Many Pasts Posted by Rachael on Feb 14, 2017
नमस्ते सब लोग/Namaste sab log (Hello everyone)! I described in a previous post how to form the “simple past tense” (referring to actions completed at one time); this time, I’ll describe how to form the habitual past tense and the past perfect tense (the tense that refers to an even more distant past than the…
Verb Tenses I: Simple Present Posted by Nitya on Feb 9, 2017
In Hindi, tenses are known as काल (kaal). Past tense is known as भूतकाल (bhoot kaal). Present tense is known as वर्त्तमान काल (vartamaan kaal). Future tense is called भविष्यत् काल (bhavishya kaal). Like English, there are several types of each tense. Let us begin with the simple present tense or सामान्य वर्त्तमान काल (saamaanya vartamaan kaal). The infinitive form…
I am Human, Just Like You (Main Insaan Hun, Tumhaari Tarah) Posted by Rachael on Jan 29, 2017
Following the events of this week, I thought it would be relevant to share a song that celebrates unity and peace. This song, entitled “जानेवालो ज़रा, मुड़के देखो मुझे/Jaanevalo Zara Mudke Dekho Mujhe” (Passersby, Just Turn and Look at Me) is from the 1964 movie, दोस्ती/Dosti (fem. noun, friendship). The film centers on the close…
वर्णन करना : To Describe Posted by Nitya on Jan 27, 2017
Varnan karna. When I teach writing to children लेखन (lekhan), I find that they struggle most with recalling and using descriptive words वर्णात्मक शब्द (varnaatmuk shubd). They have no trouble coming up with complicated पेचीदा (pay-cheeda) stories कहानियाँ (ka-haaniyaan). However, it is a constant challenge to offer detailed विस्तृत (vistrut) written sketches of characters पात्र (paatra) and accounts of scenes दृश्य (drishya). After all, a…
In Honor of Women (Naariyon ke Samman Me) Posted by Rachael on Jan 24, 2017
Hello everyone/नमस्ते सब लोग (Namaste sab log)! My apologies (मुझे माफ़ कर दीजिए/Mujhe maaf kar dijiye, please forgive me) for not posting the previous week (पिछले हफ़्ते/pichle hafte)––I became very busy (व्यस्त/vyast) with other work, but now I’m back to talk about a very topical issue (मुद्दा/muddaa, masc. noun)! This past weekend, I participated in…
गरम चाय की प्याली हो … Posted by Nitya on Jan 23, 2017
Garam chai ki pyaali ho … Aah, now if only I had a cup of hot chai … The history of tea is thousands of years old. Yet the humble cup of tea remains till date a beverage that can embody hospitality, provide relaxation from a tired day, be an excuse to meet and catch up…
व्यायाम, कसरत, और खेल कूद Posted by Nitya on Jan 14, 2017
Vyaayaam, kasrat, aur khel kood. Exercise and sports. Note: सोमवार से मेरी तबीयत ठीक नहीं थी … ज़ुकाम, बुखार, वगैरह। इस कारण मैं समय पर ब्लॉग लिख नहीं सकी। क्षमा चाहती हूँ। (Somvaar se meri tabiyat theek nahin thii … zukaam, bukhaar, vagairah. Is kaaran main sum-aye par blog likh nahin saki. Kshama chaahti hoon. I have…