Nepali Tense

It refers to an action that occurs in the present but has no definite time limit for completion. For example:

• कृतिशा हरेक दिन एउटा स्याउ खान्छिन्।
  (Kritisha hareak din euta syau khanchin.)
  Kritisha eats an apple every day.
• मैले हरेक बिहान पानी पिउँछु।
  (Maile hareak bihana pani piunchu.)
  I drink water every morning.
• उनीहरू सधैं शनिबार जिम जान्छन्।
  (Uniharu sadhaai Shanibar jim janchan.)
  They always go to the gym on Saturdays.
• हामी हरेक सप्ताह मिठा खानाहरू बनाउँछौं।
  (Haami hareak saptah mithaa khana haru banaunchau.)
  We cook delicious food every week.

When To Use Present Indefinite Tense?

1. To describe a universal truth:

   For e.g.

   सूर्य पूर्वबाट उदाउँछ।
   (Surya purvabata udauncha.)
   The sun rises in the east.

   पृथ्वी सूर्यको वरिपरि घुम्छ।
   (Prithvi suryako varipari ghuncha.)
   The earth revolves around the sun.

2. For describing an action happening in the present.

   For e.g.

   समीरा गीत गाउँछिन्।
   (Samira git gaunchin.)
   Samira sings a song.

   केटाहरू फुटबल खेल्छन्।
   (Ketaharu football khelchan.)
   Boys play a football match.

3. For activities of habitual nature.

   For e.g.

   सुनील सधैं सत्य बोल्छ।
   (Sunil sadhai satya bolcha.)
   Sunil always speaks the truth.

   म कहिल्यै झूट बोल्दिन।
   (Ma kahilyai jhut boldina.)
   I never tell a lie.

4. For events scheduled in the near future.

   For e.g.

   मेरो स्कूल अर्को हप्ता खुल्छ।
   (Mero skool arko hapta khulcha.)
   My school opens next week.

The present continuous tense indicates that an action is happening now and may continue into the future. This tense helps readers understand when the action is happening. For example

• म अहिले किताब पढिरहेको छु।
  (Ma ahile kitab padhiraheko chu.)
  I am reading a book right now.
• तिमी हस्पिटल जान्नुभएको छ भने?
  (Timi hospital jannubhaeko cha bhane?)
  Are you going to the hospital?
• उनीहरू अहिले नयाँ फिल्म हेर्दैछन्।
  (Uniharu ahile naya film herdaichan.)
  They are watching a new movie right now.
• मैले अहिले यो लेख तयार गर्दैछु।
  (Maile ahile yo lekh tayar gardai chu.)
  I am writing this article right now.

When To Use Present Continuous Tense?

1. Things that are happening at the moment of speaking:

   For e.g.

   म यस समयमा काम गरिरहेको छु।
   (Ma yas samayama kam gariraheko chu.)
   I`m working at the moment.

   पिंकू सुतिरहेकी छिन्।
   (Pinku sutiraheki chin.)
   Pinku is sleeping.

2. For describing temporary or new habits:

   For e.g.

   उनी यी दिनहरूमा धेरै खाँदै छन्।
   (Uni yi dinharuma dherai khandai chan.)
   He is eating a lot these days.

   तपाईं धेरै मात्रामा पिउँदै हुनुहुन्छ।
   (Tapai dherai matrama piundai hunuhuncha.)
   You are drinking too much.

3. Describing habits that are not regular, but that happens very often:

   For e.g.

   तपाईं सधैं आफ्नो चाबी हराउँदै हुनुहुन्छ!
   (Tapai sadhai aphno chabi haraundai hunuhuncha!)
   You are forever losing your keys!

   मोहित सधैं मुस्कुराउँदै हुन्छ!
   (Mohit sadhai muskuraundai huncha!)
   Mohit is always smiling!

4. Also use is for definite future arrangements:

   For e.g.

   म भोलि आफ्नो दाजुसँग भेट्ने छु।
   (Ma bholi aphno daju sanga bhetne chu.)
   I`m meeting my brother tomorrow.

   म दुई बजे जाने छु
   (Ma dui baje jane chu)
   I`m leaving at two.

The present perfect tense refers to an action that either occurred at an unspecified time in the past or began in the past and continued to the present time. For example:

• मैले यस बाटोमा अगाडि पनि हिँडेको छु।
  (Maile yas batoma agadi pani hidako chu.)
  I have walked on this route before.
• उनी सोमबारदेखि ज्वरोले ग्रस्त छिन्।
  (Uni sombardekhi jwarole grasta chin.)
  She has had the fever since Monday.
• मैले यो पुस्तक पढिसकेको छु।
  (Maile yo pustak padhisakeko chu.)
  I have already read this book.
• उसले नयाँ घर किनेको छ।
  (Usle naya ghar kineko cha.)
  He has bought a new house.

It can be defined as an action that has started in the past and is continuing at the present time. For example:

• उ पढ्न थालेको धेरै समय भयो।
  (U padhna thaleko dherai samaya bhayo.)
  He has been studying for a long time.
• उसले बिहानदेखि गीत गाइरहेकी छ।
  (Usle bihandekhi geet gairaheki cha.)
  She has been singing since morning.
• हामी दुई घण्टादेखि प्रतीक्षा गरिरहेका छौं।
  (Haami dui ghantadekhi pratiksya gariraheka chhaun.)
  We have been waiting for two hours.
• तिमी किन रोइरहेकी छौ?
  (Timi kina roiraheki chau?)
  Why have you been crying?

The past indefinite tense, also known as simple past tense, is used to indicate completed action that happened in the past. For example:

• मैले हिजो फिल्म हेरेँ।
  (Maile hijo film heren.)
  I watched a movie yesterday.
• हामीले स्कूलमा फुटबल खेल्यौं।
  (Haamile schoolma football khelyau.)
  We played football at school.
• मैले हिजो फिल्म हेरेँ।
  (Maile hijo film heren.)
  I watched a movie yesterday.
• उसले खाना पकायो।
  (Usle khana pakayo.)
  He cooked food.

The past continuous tense, also known as past progressive tense, refers to a continuing action that was happening at some point in the past. For example:

• हामी फिल्म हेरिरहेका थियौं।
  (Haami film heriraheka thiyaun.)
  We were watching a movie.
• बच्चाहरु मैदानमा खेलिरहेका थिए।
  (Bachchaharu maidanma kheli raheka thiye.)
  The children were playing in the field.
• तिमी हिजो किन रोइरहेकी थियौ?
  (Timi hijo kina roiraheki thiyau?)
  Why were you crying yesterday?
• हामी तिमीलाई पर्खिरहेका थियौं।
  (Haami timilai parkhiraheka thiyaun.)
  We were waiting for you.

The past perfect tense is used to talk about actions that were completed / occurred before another action in the past. For example:

• हामी पुगेका बेला उनीहरू पहिले नै खाना खाइसकेका थिए।
  (Haami pugeka bela uniharu pahile nai khana khaisakeka thie.)
  They had already eaten when we arrived.
• उसले बोल्नु अघि मैले सबै कुरा लेखिसकेको थिएँ।
  (Usle bolnu aghi maile sabai kura lekhisakeko thie.)
  I had written everything before he spoke.
• उनले कार्यक्रम सुरु गर्नु अघि हामीले तयारी गरिसकेका थियौं।
  (Unle karyakram suru garnu aghi haamile tayari garisakeka thiyaun.)
  We had prepared before he started the event.
• परीक्षा सुरु हुनु अघि उनीहरुले किताब पढिसकेका थिए।
  (Pariksha suru hunu aghi uniharu le kitab padhi sakeka thie.)
  They had studied the book before the exam started.

The past perfect continuous tense, also known as past perfect progressive tense, is used to describe an action which continued for a specific period of a time but stopped before another action. For example:

• परेशले अफिस छोड्नु अघि तीन वर्षदेखि त्यहीँ काम गरिरहेका थिए।
  (Pareshle office chhodnu aghi tin barsadekhi tyahim kaam gariraheka thie.)
  Paresh had been working there for three years before he quit the job.
• उसले अर्को पुस्तक सुरु गर्नु अघि पहिलो पुस्तक दुई महिनादेखि पढिरहेको थियो।
  (Usle arko pustak suru garnu aghi pahilo pustak dui mahinadekhi padhi raheko thiyo.)
  He had been reading the first book for two months before starting the next one.
• हामी भेट्न जानु अघि उनी पाँच दिनदेखि बिरामी परिरहेका थिए।
  (Haami bhetna janu aghi uni panch dindekhi birami pariraheka thie.)
  He had been feeling sick for five days before we went to visit him.
• गायकले मञ्चमा आउनु अघि दर्शकहरू लामो समयदेखि प्रतीक्षा गरिरहेका थिए।
  (Gayakle manchma aaunu aghi darshakharu lamo samayadekhi pratiksya gariraheka thie.)
  The audience had been waiting for a long time before the singer came on stage.

The future indefinite tense, also known as simple future, is used to talk about things that haven't happened yet. For example:

• उनीहरूले नयाँ घर किन्नेछन्।
  (Uniharule naya ghar kinnechan.)
  They will buy a new house.
• हामी अर्को हप्ता भेट्नेछौं।
  (Haami arko hapta bhetnechhaun.)
  We will meet next week.
• उसले परीक्षा पास गर्नेछ।
  (Usle pariksha pass garnecha.)
  He will pass the exam.
• तिमी के पढ्नेछौ?
  (Timi ke padhnechau?)
  What will you study?
• म तिमीलाई फोन गर्नेछु।
  (Ma timilai phone garnechu.)
  I will call you.

The future continuous tense, sometimes also referred to as the future progressive tense, is used to indicate those action that will occur in the future and continue for an expected length of time. For example:

• वर्षा भोली बिहान रिपोर्ट लेखिरहेकी हुनेछिन्।
  (Barsha bholi bihana report lekhiraheki hunechin.)
  Barsha will be writing the report tomorrow morning.
• हामी यस समयमा बैठकमा सहभागी भइरहेका हुनेछौं।
  (Haami yas samaya ma baithakma sahabhagi bhairaheka hunechaun.)
  We will be attending the meeting at that time.
• सन्दीप आफ्नो नयाँ प्रोजेक्टमा काम गरिरहेको हुनेछ।
  (Sandeep afno naya projectma kaam gariraheko hunecha.)
  Sandeep will be working on his new project.
• उनीहरूले नयाँ फिल्म सुट गरिरहेका हुनेछन्।
  (Uniharule naya film shoot gariraheka hunechan.)
  They will be shooting a new film.

The future perfect tense is used to indicate actions that will be completed before some other point in the future. For example:

• तिनीहरू कार्यक्रम सुरु हुने बेलासम्म सबै तयारी गरिसकेका हुनेछन्।
  (Tiniharu karyakram suru hune belasamma sabai tayari garisakeka hunechan.)
  They will have finished all preparations by the time the program starts.
• उनीले परीक्षा सुरु हुनु भन्दा पहिले सबै नोटहरू पढिसकेकी हुनेछिन्।
  (Unile pariksha suru hunu bhanda pahile sabai notharu padhisakeki hunechin.)
  She will have read all the notes before the exam begins.
• तिमी आउँदा म पहिले नै नास्ता खाइसकेको हुनेछु।
  (Timi aunda ma pahile nai nasta khaisakeko hunechu.)
  I will have already eaten breakfast when you arrive.
• हामी भोलिसम्म योजना तयार गरिसकेका हुनेछौं।
  (Haami bholisamma yojana tayar garisakeka hunechaun.)
  We shall have prepared the plan by tomorrow.

When should I use "shall" or "will"?

1. Modern English:

   "Will" is used for all subjects: I, we, you, he, she, it, they.

   "Shall" is mostly used in formal or legal/contractual scenarios.

2. Traditional British Usage (Less common today)

   Use "Will" with you, he, she, it, they.

   Use "Shall" with I and we for simple future.

The future perfect continuous, also sometimes called the future perfect progressive, tense describes actions that will continue up until a point in the future. For example:

• २०२२ सम्म म २२ वर्षदेखि लन्डनमा बसिरहेको हुनेछु।
  (2022 samma ma 22 varsadekhi Londonma basiraheko hunechu.)
  By 2022 I will have been living in London for 22 years.
• तिमीले परीक्षा समाप्त नगरेसम्म म तीन घण्टा सम्म पढिरहेकी हुनेछु।
  (Timile pariksha samaapt nagaresamma ma teen ghanta samma padhiraheki hunechin.)
  By the time you finish your exam, I will have been studying for three hours.
• पाँच बर्षपछि म यहाँ काम गरिरहेको हुनेछु।
  (Paanch barsa pachi ma yaha kaam gariraheko hunechu.)
  In five years, I will have been working here.
• हामी २ घण्टा देखि पिकनिक गर्दै आउनेछौं।
  (Haami 2 ghanta dekhi picnic gardai aunechaun.)
  We will have been going for a picnic for 2 hours.