Lesson 6: Who and What
Index · Lesson 5: Neuter Singular · Lesson 7: Masculine Plural
किम् in the introduction meant “what,” inside भवतः नाम किम्। The same word is the neuter “what.” A man is कः. A woman is का. The verb and the noun still match.
There is no question mark. The question word is enough. The । is still a danda.
Who and what
| Singular | Use | |
|---|---|---|
| कः | a man, or a masculine word | who, which man |
| का | a woman, or a feminine word | who, which woman |
| किम् | a neuter thing | what |
| Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कः गच्छति। | Who goes? Said when you expect a man. को जान्छ? |
| का पठति। | Who studies? Said when you expect a woman. को पढ्छिन्? |
| किम् अस्ति। | What is it? के हो? |
| कः छात्रः अस्ति। | Who is the student? को विद्यार्थी हो? |
| का छात्रा अस्ति। | Who is the woman student? |
| तत् किम् अस्ति। | What is that? तत् means “that.” त्यो के हो? |
| भवान् कः अस्ति। | Who are you? Said to a man at the तपाईं level. तपाईं को हुनुहुन्छ? |
| त्वं कः असि। | Who are you? Said to a man at the तिमी level. तिमी को हौ? |
कः takes अस्ति or गच्छति, the “he” row. When you ask तिमी, the verb is still the तिमी row: असि, गच्छसि. भवान् stays on अस्ति.
Practice
- Point at a thing and say तत् किम् अस्ति।
- Ask a friend who they are, with त्वं कः असि or त्वं का असि।
- Ask a teacher who they are, with भवान् कः अस्ति।
Next
Lesson 7: Masculine Plural is more than one student: छात्राः।