Chapter 13 of 16 · Explore the Nepali path
Verbs and stories · Chapter 13 of 16
Once upon a time, and how Nepali reports what was said
Learn the words that open a folktale and carry it forward, then the shape of reported speech: the words first, then भनेर, then the speaker, then the verb.
≈ 3 min of reading · Practise at your own pace
What’s in this chapter
- A folktale opens उहिले उहिले
uhile uhile “long, long ago”; एक दिन ek din “one day” starts the action. - A quotation is closed, not opened: the words, then भनेर
bhanera, then the speaker, then the verb. Nothing stands in front, where English puts “that”. - रे
re at the end of a sentence means “so they say”. - पनि
pani “also” comes after the word it adds to.
The words that hold a story together
These words open a folktale and carry it forward. र joins things, अनि orders events.
| English | Nepali | English | Nepali |
|---|---|---|---|
| long, long ago | उहिले उहिले | and | र |
| one day | एक दिन | but | तर |
| and then, next | अनि | also, too | पनि |
“Where are you going?” “तिमी कहाँ जान्छौ?” भनेर
“तिमी कहाँ जान्छौ?” भनेर स्यालले सोध्यो।
timī kahā̃ jānchau? bhanera syālle sodhyo
Quote, भनेर, speaker, verb. English announces the speaker first; Nepali finishes with them, and the verb is still last.
A tiger lived in that forest, they say.
त्यो बनमा एउटा बाघ थियो रे।
tyo banmā euṭā bāgh thiyo re
रे is the storyteller shrugging: handed-down truth, not something I saw. It sits after the verb, where few words ever do.
Joined-up sentences
- एक दिन बाघ आयो। अनि ऊ रूखमुनि बस्यो।
The second follows on in time.
Show answer +Hide answer −
ek din bāgh āyo. ani ū rūkhmuni basyo — “One day a tiger came. And then he sat under the tree.” - “म खुसी छु,” भनेर मुसाले भन्यो।
Closing word, speaker, verb.
Show answer +Hide answer −
“ma khusī chu,” bhanera musāle bhanyo — “‘I am happy,’ said the mouse.”