Unit 4 — Grammar Focus

Using छ / छन् for Existence and Possession

In Nepali, छ (cha) and छन् (chan) are used to talk about existence, availability, and everyday possession.

You have already seen छ / छन् (cha / chan) in location sentences.

For example:

किताब टेबलमा छ।
kitāb ṭebalmā cha.
The book is on the table.

In this section, you will see two more common uses:

existence: “there is / there are”

possession: “someone has something”

In both patterns, the verb agrees with the thing that exists or the thing that is possessed.

Simple Rule

Use छ (cha) with one item or an uncountable/mass noun.

Use छन् (chan) with more than one item.

For example:

यहाँ किताब छ।
yahā̃ kitāb cha.
There is a book here.

यहाँ किताबहरू छन्।
yahā̃ kitābharū chan.
There are books here.

यहाँ पानी छ।
yahā̃ pānī cha.
There is water here.

The verb agrees with किताब (kitāb), किताबहरू (kitābharū), or पानी (pānī), not with the place.

Expressing Existence: “There Is / There Are”

To say that something exists or is present in a place, Nepali uses this basic pattern:

Location + noun + छ / छन्
Location + noun + cha / chan

The location can be a word such as:

यहाँ
yahā̃
here

त्यहाँ
tyahā̃
there

or a place marked with –मा (–mā), such as:

घरमा
gharmā
at home / in the house

कक्षामा
kakṣāmā
in the classroom

टेबलमा
ṭebalmā
on the table

For example:

यहाँ किताब छ।
yahā̃ kitāb cha.
There is a book here.

कक्षामा विद्यार्थीहरू छन्।
kakṣāmā widyārthīharū chan.
There are students in the classroom.

टेबलमा पानी छ।
ṭebalmā pānī cha.
There is water on the table.

Table 7.4.1 – Existence questions

Table 7.4.2 – Existence statements (affirmative)

Table 7.4.3 – Existence statements (negative)

Try It Now

Read the sentences aloud.

यहाँ कलम छ।
yahā̃ kalam cha.
There is a pen here.

त्यहाँ झोला छ।
tyahā̃ jholā cha.
There is a bag there.

कक्षामा विद्यार्थीहरू छन्।
kakṣāmā widyārthīharū chan.
There are students in the classroom.

टेबलमा किताबहरू छन्।
ṭebalmā kitābharū chan.
There are books on the table.

Expressing Possession: “Have / Has”

Nepali often expresses possession by saying that something exists with a person.

English says:

I have a book.

Nepali often says something closer to:

With me, there is a book.

The possessor is marked with a “with” postposition.

The most common everyday form is:

सँग
saṅga
with

Another correct form is:

सित
sita
with

सित (sita) is also correct, but it may sound slightly more formal or traditional in some contexts.

For beginner learners, सँग (saṅga) is the most useful form for everyday speech.

Basic Possession Pattern

Person + सँग + noun + छ / छन्
Person + saṅga + noun + cha / chan

For example:

मसँग किताब छ।
masaṅga kitāb cha.
I have a book.

तपाईंसँग झोला छ।
tapāī̃saṅga jholā cha.
You have a bag.

उहाँसँग किताबहरू छन्।
uhā̃saṅga kitābharū chan.
He/She has books.

The verb agrees with the thing possessed, not with the person.

मसँग किताब छ।
masaṅga kitāb cha.
I have a book.

मसँग किताबहरू छन्।
masaṅga kitābharū chan.
I have books.

In the first sentence, किताब (kitāb) is singular, so the verb is छ (cha).

In the second sentence, किताबहरू (kitābharū) is plural, so the verb is छन् (chan).

Table 7.4.4 – Possession questions

Table 7.4.5 – Possession statements (affirmative)

Table 7.4.6 – Possession statements (negative)

Simple Rule

One thing possessed → छ (cha)

More than one thing possessed → छन् (chan)

No thing possessed → छैन (chaina)

For example:

मसँग कलम छ।
masaṅga kalam cha.
I have a pen.

मसँग कलमहरू छन्।
masaṅga kalamharū chan.
I have pens.

मसँग कलम छैन।
masaṅga kalam chaina.
I do not have a pen.

Try It Now

Read the sentences aloud.

मसँग किताब छ।
masaṅga kitāb cha.
I have a book.

तपाईंसँग कलम छ।
tapāī̃saṅga kalam cha.
You have a pen.

उहाँसँग झोला छ।
uhā̃saṅga jholā cha.
He/She has a bag.

मसँग किताबहरू छन्।
masaṅga kitābharū chan.
I have books.

तपाईंसँग पैसा छ?
tapāī̃saṅga paisā cha?
Do you have money?

Possession with छैन

To say that someone does not have something, use छैन (chaina) for singular or uncountable nouns.

For example:

मसँग किताब छैन।
masaṅga kitāb chaina.
I do not have a book.

तपाईंसँग पैसा छैन।
tapāī̃saṅga paisā chaina.
You do not have money.

उहाँसँग झोला छैन।
uhā̃saṅga jholā chaina.
He/She does not have a bag.

For plural nouns, use छैनन् (chainan).

मसँग किताबहरू छैनन्।
masaṅga kitābharū chainan.
I do not have books.

Asking “How Many?” with कति

To ask “how many?” in Nepali, use कति (kati).

Nepali often uses classifiers with numbers and “how many?” questions.

Two very common classifiers are:

वटा
waṭā
classifier for general objects

जना
janā
classifier for people

Use वटा (waṭā) with objects.

Use जना (janā) with people.

For example:

कति वटा किताब छन्?
kati waṭā kitāb chan?
How many books are there?

कति जना विद्यार्थी छन्?
kati janā widyārthī chan?
How many students are there?

तपाईंसँग कति वटा किताब छन्?
tapāī̃saṅga kati waṭā kitāb chan?
How many books do you have?

तपाईंसँग कति जना साथी छन्?
tapāī̃saṅga kati janā sāthī chan?
How many friends do you have?

Table 7.4.7 – Questions classifier

Table 7.4.8 – Numeral + classifier + noun patterns

A numeral + classifier + noun functions as a single, tight noun phrase in Nepali. Because the classifier already signals plurality, the plural suffix –हरू is often optional and usually avoided in careful, learner-friendly sentences.

Try It Now

Ask and answer.

A: कक्षामा कति जना विद्यार्थी छन्?
kakṣāmā kati janā widyārthī chan?
How many students are in the classroom?

B: कक्षामा पाँच जना विद्यार्थी छन्।
kakṣāmā pā̃c janā widyārthī chan.
There are five students in the classroom.

A: टेबलमा कति वटा किताब छन्?
ṭebalmā kati waṭā kitāb chan?
How many books are on the table?

B: टेबलमा तीन वटा किताब छन्।
ṭebalmā tīn waṭā kitāb chan.
There are three books on the table.

A: तपाईंसँग कति वटा कलम छन्?
tapāī̃saṅga kati waṭā kalam chan?
How many pens do you have?

B: मसँग दुई वटा कलम छन्।
masaṅga duī waṭā kalam chan.
I have two pens.

Common Mistake

Do not make the verb agree with the possessor.

The verb agrees with the thing possessed.

Correct:

मसँग किताब छ।
masaṅga kitāb cha.
I have a book.

Correct:

मसँग किताबहरू छन्।
masaṅga kitābharū chan.
I have books.

The subject meaning comes from the possessed item, not from म (ma).

Can You Do This Now?

At the end of this section, you should be able to:

• use छ (cha) and छन् (chan) for “there is” and “there are”
• say where something exists using यहाँ (yahā̃), त्यहाँ (tyahā̃), and –मा (–mā)
• use मसँग (masaṅga), तपाईंसँग (tapāī̃saṅga), and उहाँसँग (uhā̃saṅga) for possession
• say simple sentences such as मसँग किताब छ (masaṅga kitāb cha)
• make negative possession sentences with छैन (chaina)
• ask “how many?” questions with कति (kati)
• use वटा (waṭā) for objects and जना (janā) for people