

Pattern: sentence 4.
a.

All right.
me.

But before I go to Delhi, come to my house and see

b.

All right.
the book.

But before I leave Delhi, come to my house and bring

c.

All right.
But before I go to Calcutta, go and tell Ram that
I want to see him.

d.

All right.
But before I reach Delhi, call your brother and
tell him that I am coming.

e.

All right.
But before I leave here, come and give me your
brother's address.

Pattern: sentence 5.
a.

b.
c.

6.

No, instead, you come to my house. Now I have to go home.

All right.
I shall come tonight. Now I have to go home.
No, instead you go and see Ram. Now I have to go home.

d.

No, instead you call him when you reach Delhi.

to go home.

e.

No, instead you come to my house.

Now I have

Now I have to go home.

Pattern: sentence 6.
a.

d.
c.

d.
e.

7.

Take the letter with you and guard it carefully.

It is a valuable book; guard it carefully.
Bring the letter carefully; see that it doesn't get lost.
Tell him that I want a letter from him; see that he understands.
Tell him that I will write him soon.

No,
No,
No,
No,
No,

don't
don't
don't
don't
don't

go outside in this rain. stay here for a while.

come tonight. Come and stay tomorrow night.
go outside in this heat. Stay here today.
go outside without a hat. Take my hat.
go home now.
Stay here tonight.

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

b.
c.

Look, the rain has stopped.

Only give me a little money,
and I'll be able to get home on the tram.
Look, I must come tonight. Only give me your key, and I will
come and wait for you.

Look, the heat outside is not so bad.

and I'll be able to get home easily.

Only give me your hat,

350

8.

9.

d.

Look, the sun is not hot.

Only give me a piece of cloth and
I'll be able tc get home easily.

e.

Look, I have to go now. Only give me your address, and I'll

be able to come back easily.

Pattern: sentence 8.
a.

I have no idoney.

b.

I have no key.

c.

I have no hat.

d,

I have no cloth.

e.

I have no pencil.

Walk instead.

Come tomorrow night instead.

Take my umbrella instead.

In that case, give me your umbrella.

night.

I will return it tomorrow

b.

In that case, give me your brother's key.

tonight.

c.

In that case, give me your umbrella. I will return it tomorrow.

In that case, give me your umbrella. I will return it soon.
In that case, give me your pen.
I will return it immediately.

d.
e.

I will return it

Pattern: sentence 10.

a.

b.
c.
d.
e.

11.

You write it down instead.

Pattern: sentence 9.
a.

10.

Take my hat instead.

All right.
All right.
All right.
All right.
All right.

Before you come tomorrow, call me at the office

Before you come back, call my brother and tell him.
Before you return it, call me at home.
Before you come back, buy these things for me.
Before you write, shake the pen.

Pattern: sentence II.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

No,
No,
No,
No,
No,

I will not have the time.

Call me yourself.
I will not be able to.
Call him yourself.
I will not be able to call. Call me yourself.
I will not have the time. Buy them yourself.
shake it yourself.

Lesson 20, part 4. Sentence Drills.

Drill 1
--When you come to my house tomorrow, bring your sitar with you.
--All right.
Shall I also return the book you gave me?

--No, I don't want the book. Just bring the sitar. We'll listen to
some music.
You bring the food tomorrow night, and I'll bring my
--All right.
instrument.
--When you get home, ask hathur whether or not he will come.
He has gone to a movie.
--I won't see him tonight.
--Then ask him when you see him in class tomorrow.
Come and eat with me tomorrow night, before the party.
--All right.
--No, I can't. Idy friends are coming. You come and eat with us instead.
--Perhaps.
--All right.

I'll tell you tomorrow.

Tell me tomorrow.

Drill 2
--Tipu, when you finish cooking, shine my shoes.
--Yes, saheb, when I finish cooking, I shall shine your shoes.
--When you finish shining my shoes, go to the market. And when you go,
don't put any money in your own pocket.
--Yes, saheb, I shall go to the market. I shall not steal any money.
--When you get back from the market, clean the room.
--Yes, 8aheb, when I get back, I shall clean the room
- -Jhen you finish cleaning the room, make some luci.
--Yes, saheb, I shall make some luci for you.
- -After that, I want you to clean the brassware.
--Yes, saheb, I shall clean the brassware.
have you anything to say?
--All right.
--Yes, saheb, starting tomorrow, find another bearer
Lesson 20, part 5.

ranna
pali6
ka6ar-ba6on
thikana
roddur
upi
train (gavi)

Vocabulary.

cooking
shine, polish
brassware
address
heat (of day
hat
tram

mkkhana kapov

key
piece of cloth

kolom

pen

cabi

sunshine

352
daini

valuable

pori6kar korjhar
pherot de

clean

kal theke

from tomorrow

shake (an object)

return (an object)

Conversation.

Lesson 21, part 1.

Bengali

Analysis and translation

1.

Note the use of /amader/ without a noun or post-position;

substitutable would be /amader 6onge/, /amader barite/1 etc.
The negative particle /na/ with present imperative:

"why dont you ."

thako na

"why don't you stay

A. Bob, why don't you stay

here with us today`?

2.

'

aj amader ekhane

apotti

"objection"

B. Look, Varuk, I have no

objection, but do you
now

Tra 3r 1q11-9.* 0211-9. 2r1Tqf 91

A. q<
bob

B.

27-01"

TZT VW9 avere

1.9 *1

04 1 OlA
kono
amar to
drkho pharuk
apotti nei " tobe ki jano
bmpar

noun, "matter, trouble"

it
"why don't you tell

'

414TTITU

boloi na act 91
A.

1J

41791131

ki bmpar

4.

"again and again"

"ever"; see Grammar, 2.

ZIVIT 9T

bolo na

emphatic

A. Why don't you say what

the trouble is?

thako

'

wer

'

3.

barbar

<Ceer

9T ?

boloi na "
al *11 ci

6411
jmno abar
ga
"village"
The negative particle /na/ with future imperative = negative
imperative, "Do not

354
"Do not stay

ll

theko na

B. Mr. Dunn has said again

and again, "Do not ever
stay in a village at

B.

*NkTV
1111(A9

191-0T 9T

011 <1%411.0_41TM

mistar (1.an

rate
na "

A. Why is that?

A.

ftwmn

(.241 UTKW rAhn 'MOT 9T

I'

barbar bole diechen'

jmno abar
gAe theko

'

'

'

V.:139. Zirq'T t3T ?

kmno bolo to "

6.

"very great" (emphatic

of /bovo/)

b044o

noun, "inconvenience"
"apart from that

06ubidhe
ta chaVa

B. He was saying, "In the

village there is very
great difficulty of
food and accomodation,
and apart from that ...

7.

Note the word order.

matter of style.

-'rerff

<irjr

'Cal"

7-1;.!;-r.
61

tj

0(

tfrrar 2f
21 ur Wr-qi

-r Tro

tini bolchilen
gae thaka
khaoar ' bopo 0Subidhe " ta
chara
'

The place of the pronoun subject is a

A. What did he say apart

from that?

A. OT

UT?" '1

ta chaza
8.

6131;t4111

"snake"

sap

"snakes and other

such things"

64-khop,

"very much" (used with

quantities measurable
but not countable)
noun, "trouble, danger,
disturbance"

'

al.

i H 1I ?

ar ki bolechen tini "

grei

bejae

upodrob

sap -Iap

WUTIZ

Oet34

)TTMTff

YITI4Tef

355
B. He was saying that in the
village there is lots of
trouble with snakes and

Toil

tZT 511Va TIT4I-TITVPTU

WUTP (V074

such.

tini bolchilen je
gae
sap-khoper
bejae upodrob "
'

9,

"perhaps"

WOT

hoeto

A. Look, perhaps he's

right about that.

OT IQIl

A.

7I5T TM: .161(.1

dmkho
ta tini hoeto
bolechen "

A. But still, we live among

the snakes and such.

But do

thiki

A. UM 0179.1541T roT ATI-TVITVW sITOrt

zr-rx

tube amra to
bag korchi "
10. B. That's true.
you know

'

sap-khoper majhei

'

um

B.

wr-c-qr

ta thik " tobe ki jano

11.

reflexive pronoun, "one's

self" Note agreement
with noun or pronoun.
I understand -- you yoursell will be greatly inconvenienced, isn't that

nije

14cia

"MI MI

A.

'NW!.

*174,,a3i71-4R,t1

MI 9T ?

VI

bujechi " tomar nijer

khub
06ubidhe hole
tai na "

`:

'

'

12.

For uses of /kotha/, see Grammar, 3.

J. 1121naLEIAELLIALIIIIa
about inconvenience.

B.

9T
9T

9T

67% U71-0111?1' :41211* UrRrIt

na na
ami
bhabchi na "
13.

comvoand verb stem,

"spend (time)"

'

ogiubidher kltha

kalie j aW, kaIa- 414116TU

356
A. In that case, why don't
you spend the night here
with me?

A.

113 34

6ffs1131 02C1T9'

31" !zci

We 9-r
ta hole ' raga ' amar
ka$ie jao na "
ekhane

14.

"true, honest"

at5ol

B. All right, Faruk; in that

case, let me tell you the
true story.

l5. A. What's the matter then?

B.

orPiof

711 71-4(W

OT WI 3T7T w-mr

dmkho pharuk " to hole

kothata boll "
A.

ZITTITC

agiol

(Af,P1

ki bmpar bolo to "

16.

pe$

"belly, stomach"
"today, these days"

aj

B.

B. My stomach is very
bad these days.

UTU

oiN131 VISIT 3T

i WUTP *IT.4T1

amar veIta ' af1 bejae kharan "

B. And do you know what the

doctor said to me?

B.

olki 0110/1315-TV1-0

ar

3P-4 grcqr4 FT
ki boleche

4aktar awake
"

17. A. What did the doctor say?

A.

koril 4r-4 zgrrci4

aaktar
18.

ki bolcche

Note use of /jmno/; see Grammar, 2.

"this and that"

ja-ta

derogatory feeling

MaTallat=t4211.1=1.....114=1,
e

eaul eab

hL

thitor

W-3T

untrz vari -inns/

iftm tna

WI Ull-e7 ve IT l'

..rid

dekho
ciaktar bole dieche
ja-ta kheo na' "
gde gie jmno
'

'

357
19.

"only" (Persian)

sreph

"liquid curry"

jhol

"curry and rice"

jhol-bhat

A. Why will you eat "this

and that"? In my house
you eat only curry and

A.

"OrTq'

WM-5TO

41T-OT *Mc< GII ? MiriC 41-$173 LuP

"OrTff-51-0 *ITV!

rice.

20.

TZU

ja-ta khabe kmno " amar bavite

sreph jhol-bhat
khao "

'

Vor this use of /abar/, see Grammar, 4.

B. But won't you be inconveniencing yourselves

on my account?

B. :1,1g TU 51(.11 V5TVI-C7U ard-rd

4(.11 TOT ?

tomader abar
kintu amar jonne
08ubidhe
hobe to "
'

21.

exclamation of about the

strength of "Good heavens!"
A. Good heavens, no. Don't
consider such things.

are

A.

a-1(A 9T

are

A. It will be no inconvenience for me.

A.

al(A1

'

B.

oiNici WT9 UY1:41"4-C

1,447

B.

OT 4V1

idiom, "pay attention to"

(lit. "give ear to")
"so much"

9T

'

colo "

UTORT WriGTU Urt I

"M'sTrd <11

tomar bavite
191 "
23.

kono 06ubidhe hobe na "

be6 " to hole

B. Let's spend tonight
at your house.

n- raw 9T

9T 16 TRT

na na " o 6013 kotha bhebo na "

amar

22. B. OK, in that case,

let's go.

kan de-

oto 5

'

aj ratja ' katie

4T9 "M-

38
A. Look, Bob, don't pay so
much attention to Mr.
Dunn's stories.

A.

Kff*i

Tqg 9T

U1-9. Al6 6457 WTU U5 14-{

dmkho bob
dan 6aheber kothae
oto kan dio na "
'

A. Listen to me a minute.

A.

UT9TM L.W3T 4WT TNTOT I

amar mk a kotha
24. B. What is it?

25.

B.

ono "

'

NI WIT 41-M- TOT ?

ki kotha bolo to "

For this use of /k1tha/, see Grammar, 3.
"east"

"know this for sure,

believe me"

A. Believe me, it's important that you spend a

little time in an East
Bengal village.

T1

purbo, pub

e kotha jeno
A.

LVIUT- COL T1

GC04111 fi7A 1."7-t

fff-TU tW0 ;4M /1.6101 1KI114

e kotha ileno je

banlar gae
dorkar "
26. B. Why,?

17X

B.

Wq

'

tomar
purbo
kichukal katano
'

'

'

T TZT ?

kmno bolo to "

27.

"exactly, perfectly"
"exactly, perfectly"

A. Because you want to know

East Bengal thoroughly.

Ihik

thikbhabe
A.

"ft45TW

4TUff oc,,N tT q7,4

M775 b1-6

karon
tumi to purbo banlake
thikbhabe jante cao "
'

28. B. Right.

B.

1u alT 4161 OT -144

tumi ja bolcho

'

B. But I'm not coming here

B. 50 <40.1.1(.0 0C1.0
again in the rainy season.

'

:ta thik "

(.9.20-0 a1)fi

tobe
bor6a kale
aechi na "

'

9T I

ar ekhane

'

359
29. A. OK, next time come in
the cool season.

A. WI

drCTI

be6
kale

A. And bring your wife

then too.

5T tlr1

'
'

ta hole
eao "

A. U17 349.

B. 714T
12Z

Then let's go to
31. A. Good.
my house now.

it

'

'

tomar strikes

Urt 61-1-9=

eno "

'

ZT Qcci d*Fff 6MTNI i OBI Lo Uriffr

'

mkhon

'

amar

tren

loan word, "train"

loan word, "ticket"

tiket

1t43
te-onT tvc-ffr

A.

kal boron

B. bar kIri

32. B. Let's go.

parer bar

'

7511TR5711-13 L5C9T

be6 " ta hole

barite colo "

A. Buy the train ticket

tomorrow instead.

T''M

tai anbo "

'

A. T49.

904011 a i Si 41175

ar tokhon

30. B. Yes, I'll bring her then.

'

trener tiketta

'

kino "

Colo 'ad "

Lesson 21, part 2.

1.

Grammar.

Negative imperatives.

It was noted in Lesson 20 that the future imperative (high stem

plus imperative endings) can be used to indicate an action that is to be
Imperatives both present and future
carried out at some future time.
can be used with the negative particle /na/; in such cases, however, the
logic of English grammar cannot be applied. The situation is as follows:
1.1.

A negative form of the future imperative indicates a prohibition

in either present; or future time. Examples are sentences 4, 18, 21,
1.2.

23; other examples:

36o
take'kichu dio na"

Don't (ord.) give him anything.

tar kachtheke'kichu kino na"

Don't (ord.) buy anything from him.

The use of the negative particle /na/ with the present imperative
indicates a positive request, which mught be translated by the English
"Why don't you ...11; for example:
1.3.

oIa dao na"

6onde4a, khao na"

Why don't you give it (to me)?

Why don't you eat the 6ande6 (i.e., please eat
it)?

1.4.

The same situation holds for the honorific imperative:

kichu khan na"
kichu khaben na"

Why don't you eat something?

Don't eat anything (with intonation of command).

Pay special attention to the taped drills.

It will be clear that
intonation helps to make clear the distinction between command and
1.5.

request.

The form /khabe na/ can be used to specify a future negative

ordinary; but the same distinction exists between /kheo na/ and /khabe
na/ as in English between "do not do something" and "you will not do
something", the latter being a command made in the form of a statement.
Such a form can be used only in certain situations, as when speaking to
a subordinate in rank.
1.6.

2.

The form /jano/, as in sentence 4.

/jamo/ as used here is a difficult form to translate.

The significance
is, in sentence 4, "see that you don't have to stay ...", "take care lest
you stay ...n. Another example:

take khoborIatjano deoa na

hoe"

(Take care) lest he be given the news.

(See that) he is not given the news.

See also Lesson 20, part 1, sentence 3.

3.

The form /kotha/:

Again, the word varies rather widely in terms of lexical meaning.

3.1.

It can mean "about, relating to", and in such cases can be replaced by /bi60e/ or /60mmondhe/.
Sentence 12 could read, without

1111111111110411.-..-

361
change of meaning:

ami106ubidher bi6oe'bhabchi na"

3.2.

It can mean, literally, "story" or "word", as in sentence 14.

Another example:

6otti, 6ottikotha

truth, (lit. "true word")

3.3.

It can mean, as a noun, "matters" (or as in the general sense in

English, "things"); see for example sentences 21, 25.
You will have realized by this time that there are in Bengali a
large number of what might be called "filler words" which sometimes have
definable lexical meaning and sometimes not. A Bengali speaker will
sometimes say in regard to these words that there is a slight emotional
content which is lent to the utterance by their use, but that this
content is very difficult to specify.
In other words, by leaving them
out, literal meaning is not changed, but some suggestive element is lost.
Such words are /to/, which we have met frequently before, and, as in
sentence 4 here, /abar/. By omitting /abar/ in sentence 4, the meaning
of the utterance would remain the same, but an overtone would be lost.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to teach students when to use these
forms.
Their use has to do with the natural rhythm of the language, a
sense of which can be gained only by listening to Bengali speakers over
a long period of time.
4.

Any word in Bengali can be reduplicated, the second part beginning

with /V/. Examples:
5.

boi-Voi

"books and such"

dmkha-Vmkha
attio-Vattio

"looking around and so on"

"relatives and such"

Frequently this type of reduplication indicates a slightly derogatory

or informal attitude on the part of the speaker.
5.1.

There are more polite and formal ways to express "and such";
polite forms of the above would be:

dmkha-6akha
attio-60jon

"looking around and so on"

"relatives and such"

362
Lesson 21, part 3.

1.

Pattern: sentence 1.
a.

b.
c.
d.

e.

2.

b.
c.

d.
e.

don't
don't
don't
don't
don't

you
you
you
you
you

spend the night here with us?

spend some time in Bengal with us?
spend the week there with them?
rest here a while with us?
come and live with us?

I have no objection; but my father has said, "See that you do

not stay out tonight."
I have no objection; but my instructions are: "See that you do
not stay too long in one place."
I have no objection; but my father has said, "See that you do
not go to their house."
I have no objection; but my mother has said: "See that you do
not delay at all."
I have no objection; but my father has said: "See that you do
not stay outside the hostel."

Pattern: sentence 5 and 8.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

4.

Why
Why
Why
Why
Why

Pattern: sentence 2 and 4.

a.

3.

Patterns.

Why is that?
Why is that?
Bengal?
Why is that?
their house?

Does he think there are dangers here?

Does he think that there are lots of dangers in
Does he think that there will be trouble at

Why is that? Does she think that there is inconvenience to us?

Why is that? Does he think that there is danger in staying
outside the hostel?

Pattern: sentence 9.
a.

b.
c.

d.

e.

Yes, and perhaps he's

such things.
Yes, and perhaps he's
and such.
Yes, and perhaps he's
constant uproar.
Yes, and perhaps he's
relatives and such.

right.

You live among snakes and other

right.

There are lots of dangers of snakes

right.

They live in the middle of a

right.

You live with all kinds of

Yes, and perhaps he's right.

such.

There are dangers from robbers and

363

5.

Pattern: sentence 11.

a.

b.
c.

d.

e.

6.

Pattern: sentence 12.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

7.

b.
c.

d.
e.

he's not thinking about my own inconvenience.

he's not thinking about inconvenience at all.
he's not thinking about their own inconvenience.
she's not thinking about your own inconvenience.
he's not thinking about anyone's inconvenience.

In
In
In
In
In

that
that
that
that
that

case,
case,
case,
case,
case,

why
why
why
why
why

don't
don't
don't
don't
don't

you
you
you
you
you

stay here with us?

spend some time in Bengal with us?
stay with them?
stay here a while?
stay here; there are no dangers.

Pattern: sentence 14, 16, 18.

a.

b.
c.

d.

e.

9.

No,
No,
No,
No,
No,

Pattern: sentence 13.

a.

8.

I understand. He thinks that you yourself will be greatly

inconvenienced; isn't that it?
I understand. He thinks that we ourselves will be inconvenienced; isn't that it?
I understand. He doesn't think that they themselves wila be
inconvenienced, does he?
She thinks that we ourselves will be inconveI understand.
nienced; is that it?
I understand. He doesn't think that we ourselves will be inconvenienced, does he?

Let me tell you the true story. My stomach is very

All right.
The doctor told me: "Don't eat this and that.
bad.
All right. Let me tell you the true story. ky health is bad,
and the doctor told me: "Don't stay in hot places."
Let me tell you the true story. My health is bad,
All right.
and the doctor told me: Don't go where there is trouble."
Let me tell you the truth. My mother is angry, and
All right.
she told me: "Don't go to Kabir's house."
Let me tell you the truth. My father doesn't like
All right.
you; he told me: "Don't go and stay with them. 11

Pattern: sentence 19.

a.

b.

will you eat this and that? You will eat good food.
Why does he say that? In Bengal the weather will not be hot.

364.
c.
d.
e.

10.

Tattern: sentence 20.

d.

But
But
But
But

e.

But you will inconvenience yourselves on my account.

a.

b.
c.

11.

Why does he say that? There will be no trouble at his house.

Why does she say that? In my house we will feed you well.
Why does he say that? In our house perhaps you will be very
happy?

won't you be inconveniencing yourselves on my account?

you should not inconvenience yourselves on my account.
they should not inconvenience themselves on my account.
don't inconvenience yourselves on my account.

Pattern: sentence 21.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Don't even consider such things.

There will be no inconvenience for us; don't even consider it.
Don't worry about all that.
Don't even talk about it.
Don't even mention such things.

Pattern: sentence 23.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

12.

Don't pay
Don't pay
Don't pay
minute.
Don't pay
Don't pay

so much attention to the doctor's stories.

so much attention to his stories.
so much attention to his stories; listen to me a
any attention to such things.
any attention to such stories.

Pattern: sentence 25.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

Believe me, I know it's important for me to spend some time in

a Bengal village.
Believe me, I think it's necessary for me to spend some time in
Bengal.
Believe me, I know it's necessary for me to spend a little time
there
Believe me, you know I want to spend a little time with you.
Believe me, you know that I think it's necessary for me to
spend a little time in a village.

Pattern: sentence 27.

a.

b.

I want to know Bengal thoroughly.

I want to know one part of India thoroughly.

365

c.

d.
e.

I want to know them well.

I want to know you better.
life thoroughly.
I want to know village

Lesson 21, part 4.

Sentence Drills.

Drill I

You won't need them.

India.
things
to
to
--Don't take all those
"Won't you take this
you,"
or
"Do take that with
--But everyone says:
my friend in Bombay.
them that you are going to
Don't
tell
--Tell them that you cannot.
Bombay.
then?
to buy cheaply
- -What shall I take,
you will be able
Many
things
--Take only what you need.
in India.
India?
--What shall I eat in
Drink tea instead.
drink water.
things
or
--Do not eat uncooked
this," what shall I do?
you
eat
"Why don't
--But if someone says,
things.
and cannot eat all those
are
ill
--Say that you
servant in India?
--How shall I get a
friend of mine. He will
:letter
to
a
write a
--After you reach India,
servant.
give you the name of a good
should I give him a job?
to
the
door,
--If someone comes
whom you know.
Give a job only to someone
--No.

Calcutta?
--Where shall I live in
reach there.
--Decide that after you

Drill 2
the university?
--What are you studying at
literature.
--I'm studying Bengali
do read them. They are
If
not,
read the poems of Candidas?
- -Have you
very beautiful.
writers.
well-known Bengali
other
of
some
--Tell me the names
read his work in English
But
dorilt
of course.
--Read Rabindranath,
in Bengali.
Read
it
translation.
that period should I read?
writers
of
--What other
Sarat-candra only afterwards.
Read
--Read Bankim-candra.
I read?
the older period should
writers
of
But don't expect
--What
(bidda-sundor).
Bidya-sundar
--Read Bharat-candra's
it to be a religious poem.

366
--Should I read the Vaisnava writers also?
--Yes, their poetry is very sweet.
But don't read Dina Candidas now.
--Why not?
--His poetry is very difficult.
poets.

Read it after reading other Vaisnava

Lesson 21, part 5.

dorkar
proeojon

need, necessity

cakor

servant

cakri

job

ci4hi

letter

dorja
dhormer kobita

door

nirde6

hostel
jhamela
jh3njhat
muskil

Vocabulary.

religious poem
instruction
hostel, dormitory

6osta

cheap

06ustho

ill

namkora
modhur
06eddo
khu6i

well-known
sweet
uncooked
happy

asa korcinta korderi kor-

(to) hope, expect

(to) delay

trouble

attio-6, jon
(polite)

relatives and such

attio-tattio
4akat-takat

robbers and such

boron
tar bodole

instead

Idioms:

agekar 60moe

older times

rege ache/en

is angry
in the middle of constant uproar

hottogoler rnajhkhane

,r,:p.Atotr

Conversation.

Lesson 22, part 1.

Bengali

Analysis and translation

Note: the conversation is between two women.

1.

verb stem, "eat"

causative suffix for
vowel-stems; see
Grammar, 1.
causative stem, "feed"

kha- qT-oa- -GUT

verbal noun suffix

-ba-

"feeding"

khaoaba-

A. I heard that you have

made arrangements to
feed many people at
Einu's wedding.

*MUT-

khaoa-

A.

6r111/41

---qT-

44TGRIT4T-

ZOTMT

1 oeiciN4

VL11 Z f

f *ITGITT-4T4r4T4T1 IViloal

minur
tomra
khaoabar
onek lokion
biete
koracho "
brebostha

ami 6unlumle

'

'

2.

dit

3rd person nominative

honorific pronoun; the
reference here is clearly
to the speaker's husband.
alternative form of
causative verbal noun stem,
"feeding"; see Grammar, 1.

uni

verb stem, "bring"

causative form of PAP,
"causing/having caused
to bring"
"he has caused to be
brought"; see Grammar,

an- 41q-

1.3.

ts1977 1<w(.0

khaoano-

anie

114TOTITOT-

N1 11 (4

aniechen

UTIPTCP17,9"

368
B. Yes, he has had many kindsIl.
of food and sweets brought
from Calcutta to feed the
people.

Iriol

Vft

r2ro

01(.14 wifq

rgroan *fre.1101.0 Q111

1C44(.1

uni kolkata theke

anek rokom
khabar o mie i
lok'on khaoanzai
Sonne
aniechen "
11:th

3.

type of tiavi made in

'

benarofgi

Benares
verb stem, "wear"

par

causative verb stem,

"dress, cause to wear"
"you will dress"

pora-

el"C--

qaer-

porabe

A. In which Benares Bari

will you dress Mlnu on
her wedding night?

141-T4

ttugs Wira

MITO

minuke
bier rattre
benaro6ita porabe "
'

4.

"the other day"

6e din

"aunt" -- mother's sister

magi
paVha-

verb stem, "send"

"(she) has sent"; see
Grammar, 1.3.

IT \lei
Ott 11

efIZT-

TM-

&cutdmkha

causative verb stem,

"show"
causative PAP, "showing,
having shown"
"1 have shown"

714T-

dekhie

dekhiechi
-e

"you (objective) "

wit

Comae
B.

(1101 r40-61- .1;4701

T7 -11/41-q

sit' frfarnia ver 14

VrigleQ
fge kin

'

map

de h ecl

"day before yesterday"

7114.ret

-r

alternative objective
case ending

5.

kon

papieche

verb stem, "see"

B. have S shown you the red

Benares ea i which Minute
aunt pent he other ay':

r49-14Atr

por6u

401\11i4

e dal benarogi a
ec e
se a

4149;

minur
omae

369
superlative degree, "best,
most of all", see Grammar,

60b cee

"is liked by her"

or pochondo

314 (.D(4

A. Minu herself showed it to

me day before yesterday;
Minu said she likes that
sari best of all.

A.

fiV-It

\41,, -1-9-CUt 011141 (.0 "O'N(.?.1G

"P'917,

4IT-di-6-1 d7 >i<ITI)W

4411.e1

por6u
minu nijei
amake
dekhieche " minu bolle
of
or sob cee pochondo "

it I

'

'

6.

verb stem, "flatter,

become (as clothes)"

B. Do you think that the

aari will become her?

man a-

B.

aria

SOIT9T-

W MT$11,

-0191174. 71,

tomar ki mone hoe

oke
manabe "

'

90111(4

aria

'

verb stem, "dress"

poraporale

conditional conjunctive,
"if you dress"

verb stems "see, appear"

"you will cause to appear"
"rose-colored"
loan word, "veil"
A. If you dress her in that,
you will make her appear
most beautiful; if there
were a rose-colored veil
with it, it would be even
better.

#7-KITfl.

dmkh-

Tffq-

-M174

dmkhabe

golapi
bhel
A.

VAlcffet
Onvf

eST .flurff et<li 1;4 )iceit< 'MT V4

dU
al-MT TU

T5TMT411- tort 401 UTOT

I

ota porale
oke khub 6undor
dmkhabe " er 601Ige
mkta golapi
bhel hole
aro bhalo hoe "
'

'

8.

informal address, used

only between intimates;
see Grammar, 4
pipes and drums played
at weddings
verb stem, "bring"
causative verb stem
"cause to bring"

go

-05TT

nohobot
an-

ana

1440

370
You are having the
B. Yes.
instruments brought,
aren't you?
9

A.

B.

lic5TT
h"thgo

-MD 579TCIET 977

" nohobot

"husband's eldest
brother"

boIpakur

causative verbal noun,

"causing to bring"

anano

noun, "consent"
causative verb stem,
"cause to do"
"persuade"

raji

anaccho_

na "

qln-WX

UT9TOT
Witt

WT-

kora-

raji kora-

MI-st WT-

1.11*,
t"RvcmgerT PloeaT-Ki
7X
husband's eldest brother) A. a'
Urel"
3
G1
YqMc(LQ
ry Q<KD UTMT9TU
and husband's younger
QPUTT9T 72Tait'ffT
brother) both want to
have the instruments
brought, but he (i.e.,
dujoneri
botthakur ar thakurpo
speaker's husband) cannot
kintu oke
nohobot
ananor
icche
be persuaded at all.
jacche na
raji korano
kichutei
I

'

'

'

10.

B.

11.

"seventy"

6ottor

"eighty"

a6i

"bridegroom"

bor

"trip, pilgrimage"

jattra

"traveller"

jattri

compound noun, "bridegroom's companions"

verb stem, "sit"
causative verb stem,
"seat, cause to sit"

borjattri

I hear that about B.

seventy or eighty people
are coming in the groom's
party; where are you going

UTWT
Wine'

to put them ?

brae 6ottor
accha " 6unchi
24jon borjattri asche " to oder
bosaccho kothae "

I see.

diminutive

6mcit

417e"

bo6- aR
bola- qYIT-

97(ff-N 4P4 Aema UMtU9.

9"1" 61.113 q.MRET

1-479171
'

suffix

-Iuku

"such a little"

eetoIuku

"both

ba
jamai

and

noun, "son-in-law"

d337X
ba
51W1

M"...

371
compound noun, "daughter
and son-in-law"

meejamai

verb stem, "rest,

lie down"

6o-

causative verb stem,

"cause to rest"

6oa-

CWLWO-Wi"

T9T-

"MUT-

A. I'm also wondering about

A.
Witie 91 5TTN
03G71.74 WelTj
that -- both where in this
1-4-12CM zrr
wgro:r
little house I'm going to
TVITTU 41"
TnialT4T
put the groom's party, and
where I'm going to have the
bride and groom rest.
amio tai bhabchi
ei wtotuku
barite
kothae ba ' borjattrider
boSabo
ar kothae ba
meejamaike eoabo "
c.9

'
'

12.

"apart from that"

"young"
noun, "sleep"

verb stem, "lay

'

ta chara
5T M771
koci
ghum
Z-07
par'9117-

(somethingjdown"

causative, "cause to lay

down, put to sleep"

para-

causative, "cause to go
to sleep, put to sleep";
see Grammar, 2.3.1.
"quiet, private"

ghum para-

B. Apart from that, it would B.

be a good thing if there
were a secluded room in
your house for putting the
many little children to
sleep.

.17WE1,(qfrir-

niribili

31- MT

ot(A451;TT

aL110
Gct 5-M WI

t Ur

1711,711- ?I
<1 tt 1
LWO-1-

, DI

Erc7:1Hc

1HlSJl4I't c141

ta chara
tomader barite to
onekgulo koci bacca
tader ghum
Pavabar jonneo
mkta
hole
bhalo hoe "
'

'

'

'

13.

verb stem, "arrange,

put in order"

gocha-

"what can be done"

ki kora jae

-011W-

niribilihor

372
A. You're right.
If you
could come one day, we
both could arrange and
prepare the rooms and
see what could be done
where.

A.

ft : f

1tI

I 0 7%

14

OT

f 4 4 T

WI:MT

1-9"*110 ITsloTU 1W21111

UM

thik bolecho " tumi jodi

wkdin
ante parte
to hole
dujone
ghorgulo eajie uchie
dekhte
partam
kothae
ki kora jae "
'

'

'

'

'

'

14.

'

"with my help, by
means of me"

amake die

verb stem, "laugh"

"cause to laugh"
"let it be"

ha6

B. You will arrange the

house with my help.
That makes me laugh.

OiNitl.

iw

41)-1

ha6a
ja hok
B.

Z1T T-Tfl,

otiNTTo t9ITI

5iett1 i.4 13

VIWrff qT TrzT4

amake die
ghor guchobe " tumi
ha6ale
ja hok "
'

'

15.

post-position, "from"
(a person); see
Grammar, 5.

kach theke

"insignificant"
noun, "help"

6amanno

711179T

6ahajjo

7,11 =

A. Why? Can't I get even

this trifling little
help from you?

A.

G<P1 ?

TWO

t TWO

CO114111

41 1 i 311

1k1 1

ot

T-4 311157

vnra

kEeno

4'r1i i< 'Tr ?

" tomar kach theke ki

ami
ei 6amanno eahajjotuku
pete pari
na "
16.

expression of reproach
"neat, fastidious"
"untidy, sloppy"

gochal

"appropriate"
verb stem, "increase"

upojukto
bava-

"(to) overrate (someone)"

-- lit. "increase the
price of"

dam bavie de-

chi chi
0 go chal

'N
tfiTqTfl"

Utigl

eflqraF

TrW .111ipt.0

373
B. Come, now.

It's not that.

You overrate me, thinking
it appropriate for a sloppy person like me to
arrange the house.

ur 9g

qw

:wru

go UT5ITVO
&TT:46175m (3(h.1

u-rwr

91-9,1 <1

4Cci

chi chi
to noe " amar moto
ogochal lokke
ghar sajanor
upojukto bhebe
tumi amar
'

'

'

dam bade dile "

17.

noun, "joke"

verb stem, "cry, weep"

Vhatta
kad4T1I-

causative, "cause to cry"

kada-

A. It's not a joke; tell me

when you are coming. But
if it upsets the baby,
don't come.

A.

0NiI UO

ZTi-T.9q
-/r-ff6r-r"Awr
44)1W &c)1T 9T I

thatta noe " kokhon a6cho bolo "

tube chele kadie
e6o na "
'

18.

colloquial form, "night"

verb stem, "eat"

rattir

causative stem, "feed"

causative PAP, "having fed"
compound stem, "cause
to be fed"

khaoakhaie

"while listening"; see

Grammar, 6.

6unte 6unte

B. I can go tonight even;

when I have the baby fed,
he falls asleep while
listening to a story
from his father.

urIgz

kha*ITOUT-

111M

khaie de-

*11-Wil 17-

97q75 NOW

01W MT<

B. gra

1Trg

II

13?1 <MI<

noiv9

41-C-

5rj

09-791-3

aj rattirei jete pari "

chele ake khaie dile
or babar
kache
golpo sunte sunte ghumie
Pore "
'

noun, "bother, nuisance"

causative verb stem,
"cause to take"
"will have to cause to
take"; see Grammar, 7.
verb stem, "reach"
compound verb, "cause
to reach"

jhamela

neoa-

IITMT
Z311-

neoate hobe

1-9aurra 4.1

poncho -, poachaTeTT4Tpoache de- TOti-M 17-

1-

374

poache dite hobe

"will have to cause

to reach"
B.
B. The bother will be only
this, that you will have
to have someone take me
and bring me back (i.e.,
"cause me to reach home").

TWIT '971-;

iit

tOttt

TOTql-T

TWO T9i3PTTO
)1(AD !m.1

4V5.0
TrIt'M

je tomake
'hamela 6udhu ei
kauke die
awake neoate h,be
ar poache dite hobe "

'

'

011-M

19. A. We'll talk about taking

you home later; I'm wondering about who will
bring you.

IRrIPO. WIT ciriU

1,17r

11970q

(.41

zulQ ur<jM 1

pore h,be "

poache debar kotha
tai
kake die
tomae anal
bhabchi "
'

'

'

Lesson 22, part 2.

1.

Grammar.

Causative verbs.

It will have been noted that the causative stem is formed by the
addition of /-a-/ to consonant-final stems, and /-oa-/ to vowel-finals.
1.1.

Thus:

Consonant stem:

Vowel stem:

p,r-

"wear"

pov-

"read"

kha-

"eat"

ja-

"g0"

Causative:

Causative:

pora-

"cause to wear,
dress"

pop.-

"cause to read,
teach"

khaoa- "cause to eat,

feed"
jaoa-

"cause to go"

The causative verbal noun is formed by the addition of /-no/ to the

1.2.

stem + /a/ or /oa/ complex, thus:

doekha-

"show"

dmkhano

"showing"

ana-

"bring"

anano

"bringing"

paoa-

"cause to get"

paoano

"causing to get"

1.2.1.

The verbal noun suffix /-ba-/, used in the genitive, is also

affixed to the stem + /a/ or /oa/:

375
pora-

"dress"

khaoa-

"feed"

porabar
khaoabar

"of dressing"
"of feeding"

1.2.2.

The case endings are affixed to the /-a-/, /-oa-/, or /-ba-/

suffixes, as in other types of verbal nouns.
1.2.3.

Tense suffixes for the simple tenses and conditional conjunctive

suffix are added to the low stem + causative suffix complex.
deekhabo

"I will show", etc.

bo6alum
koracchi

HI caused to sit", etc.

"I am causing to do", etc.

jaoacchilum
khaoale

"I was causing to go", etc.

"If (I) feed"

1.3.

Tenses formed on the base of the PAP (present completive, past

completive), the PAP itself, and the future imperative are somewhat
different.
1.3.1.

The PAP is formed by the high stem of consonant-stem verbs,

except where the stem-vowel is /a/, plus the suffix /-i-/ plus the PAP
ending /-e/:
kena-

"cause to buy"

kinie

klra-

"cause to do"

korie

"having caused to buy"

"having caused to do"

1.3.2.

The 'AP of consonant-final sterns where the stem-vowel is /a/ and

of vowel-final stems preserves the low stem, and adds the suffix /-i-/
and the PAP ending /-e/:
ha6apaoa-

"cause to laugh"

hake

"having caused to laugh"

"cause to get"

paie

"having caused to get"

1.3.3.

The stems /de-/ and /ne-/ form a separate class, taking high
stems /di-/ and /ni-/:
deoa

"cause to give"

diie

"having caused to give"

1.3.4.

The verb formations based on the PJLP add the regular tense and
personal ending complex to this causative PAP:

koriechi
khaiechi

"I have caused to do"

"I have fed"

376
The future imperative causitive adds the imperative ending 1-0/
to the high stem + /i/ complex:
1.3.5.

2.

bo6io

"seat (him)"

diio

"give (it)"

Non-causative derivative stems:

There is a class of verbs in Bengali which is derived from noun

stems; the shape of the stem-forms of these verbs is CVCa-, or, sometimes
in the colloquial, CVCo-. These are similar to causative stems in shape,
but do not have causative meaning.
some of them we have already met,
for example:
2.1.

2.2.

Noun

Gloss

Verb tem

Gloss

ghum
douy

sleep

ghumo-, ghumadouyo-, douya-

(to) sleep

run

(to) run

This class of verbs has several peculiar characterisitics.

The non-finite PAP may be formed from either the CVCo- or CVO-

2.2.1.
stem:

6amlie or 6amle

"having restrained"

pouchie or poache

"having reached"

The stem /ghumo-/ forms a subclass; only /ghumie/ occurs in PAP.

/poncho -/ presents the following three possibilities of causative formation:
2.2.2.

2.2.2.1.

PAP + causative auxiliary:

poache deoatake poache diiechi

2.2.2.2.

Causative PAP + suffixes, pouchie + chi, etc.:

take poachiechi
2.2.2.3.

"cause to reach"
"I caused him to reach"

"I caused him to reach"

Causative PAP + non-causative auxiliary:

pouchie + de-

"cause to reach"

take pouchie diechi

"I caused him to reach"

377
The formation in 2.2.2.1. occurs in one type of idiolect and
those in 2.2.2.2. and 2.2.2.3. occur free-variantly in other types of
2.2.2.4.

idiolects.
2.2.2.5.

Forms such as:

6amla-

"restrain"

hatra-

"grope"

E5atra-

"swim"

kamra-

"bite"

though of different canonical shape, class with /poncho -/, as above.

The forms /dou'o -/ and /ghumo-/ also form a separate class presenting the following possibilities of causative formation:
2.3.

2.3.1.

Noun stem + causative auxiliary, /kora -/, /ana-/, /Pava-/, etc.

dour
dour
take
take

koradeoadour koriechi
dour diiechi

ghum parotake ghum pariechi

2.3.2.

run"
run"
him to run"
him to run"

"cause to sleep"
"I caused him to sleep"

Causative PAP + suffixes = dourie + chi, etc.

take douriechi

2.3.3.

"cause to
"cause to
"I caused
"I caused

"I caused him to run"

However, the form /ghumiechi/, though it occurs, has non-

causative semantic value.

3.

Comparative and superlative degrees of modifiers:

The comparative degree is formed by the use of the connective

/cee/, "than" and the adjective /aro /, "more". Note that that to which
the subject is being compared stands first in the clause or sentence:
3.1.

amar ceefile lomba"

amar ceet6e aro lomba"
3.2.

He is taller than I.
He is even taller than I.

The superlative degree is indicated by the use of /6ob cee/$

"than all".

378
ceellomba

He is tallest (i.e., he is taller

than everyone).
Our students are the best (of all).

amader chattro-chattrira'
60b cee bhalo"
4.

The form /go/.

/go/ is a form of address, or, if you prefer, a vocative particle, which

is used between close friends or intimates in informal situations.
A
husband might use the form in addressing his wife, for example, or a
wife her husband.
It is not a form which a foreigner can often use.
5.

The form /kach theke/.

"From (a person)" is always expressed by /kach theke/:

ami'tar kach theke'unechi"

I have heard it from him.

emit-tar kach theke'peechi"

I have gotten it from him.

There is another possible use.

/kach/ means "near"; thus the expression

/Tebiler kache theke /, "from near the table", is possible.
6.

Reduplicated infinitive, as in sentence 18.

A reduplicated infinitive gives the meaning "while (doing something) ":

bate bmvate
colte colte

bhabte bhabte

while wandering around

while going
while thinking (reflecting)

The infinitive plus a third person form of the verb /ho-/ has the
force of "have/has to"; note the case inflection of the pronoun which
in the English sentence is the subject.
7.

tomake amae'eTa palliate hoe"

amake'mkhon bavi,jete hobe"

Lesson 22, part

You have to send it to me.

I have to go home now.
Patterns.

Pattern: sentence 1.
a.

b.
c.

I heard that you have made arrangements to decorate the room.

I heard that you have made arrangements to feed me tonight.
I heard that you have made arrangements to put the children to
sleep here.

379
d.
e.

I heard that you have made arrangements to have the food brought
from home.
I heard that you have made arrangements to show your pictures
to me.

2.

Pattern: sentence 2.
a.

Yes, I have had many kinds of colors and cloths brought to

decorate the room.

b.

Yes, I have had many kinds of food brought to feed you tonight.
Yes, I have had many rooms arranged to put the children to

c.

sleep.

d.

Yes, I have had arrangements made to have the food brought from
there.

e.
3.

Pattern: sentence 3.
a.

In which colors will you decorate the room on the night of the
celebration?

b.

In
In
In
In

c.

d.
e.

Yes, I have had many pictures brought to show to you.

which
which
which
which

sari will you dress Lila on the night of the puja?

rooms will you put the children to sleep tonight?
rooms will we feed all the peo.de tonight?
places will you show me the pictures?

Pattern: sentence 4.
a.

Have I shown you the red cloth which my sister sent me the other
day?

b.
c.

Have I shown you the new Benares sari which I had (i.e.,
caused to be) bought the other day?
Have I shown you the south rooms, which I had decorated the other
day?

Have I shown you the rooms which I had arranged the other day?
e Have 1 shown you this picture, which I had brought from Calcutta
the other day?
5.

Pattern: sentence 5.
a.

You showed it to me yourself day before yesterday; I like that

cloth best of all.

b.
c.

Lila showed it to me yesterday; T like it better than this one.

.axn showed them to me this morning; I like them better than
these rooms.

d.

You showed them to me yourself yesterday; I like them best of

all.

e.

You have not shown me that oue; I like it best of all.

380

6.

Pattern: sentence 7.
a.

Yes, if I decorate the room in that color, I will make it appear

very beautiful.

b.

Yes, if I dress her in that, I will make her appear very beautiful.

c.

Yes, if we put the children to sleep in there, it will be very

good.

7.

d.

Yes, if we feed the people in these rooms' it will be very

convenient.

e.

Yes.
If I showed you my new pictures, you would like them even
better.

Pattern: sentence 8.
a.

b.
c.
d.

e.
8.

You
You
You
You
You

are
are
are
are
are

having
having
having
having
having

lamps and such brought, aren't you?

food and such brought, aren't you?
beds and such brought, aren't you?
mats and such brought, aren't you?
the pictures brought, aren't you?

Pattern: sentence 9
a.

b.
c.

He wants to have them brought, but I cannot be persuaded at dll.

I want to have the food brought from Calcutta, but he cannot be
persuaded at all.
I want to have new beds brought, but he cannot be persuaded at
all.

d.
e.

We want to have them brought, and he is being persuaded.

I want to have them sold, but the painter cannot be persuaded
at all.

9.

Pattern: sentence 10.

a.

I hear that fifty or sixty guests are coming.

going to put them all?

b.

I hear that hundr)ds and hundreds of people are coming from the
city; where are you going to put them all?
I hear that many children are coming; will you put them all to
sleep in there?
I hear that thirty or forty people are coming; will you feed
them all in herei
I hear that many people are coming to see the pictures; will you
show all the pictures to them?

c.
d.

Where are you

381
10.

Pattern: sentence 11.

a,

b.
c.

I'm wondering both where to seat them all and how to feed them.
I'm wondering both where to seat them all and where to have
have them rest.
I'm wondering both where to put them to sleep and how to feed
them.

d.
e.

11.

I'm wondering both where to feed them and where to seat them.
I'm wondering both how and where to show the pictures to them.

Pattern: sentence 13, 14.

a.

b.

If I could come one day, we both could arrange the rooms.

If I could come one day, we both could see what could be done
where.

c.
d.
e.

12.

Pattern: sentence 16.

a.

b.
c.

d.
e.

13.

If I could come one day, you could arrange the room through me.
If I could come one day, you could get a little help from me.
If I could come one day, we both could arrange the
Let it go.
rooms for showing the pictures.

I cannot keep from laughing; you overrate me, thinking it

appropriate for me to arrange the rooms.
I cannot keep from laughing; you overrate me, '' hinking that I
could give you even a little help.
I cannot keep from laughing; you overrate yourself, thinking
that a person like you could ,help me arrange the room.
I could not help laughing; you overrate me, thinking it
appropriate for a person like me to arrange the rooms.
I could not help laughing, when I heard that two sloppy people
like us would arrange the rooms.

Pattern: sentence 18.

*a.

b.
c.

d.

e.

It's not that. But I will have to have someone

bring you and take you back.
I will have someone bring you here and take
It's not a joke.
you back.
But it will be a bother to you, that you will
It's not a joke.
have to have someone bring me and take me back.
Come now. We'll talk later about taking me home; but you will
have to have someone bring me here.
Come now. We'll talk about arranging the rooms later. Now we
will have to talk about who will bring me here and take me back.
Come now.

382
Lesson 22,

art 3.

Sentence Drills.

Drill 1
- -Have you fed the baby?

--Yes, I fed him an hour ago.

--And have you dressed him?

--Yes9 I have dressed him in his new clothes.
--Has he been good today?
--Yes, he has slept most of the day. Some people came this afternoon
and tried to make him laugh.

--Why do people always make babies laugh or dance?

--I don't know.
I decorated his room today with two new pictures and
some flowers.
--Have you shown Nina the new decorations?
--Yes.
She doesn't like them.
--Why don't you make her feed the baby once in a while.

She is old

enough.

--I made her feed the baby today. She didn't like it.
- -What does she like to do?
- -She likes to make the baby laugh and dance.
She dressed him in my new
sari today.
--I've been standing all day long.

I think I'll go to sleep.

Drill 2

--Why
--I'm
--Let
--All

are you lifting that chair? It's too heavy for you.
not lifting it. I'm only trying to move it over there.
me move it for you. You rest for a while.
right.
I bent the leg of it a little when I was trying to move it.
- -Show me the place.
I'll make it right.
--There is where I bent it. Can you fix it?
--Yes, I'll fix it right away.
Has the dog been sleeping all day?
--No, he bit the postman this morning.
--Is he all right now?
--No.

When the dog bit him the postman jumped and fell down the stairs.
- -I'm not talking about the postman.
Is the dog all right?

- -Yes, he's all right.

383
Lesson 22, part 5.

khoka
koci chele
bacca chele

baby

siri

stairs

pion

kukur

postuan
dog

jothe6Io

enough

kokhono kokhono

once in a
while

baby

Vocabulary.
ghum-, ghuma-, sleep
oIhalift
tola-

nova60rabc1ka-

move (wiggle, shake)

move (push)
bend

kamvalapha-

bite

lagano-

(to) fix

mTramot korace6Ia kora-

(to) repair
(to) try

jump

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