GRAMMAR / 28
म पढ्नको लागि पुस्तकालय जान्छु।
ma paḍhnako lāgi pustakālaya jānchu
I go to the library to study.
Pattern and choice
Beneficiary: को/का लागि (for; for the benefit of)
छोराको लागि (for the son) / तपाईंका लागि (for you)
छोराको लागि (for the son) / तपाईंका लागि (for you) mark beneficiaries.
The connecting को/का depends on the noun/honorific construction. लाई marks a recipient; का लागि (for; for the benefit of) forms a beneficiary/purpose phrase.
Use पढ्नको लागि (in order to read/study) / काम गर्नको लागि (in order to work).
The purpose infinitive is पढ्न, not unchanged पढ्नु. पढाइका लागि (for study) instead begins with the noun study; these are different constructions.
म पढ्न जान्छु (I go to study) uses -न + motion verb for a purpose. को लागि (for; in order to) is not obligatory here.
The same infinitive in पढ्न सक्छु (I can read) instead complements ability, not motion.
तपाईंका लागि (for you) / तपाईंका निम्ति (for you) both mean for you. निमित्त also occurs in formal writing.
Learn each complete combination including the connecting form rather than swapping isolated translated words.
पढ्नको लागि आएँ (I came in order to study) gives an intended purpose; पानी परेकोले आएनँ (I did not come because it rained) a causal circumstance.
Nepali distinguishes them in the linking morphology itself.
| Form and reading | Meaning and use | Short construction |
|---|---|---|
| को लागि・का लागि ko lāgi / kā lāgi | for a beneficiary; learn the construction | तपाईंका लागि / tapāĩkā lāgi |
| -नको लागि -nako lāgi | in order to do | पढ्नको लागि / paḍhnako lāgi |
| निम्ति・निमित्त nimti / nimitta | for, for the purpose of; further forms | तपाईंको निम्ति / tapāĩko nimti |
MAKE IT YOURS
म पढ्नको लागि पुस्तकालय जान्छु।
ma paḍhnako lāgi pustakālaya jānchu
| Word or form | Reading | Meaning in this sentence |
|---|---|---|
| म | ma | I |
| पढ्नको | paḍhnako | to study (purpose) |
| लागि | lāgi | for |
| पुस्तकालय | pustakālaya | library |
| जान्छु | jānchu | go; goes |
तपाईं के गर्नको लागि आउनुभयो?
tapāĩ ke garnako lāgi āunubhayo?
| Word or form | Reading | Meaning in this sentence |
|---|---|---|
| तपाईं | tapāĩ | you (respectful) |
| के | ke | what |
| गर्नको | garnako | to do (purpose) |
| लागि | lāgi | for |
| आउनुभयो | āunubhayo | came (respectful) |
उहाँ साथीलाई भेट्नको लागि आउनुहुन्छ।
uhā̃ sāthīlāī bheṭnako lāgi āunuhuncha
| Word or form | Reading | Meaning in this sentence |
|---|---|---|
| उहाँ | uhā̃ | he/she (respectful) |
| साथीलाई | sāthīlāī | a friend; to a friend |
| भेट्नको | bheṭnako | to meet (purpose) |
| लागि | lāgi | for |
| आउनुहुन्छ | āunuhuncha | come/comes (respectful) |
