Learning in Practice

In this unit, you will use the object-identification patterns from this chapter in simple real-life situations. You will practise asking what something is, answering with a noun, and using यो (yo) and त्यो (tyo) correctly.

Try it in real life

Look around your room, classroom, or study space. Choose five objects. Point to each object and ask:

यो के हो?
yo ke ho?
What is this?

Then answer:

यो किताब हो।
yo kitāb ho.
This is a book.

Try the same pattern with other objects:

यो कलम हो।
yo kalam ho.
This is a pen.

यो झोला हो।
yo jholā ho.
This is a bag.

यो मोबाइल हो।
yo mobāil ho.
This is a mobile phone.

यो कुर्सी हो।
yo kursī ho.
This is a chair.

Practice task

Practise this short exchange with a partner:

A: यो के हो?
yo ke ho?

B: यो किताब हो।
yo kitāb ho.

A: त्यो के हो?
tyo ke ho?

B: त्यो झोला हो।
tyo jholā ho.

A: यो कलम हो?
yo kalam ho?

B: हो, यो कलम हो।
ho, yo kalam ho.

Mini culture note

In Nepali, simple pointing words such as यो (yo) and त्यो (tyo) are very useful in everyday conversation. You can use them when asking about classroom objects, food, clothing, books, signs, and things in a market or home.

यो (yo) usually means “this” and refers to something near the speaker. त्यो (tyo) usually means “that” and refers to something farther away.

Common mistake

Do not confuse यो (yo) and त्यो (tyo).

Use यो (yo) for something near you:

यो किताब हो।
yo kitāb ho.
This is a book.

Use त्यो (tyo) for something farther away:

त्यो झोला हो।
tyo jholā ho.
That is a bag.

Also remember: when asking about an object, use के (ke), not को (ko).

Correct:

यो के हो?
yo ke ho?
What is this?

Not:

यो को हो?
yo ko ho?
Who is this?

Use को (ko) when asking about a person.

Say it aloud

Practise these phrases slowly. Listen to your pronunciation, then repeat them more naturally.

After you practise, use the audio recorder below to record yourself. Listen to your recording and try again if you want to improve your pronunciation.

यो।
yo.
This.

त्यो।
tyo.
That.

यो के हो?
yo ke ho?
What is this?

त्यो के हो?
tyo ke ho?
What is that?

यो किताब हो।
yo kitāb ho.
This is a book.

त्यो झोला हो।
tyo jholā ho.
That is a bag.

Rhythm practice

Read this short exchange aloud:

यो के हो?
yo ke ho?

यो किताब हो।
yo kitāb ho.

त्यो के हो?
tyo ke ho?

त्यो झोला हो।
tyo jholā ho.

हो, त्यो झोला हो।
ho, tyo jholā ho.

Can-do checklist

By the end of this chapter, I can:

• ask “What is this?”
• ask “What is that?”
• use यो (yo) for something near me
• use त्यो (tyo) for something farther away
• identify common classroom objects
• answer with यो … हो (yo … ho)
• answer with त्यो … हो (tyo … ho)
• understand the difference between के (ke) and को (ko)
• use simple object-identification sentences in Nepali