Marathi grammar

The grammar of the Marathi language shares similarities with other modern Indo-Aryan languages such as Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi, etc. The first modern book exclusively on Marathi Grammar was printed in 1805 by 'William Carey'.

The principal word order in Marathi is SOV (subject–object–verb). Nouns inflect for gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), number (singular, plural), and case (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive, locative, instrumental, oblique). Notably, Marathi is the only Indo-Aryan language of Sanskrit origin to preserve the Sanskrit locative case. Additionally, Marathi preserves the neuter gender found in Sanskrit, a feature further distinguishing it from many Indo-Aryan languages. Typically, Marathi adjectives do not inflect unless they end in long a, in which case they inflect for gender and number. Marathi verbs inflect for tense (past, present, future). Verbs can agree with their subjects, yielding an active voice construction, or with their objects, yielding a passive voice construction. A third type of voice, not found in English for example, is produced when the verb agrees with neither subject nor object. Affixation is largely suffixal in the language and postpositions are attested.

Contemporary grammar

The contemporary grammatical rules described by Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad and endorsed by the Government of Maharashtra are supposed to take precedence in standard written Marathi. These rules are described in Marathi Grammar, written by M.R Walimbe. The book is widely referred to students in schools and colleges.

Sanskrit influence

Traditions of Marathi Linguistics and above mentioned rules give special status to 'Tatsam' (Without Change) words adapted from the Sanskrit language. This special status expects the rules for 'Tatsam' words be followed as of Sanskrit grammar. While this supports Marathi Language with a larger treasure of Sanskrit words to cope up with demands of new technical words whenever needed; maintains influence over Marathi.

An unusual feature of Marathi, as compared to other Indo-European languages, is that it displays the inclusive and exclusive we feature, that is common to the Dravidian languages, Rajasthani, and Gujarati.

Gender

There are three genders in Marathi: Male, Female, and Neuter. Most other, modern indo-european languages, e.g. English have lost these genders. One exception is German, which also uses three genders. This is seen as one reason for the popularity of studying German amongst Marathi native-speakers. Another exception is Icelandic.

Voices

There are three grammatical voices (Prayog प्रयोग) in Marathi.

• Kartarii prayog refers to a sentence construction in which the verb changes according to the subject, which is comparable to the active voice in English.

Raam mhanato राम म्हणतो "Raam says", Raam aambaa khaato राम आंबा खातो "Raam eats a mango"

• Karmanii prayog refers to a sentence construction in which the verb changes according to the object, which is like the passive voice in English.

Raamaane aambaa khallaa रामाने आंबा खाल्ला "The mango was eaten by Raam", Raamaane saangitaleरामाने सांगितले "It was told by Ram"

• Bhaave prayog refers to a sentence construction in which the verb does not change according to either the subject or the object. This is used for imperatives.

Maajha nirop tyaala jaaun saangमाझा निरोप त्याला जाऊन सांग "Go tell him my message"

Pronouns

There are three grammatical persons (Purushh) in Marathi. There is gender distinction in the first- and second-persons when the pronouns act as agreement markers on verbs; as independent pronouns this distinction in lost.

• Pratham purushh प्रथम पुरुष (First person)
  • mi मी "I"
  • aamhi आम्ही "we" excluding the listener (exclusive "we")
  • aapan "we" आपण including the listener (inclusive "we")
• Dwitiya purushh द्वितिय पुरुष (Second person)
  • tuu तू "you" (normally in Marathi तुम्ही (tumhi) or आपण (aapan) is used when calling respectfully an elder)
  • tumhi तुम्ही "you" (plural or formal)
  • aapan आपण (extremely formal)
• Trutiya purushh तृतिय पुरुष (Third person)
  • to तो "he"
  • tii ती "she"
  • te ते "it"
  • te ते "they" (masculine) or "he" हे (formal)
  • tyaa "they" त्या (feminine)
  • tii "they" ती (neuter)

Parts of speech

Marathi words can be classified in any of the following parts:

1. naam नाम (noun)
2. sarvanaam सर्वनाम (pronoun)
3. visheShaNa विषेशण (adjective)
4. kriyapada क्रियापद (verb)
5. kriyaavisheShaNa क्रियाविषेशण (adverb)
6. ubhayanvayi avyaya
7. shabdayogi avyaya
8. kevalaprayogi avyaya

Sentence structure

Marathi Sentence generally has three parts karta(subject),Karma(Object),Kriyapad(Verb). In marathi sentence Subject comes first in sentence then the object and then verb. Although in some sentences there is no object.

In Marathi there are three prayog(voices) Kartari,(Active) karmani (passive), Bhave . like in the Active and passive voice, in karatri prayog and Karmani pryong verb follows subject and object

Nominal inflection

Marathi is a highly inflected language, like the ancient Indo-European languages such as its ancestor Sanskrit. While English uses prepositions, in Marathi, such functions are indicated through the use of case-suffixes. These are referred to as vibhaktii pratyay विभक्ति प्रत्यय. There are eight such vibhaktii विभक्ति in Marathi. The form of the original word changes when such a suffix is to be attached to the word, and the new, modified root is referred to as saamaanya ruup of the original word. For example, the word

ghodaa घोडा ("horse") gets transformed into

ghodyaa- घोड्या when the suffix -var वर ("on") is attached to it to form

ghodyaavar घोड्यावर ("on the horse"). The nominal suffixes are tabulated below.

single	plural	Vibhkati
none	Aa आ	prathama कर्ता विभक्ती
Sa,la,te स,ला,ते	Sa,la,na,te स,ला,ना,ते	dwitya कर्म विभक्ती
ni e,shi नी,ए,शी	ni, hi,e,shi नी,ही,ए,शी	tritya विभक्ती
sa la te स,ला,ते	Sa, la, na, te स,ला,ना,ते	chaturthi विभक्ती
un, hun उन,हुन	un,hun उन,हुन	Panchami अधिकरण विभक्ती
cha, chi, che चा, ची, चे	che,chya, chi चे,च्या ची	Shashthi संबंध विभक्ती
ta, i,Aa त इ,आ	ta,ee, aa त,ई,आ	Saptamiविभक्ती
	no नो	Sambhodan विभक्ती

उदाहरणः

single एकवचन	plural अनेकवचन	Vibhkati
none	विद्यार्थी अभ्यास करतात	prathama कर्ता विभक्ती
त्याने संस्थेस देणगी दिली	त्यानी संस्थेस देणगी दिली	dwitya कर्म विभक्ती
घराला रंग दिला	घरांना रंग दिला	dwitya कर्म विभक्ती
विद्यार्थी पेन्सिलनी चित्र काढतो	विद्यार्थी पेन्सिलनी चित्र काढतात	tritya विभक्ती
मुलगा दाराशी उभा होता	मुलें दाराशी उभी होती	tritya विभक्ती
मी मुलास ओळखतो	मी मुलांना ओळखतो	chaturthi विभक्ती
मी विद्यार्थ्याला ओळखतो	मी विद्यार्थ्यांना ओळखतो	chaturthi विभक्ती
मुलगा घरुन निघाला	मुलें घरुन निघाली	Panchami अधिकरण विभक्ती
मुलगा गावाहुन आला	मुलं गावाहुन आली	Panchami अधिकरण विभक्ती
घराचा दरवाजा सुंदर आहे	घरांचे दरवाजे सुंदर आहे	Shashthi संबंध विभक्ती
मुलांची तब्येत सुधारली आहे	मुलांच्या तब्येती सुधारल्या आहेत	Shashthi संबंध विभक्ती
मुलाचे प्रगती पत्रक मिळाले	मुलांची प्रगती पत्रके मिळाली	Shashthi संबंध विभक्ती
मुलगा घरात होता	मुलें घरात होती	Saptamiविभक्ती
मुलगा घरी होता	मुलें घरी होती	Saptamiविभक्ती
गाय घरी परतली	गाई घरा परतल्या	Saptamiविभक्ती
	मुलानो शांत बसा	Sambhodan विभक्ती

See also

• Marathi language

Contemporary grammar

The contemporary grammatical rules described by Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad and endorsed by the Government of Maharashtra are supposed to take precedence in standard written Marathi. These rules are described in Marathi Grammar, written by M.R Walimbe. The book is widely referred to students in schools and colleges. Sanskrit influence

Traditions of Marathi Linguistics and above mentioned rules give special status to 'Tatsam' (Without Change) words adapted from the Sanskrit language. This special status expects the rules for 'Tatsam' words be followed as of Sanskrit grammar. While this supports Marathi Language with a larger treasure of Sanskrit words to cope up with demands of new technical words whenever needed; maintains influence over Marathi.

An unusual feature of Marathi, as compared to other Indo-European languages, is that it displays the inclusive and exclusive we feature, that is common to the Dravidian languages, Rajasthani, and Gujarati. Gender

There are three genders in Marathi: Male, Female, and Neuter. Most other, modern indo-european languages, e.g. English have lost these genders. One exception is German, which also uses three genders. This is seen as one reason for the popularity of studying German amongst Marathi native-speakers.[4] Another exception is Icelandic. Voices

There are three grammatical voices (Prayog प्रयोग) in Marathi.

   Kartarii prayog refers to a sentence construction in which the verb changes according to the subject, which is comparable to the active voice in English.

   Raam mhanato राम म्हणतो "Raam says", Raam aambaa khaato राम आंबा खातो "Raam eats a mango"

   Karmanii prayog refers to a sentence construction in which the verb changes according to the object, which is like the passive voice in English.

   Raamaane aambaa khallaa रामाने आंबा खाल्ला "The mango was eaten by Raam", Raamaane saangitaleरामाने सांगितले "It was told by Ram"

   Bhaave prayog refers to a sentence construction in which the verb does not change according to either the subject or the object. This is used for imperatives.

   Maajha nirop tyaala jaaun saangमाझा निरोप त्याला जाऊन सांग "Go tell him my message"

Pronouns

There are three grammatical persons (Purushh) in Marathi. There is gender distinction in the first- and second-persons when the pronouns act as agreement markers on verbs; as independent pronouns this distinction in lost.[5]

   Pratham purushh प्रथम पुरुष (First person)
       mi मी "I"
       aamhi आम्ही "we" excluding the listener (exclusive "we")
       aapan "we" आपण including the listener (inclusive "we")
   Dwitiya purushh द्वितिय पुरुष (Second person)
       tuu तू "you" (normally in Marathi तुम्ही (tumhi) or आपण (aapan) is used when calling respectfully an elder)
       tumhi तुम्ही "you" (plural or formal)
       aapan आपण (extremely formal)
   Trutiya purushh तृतिय पुरुष (Third person)
       to तो "he"
       tii ती "she"
       te ते "it"
       te ते "they" (masculine) or "he" हे (formal)
       tyaa "they" त्या (feminine)
       tii "they" ती (neuter)

Parts of speech

Marathi words can be classified in any of the following parts:

   naam नाम (noun)
   sarvanaam सर्वनाम (pronoun)
   visheShaNa विषेशण (adjective)
   kriyapada क्रियापद (verb)
   kriyaavisheShaNa क्रियाविषेशण (adverb)
   ubhayanvayi avyaya
   shabdayogi avyaya
   kevalaprayogi avyaya

Sentence structure Wiki letter w.svg This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (July 2010)

Marathi Sentence generally has three parts karta(subject),Karma(Object),Kriyapad(Verb). In marathi sentence Subject comes first in sentence then the object and then verb. Although in some sentences there is no object.

In Marathi there are three prayog(voices) Kartari,(Active) karmani (passive), Bhave . like in the Active and passive voice, in karatri prayog and Karmani pryong verb follows subject and object Nominal inflection

Marathi is a highly inflected language, like the ancient Indo-European languages such as its ancestor Sanskrit. While English uses prepositions, in Marathi, such functions are indicated through the use of case-suffixes. These are referred to as vibhaktii pratyay विभक्ति प्रत्यय. There are eight such vibhaktii विभक्ति in Marathi. The form of the original word changes when such a suffix is to be attached to the word, and the new, modified root is referred to as saamaanya ruup of the original word. For example, the word ghodaa घोडा ("horse") gets transformed into ghodyaa- घोड्या when the suffix -var वर ("on") is attached to it to form ghodyaavar घोड्यावर ("on the horse"). The nominal suffixes are tabulated below. single plural Vibhkati none Aa आ prathama कर्ता विभक्ती Sa,la,te स,ला,ते Sa,la,na,te स,ला,ना,ते dwitya कर्म विभक्ती ni e,shi नी,ए,शी ni, hi,e,shi नी,ही,ए,शी tritya विभक्ती sa la te स,ला,ते Sa, la, na, te स,ला,ना,ते chaturthi विभक्ती un, hun उन,हुन un,hun उन,हुन Panchami अधिकरण विभक्ती cha, chi, che चा, ची, चे che,chya, chi चे,च्या ची Shashthi संबंध विभक्ती ta, i,Aa त इ,आ ta,ee, aa त,ई,आ Saptamiविभक्ती no नो Sambhodan विभक्ती

उदाहरणः single एकवचन plural अनेकवचन Vibhkati none विद्यार्थी अभ्यास करतात prathama कर्ता विभक्ती त्याने संस्थेस देणगी दिली त्यानी संस्थेस देणगी दिली dwitya कर्म विभक्ती घराला रंग दिला घरांना रंग दिला dwitya कर्म विभक्ती विद्यार्थी पेन्सिलनी चित्र काढतो विद्यार्थी पेन्सिलनी चित्र काढतात tritya विभक्ती मुलगा दाराशी उभा होता मुलें दाराशी उभी होती tritya विभक्ती मी मुलास ओळखतो मी मुलांना ओळखतो chaturthi विभक्ती मी विद्यार्थ्याला ओळखतो मी विद्यार्थ्यांना ओळखतो chaturthi विभक्ती मुलगा घरुन निघाला मुलें घरुन निघाली Panchami अधिकरण विभक्ती मुलगा गावाहुन आला मुलं गावाहुन आली Panchami अधिकरण विभक्ती घराचा दरवाजा सुंदर आहे घरांचे दरवाजे सुंदर आहे Shashthi संबंध विभक्ती मुलांची तब्येत सुधारली आहे मुलांच्या तब्येती सुधारल्या आहेत Shashthi संबंध विभक्ती मुलाचे प्रगती पत्रक मिळाले मुलांची प्रगती पत्रके मिळाली Shashthi संबंध विभक्ती मुलगा घरात होता मुलें घरात होती Saptamiविभक्ती मुलगा घरी होता मुलें घरी होती Saptamiविभक्ती गाय घरी परतली गाई घरा परतल्या Saptamiविभक्ती मुलानो शांत बसा Sambhodan विभक्ती