Introduction to Pali Sentences
Constructing Pali Sentences

Now let us learn a few more verbs and translate the first set of sentences in the previous (Personal Pronouns) topic.

  • carati = walks
  • nisīdati = sits
  • sayati = sleeps
  • bhuñjati = eats
  • bhāsati = speaks
  • patati = falls
  • gacchati = goes

Note : The verb forms written above are the third person singular forms of the verbs in present tense. Hence the translation ‘walks’, ‘sits’ etc. This is the form that we come across in the dictionaries.

Audio for Pali verbs

Translation of sentences: English to Pali

  1. I walk.
    I = ahaṃ, walks = carati
    The verb corresponding to ahaṃ (first person singular) would be carāmi.
    Thus, I walk. = Ahaṃ carāmi.
  2. She sits.
    she = , sits = nisīdati
    The verb corresponding to (third person singular) would be nisīdati.
    Thus, She sits. = Sā nisīdati.
  3. You(s) sleep.
    you(s) = tvaṃ, sleeps = sayati
    The verb corresponding to tvaṃ (second person singular) would be sayasi.
    Thus, You(s) sleep. = Tvaṃ sayasi.
  4. They eat.
    they = te / tā, tāyo / te, tāni, eats = bhuñjati
    As the subject is not specifically mentioned as being masculine or feminine, we can use any of the three words – te (m), (f), tāyo (f). (We will exclude neuter pronoun due to the action - ‘eating’.)
    The verb corresponding to te, tā, tāyo (third person plural) would be bhuñjanti.
    Thus, They eat. = Te / Tā / Tāyo bhuñjanti.
  5. He speaks.
    he = so, speaks = bhāsati
    The verb corresponding to ‘so’ (third person singular) would be bhāsati.
    Thus, He speaks. = So bhāsati.
  6. It falls.
    it = taṃ, falls = patati
    The verb corresponding to taṃ (third person singular) would be patati.
    Thus, It falls. = Taṃ patati.
  7. We go.
    we = mayaṃ, goes = gacchati
    The verb corresponding to mayaṃ (first person plural) would be gacchāma.
    Thus, We go. = Mayaṃ gacchāma.
Audio for Pali sentences
Last modified: Saturday, 31 December 2022, 11:16 AM