Unit 4 — Grammar Focus

Location, Existence, and Condition with छ / छन्

By this point, you have already studied हो / हुन् (ho / hun) as Nepali identity verbs.

हो / हुन् (ho / hun) are used to say who someone is or what something is.

For example:

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

उहाँ शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ śikṣak hunuhuncha.
He/She is a teacher.

This section introduces another very important Nepali “to be” pattern: छ / छन् (cha / chan).

Nepali uses छ / छन् (cha / chan) when the meaning is not identity. These forms are used for:

• location
• existence
• availability
• condition or state

For example:

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

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

मलाई ठीक छ।
malāī ṭhīk cha.
I am fine.

English uses “is” or “are” for many of these meanings. Nepali separates them more clearly.

Identity uses हो / हुन् (ho / hun).

Location, existence, and condition use छ / छन् (cha / chan).

Simple Rule

Use हो / हुन् (ho / hun) when the meaning is “X = Y.”

Use छ / छन् (cha / chan) when you are talking about where something is, whether something exists, or what condition something is in.

Common Mistake

Do not use हो (ho) for location.

Incorrect:

किताब टेबलमा हो।
kitāb ṭebalmā ho.

Correct:

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

Try It Now

Read the sentences aloud.

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

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

यो घर हो।
yo ghar ho.
This is a house.

घर नेपालमा छ।
ghar nepālmā cha.
The house is in Nepal.

Expressing Location in Nepali

To describe where someone or something is, Nepali uses छ (cha) and छन् (chan).

In location sentences, छ / छन् (cha / chan) connect the subject to a place.

For example:

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

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

This pattern is different from हो (ho), which is used only for identity or classification.

Nepali often marks location with –मा (–mā). This can mean “in,” “on,” or “at,” depending on the context.

For example:

घरमा
gharmā
at home / in the house

कक्षामा
kakṣāmā
in the classroom

टेबलमा
ṭebalmā
on the table

Location of Objects in the Present Tense

To describe where an object is, use छ (cha) for one item and छन् (chan) for more than one item.

Use छैन (chaina) for “is not” or “there is not.”

Use छैनन् (chainan) for “are not” or “there are not.”

Basic Structure

Singular:

यो / त्यो + noun + place–मा + छ / छैन
yo / tyo + noun + place–mā + cha / chaina

Plural:

यी / ती + noun + place–मा + छन् / छैनन्
yī / tī + noun + place–mā + chan / chainan

Table 6.4.1 – Present-tense location Sentences (objects)

Try It Now

Read the sentences aloud.

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

कलम झोलामा छ।
kalam jholāmā cha.
The pen is in the bag.

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

कुर्सीहरू कक्षामा छैनन्।
kursīharū kakṣāmā chainan.
The chairs are not in the classroom.

Location of People in the Present Tense

When talking about people, Nepali also shows respect through the verb form.

For non-honorific subjects, use regular छ / छन् (cha / chan) forms.

For respectful subjects such as तपाईं (tapāī̃) and उहाँ (uhā̃), use respectful forms such as हुनुहुन्छ (hunuhuncha) and हुनुहुन्न (hunuhunna).

For example:

म घरमा छु।
ma gharmā chu.
I am at home.

उनीहरू कक्षामा छन्।
unīharū kakṣāmā chan.
They are in the classroom.

तपाईं घरमा हुनुहुन्छ।
tapāī̃ gharmā hunuhuncha.
You are at home.

उहाँ कक्षामा हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ kakṣāmā hunuhuncha.
He/She is in the classroom.

The tables below show common present-location forms with pronouns.

Table 6.4.2 – Present-tense location forms (non-honorific)

Table 6.4.3 – Present-tense location forms (honorific/polite)

Learner Tip

Use हुनुहुन्छ (hunuhuncha) with तपाईं (tapāī̃) and उहाँ (uhā̃) when speaking respectfully.

This is safer and more polite for beginners.

Try It Now

Read the pairs aloud.

म घरमा छु।
ma gharmā chu.
I am at home.

तपाईं घरमा हुनुहुन्छ।
tapāī̃ gharmā hunuhuncha.
You are at home.

उनी कक्षामा छिन्।
unī kakṣāmā chin.
She is in the classroom.

उहाँ कक्षामा हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ kakṣāmā hunuhuncha.
He/She is in the classroom.

Asking “Where?” with कहाँ

To ask where someone or something is, use कहाँ (kahā̃), meaning “where.”

For example:

किताब कहाँ छ?
kitāb kahā̃ cha?
Where is the book?

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

उहाँ कहाँ हुनुहुन्छ?
uhā̃ kahā̃ hunuhuncha?
Where is he/she?

उहाँ घरमा हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ gharmā hunuhuncha.
He/She is at home.

The verb form changes depending on number and respect level.

Use छ (cha) for one object.

Use छन् (chan) for more than one object or non-honorific plural subjects.

Use हुनुहुन्छ (hunuhuncha) for respectful people.

Table 6.4.4 – Location Questions

Table 6.4.5 – Present location statements (affirmative)

Table 6.4.6 – Present location statements (negative)

Try It Now

Ask and answer.

A: किताब कहाँ छ?
kitāb kahā̃ cha?
Where is the book?

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

A: कलम कहाँ छ?
kalam kahā̃ cha?
Where is the pen?

B: कलम झोलामा छ।
kalam jholāmā cha.
The pen is in the bag.

A: उहाँ कहाँ हुनुहुन्छ?
uhā̃ kahā̃ hunuhuncha?
Where is he/she?

B: उहाँ कक्षामा हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ kakṣāmā hunuhuncha.
He/She is in the classroom.

Postpositions in Nepali

English uses prepositions such as “in,” “on,” and “at” before a noun.

For example:

in the classroom
on the table
at home

Nepali usually uses postpositions. Postpositions come after the noun.

The most common location marker is –मा (–mā). It can mean “in,” “on,” or “at,” depending on the sentence.

Examples:

कक्षा + मा = कक्षामा
kakṣā + mā = kakṣāmā
in the classroom

घर + मा = घरमा
ghar + mā = gharmā
at home / in the house

टेबल + मा = टेबलमा
ṭebal + mā = ṭebalmā
on the table

After you form the location phrase, add the correct verb form.

For example:

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

Table 6.4.7 – Example sentences (location with –मा)

Simple Rule

English: in / on / at + noun

Nepali: noun + मा (–mā)

Try It Now

Make location phrases.

घर + मा = घरमा
ghar + mā = gharmā
at home / in the house

कक्षा + मा = कक्षामा
kakṣā + mā = kakṣāmā
in the classroom

झोला + मा = झोलामा
jholā + mā = jholāmā
in the bag

टेबल + मा = टेबलमा
ṭebal + mā = ṭebalmā
on the table

Common Location Words

Nepali uses many useful location words to describe where something is.

These words help express meanings such as:

inside
outside
under
on top of
in front of
behind
near
far

They are useful for finding objects, describing places, and giving directions.

Table 6.4.8 – Common location words

Table 6.4.9 – Location phrases

These phrases are commonly written as a single unit by attaching the location word directly to the noun.

Try It Now

Read the location phrases aloud.

टेबलमुनि
ṭebalmuni
under the table

घरभित्र
gharbhitra
inside the house

स्कुलअगाडि
skulagāḍi
in front of the school

ढोकापछाडि
ḍhokāpachāḍi
behind the door

झोलाभित्र
jholābhitra
inside the bag

Location Phrases with Specific Places

When the reference noun is a specific place or institution, Nepali often uses –को (–ko) before the location word.

This pattern shows a spatial relationship.

The basic structure is:

Place + को + location word

For example:

कलेजको भित्र
kalejko bhitra
inside the college

भवनको बाहिर
bhawanko bāhira
outside the building

स्कुलको अगाडि
skulko agāḍi
in front of the school

घरको पछाडि
gharko pachāḍi
behind the house

These phrases are often used with छ / छन् (cha / chan) to describe location.

Table 6.4.10 – Using –को (–ko) with specific places

Table 6.4.11 – Using location words in full sentences

Try It Now

Make location phrases.

कलेज + को + भित्र
kalej + ko + bhitra
inside the college

स्कुल + को + अगाडि
skul + ko + agāḍi
in front of the school

घर + को + पछाडि
ghar + ko + pachāḍi
behind the house

भवन + को + बाहिर
bhawan + ko + bāhira
outside the building

Past Location: Was / Were

To describe where someone or something was in the past, Nepali uses past forms of हुनु (hunu).

In location sentences, the place marker stays the same.

Only the verb changes to show past time.

Present:

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

Past:

किताब टेबलमा थियो।
kitāb ṭebalmā thiyo.
The book was on the table.

Basic Past Forms

थियो
thiyo
was

थिए
thiye
were

थिएँ
thiẽ
I was

हुनुहुन्थ्यो
hunuhunthyo
was/were, respectful

Negative forms include:

थिएन
thiena
was not

थिएनन्
thienan
were not

हुनुहुन्नथ्यो
hunuhunnathyo
was/were not, respectful

Simple Rule

Present location uses छ / छन् (cha / chan).

Past location uses थियो / थिए (thiyo / thiye).

Respectful past location uses हुनुहुन्थ्यो (hunuhunthyo).

Try It Now

Compare present and past.

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

किताब टेबलमा थियो।
kitāb ṭebalmā thiyo.
The book was on the table.

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

विद्यार्थीहरू कक्षामा थिए।
widyārthīharū kakṣāmā thiye.
The students were in the classroom.

उहाँ घरमा हुनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ gharmā hunuhuncha.
He/She is at home.

उहाँ घरमा हुनुहुन्थ्यो।
uhā̃ gharmā hunuhunthyo.
He/She was at home.

Past Location Forms with Pronouns

Past location forms change according to the subject and level of respect.

Non-honorific subjects use regular past forms such as थिएँ (thiẽ), थियो (thiyo), and थिए (thiye).

Respectful subjects such as तपाईं (tapāī̃) and उहाँ (uhā̃) use हुनुहुन्थ्यो (hunuhunthyo).

The tables below show common affirmative and negative past-location forms.

Table 6.4.12 – Past location forms (non-honorific)

Table 6.4.13 – Past location forms (honorific/polite)

Table 6.4.14 – Past location questions

Past location questions use कहाँ (kahā̃) in the same way as present-time questions. Only the verb changes to the past form.

Table 6.4.15 – Past location statements (affirmative)

In affirmative past-time sentences, the location phrase (often with –मा –mā or other location words) stays the same. The verb changes to थियो / थिए (thiyo / thiye) or हुनुहुन्थ्यो (hunuhunthyo).

Table 6.4.16 – Past location statements (negative)

To make past-time location negative, Nepali uses the negative past forms (e.g., थिएन, थिएनन्) or the honorific negative हुनुहुन्नथ्यो (hunuhunnathyo).

Try It Now

Read the sentences aloud.

म घरमा थिएँ।
ma gharmā thiẽ.
I was at home.

उनी कक्षामा थिइन्।
unī kakṣāmā thiin.
She was in the classroom.

उनीहरू स्कुलमा थिए।
unīharū skulmā thiye.
They were at school.

तपाईं घरमा हुनुहुन्थ्यो।
tapāī̃ gharmā hunuhunthyo.
You were at home.

उहाँ अफिसमा हुनुहुन्थ्यो।
uhā̃ aphismā hunuhunthyo.
He/She was at the office.

Common Mistake

Do not change –मा (–mā) for past tense.

The location marker stays the same.

Present:

घरमा
gharmā
at home

Past:

घरमा
gharmā
at home

Only the verb changes.

Present:

म घरमा छु।
ma gharmā chu.
I am at home.

Past:

म घरमा थिएँ।
ma gharmā thiẽ.
I was at home.

Can You Do This Now?

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

• recognize the difference between हो / हुन् (ho / hun) and छ / छन् (cha / chan)
• use छ (cha) for the location of one object
• use छन् (chan) for the location of more than one object
• use छैन (chaina) and छैनन् (chainan) for negative location sentences
• ask “where?” questions with कहाँ (kahā̃)
• use –मा (–mā) to express “in,” “on,” or “at”
• form basic location phrases such as घरमा (gharmā) and कक्षामा (kakṣāmā)
• use common location words such as भित्र (bhitra), बाहिर (bāhira), अगाडि (agāḍi), and पछाडि (pachāḍi)
• use past location forms such as थियो (thiyo), थिए (thiye), थिएँ (thiẽ), and हुनुहुन्थ्यो (hunuhunthyo)