Chapter 5 – Identifying People
Unit 4 — Grammar Focus
Revision: Identity Sentences for Identifying People
In the previous chapter, you learned that identity sentences are used for labeling or identifying.
Identity sentences follow the idea:
X = Y
They tell us who someone is or what something is.
For example:
उहाँ शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ śikṣak hunuhuncha.
He/She is a teacher.
म विद्यार्थी हुँ।
ma widyārthī hũ.
I am a student.
यो राम हो।
yo rām ho.
This is Ram.
Use identity sentences for:
- names
- roles
- jobs
- relationships
- categories
- nationality or identity labels
Do not use identity forms for location, existence, or temporary conditions.
For location, existence, and temporary states, Nepali uses छ / छन् (cha / chan) patterns. These are introduced in other sections.
For example:
Correct identity sentence:
उहाँ शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ śikṣak hunuhuncha.
He/She is a teacher.
Correct location sentence:
उहाँ काठमाडौंमा हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ kāṭhmāḍaũmā hunuhuncha.
He/She is in Kathmandu.
Correct condition sentence:
मलाई भोक लागेको छ।
malāī bhok lāgeko cha.
I am hungry.
Identity Forms in Nepali
In Nepali, identity sentences use present-tense forms of हुनु (hunu), including:
हुँ
hũ
am
हो
ho
is
हुन्
hun
are
हुनुहुन्छ
hunuhuncha
is/are, respectful
The form changes depending on:
- the subject
- number
- level of respect
Negative Identity Forms
Negative identity sentences also change depending on the subject and level of respect.
Plain subjects use:
होइन
hoina
is not / am not
होइनन्
hoinan
are not
Honorific subjects use:
हुनुहुन्न
hunuhunna
is not / are not, respectful
For example:
म शिक्षक होइन।
ma śikṣak hoina.
I am not a teacher.
उनीहरू विद्यार्थी होइनन्।
unīharū widyārthī hoinan.
They are not students.
उहाँ डाक्टर हुनुहुन्न।
uhā̃ ḍākṭar hunuhunna.
He/She is not a doctor.
The tables below show common identity forms for people in the present tense.
Table 5.4.1 – Non-honorific present “ho” forms
These forms are used in casual, non-honorific contexts. In this book, you will mostly use polite forms with तपाईं (tapāī̃). This table is included mainly for recognition.
| Subject | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| म (ma) | हुँ (hũ) | होइन (hoina) |
| हामी (hāmī) | हौं (haũ) | होइनौं (hoinaũ) |
| ऊ (ū) | हो (ho) | होइन (hoina) |
| उनी / यिनी / तिनी (unī / yinī / tinī) | हुन् (hun) | होइनन् (hoinan) |
| उनीहरू (unīharū) | हुन् (hun) | होइनन् (hoinan) |
Table 5.4.2 – Honorific/polite present “ho” forms
Use these forms for polite/respectful subjects such as तपाईं (tapāī̃) and उहाँ (uhā̃).
| Subject | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| तपाईं (tapāī̃) | हुनुहुन्छ (hunuhuncha) | हुनुहुन्न (hunuhunna) |
| उहाँ (uhā̃) | हुनुहुन्छ (hunuhuncha) | हुनुहुन्न (hunuhunna) |
| उहाँहरू (uhā̃harū) | हुनुहुन्छ (hunuhuncha) | हुनुहुन्न (hunuhunna) |
Table 5.4.3 – Identity sentences (affirmative)
| Nepali | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| यी विद्यार्थी हुन्। | yī widyārthī hun. | These are students. |
| म विद्यार्थी हुँ। | ma widyārthī hũ. | I am a student. |
| जोन शिक्षक हो। | jon śikṣak ho. | John is a teacher. |
| तपाईं प्राध्यापक हुनुहुन्छ। | tapāī̃ prādhyāpak hunuhuncha. | You (polite) are a professor. |
| उहाँ डाक्टर हुनुहुन्छ। | uhā̃ ḍākṭar hunuhuncha. | He/She (hon.) is a doctor. |
Table 5.4.4 – Identity sentences (Negative)
| Nepali | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| उनीहरू विद्यार्थी होइनन्। | unīharū widyārthī hoinan. | They are not students. |
| उहाँ प्राध्यापक हुनुहुन्न। | uhā̃ prādhyāpak hunuhunna. | He/She (hon.) is not a professor. |
| तपाईं विद्यार्थी हुनुहुन्न। | tapāī̃ widyārthī hunuhunna. | You (polite) are not a student. |
Simple Rule
Use हो / होइन (ho / hoina) with singular plain identity sentences.
Use हुन् / होइनन् (hun / hoinan) with plural plain identity sentences.
Use हुनुहुन्छ / हुनुहुन्न (hunuhuncha / hunuhunna) with respectful identity sentences.
Try It Now
Read the sentences aloud.
म विद्यार्थी हुँ।
ma widyārthī hũ.
I am a student.
म शिक्षक होइन।
ma śikṣak hoina.
I am not a teacher.
उहाँ शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ śikṣak hunuhuncha.
He/She is a teacher.
उहाँ डाक्टर हुनुहुन्न।
uhā̃ ḍākṭar hunuhunna.
He/She is not a doctor.
उनीहरू विद्यार्थी हुन्।
unīharū widyārthī hun.
They are students.
उनीहरू शिक्षक होइनन्।
unīharū śikṣak hoinan.
They are not teachers.
Common Mistake
Do not use हो (ho) for every English “is.”
Use identity forms only when you are identifying someone or something.
Identity:
उहाँ शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ śikṣak hunuhuncha.
He/She is a teacher.
Not identity:
उहाँ काठमाडौंमा हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ kāṭhmāḍaũmā hunuhuncha.
He/She is in Kathmandu.
Temporary condition:
मलाई ठीक छ।
malāī ṭhīk cha.
I am fine.
Questions with the Identity Verb
To ask “who” questions about people, use को (ko), meaning “who?”
In identity questions, को (ko) usually appears before the identity verb.
For example:
उहाँ को हुनुहुन्छ?
uhā̃ ko hunuhuncha?
Who is he/she?
तिनीहरू को हुन्?
tinīharū ko hun?
Who are they?
The verb must match the subject’s number and level of respect.
Plain singular subjects use हो (ho).
Plain plural subjects use हुन् (hun).
Respectful subjects use हुनुहुन्छ (hunuhuncha).
Table 5.4.5 – Identity questions (yes/no)
| Nepali | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| के यी विद्यार्थी हुन्? | ke yī widyārthī hun? | Are these students? |
| के तपाईं प्राध्यापक हुनुहुन्छ? | ke tapāī̃ prādhyāpak hunuhuncha? | Are you (polite) a professor? |
| के उहाँ डाक्टर हुनुहुन्छ? | ke uhā̃ ḍākṭar hunuhuncha? | Is he/she (hon.) a doctor? |
Yes/No Identity Questions
You can also ask yes/no identity questions.
There are two common ways:
Use rising intonation at the end of the sentence.
Add के (ke) at the beginning of the sentence.
For example:
उहाँ शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ?
uhā̃ śikṣak hunuhuncha?
Is he/she a teacher?
के उहाँ शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ?
ke uhā̃ śikṣak hunuhuncha?
Is he/she a teacher?
यो राम हो?
yo rām ho?
Is this Ram?
के यो राम हो?
ke yo rām ho?
Is this Ram?
Try It Now
Change each statement into a question.
Statement:
उहाँ शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ śikṣak hunuhuncha.
He/She is a teacher.
Question:
के उहाँ शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ?
ke uhā̃ śikṣak hunuhuncha?
Is he/she a teacher?
Statement:
यो राम हो।
yo rām ho.
This is Ram.
Question:
के यो राम हो?
ke yo rām ho?
Is this Ram?
Interrogative Pronoun: को
In Nepali, को (ko) means “who?”
Use को (ko) to ask about a person’s identity.
The verb form changes depending on the subject.
For example:
उहाँ को हुनुहुन्छ?
uhā̃ ko hunuhuncha?
Who is he/she?
तिनीहरू को हुन्?
tinīharū ko hun?
Who are they?
Table 5.4.6 – Who-questions with को (ko)
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| उहाँ को हुनुहुन्छ? | uhā̃ ko hunuhuncha? | Who is he/she? |
| म को हुँ? | ma ko hũ? | Who am I? |
| तपाईं को हुनुहुन्छ? | tapāī̃ ko hunuhuncha? | Who are you (polite)? |
| उहाँ को हुनुहुन्छ? | uhā̃ ko hunuhuncha? | Who is he/she (hon.)? |
Table 5.4.7 – Short answers (identity)
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| त्यो जोन हो। | tyo jon ho. | That is John. |
| ती विद्यार्थी हुन्। | tī widyārthī hun. | Those are students. |
| उहाँ जोन हुनुहुन्छ। | uhā̃ jon hunuhuncha. | He/She (hon.) is John. |
| उहाँ शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ। | uhā̃ śikṣak hunuhuncha. | He/She (hon.) is a teacher. |
Learner Tip
Do not confuse को (ko) “who?” with –को (–ko) “of” or possessive “’s.”
को
ko
who?
रामको
rāmko
Ram’s / of Ram
Examples:
उहाँ को हुनुहुन्छ?
uhā̃ ko hunuhuncha?
Who is he/she?
यो रामको किताब हो।
yo rāmko kitāb ho.
This is Ram’s book.
Expressing Origin
In Nepali, कहाँबाट (kahā̃bāṭa) means “from where?”
It is used to ask where a person or thing is from.
कहाँ
kahā̃
where
बाट
bāṭa
from
कहाँबाट
kahā̃bāṭa
from where
Nepali uses postpositions. This means the marker comes after the noun.
For example:
नेपालबाट
nepālbāṭa
from Nepal
क्यानाडाबाट
kyānāḍābāṭa
from Canada
अमेरिकाबाट
amerikābāṭa
from America
Do not say बाट नेपाल (bāṭa nepāl). In Nepali, बाट (bāṭa) comes after the place name.
Table 5.4.8 – Origin questions (कहाँबाट …?)
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| तपाईं कहाँबाट हुनुहुन्छ? | tapāī̃ kahā̃bāṭa hunuhuncha? | Where are you from? |
| उहाँ कहाँबाट हुनुहुन्छ? | uhā̃ kahā̃bāṭa hunuhuncha? | Where is he/she (hon.) from? |
Try It Now
Read the questions and answers aloud.
तपाईं कहाँबाट हुनुहुन्छ?
tapāī̃ kahā̃bāṭa hunuhuncha?
Where are you from?
म नेपालबाट हुँ।
ma nepālbāṭa hũ.
I am from Nepal.
उहाँ कहाँबाट हुनुहुन्छ?
uhā̃ kahā̃bāṭa hunuhuncha?
Where is he/she from?
उहाँ क्यानाडाबाट हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ kyānāḍābāṭa hunuhuncha.
He/She is from Canada.
Origin vs. Nationality
In Nepali, “where someone is from” and “what someone is” use two different patterns.
Origin uses बाट (bāṭa), meaning “from.”
Nationality or identity does not use बाट (bāṭa).
A. Place of Origin
Use बाट (bāṭa) to say where someone is from.
Structure:
Place + बाट + identity verb
For example:
म नेपालबाट हुँ।
ma nepālbāṭa hũ.
I am from Nepal.
उहाँ क्यानाडाबाट हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ kyānāḍābāṭa hunuhuncha.
He/She is from Canada.
तपाईं कहाँबाट हुनुहुन्छ?
tapāī̃ kahā̃bāṭa hunuhuncha?
Where are you from?
Table 5.4.9 – Origin statements with –बाट (–bāṭa)
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| म नेपालबाट हुँ। | ma nepālbāṭa hũ. | I am from Nepal. |
| तपाईं क्यानाडाबाट हुनुहुन्छ। | tapāī̃ kyānāḍābāṭa hunuhuncha. | You are from Canada. |
Meaning focus:
This pattern describes origin or source.
B. Nationality or Identity Label
Use an identity word such as नेपाली (nepālī) when describing nationality or identity.
Do not use बाट (bāṭa) in this pattern.
For example:
म नेपाली हुँ।
ma nepālī hũ.
I am Nepali.
Table 5.4.10 – Nationality statements (no –बाट)
| Nepali | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| म शिक्षक हुँ। | ma śikṣak hũ. | I am a teacher. |
| तपाईं क्यानेडियन हुनुहुन्छ। | tapāī̃ kyāneḍiyan hunuhuncha. | You are Canadian. |
Meaning focus:
This pattern expresses identity or classification.
Using Both Together
It is natural to use both patterns together.
म नेपालबाट हुँ। म नेपाली हुँ।
ma nepālbāṭa hũ. ma nepālī hũ.
I am from Nepal. I am Nepali.
Key Distinction
बाट (bāṭa) shows origin or source.
No बाट (bāṭa) is used for nationality or identity labels.
Compare:
म नेपालबाट हुँ।
ma nepālbāṭa hũ.
I am from Nepal.
म नेपाली हुँ।
ma nepālī hũ.
I am Nepali.
Common Mistake
Do not use बाट (bāṭa) when stating nationality.
Incorrect:
म नेपालबाट नेपाली हुँ।
ma nepālbāṭa nepālī hũ.
Correct:
म नेपालबाट हुँ।
ma nepālbāṭa hũ.
I am from Nepal.
म नेपाली हुँ।
ma nepālī hũ.
I am Nepali.
Check Your Understanding
Can You Do This Now?
At the end of this section, you should be able to:
- use identity sentences to identify people
- use हुँ, हो, हुन्, and हुनुहुन्छ in present-tense identity sentences
- use होइन, होइनन्, and हुनुहुन्न in negative identity sentences
- ask “who?” questions with को (ko)
- ask yes/no identity questions with के (ke) or rising intonation
- ask where someone is from using कहाँबाट (kahā̃bāṭa)
- use बाट (bāṭa) to express origin
- distinguish between origin and nationality
- say sentences such as म नेपालबाट हुँ (ma nepālbāṭa hũ) and म नेपाली हुँ (ma nepālī hũ)
