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Chapter 7 – Existence and Possession

Overview

In earlier chapters, you learned हो (ho) / हुन् (hun), which are used for identity and classification (“I am a teacher,” “This is a book”).

In this chapter, you will learn the छ (cha) forms of हुनु (hunu), which are used differently. These forms express existence, presence, availability, and possession—literally meaning “it exists.”

You will practise छ (cha) / छन् (chan) and their negative forms छैन (chaina) / छैनन् (chainan) in everyday situations, such as:

  • saying what is here or there (यहाँ yahā̃ / त्यहाँ tyahā̃)

  • asking “how many?” (कति वटा? kati waṭā? / कति जना? kati janā?)

  • using numbers 1–10 with classifiers (–वटा -waṭā for things, –जना -janā for people)

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to ask and answer practical questions about what is in places like a classroom, café, shop, or hotel, and express possession or lack of possession using सँग saṅga “with.”

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  • ask and answer existence questions using छ? (cha?) and छन्? (chan?)
  • use the negative forms छैन (chaina) and छैनन् (chainan) accurately
  • use यहाँ (yahā̃) and त्यहाँ (tyahā̃) to say “here” and “there” in full sentences
  • use the numerals १–१० with –वटा (–waṭā) for things and –जना (–janā) for people
  • ask “how many?” using कति वटा? (kati waṭā?) and कति जना? (kati janā?)
  • express possession using मसँग (masaṅga), तपाईंसँग (tapāī̃saṅga), and उहाँसँग (uhā̃saṅga) + noun + छ (cha)
  • recognize how existence questions can also function as polite requests in cafés, shops, hotels, and other everyday settings.

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Introduction to the Nepali Language Copyright © 2026 by Binod Shrestha; Salina Dolmo Lama; Mark Turin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.