A2 · Grundkenntnisse Kapitel 20

The Ergative Case: The Marker -le

3 Gesamtregeln
1 Min.
Regeln in diesem Kapitel Schnelle Übung

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Unlock the secret to Nepali action by mastering the powerful '-le' marker.

  • Identify when to add '-le' to subjects.
  • Apply the ergative case to past tense actions.
  • Use '-le' to indicate tools or methods.
Master the '-le' marker and speak the past clearly.

Was du lernen wirst

Understanding the most important case marker in Nepali. You will learn when to use '-le' with subjects.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Correctly append '-le' to subjects when describing past transitive actions.

Tipps & Tricks (3)

💡

Check the verb

If the verb is transitive, add 'le'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Subjective Case with Transitive Verbs
💡

Check the verb

Before adding '-le', ask: is this verb transitive?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Ergative Marker '-le' in the Past Tense
💡

Pronoun Irregularity

Remember that 'Ma' becomes 'Maile' in the past tense. This is the most common error.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Instrumental Use of '-le'

Wichtige Vokabeln (6)

मैले (maile) I (ergative) कलम (kalam) pen गरेँ (garen) did भात (bhat) cooked rice खाएँ (khaen) ate चम्चा (chamcha) spoon

Real-World Preview

utensils

Sharing your lunch

Review Summary

  • Subject + le + Object + Verb
  • Subject + le + ... + Past Verb
  • Noun + le = with/by noun

Häufige Fehler

You missed the -le marker on the subject for a past transitive verb. Always add -le to the subject in the past tense.

Wrong: Ma bhat khaen.
Richtig: Maile bhat khaen.

Using 'sanga' (with) for tools is incorrect. Use the suffix -le to indicate an instrument.

Wrong: Maile kalam sanga lekhen.
Richtig: Maile kalamle lekhen.

Intransitive verbs like 'go' do not take the -le marker. Only transitive verbs require it.

Wrong: Ramle gayo.
Richtig: Ram gayo.

Next Steps

You've tackled a major milestone in Nepali grammar! Keep practicing, and it will become second nature.

Write 5 sentences about your morning routine using -le.

Continue to: Simple Past Tense

Schnelle Übung (10)

Fill in the blank.

Ma ___ bhat khaye.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: le
Transitive past requires le.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Subjective Case with Transitive Verbs

Fill in the blank.

Ram-le bhat ____.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: khayo
Ram is masculine singular.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Ergative Marker '-le' in the Past Tense

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Usle pani piye.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Usle pani piyo
Verb agreement.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Subjective Case with Transitive Verbs

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ma gaye
Gaye is intransitive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Ergative Marker '-le' in the Past Tense

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: मैले खाएँ
Ergative marker for 'I' is 'Maile'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Instrumental Use of '-le'

Fill in the blank.

___ le kam sakyo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ram
Subject + le.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Subjective Case with Transitive Verbs

Choose the correct particle.

I went ___ taxi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: -le
Transport marker.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Instrumental Use of '-le'

Choose the correct verb.

Ram-le keti ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dekhyo
Agreement with object.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Subjective Case with Transitive Verbs

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Maile gayo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ma gaye
Intransitive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Subjective Case with Transitive Verbs

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

राम बसमा गयो।

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: राम बसले गयो
Transport uses -le.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Instrumental Use of '-le'

Score: /10

Häufige Fragen (6)

It marks the subject of transitive verbs in the past.
Yes, for the ergative case.
It marks the agent of a transitive verb in the past.
No, only in the past.
Yes, it is the standard instrumental marker.
It is an irregular ergative form.
Nächstes Kapitel
Simple Past Tense
Zurück zur Roadmap