Pronominal Adverbs
We come across certain adverbs in Pali which are derived from various pronouns, like Relative, Demonstrative, and Interrogative pronouns. They are called as Pronominal Adverbs. These adverbs are indeclinable and they often carry a different meaning than the pronouns.
Given below is a list of such pronominal adverbs :
| Relative Adverbs | Demonstrative Adverbs | Interrogative Adverbs |
|---|---|---|
| yattha / yatra = where | tattha / tatra = there | kattha / kutra = where |
| yadā = when | tadā = then | kadā = when |
| yato = from where / which, as | tato = from there / that, therefore | kuto = from where |
| yathā = in what manner, how | tathā = in that manner, thus | kathaṃ = how |
| yāva = how long, since when | tāva = till then, (for) so long | kīva = how long |
| yasmā = as, because | tasmā = from that, therefore | kasmā = why |
| yena = where | tena = there |
Please Note :
Though the meaning of many of the above Relative and Interrogative Adverbs is the same, they are used in different manner. Similar to the Relative Pronouns, the Relative Adverbs point to or relate to something, and are mostly followed by Demonstrative Adverbs. The Interrogative Adverbs on the other hand are used in questions.
We also come across pronominal adverbs formed from other pronouns like sabba, añña etc. These adverbs are translated in similar manner as the abovementioned adverbs
E.g. sabbattha = everywhere,
aññattha / aññatra = elsewhere, somewhere else,
sabbadā = always,
sabbathā = in all manners, in every way;
aññathā = in a different way / manner, otherwise, change / alteration;
sabbato = all round, in every respect
Please note that the ending dā denotes time, tha / tra denotes place and thā denotes a way / manner.