4. SYNTAX
In Hindi the copula verb haonaa hona: ‘to be’ is used as a non-stative
verb and is translated as to become/happen/take/occur. This meaning
is expressed by using the verb haonaa hona: or hao jaanaa ho ja:na: ‘to
become’.
- dor hu[- /hao ga[-.
der hui:/ho gai:.
late be-pst-fs/be aux-fs
It became late. - baatcaIt hu[-.
ba:tci:t hui:.
conversation be-pst-fs
The conversation took place. - kama huAa.
ka:m hua:.
work be-pst-ms
The work was done.
4.3.2. Verbal Sentences
Verbal phrases can be grouped into three categories based on the
classification of their verbs as simple, conjunct, or compound. The
first category has only one verbal root as in (1).
- maOMnao iktaba pZ,I.
m ́~ne kita:b parhi:.
I-erg book read
I read a book.
The second category is formed by combining a noun/adjective plus
the verb krnaa karna: ‘to do’, or haonaa hona: ‘to be’. (i.e. kama krnaa ka:m
karna: ‘to work’, maohnat krnaa mehnat karna: ‘to work hard’, saaf haonaa
sa:ph hona: ‘to be clear’ takt haonaa ta:kat hona: ‘to be
strong/healthy’.)
- mauJaoo kama krnaa hO.
mujhe ka:m karna: h ́.
I-dat work do-inf be
I have to work.