A2 · Elemental Capítulo 20

The Ergative Case: The Marker -le

3 Reglas totales
1 min
Reglas en este capítulo Práctica rápida

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.

Lo que aprenderás

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.

Consejos y trucos (3)

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Check the verb

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

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

Vocabulario clave (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

Errores comunes

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.
Correcto: Maile bhat khaen.

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

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

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

Wrong: Ramle gayo.
Correcto: 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

Práctica rápida (10)

Fill in the blank.

सीता ___ तरकारी काटिन्। (knife)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: चक्कुले
Tool marker.

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

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

Fill in the blank.

म ___ लेख्छु। (pen)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: कलमले
Tool marker is -le.

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

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'

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

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

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Ram-le bhat khaye.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ram-le bhat khayo
Agreement with object.

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

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'

Choose the correct particle.

I went ___ taxi.

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

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

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

Score: /10

Preguntas frecuentes (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.
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Simple Past Tense
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