{"id":2764,"date":"2025-12-14T21:53:50","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T02:53:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/nepalitestv1\/?post_type=chapter&p=2764"},"modified":"2026-04-26T15:08:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T19:08:53","slug":"chapter-16-unit-4-grammar-focus","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/nepalitestv1\/chapter\/chapter-16-unit-4-grammar-focus\/","title":{"raw":"Unit 4 \u2014 Grammar Focus","rendered":"Unit 4 \u2014 Grammar Focus"},"content":{"raw":"

Shopping Language: Prices, Quantity, and Polite Requests<\/h2>\r\n

Asking the price<\/p>\r\n

In Nepali, two common structures are used to ask the price of an item:<\/p>\r\n

\u092f\u0938\u094d\u0915\u094b \u0915\u0924\u093f \u0939\u094b?<\/p>\r\n

(yasko kati ho?<\/i>)<\/p>\r\n

\u201cHow much is this?\u201d<\/p>\r\n

\u092f\u0938\u094d\u0915\u094b \u0915\u0924\u093f \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b?<\/p>\r\n

(yasko kati parcha?<\/i>)<\/p>\r\n

\u201cHow much does this cost?\u201d<\/p>\r\n

The form \u0939\u094b (ho<\/i>) expresses identification (\u201cis\u201d), while \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b (parcha<\/i>) expresses cost (\u201ccosts\u201d) and is especially frequent in transactional contexts.<\/p>\r\n

When referring to a specific item (e.g., car, phone, shirt), Nepali marks possession using \u2013\u0915\u094b (\u2013ko<\/i>), framing the question as \u201cthe price of X.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Core structures:<\/p>\r\n

X-\u0915\u094b \u0915\u0924\u093f \u0939\u094b?<\/p>\r\n

X-\u0915\u094b \u0915\u0924\u093f \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b?<\/p>\r\n

(X-ko kati ho? \/ X-ko kati parcha?<\/i>)<\/p>\r\n

An explicit lexical form with \u092e\u0942\u0932\u094d\u092f (m\u016blya<\/i>, \u201cprice\/value\u201d) is also possible:<\/p>\r\n

\u092f\u094b \u0915\u093e\u0930\u0915\u094b \u092e\u0942\u0932\u094d\u092f \u0915\u0924\u093f \u0939\u094b?<\/p>\r\n

(yo k\u0101rko m\u016blya kati ho?<\/i>)<\/p>\r\n

\u201cWhat is the price of this car?\u201d<\/p>\r\n[table id=391 \/]<\/span>\r\n

Saying the price (with \u092f\u0938\u0915\u094b \/ \u0924\u094d\u092f\u0938\u0915\u094b)<\/h3>\r\n

To express price in Nepali, short sentences are commonly formed using \u0930\u0941\u092a\u0948\u092f\u093e\u0901 (rupaiy\u0101\u0303<\/i>, \u201crupees\u201d). The possessive forms \u092f\u0938\u0915\u094b (yasko<\/i>, \u201cof this\u201d) and \u0924\u094d\u092f\u0938\u0915\u094b (tyasko<\/i>, \u201cof that\u201d) are used to link the item to its price.<\/p>\r\n

Two verb forms are commonly used:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n \t
  • \r\n

    \u0939\u094b (ho<\/i>) \u2192 expresses identification or equivalence (\u201cis\u201d)<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t

  • \r\n

    \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b (parcha<\/i>) \u2192 expresses cost (\u201ccosts\u201d), and is more frequent in transactional contexts<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    Both forms are grammatically correct. However, \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b (parcha<\/i>) is especially common in responses to \u0915\u0924\u093f \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b? (kati parcha?<\/i>).<\/p>\r\n[table id=392 \/]\r\n

    Asking for quantity: kilo \/ <\/em>\u0935\u091f\u093e<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n

    The most common question patterns are:<\/p>\r\n

    \u0924\u092a\u093e\u0908\u0902\u0932\u093e\u0908 \u0915\u0924\u093f \u091a\u093e\u0939\u093f\u0928\u094d\u091b?<\/p>\r\n

    (tap\u0101\u012b\u0303l\u0101\u012b kati ch\u0101hincha?<\/i>)<\/p>\r\n

    \u201cHow much do you want?\u201d<\/p>\r\n

    \u0915\u0924\u093f \u0915\u093f\u0932\u094b \u091a\u093e\u0939\u093f\u0928\u094d\u091b?<\/p>\r\n

    (kati kilo ch\u0101hincha?<\/i>)<\/p>\r\n

    \u201cHow many kilos do you want?\u201d<\/p>\r\n

    \u0915\u0924\u093f \u0935\u091f\u093e \u091a\u093e\u0939\u093f\u0928\u094d\u091b?<\/p>\r\n

    (kati wa\u1e6d\u0101 ch\u0101hincha?<\/i>)<\/p>\r\n

    \u201cHow many pieces do you want?\u201d<\/p>\r\n[table id=393 \/]\r\n

    Polite shop requests<\/h3>\r\nIn everyday Nepali, \u2013\u0928 (na<\/i>) is a common softener used to make requests more natural and polite, especially with verb forms such as \u0926\u093f\u0928\u0941\u0938\u094d (dinus<\/i>, \u201cplease give\u201d) and \u0926\u0947\u0916\u093e\u0907\u0926\u093f\u0928\u0941\u0938\u094d (dekh\u0101idinus<\/i>, \u201cplease show\u201d).\r\n

    Instead of using open substitution patterns (e.g., \u092e\u0932\u093e\u0908 ___ \u0926\u093f\u0928\u0941\u0938\u094d \u0928), learners benefit from memorizing complete request sentences and adapting the item as needed.<\/p>\r\n[table id=394 \/]","rendered":"

    Shopping Language: Prices, Quantity, and Polite Requests<\/h2>\n

    Asking the price<\/p>\n

    In Nepali, two common structures are used to ask the price of an item:<\/p>\n

    \u092f\u0938\u094d\u0915\u094b \u0915\u0924\u093f \u0939\u094b?<\/p>\n

    (yasko kati ho?<\/i>)<\/p>\n

    \u201cHow much is this?\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u092f\u0938\u094d\u0915\u094b \u0915\u0924\u093f \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b?<\/p>\n

    (yasko kati parcha?<\/i>)<\/p>\n

    \u201cHow much does this cost?\u201d<\/p>\n

    The form \u0939\u094b (ho<\/i>) expresses identification (\u201cis\u201d), while \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b (parcha<\/i>) expresses cost (\u201ccosts\u201d) and is especially frequent in transactional contexts.<\/p>\n

    When referring to a specific item (e.g., car, phone, shirt), Nepali marks possession using \u2013\u0915\u094b (\u2013ko<\/i>), framing the question as \u201cthe price of X.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Core structures:<\/p>\n

    X-\u0915\u094b \u0915\u0924\u093f \u0939\u094b?<\/p>\n

    X-\u0915\u094b \u0915\u0924\u093f \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b?<\/p>\n

    (X-ko kati ho? \/ X-ko kati parcha?<\/i>)<\/p>\n

    An explicit lexical form with \u092e\u0942\u0932\u094d\u092f (m\u016blya<\/i>, \u201cprice\/value\u201d) is also possible:<\/p>\n

    \u092f\u094b \u0915\u093e\u0930\u0915\u094b \u092e\u0942\u0932\u094d\u092f \u0915\u0924\u093f \u0939\u094b?<\/p>\n

    (yo k\u0101rko m\u016blya kati ho?<\/i>)<\/p>\n

    \u201cWhat is the price of this car?\u201d<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Table 16.4.1 \u2013 Asking the price: common question forms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Nepali<\/th>\nTransliteration<\/th>\nEnglish<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    \u092f\u0938\u094d\u0915\u094b \u0915\u0924\u093f \u0939\u094b?<\/td>\nyasko kati ho?<\/em><\/td>\nHow much is this?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u092f\u0938\u094d\u0915\u094b \u0915\u0924\u093f \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b? <\/td>\nyasko kati parcha?<\/em><\/td>\nHow much does this cost?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u092f\u094b \u0915\u093e\u0930\u0915\u094b \u0915\u0924\u093f \u0939\u094b? <\/td>\nyo k\u0101rko kati ho?<\/em><\/td>\nHow much is this car?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u092f\u094b \u0915\u093e\u0930\u0915\u094b \u0915\u0924\u093f \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b? <\/td>\nyo k\u0101rko kati parcha?<\/em><\/td>\nHow much does this car cost?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u0924\u094d\u092f\u094b \u092b\u094b\u0928\u0915\u094b \u0915\u0924\u093f \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b? <\/td>\ntyo phonko kati parcha?<\/em><\/td>\nHow much does that phone cost?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u092f\u094b \u091f\u0940\u2013\u0936\u0930\u094d\u091f\u0915\u094b \u0915\u0924\u093f \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b? <\/td>\nyo \u1e6d\u012bsa\u1e5b\u1e6dko kati parcha?<\/em><\/td>\nHow much does this T-shirt cost?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    <\/span><\/p>\n

    Saying the price (with \u092f\u0938\u0915\u094b \/ \u0924\u094d\u092f\u0938\u0915\u094b)<\/h3>\n

    To express price in Nepali, short sentences are commonly formed using \u0930\u0941\u092a\u0948\u092f\u093e\u0901 (rupaiy\u0101\u0303<\/i>, \u201crupees\u201d). The possessive forms \u092f\u0938\u0915\u094b (yasko<\/i>, \u201cof this\u201d) and \u0924\u094d\u092f\u0938\u0915\u094b (tyasko<\/i>, \u201cof that\u201d) are used to link the item to its price.<\/p>\n

    Two verb forms are commonly used:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • \n

      \u0939\u094b (ho<\/i>) \u2192 expresses identification or equivalence (\u201cis\u201d)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b (parcha<\/i>) \u2192 expresses cost (\u201ccosts\u201d), and is more frequent in transactional contexts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Both forms are grammatically correct. However, \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b (parcha<\/i>) is especially common in responses to \u0915\u0924\u093f \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b? (kati parcha?<\/i>).<\/p>\n

      Table 16.4.2 \u2013 Saying the price<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Nepali<\/th>\nTransliteration<\/th>\nEnglish<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      \u092f\u0938\u0915\u094b \u090f\u0915 \u0938\u092f \u0930\u0941\u092a\u0948\u092f\u093e\u0901 \u0939\u094b\u0964 <\/td>\nyasko ek saya rupaiy\u0101\u0303 ho.<\/em><\/td>\nThis is 100 rupees.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      \u092f\u0938\u0915\u094b \u0926\u0941\u0908 \u0938\u092f \u0930\u0941\u092a\u0948\u092f\u093e\u0901 \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b\u0964 <\/td>\nyasko du\u012b saya rupaiy\u0101\u0303 parcha.<\/em><\/td>\nThis costs 200 rupees.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      \u090f\u0915 \u0915\u093f\u0932\u094b \u0938\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0909\u0915\u094b \u0924\u0940\u0928 \u0938\u092f \u0930\u0941\u092a\u0948\u092f\u093e\u0901 \u092a\u0930\u094d\u091b\u0964 <\/td>\nek kilo sy\u0101uko t\u012bn saya rupaiy\u0101\u0303 parcha.<\/em><\/td>\n1 kg of apples costs 300 rupees.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      <\/p>\n

      Asking for quantity: kilo \/ <\/em>\u0935\u091f\u093e<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      The most common question patterns are:<\/p>\n

      \u0924\u092a\u093e\u0908\u0902\u0932\u093e\u0908 \u0915\u0924\u093f \u091a\u093e\u0939\u093f\u0928\u094d\u091b?<\/p>\n

      (tap\u0101\u012b\u0303l\u0101\u012b kati ch\u0101hincha?<\/i>)<\/p>\n

      \u201cHow much do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

      \u0915\u0924\u093f \u0915\u093f\u0932\u094b \u091a\u093e\u0939\u093f\u0928\u094d\u091b?<\/p>\n

      (kati kilo ch\u0101hincha?<\/i>)<\/p>\n

      \u201cHow many kilos do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

      \u0915\u0924\u093f \u0935\u091f\u093e \u091a\u093e\u0939\u093f\u0928\u094d\u091b?<\/p>\n

      (kati wa\u1e6d\u0101 ch\u0101hincha?<\/i>)<\/p>\n

      \u201cHow many pieces do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

      Table 16.4.3 \u2013 Asking for quantity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Nepali<\/th>\nTransliteration<\/th>\nEnglish<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      \u0915\u0924\u093f \u0915\u093f\u0932\u094b \u091a\u093e\u0939\u093f\u0928\u094d\u091b? <\/td>\nkati kilo c\u0101hincha?<\/em><\/td>\nHow many kilos do you want?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      \u092e\u0932\u093e\u0908 \u090f\u0915 \u0915\u093f\u0932\u094b \u0938\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0909 \u0926\u093f\u0928\u0941\u0938\u094d \u0928\u0964 <\/td>\nmal\u0101\u012b ek kilo sy\u0101u dinus na.<\/em><\/td>\nPlease give me 1 kg of apples.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      \u092e\u0932\u093e\u0908 \u0926\u0941\u0908 \u0935\u091f\u093e \u0915\u0947\u0930\u093e \u0926\u093f\u0928\u0941\u0938\u094d \u0928\u0964 <\/td>\nmal\u0101\u012b du\u012b wa\u1e6d\u0101 ker\u0101 dinus na.<\/em><\/td>\nPlease give me two bananas.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      \u0906\u0927\u093e \u0915\u093f\u0932\u094b \u0924\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u091a\u093e\u0939\u093f\u0928\u094d\u091b\u0964 <\/td>\n\u0101dh\u0101 kilo tarak\u0101r\u012b c\u0101hincha.<\/em><\/td>\nI want half a kilo of vegetables.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      <\/p>\n

      Polite shop requests<\/h3>\n

      In everyday Nepali, \u2013\u0928 (na<\/i>) is a common softener used to make requests more natural and polite, especially with verb forms such as \u0926\u093f\u0928\u0941\u0938\u094d (dinus<\/i>, \u201cplease give\u201d) and \u0926\u0947\u0916\u093e\u0907\u0926\u093f\u0928\u0941\u0938\u094d (dekh\u0101idinus<\/i>, \u201cplease show\u201d).<\/p>\n

      Instead of using open substitution patterns (e.g., \u092e\u0932\u093e\u0908 ___ \u0926\u093f\u0928\u0941\u0938\u094d \u0928), learners benefit from memorizing complete request sentences and adapting the item as needed.<\/p>\n

      Table 16.4.4 \u2013 Polite shop requests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Nepali<\/th>\nTransliteration<\/th>\nEnglish<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      \u092e\u0932\u093e\u0908 \u092e\u094b\u092e\u094b \u0926\u093f\u0928\u0941\u0938\u094d \u0928\u0964 <\/td>\nmal\u0101\u012b momo dinus na.<\/em><\/td>\nPlease give me momo.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      \u092e\u0932\u093e\u0908 \u092f\u094b \u091f\u0940\u2013\u0936\u0930\u094d\u091f \u0926\u093f\u0928\u0941\u0938\u094d \u0928\u0964 <\/td>\nmal\u0101\u012b yo \u1e6d\u012bsa\u1e5b\u1e6d dinus na.<\/em><\/td>\nPlease give me this T-shirt.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      \u0915\u0943\u092a\u092f\u093e \u092e\u0932\u093e\u0908 \u092a\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0926\u093f\u0928\u0941\u0938\u094d\u0964 <\/td>\nk\u1e5bpay\u0101 mal\u0101\u012b p\u0101n\u012b dinus.<\/em><\/td>\nPlease give me water.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      \u092a\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0932\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0907\u0926\u093f\u0928\u0941\u0938\u094d\u0964 <\/td>\np\u0101n\u012b ly\u0101idinus.<\/em><\/td>\nPlease bring water.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      \u092f\u094b \u0926\u0947\u0916\u093e\u0907\u0926\u093f\u0928\u0941\u0938\u094d \u0928\u0964 <\/td>\nyo dekh\u0101idinus na.<\/em><\/td>\nPlease show me this.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      \u0905\u0932\u093f \u0938\u0938\u094d\u0924\u094b \u0939\u0941\u0928\u094d\u091b? <\/td>\nali sasto huncha?<\/em><\/td>\nCan it be a little cheaper?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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