Speaking and Writing Punjabi

INTRODUCTORY PUNJABI
WORKBOOK

PUNJABI

By Ranbir Johal
[email protected]
Department of Language and Cultures
Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Speaking and Writing Punjabi by Ranbir Johal is licenced under a Creative

Commons Attribution-NonComercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence,
(CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) except where otherwise noted.
 Table of Contents
Unit 1: Sounds and Introductions ………………………...………………………..……… 2

Unit 2: School and New Friends ……………..…………………………………………… 46

Unit 3: My Daily Routine ……………………………………………………………………… 65

Unit 4: Family and Home ………..…………………..……………………………………… 100

UNIT 1: SOUNDS AND INTRODUCTIONS
ALPHABET ORGANIZATION
Aspirated Aspirated Nasals

a A e s h
Vowel Vowel Vowel Su Hu
Carrier Carrier Carrier
Velars
k K g G |
Ku Khu Gu Ghu Ng
Palatals
c C j J \
Chu Chhu Ju Jhu Nj
Retroflex
t T f F *x
Tu Thu Du Dhu Nu
Dental
q Q d D n
Tu Thu Du Dhu Nu
Labials
p P b B m
Pu Phu Bu Bhu Mu

X r l v *V
Yu Ru Lu v/wu Ru

S ^ Z z & L
Shu Soft khu Soft gu Zu Fu Soft lu

*Never begin a word with this letter

2
GREETINGS
Formal
Hello (Sikh greeting) siq sRI Akwl sat sree akaal (susreekaal)

Hello (Hindu greeting) nmsqy NamasTe

Hello (Muslim greeting) Aslwm Alykum AsaLaam alekum
vwlykum Aslwm Valekum asalaam

The above Sikh and Hindu greetings may be used as farewell greetings
(goodbye) as well. Additional farewell greetings (Informal) are:

Bye cMgw iPr chunga phiR.

See you later. iPr imldy Aw[ phiR milde aa.
Goodbye (Muslim) ^udw hwi&z kh.udaa haafiz.

INTRODUCTIONS
My name is________. myrw nW _______ hY[ Mera naan ___________ hae.

What is your name? quhwfw kI nW hY? Tuhaadaa kee Naa hai?

How are you? (h) quhwfw kI hwl hY? Tuhada kee haal hai?
How are you? kI hwl AY? kee haal hai?
(informal)
ik`dw? kiddaa? (Doaba)
ikvyN? kive? (Malwa)

Well. vDIAw vaDHeeaa.

Very well. bhuq vDIAw bahut vaDHeeaa

Fine (okay) TIk theek.

Bad. mwVw maaraa.

Very bad bhuq mwVw bahuT maaraa.

3
I: CONSONANTS

The Punjabi alphabet consists of 41* consonants and is completely
phonetic. Each sound is represented by only one symbol and each symbol
can only have one sound attributed to it, unlike the English alphabet. For
example, in English, the letter “c” can be prounced as “k” (can) or as “s”
(cent). However, the k and s sounds in Punjabi would be represented by
two different symbols.

The alphabet is arranged very logically in 8 rows according to

pronunciation. We will not be learning these consonants in order, from the
first to the last, but according to which are the easiest to pronounce for new
speakers.

As you learn each consonant do the following:

1. Practise writing the character 30-50 times each.
Remember to use the lines on the paper as a guide for the tops of the
characters. You HAVE to practice writing!!!!!!!

2. Practise saying the sound in Punjabi.

Every consonant will always have a vowel attached to it. Even if
you don’t see a vowel attached, it still has the vowel. This is the
invisible vowel mukta. It makes the “u” sound as in “bug”.

4
I:i THE FIRST SOUNDS
These six letters will be taught first because they are the simplest sounds
to make for the non-native speaker.
h s m X l *v
hu su mu yu lu vu

*This does not have an equivalent sound in English. It is in between the v

and w sounds in English. The teeth do not touch the lips as they do when
pronouncing “v”, nor are the lips completely rounded, as they are when
pronouncing “w”. For the sake of simplicity, we will represent this sound
using a “v”.
1. h________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

2. s________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

3. m________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

4. X________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

5. l________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

6. v________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

5
The remaining characters do not have an English equivalent.
The majority of these characters occur as partners. For rows 2-6, columns
1 and 2 are partner sounds and columns 3 and 4 are partner sounds.
The first sound = unaspirated and the second sound = aspirated
An aspirated sound is “stronger” than the “unaspirated” partner sound,
occurring with a stronger breath of air.
To check if you are pronouncing the aspirated sound correctly, put your
hand in front of your mouth - you should feel a puff of air coming out.
When you pronounce the first sound, you will not feel a puff of air.
The additional “h” will represent those sounds which are “aspirated” and
thus require a harsher release of breath.
**The first sound in the partnered pairs will be represented by an
“equivalent” English sound, but remember that these sounds have no exact
English equivalent. They are similar to the English sounds but with a lesser
release of breath.
(Remember to use the audio resources for an accurate representation of
the sounds)
I:ii VELARS
The first four sounds in the second row of the alphabet are called “Velars”.
k K g *G
K Kh G Gh
Gentle k as in K sound with a Gentle *Tonal sound. The
harsher release g. pronunciation differs
skip, but do not
of breath. depending upon whether
release your
it’s at the beginning (k) or
breath as hard.
end of the word (g).

For the initial sounds, you should not feel any breath on your hand. Think
of it as a sound that is pronounced as you draw your breath “inwards”.
For the aspirated sound, you should feel a puff of air on your hand. Think
of it as a sound that is pronounced as you push your breath “outwards”

6
1. k________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

2. K________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

3. g________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

4. G________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

7
I:iii PALATALS
These four letters are from the third row and are called the “Palatals”.
c *C j **J
Chu Chhu Ju Jhu

*Many Native speakers mistakenly pronounce this as “sh”. However the

“sh” sound is represented by another symbol, the S)
**Tonal sound. The pronunciation differs depending upon whether it’s at the
beginning (ch) or end of the word (j).

1. c________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

2. C________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

3. j________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

4. J________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

8
I:iv LABIALS
The next four sounds come in the fourth line of the alphabet. They are
called “Labials” because they are pronounced with the lips.
p * P b **B
Pu Phu Bu Bhu

*In between the p and f sounds

** Tonal sound. The pronunciation differs depending upon whether it’s at

the beginning (p) or end of the word (b).

1. p________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

2. P________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

3. b________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

4. B________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

9
I:v RETROFLEX AND DENTAL
In this lesson you will be introduced to the t, d , r and n sounds.
Punjabi has four t sounds and four d sounds, as well as two r sounds and
two n sounds. How do we differentiate between them?
One pair of each sound (two “t’s” and two “d’s”) occur in the back of the
throat (retroflex sounds) and one pair of each sound (two “t’s” and two
“d’s”) occur in the front of the mouth (dental sounds).
The first sound of the pair is the unaspirated sound and the second sound
of the pair is the aspirated sound.
When representing these sounds using the Roman symbols for
transliteration, the dental sounds will be represented using capital letters.
ex/ t = t, T = th (retroflex sounds)
q = T, Q = TH (dental sounds)

Retroflex t T f F
tu thu du dhu
Dental q Q d D
Tu Thu Du Dhu

You can also add the “r” and “n” sounds to complete these rows.
Retroflex t T f F x V
tu thu du dhu nu ru
Dental q Q d D n r
Tu Thu Du Dhu Nu Ru

10
RETROFLEX
t T f *F
tu thu du dhu

These letters are pronounced with the tongue curling up and touching the
roof of the mouth.
*Tonal sound. The pronunciation differs depending upon whether it’s at the
beginning (t) or end of the word (g).

1. t________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

2. T________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

3. f________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

4. F________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

11
DENTAL
These are called “Dental” because they are pronounced with the tongue
touching the front teeth, or the bridge just behind the teeth.
q Q d *D
Tu Thu Du Dhu

5. q________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

6. Q________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

7. d________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

8. D________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

12
NASAL SOUNDS

n x *\ *|
Nu nu Ng Nj
Dental Retroflex Obsolete Obsolete

1. n________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

2. x________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

“R” SOUNDS

r V
Ru ru
Dental Retroflex

1. r________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

2. V________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

13
I:vi VOWEL CARRIERS
a A e
“o” sound in go “u” sound in up “e” sound in me
“oo” sound in fool “a” sound in car “i” sound in sit
“u” sound in put “a” sound in cat “a” sound in ate
“au” sound in kaur

These characters do not possess any sound of their own. They carry
vowel sounds. When we want to make a vowel sound on its own, we add
the vowel to these carriers. (This will be explained in more detail in the
Vowels lesson).
1. a________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

2. A________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

3. e________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

14
I:vii NEW SOUNDS (ADAPTED)
S ^ Z z & L
Sh Soft kh Soft g Z F Soft l

These last six sounds are the newest sounds in Punjabi. They are called
“The Naveen Varg” [The New Group]. They are used especially to make
sounds which were traditionally foreign in the Punjabi language.
1. S________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
3. Z________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
4. z________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
6. L________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

15
 PUNJABI ALPHABET ORDER
Write the “English” equivalents

Aspirated Aspirated Nasals

a A e s h

Velars
k K g G |

Palatals
c C j J \

Retroflex
t T f F *x

Dental
q Q d D n

Labials
p P b B m


X r l v *V

S ^ Z z & L

16
Write the Punjabi equivalents

Aspirated Aspirated Nasals

Vowel Vowel Vowel Su Hu

Carrier Carrier Carrier
Velars
|
Ku Khu Gu Ghu Ng
Palatals
\
Chu Chhu Ju Jhu Nj
Retroflex
Tu Thu Du Dhu Nu
Dental
Tu Thu Du Dhu Nu
Labials
Pu Phu Bu Bhu Mu

Yu Ru Lu v/wu Ru

Shu Soft khu Soft gu Zu Fu Soft lu

17
I:ix PRACTISE QUIZZES : Listen and identify the consonants:

A: ________________________________________________________

B: ________________________________________________________

C: Fill in the appropriate sounds/symbols.

1 s 18 dh (d) 35 c

2 g 19 Soft g
36 h
3 p 20 h
37 X
4 kh 21 n (d)
38 D
5 v 22 r (r)

6 m 23 j 39 q

7 d (r) 24 d (d) 40 X
8 b 25 z
41 T
9 n (r) 26 F
42 d
10 ch 27 ph

11 th (d) 28 sh
43 p

12 bh 29 k 44 B

13 th (r) 30 gh 45 J
14 chh 31 dh (r)
46 C
15 t (r) 32 h
47 m
16 y 33 r (d)

17 t (d) 34 L 48 x

49 r

50 P

18
II: VOWELS

In addition to the 41 consonants, there are ten vowel symbols to be

learned.

These sounds have to be attached to a consonant symbol – either to its

left, its right, above or below. You can never write a vowel sound without a
consonant.

A brief summary of the vowel sounds and their symbols is as follows:

VOWEL Mukta Kunna Sihari Bihari Aunkar Dulankar Lanv Dolanv Hora Kanaura

1 Symbol w i I u U y Y o O
Invisible
2 Symbol m mw im mI mu mU my mY mo mO
with m
3 Vowel A Aw ie eI au aU ey AY E AO
Carrier
4 Sound “u” “a” “i” “e” “u” “oo” “a” “aa” “o” “au”
* bug car sit see put pool ma cat go Kaur
ke
5 Represen
tation in
* the Book
a aa i ee u oo e ai o au
(ae)

It is difficult to accurately represent a Punjabi sound using Roman

characters. Ensure that you are making use of the audio resources to
practise listening to these sounds.

19
II:i MUKTA
Sound = “u” as in “bug”
Symbol = Invisible

Word Translation Word Translation

c`l kr

h`s Gr

ds ns

d`s nT

PRACTISE LISTENING QUIZZES

Listen to the CD and write the words heard using the Punjabi script.
You don’t have to understand what all the words mean – just see if you can
recognize what you hear.

A.__________________________________________________________

B.__________________________________________________________

C.__________________________________________________________

20
II:ii KANNA Sound = “a” as in “car” Symbol = w

Kw nw cwh

jw mwqw mwVw

Aw Brw hwl

II:iii SIHARI Sound = “I” as in “sit” Symbol = i (placed to the left)

is`K ipqw ieh

il`K ie`k ikdw

II:iv BIHARI Sound = “ee” as in “meet” Symbol = I

pI sI vDIAw

jI vI TIk

kI DI AwdmI

TRANSLATIONS

Gr cl[
mwqw Kw[
Brw, jw[
Father, write.
Drink tea.
Man, come.

21
II:v AUNKAR Sound = “u” as in “put” Symbol = u

sux qusIN bhuq

Pul auh kuVI

II:vi DULANKAR Sound = “oo” as in “pool” Symbol = U

qUM skUl

AwlU bUhw

II:vii LANV Sound = “ai” as in “pail” Symbol = y

myrw vyK

Aqy ikvyN

II:viii DOLANV Sound = “ae” as in “cat” Symbol = Y

mYN hY

BYx bYT

II:ix HORA Sound = “o” as in “boat” Symbol = o

bol bolo

soc *AwE

II:x KANAURA Sound = “au” as in “kaur” Symbol = O

kOx AOrq

22
 PRACTISE
Listen to the CD and write the words you hear, using the Punjabi script.
A.__________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

B.__________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

TRANSLATE
1 Father, eat.
2 Go [to] school.
3 Come home.
4 Look [at the] flower.
5 How is that?
6
kuVI, sux[
7
BYx, soc[
8
qusIN bolo[
9
AOrq, bol[
10
ieh kOx hY?

23
SIGHT WORDS
NOUNS VERBS

ieh c`l

auh h`s

mwqw ds

ipqw d`s

BYx kr

Brw n`T

AOrq il`K

AwdmI is`K

kuVI Kw

kOx jw

Gr Aw

skUl pI

sux

vyK

bol

bYT

nw

24
Write the appropriate word(s) in Punjabi.

25
III: USEFUL PHRASES

My name myrw nW _______ hY[ Mera naan ___________ hae.

is________.
What is your quhwfw kI nW hY? Tuhaadaa kee Naa hai?
name?
I am mYN _________ hW[ maa(n) ________ haa(n).
_____________.
Who are you? qusIN kOx ho? (h) Tusee kaun ho?
qUM kOx hYN? Too kaun hai(n)?

What is this? ieh kI hY? *Eh kee hai?

What is that? auh kI hY? *Oh kee hai?

Where is ________ ikQy hY? __________ kiTHe hai?
__________?
What do you do? qusIN kI krdy ho? Tusee kee karde ho?
I am learning mYN pMjwbI isKdw hW[(m) mai(n) punjabee sikhDaa haa(n).
Punjabi.
mYN pMjwbI isKdI hW[(f) mai(n) punjabee sikhDee haa(n).

I live in mYN _______ rihMdw hW[(m) mai(n) surrey raahnda haa(n).

____________.
mYN _______ rihMdI hW[(f) mai(n) _____ raahndee haa(n).

*1Where do you qusIN ikQy rihMdy ho? Tusee kithe raahnde ho?
live?

1
Items with * are not on the mp3 track

26
 English Punjabi Transliteration

Yes hW (jI) haan (jee)

No nhIN (jI) Naheen (jee)

Please ikrpw krky kirpaa karke

Thank you DMnvwd Dhunnvaad

What’s new? koeI nvIN qwjI? koee Navee Taajee?

Nothing kuJ nhIN kujh Nahee(n).

Pleased to meet quhwnUM iml ky KuSI hoeI[ Tuhaanoo mil ke khushee hoee
you.

Males

I like ________. mYN ____ psMd krdw hW[ Mein pasand karda haa.

I don’t like mYN ____ psMd nhIN krdw hW[ Mein pasand nahin karda haa.
________.

Females

I like ________. mYN ____ psMd krdI hW[ Mein pasand kardee haa.

I don’t like mYN ____ psMd nhIN krdI hW[ Mein pasand nahin kardee haa.
________.

27
Translate into English
siq sRI Akwl nmsqy Aslwm Alykum vwlykum Aslwm
Sat sree akaal Namaste Asalaam alekum Valekum Asalam


myrw nW ______ hY[ quhwfw nW kI hY?
Mera naa _______ hae. Tuhada naa kee hae?


quhwfw kI hwl hY? qusIN ikvyN/ikdw ho?
Tuhaadaa kee haal hae? Tusee kive/kiddaa ho?


vDIAw TIk mwVw bhuq
Vudhee aa Theek maaraa Bahut


hW (jI) nhIN (jI)
Haa(n) jee Nahee(n) jee


qusIN kI krdy ho? mYN pMjwbI isKdw/isKdI hW[
Tusee kee karde ho? Mae(n) Punjabi sikhdaa/sikhdee haa(n).


cMgw iPr iPr imldy Aw[ Kudw hwiPz
Chu(n)gaa Phir Phir milde aa Khudaa haafiz


Create a 7-8 sentence dialogue

28
IV: BASIC GRAMMAR

THE SIMPLE SENTENCE

• The simplest sentence consists of two primary parts:

§ the noun [subject]
§ the verb.
o Ex. Mother laugh. mwqw h`s[
noun verb

• Punjabi word order is different from English word order

o the verb is usually placed at the end of the sentence
§ Ex/ Go home. Gr c`l[

• A third component can be added: demonstrative pronouns

o Demonstrative pronouns: This and that = ieh auh
o Articles [The, a, an] do not exist in Punjabi, they are only suggested
§ Ex/ This is a house. ieh Gr hY[

• For now, we shall mainly concentrate on:

1. the simple sentence: one noun and the verb “to be” [hoxw]
2. the simple command: one noun and one verb
§ Examples:
ieh Gr hY[ auh skUl hY[ rUpI, h`s[
This is a house. That is a school. Roopie, laugh.


• Conjuncts (And/But): Aqy / pr
o These can join two simple sentences together
§ Ex/ mYN SIlw hW Aqy auh rmnjIq hY[
I’m Sheila and that is Ramanjit.

29
The Negative
To write a sentence in its negative add one of the following words before the
verb:
nw Don’t

mq Don’t
nhIN No

• Examples:
o ieh rxbIr nhIN hY[ This is not Ranbir.
o mYN ikrn nhIN hW[ I am not Kiran.
o rUpI nw h`s[ Roopie do not laugh. [command]
o rUpI mq h`s[ Roopie do not laugh. [command

*When negating an action, use nw and mq.

Translate:

1 mwqw hs[

2 ipqw ilK[

3 BYx, nw bol[

4 auh skUl hY[

5 Go home.

6 Brother, listen.

7 Man, don’t go.

8 This is a table.

30
QUESTION WORDS

kI ikauN kOx kd ik`Qy *iks qrHW

What Why Who When Where How

(*Colloquial terms: ikvyN / ikdw)
In Punjabi, the interrogative is usually placed immediately before the verb.
Who is that? When is it? Where is it? What is this?
auh kOx hY? ieh kd hY? auh ik`Qy hY? ieh kI hY?

An exception to this is when kI is used to turn a sentence into a question.

ANSWERS
Yes/No hW/nhIN

kI ieh myz hY? hW ieh myz hY[ nhIN ieh myz nhIN hY[
Is this a table? Yes, this is a table. No, this is not a table.

qusIN ikQy ho? ie`Qy au~Qy

Where are you? Here There

The INTERROGATIVE kI
To turn a sentence into a question either : insert kI at the beginning of the
sentence or use intonation (raise your voice at the end of the sentence, as you do
when asking a question).
Example: ieh kmrw hY[
Use kI Use intonation
kI ieh kmrw hY? ieh kmrw hY?

31

Worksheet

Translate the following questions.

1 Why is that?
2 What is this?
3 Where are you?
4 When is she here?
5 Who are you?
6 Where do you live?
7 Do you live in Surrey?
8 I live in Richmond.
9 What do you do?
10 She is coming.
11 What is your name?
12 We are here.

Answer the following questions.

1 ieh kOx hY?
2 rmn ik`Qy hY?

3 kI ieh rvI hY?

(Answer in negative)

4 qusIN iks qrHW ho?

5 auh kI hY?

32
V: ADDITIONAL SOUNDS
V:i ADDAK ( ` )

• looks like a little u

• appears at the top (m`m) and before the letter that it modifies
• only used with three matras: sihari, aunkar, and mukta
• it doubles or exaggerates the sound of the consonant that it
precedes
• In English, to represent a sound being stressed we write the letter
twice
i.e. letter, butter, summer
• In Punjabi the letter is written only once but an addak is inserted
before it to show that the sound is being stressed
• i.e. butter would not be bttr it would be b`tr
• It is important to know which words use addak because it can change
the meaning of a word

Examples:
bcw vs b`cw
bu-cha vs. buch-cha
save vs child

1 ds Ten d`s Tell

2 pkw Cook/Bake p`kw Firm/Ripe

3 bcw Save b`cw Child

4 kd When k`d Length/Height

33


V:ii NASAL SOUNDS: Bindi and Tippee ( N M )

• Sometimes in Punjabi, a word may not use the full “m” or “n” sound –
only a hint of an “m” or an “n” are heard.
• In this case, rather than using the n or m the bindi or tippee is used.
• The tippee looks like a circle with an opening on the bottom, mM
• The bindi looks like a dot, mW
• Both go on top of a consonant or beside a vowel that they are
modifying
• Each one occurs with specific vowels.

The tippee is used with the following vowels:

Mukta Sihari Aunkar Dulankar
mM imM muM mUM

The bindi is used with the following vowels:

Kanna Bihari Lanv Dolanv Horha Kanaura
mW mIN myN mYN moN mON

Exception:

When Aunkar ( u ) and Dulankar ( U ) are combined with Oorha (a)

This results in (au and aU) which would make it crowded on top for the
tippee. Then the bindi is used instead.

auM and aU M = Incorrect

auN and aUN = Correct

** JUST REMEMBER: Use a tippee if there’s room on top, otherwise just

use the bindi.

34
 A. BINDI VOCABULARY

Word Translation Word Translation

mW mYN

hW nhIN

qUM qusIN

hYN AsIN

B. TIPPI VOCABULARY

Word Translation Word Translation

muMfw cMgw

bMdw qUM

DMnvwd

35
V:iii HALF SOUNDS

Adha Rara ( R )
• Partial “r” sound
• horizontal loop and appears at the bottom right corner
• used to blend two sounds together (br, pr, kr)
• Example: brYf buraed vs. bRYf bread
instead of br (buru) it would be bR (bru)

pRym pRIq

Adha Haha ( H )
• tone marker** (cwh/Gwh)
• It modifies the sound of the consonant that it is attached to
• shaped like a little u and placed at the bottom right corner
pVH

Full h also acts as a tonal marker

cwh bhuq

*Adha Vava ( Í )
• Makes a partial “v” sound
• shaped like a regular v, with the top cut off and appears at the bottom
right corner of the consonant that it appears with
• It is used when you wish to blend the v sound with another consonant

sÍwmI

36
All Sounds Listening Practise
Listen to the CD and write the words you hear, using the Punjabi script.
A.
____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

B.
____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

C.
____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

D.
____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

37
VI: DIALOGUES
Dialogue 1 (Formal)
a siq sRI Akwl jI[ Hello (h)
Sat sree akaal jee.
A siq sRI Akwl jI[ Hello (h)
Sat sree akaal jee.
a qusIN kOx ho? Who are you?
Tusee kaun ho?
A mYN gurpRIq hW[ mYN iek ividAwrQI hW[ qusIN kOx ho? I am Gurpreet. I am a
Maen Gurpreet haan. Maen ik vidiaarthee haan. Tusee student (m). Who are
kaun ho? you?

a mYN rwxI hW[ quhwnUM iml ky KuSI hoeI[ quhwfw kI hwl hY? I am Rani. I am
Maen Rani haan. Tuhanoo mil ke khushee hoee. pleased to meet you.
Tuhadaa kee haal hae? How are you?

A TIk[ quhwfw kI hwl hY? Fine. How are you?

Theek. Tuhadaa kee haal hae?
a bhuq vDIAw[ Very good.
Buhut vudheeaa.
A qusIN kI krdy ho? What do you do?
Tusee kee karde ho?
a mYN pMjwbI isKdI hW[ I learn (fem) Punjabi.
Maen Punjabi sikhdee haan.
A ieh cMgI g`l hY[ mYN vI pMjwbI isKdw hW[ That’s good. I also
Eh chungee gul hae. Maen vee Punjabi sikhdaa haan. learn (mas) Punjabi.

a ieh myrI bs hY[ hux mYN jwxw hY[ This is my bus. Now, I
siq sRI Akwl[ have to go. Goodbye.
Eh meree bus hae. Hun maen jaanaa hae. Sat sree akaal
A siq sRI Akwl[ Goodbye.
Sat sree akaal

38
1. What is the name of person A?

_________________________________________________________

2. What is the name of person a?

_________________________________________________________

3. How is Gurpreet feeling?

_________________________________________________________

4. How is Rani feeling?

_______________________________________________________

5. What does Rani do?

_________________________________________________________

6. Does Gurpreet learn Punjabi?

_________________________________________________________

7. Why does Rani have to leave?

_________________________________________________________

8. How do they say goodbye?

_________________________________________________________

39
Read and then Translate
Dialogue 2 (Formal)
a siq sRI Akwl[
Sat sree akaal

A siq sRI Akwl[

Sat sree akaal

a quhwfw kI hwl hY?

Tuhadaa kee haal hae?

A TIk[ quhwfw kI hwl hY?

Theek. Tuhadaa kee haal hae?

a mYN vI TIk hW[

Maen vee theek hae.

A qusIN kI krdy ho?

Tusee kee karde ho?

a mYN pMjwbI isKdI hW[

Maen Punjabi sikhdaa haan.

A mYN vI pMjwbI isKdw hW[

Maen vee Punjabi sikhdaa haan.

a ACw[ cMgw iPr[

Achha. Chungaa phir.

A cMgw iPr[
Achha. Chungaa phir.

40
Dialogue 3 (Informal)
* You don’t have to understand every single word.
rUpI: nmsqy[
ikrn: nmsqy[
rUpI: kI hwl Aw?
ikrn: TIk[ qyrw kI hwl Aw?
rUpI: bhuq mwVw[
ikrn: ikauN?
rUpI: mYN TIk nhIN hW[
ikrn: iPr fwktr kol jw[
rUpI: mYN hux jWdI hW[
ikrn: cMgw iPr[ k`lH imldy Aw [
rUpI: cMgw iPr[

Roopie: Namaste.
Kiran: Namaste.
Roopie: How are you?
Kiran: Fine. How are you?
Roopie: Very bad.
Kiran: Why?
Roopie: I am not well.
Kiran: Then go to the doctor.
Roopie: I’ll go now.
Kiran: Okay then. We’ll meet tomorrow.
Roopie: Okay then.

41
Pronouns and the Auxiliary (Helping) Verb

Pronouns
Singular Plural

1st Person I We
mYN AsIN

2nd Person You **You

qUM qusIN

3rd Person He/She/It They/Those/These

ieh/auh ieh/auh

Auxiliary (Helping) Verb: hoxw “To be”

Singular Plural

1st Person am are

hW hW

2nd Person are are

hYN ho

3rd Person is are

hY hn

Each pronoun has its own form of the auxiliary verb which Must Be
Memorized!

I am. mYN hW[ AsIN hW[ We are

You are qUM hYN[ qusIN ho[ You are

He/She/It is. ieh/auh hY[ ieh/auh hn[ They/Those are

42
NOTE: Honourific Form

In Punjabi, the plural form can also signify a formal tone and is used to
indicate respect.

If you were speaking to someone in a formal tone, to indicate respect then

you would use qusIN rather than qUM.

Similarly, if you were speaking about someone in a formal tone, to indicate

respect, then you would use the plural form of ieh/auh rather than the
singular form.

In addition, the words jI and swihb may also be added directly after the
noun in order to indicate respect.

Ex/ qUM muMfw hY[ qusIN AiDAwpk ho[

You are a boy. You are a teacher [honourific form]

ieh muMfw hY[ ieh AiDAwpk jI hn[

He is a boy. He is a teacher [honourific form]

When speaking to a boy, you would not need to use the honourific form,
but when speaking to an elder or a person in a respected position, it is
necessary to use the plural form [honourific form] to show respect.

Therefore, always remember to pluralize when showing respect.

43
 Exercise 1

Number Translation

1 mYN hW [ I am.

2 AsIN ______[

3 ______ ho[

4 ieh ______ [

5 qUM ______ [

6 ieh skUl ______ [

7 ______ hY [

8 ______ hYN[

9 mYN ikrn ______ [

10 ieh mwqw jI ______ [

11 qusIN rmn ______ ?

12 auh ib`l ______ [

13 mYN Aqy Aslm ______ [

14 jsjIq Aqy ifMpl ______ [

44
g`l bwq: Fwby iv`c (Dialogue: In the restaurant “dhaba”)

bihrw: siq sRI Akwl jI[

gwhk: siq sRI Akwl[
bw: bYTo jI[
g: SukrIAW[iek k`p cwh[
b: hW jI, sr … sr? …
g: hW jI?
b: kI qusIN jpwnI ho?
g: mYN? nhIN, mYN pMjwbI hW[
b: nhIN, qusIN jpwnI ho nw?
g: nhIN, mYN pMjwbI hW[
b: s`c dso[ qusIN jpwnI ho, nw?
g: suxo! mYN jpwnI nhIN hW! mYN pMjwbI hW[
b: nhIN, nhIN, qusIN jpwnI ho[
g: (frustrated) hW, hW, hW! hW, mYN jpwnI hW[ mYN jpwnI hW[ mYN jpwnI hW[
b: pr lgdy nhIN!!
Waiter: Sat sri akal.
Customer: Sat sri akal.
W: Sit (politely).
C: Thanks. A cup of tea.
W: Yes, sir … sir?...
C: Yes?
W: Are you Japanese?
C: Me? No, I am Punjabi.
W: No, you’re Japanese, aren’t you?
C: No, I’m Punjabi.
W: Tell the truth. You’re Japanese, aren’t you?
C: Listen! I am not Japanese! I am Punjabi.
W: No, no, you are Japanese.
C: Yes, yes, yes! Yes, I am Japanese. I am Japanese. I am Japanese.
W: But you don’t look it!

45
UNIT 2: SCHOOL AND NEW FRIENDS
g`l-bwq 1: “ieh kI hY?” Dialogue 1: “What is this?”

ieh kI hY? What is this?

ieh Gr hY[ This is a house.

auh kI hY? What is that?

auh kmrw hY[ That is a room.

ieh kI hY? What is this?

ieh bUhw hY[ This is a door.

auh kI hY? What is that?

auh kMD hY[ That is a wall.

ieh kI hY? What is this?

ieh PrS hY[ This is a floor.

auh kI hY? What is that?

auh bwrI hY Aqy ieh C`q hY[ That is a window and this is the ceiling.

kI ieh myz hY? Is this a table?

nhIN, ieh myz nhIN hY[ No, this is not a table.

ieh kursI hY[ This is a chair.

kI ieh ikqwb hY? Is this a book?

hW jI, ieh ikqwb hY[ Yes, this is a book.

46
Use the following vocabulary to label the images.
Gr House M C`q Roof F
skUl School M myz Table M, F
kmrw Room M kursI Chair F
bUhw Door M klm Pen M, F
bwrI Window F pYnisl Pencil F
kMD Wall F ikqwb Book F


PrS Floor F
kwpI Notebook F

47
b`s iv`c g`l-bwq (Conversation in a Bus)

rySmw: Aslwm Alykum[

Aslm: vwlykum Aslwm[

rySmw: quhwfw kI nW hY?

Aslm: myrw nW Aslm hY[ quhwfw kI nW hY?

rySmw: myrw nW rySmw hY[ quhwnUM iml ky KuSI hoeI[ quhwfw kI hwl hY?

Aslm: mYN TIk hW[ quhwfw kI hwl hY?

rySmw: mYN vI TIk hW[ kI ieh quhwfIAW ikqwbW hn?

Aslm: hW jI, ieh ikqwbW myrIAW hn[

rySmw: kI qusIN pVHdy ho?

Aslm: hW jI, mYN pVHdw hW[

rySmw: quhwfw skUl ik`Qy hY?

Aslm: myrw skUl SWqI ngr iv`c hY[

rySmw: kI quhwfw skUl v`fw hY jW Cotw?

Aslm: myrw skUl Cotw hY[

rySmw: auhdw rMg kwlw hY jW lwl?

Aslm: lwl[

rySmw: myrw skUl kwlw hY[

Aslm: ieh myrw ‘stwp’ hY[

rySmw: ACw[ ^udw hwi&z[

Aslm: ^udw hwi&z[

48
Vocabulary

nW Name Noun, mas

quhwfw Yours Possessive
ikqwb Books Noun, fem/plural
pVHnw To read/to study Verb
skUl School Noun, mas
v`fw Big Adjective
Cotw Small/short Adjective
rMg Colour Noun, mas
kwlw Black Adjective
lwl Red Adjective
jW Or
auhdw Its possessive
ACw Okay

49
Reshma: Asalam Alaikum
Aslam: Valaikum asalam
Reshma: What is your name?
Aslam: My name is Aslam. What is your name?
Reshma: My name is Reshma. I am pleased to meet you. How are you?
Aslam: I am fine. How are you?
Reshma: I am also fine. Are these your books?
Aslam: Yes, these books are mine.
Reshma: Do you study? (attend school)
Aslam: Yes I study.
Reshma: Where is your school?
Aslam: My school is in Shanti Nagar.
Reshma: Is your school big or small?
Aslam: My school is small.
Reshma: Is its colour black or red?
Aslam: Red.
Reshma: My school is black.
Aslam: This is my stop.
Reshma: Okay. Khuda hafiz.
Aslam: Khuda hafiz.

50
VERBS AND PRESENT TENSE

We have been introduced to one verb already – hoxw (to be) “a helping verb”.
Three more important verbs are:
krnw isKxw rihxw
(to do) (to learn) (to live/stay … as in, “I live in Surrey”)
To use these verbs in the present tense you need to find its “present participle”.
To do this: 1. ROOT + 2. dw dy dI dIAW (according to the subject)
Mas/Sing Mas/Plural Fem/Sing Fem/Plural

Roots Root + dw Root + dy Root + dI Root + dIAW

ending in
a is`K + dw is`K + dy is`K + dI is`K + dIAW
consonant
isKdw isKdy isKdI isKdIAW

Roots Root + M/ N+ Root + M/ N + dy Root + M/ N + Root + M/ N +

ending in dw dI dIAW
a vowel rih + M + dy
rih + M + dw rih + M + dI rih + M + dIAW
rihMdy
rihMdw rihMdI rihMdIAW


m/s m/p f/s f/p

krdw krdy krdI krdIAW

isKdw isKdy isKdI isKdIAW

rihMdw rihMdy rihMdI rihMdIAW

51
 a) Sentence Formation
To use these participles in complete sentences, you need:
a) A noun
b) The appropriate participle of the verb
c) The auxiliary verb

Examples:

1 mYN isKdI hW[

2 mYN isKdw hW[

3 AsIN pMjwbI isKdy hW[

4 AsIN isKdIAW hW[

5 qUM ircmMf rihMdI hYN?

6 qUM srI rihMdw hYN?

7 auh ieQy rihMdw hY[

8 ieh auQy rihMdI hY[

9 I (f) learn. [Also means: I am learning]

10 We (f) learn Punjabi.

11 Do you (f) live here?

12 They (m) live in Surrey.

13 Paul and I live in Surrey.

14 Do you live in Richmond? (h)

15 Where do you live? (h)

You can now also express: What do I like? What don’t I like?

52
FURTHER PRESENT TENSE PRACTISE

krnw (to do) isKxw (to learn) rihxw (to live/stay … as in, “I live in Surrey”)

psMd krnw To like

nhIN psMd krnw To dislike

1 I (m) learn.
2 I (f) learn.
3 You (m) learn.
4 You (f) learn.
5 You learn Punjabi (h)
6 Do you learn Punjabi? (f/s)
7 We (m) learn Punjabi.
8 We (f) learn Punjabi.
9 He lives in Surrey.
10 She lives in Surrey.
11 They live in Burnaby (m).
12 Kiran and Reshma live in
Burnaby.
13 You and Ravi live here?
14 Aslam and I live there.
15 I(m) do that.
16 Do you (f) do this?
17 We (m) like Punjabi.
18 They (f) don’t like Punjabi.
19 I (f) like to learn Punjabi.
20 They (m) don’t like to learn
Punjabi.

53
Nouns & Gender
• All nouns in Punjabi have a gender, either feminine or masculine (in
some cases, both).

• Punjabi nouns can be categorized into 4 types, as follows:

Masculine Feminine

End in w Don’t end in w End in I Don’t end in I

kmrw room Gr house bwrI window ikqwb book

• Most masculine nouns end in the kanna [ w ]

• Most feminine nouns end in the bihari [ I ]

• Names that denote male are also Masculine

o Ex/ AwdmI man (even though it ends in a bihari)

• Names that denote female are also Feminine

o Ex/ AOrq woman

Masculine Feminine
Ends in Doesn’t end in Ends in Doesn’t end in
kanna w kanna w bihari I bihari I

muMfw AwdmI kuVI AOrq

• There are exceptions to all Rules. These must be memorized.

o Ex/ pwxI Mas [although it ends with a bihari] = water

54
Identify the gender and translate:
1 muMfw M boy 14 Gr

2 kuVI 15 kmrw

3 AwdmI 16 bUhw

4 AOrq 17 bwrI

5 ipqw 18 kMD

6 mW 19 PrS

7 BYx 20 C`q

8 Brw 21 myz

9 skUl 22 kursI

10 AiDAwpk 23 klm

11 AiDAwpkw 24 pYNsl

12 ividAwrQI 25 ikqwb

13 ividAwrQx 26 kwpI

1 auh ikhVw muMfw hY?
2 ieh AwdmI kOx hY?
3 ikqwb ikQy hY?
4 ieh Gr hY pr auh skUl hY[
5 Who is the woman?
6 Yes, this is a table.
7 No, this is not a chair.
8 Is it that wall?

55
Corresponding GENDER
Many nouns in Punjabi (especially professions and animals) also have an
equivalent in the opposite gender. The following are some rules to follow
when changing the gender of nouns.
Changing Masculine to Feminine: Take off the “a” [ w ] and add “ee” [ I ]
and vice versa
Ex/ sotI – I = sot sot + w = sotw

Small Stick Large Stick

Mas Fem

1 Box f`bw

2 Bird icVI

3 Mouse cUhw

4 Cat ib``lI

5 Dog ku`qw

6 Horse GoVI

NOTES:
It is interesting to note that in Punjabi a smaller version of an original object
is usually termed as feminine.

Not all words can be changed into the opposite gender. For example, a
SISI is a small jar. When we look at this word we think that if take off the I

and add a w, then the new word [SISw] will mean big jar. However, SISw
actually means glass or mirror.

56
g`l bwq 3: DIALOGUE 3

ieh kI hn? What are these?

ieh kmry hn[ These are rooms.
ieh kI hn? What are these?
ieh skUl hn[ These are schools.
ieh kI hn? What are these?
ieh bwrIAW hn These are windows.
auh kI hn? What are those?
auh ikqwbW hn[ Those are books.
ieh kI hn? What are these?
ieh kwpIAW Aqy klmW hn[ These are notebooks and pens.
ieh kOx hn? Who are they?
ieh ividAwrQI hn[ These are students [male].
ieh kOx hn? Who are they?
ieh ividAwrQxW hn[ They are students [female].
ieh kOx hn? Who are they?
ieh AiDAwpk hn Aqy auh They are teachers [male] and they are
AiDAwpkwvW hn[ teachers [female].
ividAwrQI ikhVy hn Aqy Which are the students [m] and
ividAwrQxW ikhVIAW hn? which are the students [f]?
ieh ividAwrQI hn Aqy auh These are the students [m] and these
ividAwrQxW hn[ are the students [f].
Note:
The plural form of a sentence or a word may be used to indicate respect. The
Punjabi sentences used in this instance can therefore indicate a singular sentence
using a more formal/respected tone, or they can indicate the plural form.

57
Pluralization
Numbers
0 isPr 7 s`q
1 ie`k 8 A`T
2 do 9 nON
3 iqMn 10 ds
4 cwr 11 igAwrW
5 pMj 12 bwrHW
6 Cy 100 sO

Changing Singular Form to Plural Form

Before changing a word into the plural form, it is necessary to identify which
category of gender it belongs to and then apply the appropriate rule.

Remember there are four types of gendered nouns in Punjabi:

§ Type 1: Masculine Nouns Ending in Kanna

o kmrw, bUhw

§ Type 2: Masculine Nouns Not Ending in Kanna

o Gr, skUl

§ Type 3: Feminine Nouns Ending in Bihari

o kuVI, icVI

§ Type 4: Feminine Nouns Not Ending in Bihari

o ikqwb, kMD

58
RULES TO FOLLOW WHEN PLURALIZING
TYPE 1: MAS NOUNS that END WITH “A” Sound
Replace the “a” kanna [ w ] with the “ai” lanv [ y ]
muMfw muMfw – w + y = muMfy
Boy Boys
kmrw kmrw – w + y= kmry
Room

Rooms
*Exceptions: ipqw (father), Brw (brother) which don’t change.
TYPE 2: ALL OTHER MAS NOUNS
* No Change
Gr -- Gr Gr
House -- Houses Boys
skUl -- skUl kmry
School

-- Schools Rooms

TYPE 3: FEM NOUNS that END WITH “EE” Sound
Add [ AW ] to the end of the noun
kuVI kuVI + AW = kuVIAW Gr
Girl Girls Boys
kursI kursI + AW = kursIAW kmry
Chair

Chairs Rooms
TYPE 4: ALL OTHER FEM NOUNS
Add [ W ] to the end of the noun
ikqwb ikqwb + W = ikqwbW Gr
Book Books Boys
kMD kMD + W = kMDW kmry
Wall

Walls Rooms
*TYPE 5: FEM NOUNS that END WITH “A” Sound
Add [ vW ] to the end of the noun
gW gw + vW = gWvW Gr
Cow Cows Boys
mW mW + W = mWvW kmry
Mother

Mothers Rooms

59
SUMMARY OF RULES

Masculine Feminine
Ends in w Doesn’t end in w Ends in I Doesn’t Ends in w
end in I
muMfw AwdmI kuVI AOrq mW
muMfy AwdmI
kuVIAW AOrqW mWvW
*no change

1 muMfw boys 14 Gr
2 kuVI 15 f`bI
3 AwdmI 16 kuqw
4 AOrq 17 ib`lI
5 ipqw 18 kMD
6 mW 19 PrS
7 BYx 20 C`q
8 Brw 21 myz
9 skUl 22 kursI
10 AiDAwpk 23 klm
11 AiDAwpkw 24 pYNsl
12 ividAwrQI 25 ikqwb
13 ividAwrQx 26 kwpI

1 ikhVy muMfy isKdy hn?

2 Where are the women?
3 ikqwbW ieQy nhIN hn hY?
4 Who are the Punjabi men?

60
Sentence Pluralization
Singular Form Plural Form Translation

1 ieh Gr hY[

2 ieh muMfw hY[

3 auh myz hY[

4 ieh kuVI hY[

5 auh klm hY[

6 ieh kursI hY[

7 ieh ikqwb hY?

8 auh ividAwrQx hY[

9 ieh skUl hY[

10 auh pYnisl hY[

11 ieh AwdmI hY[

12 auh AOrq hY[

13 ieh ividAwrQI hY[

14 ieh AiDAwpk hY[

15 auh AiDAwpkw hY[

61
Review: Translate the following:

1 Which girl is it?

2 Where are the boys?

3 How is the woman?

4 Who are the men?

5 No, this is not a table.

6 Yes, this is the chair.

7 These are the teachers (m).

8 Those are books.

Now write a 30-40 word dialogue which incorporates 5-10 Unit 2 vocab words.
___________________________________________________________________
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62
Read and then Translate

rvI: siq sRI Akwl[

ikrn: siq sRI Akwl[

rvI: quhwfw kI hwl hY?

ikrn: TIk[ quhwfw kI hwl hY?

rvI: mYN vI TIk hW[

ikrn: auh kOx hY?

rvI: auh myrw dosq hY[

ikrn: auhdw nW kI hY?

rvI: auhdw nw gurpRIq hY[

ikrn: auh kI krdw hY?

rvI auh pVHdw hY Aqy kMm krdw hY[

ikrn auh kI pVHdw hY Aqy ikQy kMm krdw

hY?

rvI auh pMjwbI pVHdw hY Aqy lweIbRyrI ivc

kMm krdw hY[

ikrn auhdy mwqw ipqw kI krdy hn?

rvI ikauN?

ikrn ikauNik … mYnUM auh psMd hY[

ikauNik because
mYnUM _______ psMd (nhIN) hY[ [ I (don’t) like ______________.
qusIN kI psMd krdy ho? What do you like?

63
UNIT 2 VOCABULARY

quhwfw fbw
pVH ku`qw
vfw iblI
Cotw icVI
rMg skUl
kwlw Gr
Lwl kmrw
ACw bUhw
kr bwrI
isK kMD
rih ikqwb
psMd kr kwpI
kursI
ikauNik myz
ikauN pYnisl
kI klm
kOx C`q
ikQy PrS
kd
iks qrHW AiDAwpk/w
ikvyN / ikdw ividAwrQI/x

64
UNIT 3: MY DAILY ROUTINE
g`l-bwq 1: XUnIvristI iv`c (In the University)

pwl: siq sRI Akwl[

rmn: siq sRI Akwl jI[

pwl: kI hwl Aw?

rmn: mYN TIk hW[ SukrIAw[

pwl: qusIN bhuq sohxy ho[

rmn: … hW jI??

pwl: myrw nW pwl hY[ quhwfw kI nW hY?

rmn: mYN rmn hW[

pwl: mYN iek ividAwrQI hW[ mYN pVHdw hW[ qusIN kI krdy ho?

rmn: mYN kMm krdI (work) hW[

pwl: qusIN ik`Qy kMm krdy ho?

rmn: mYN ieQy hI*2 kMm krdI hW – ies XUnIvristI ivc[

pwl: qusIN ies XUnIvristI’c kI kMm krdy ho?

rmn: mYN iek AiDAwpkw hW[ mYN ihswb pVHwauNdI (teach) hW[ieh myrI jmwq dw
kmrw (classroom) hY[

pwl: ieh qW myrI jmwq dw kmrw hY! mqlb (meaning) – qusIN myry AiDAwpkw
ho!!

2
(emphatic article): indeed, verily, just, even

65
Paul: Sat sri akal.

Raman: Sat sri akal.

Paul: How’s it going?/How are you? (casual)

Raman: I am fine. Thank you.

Paul: You are very pretty.

Raman: … pardon me?!

Paul: My name is Paul. What is your name?

Raman: I am Raman.

Paul: I am a student. I study. What do you do?

Raman: I work.

Paul: Where do you work? And what are you doing here?

Raman: I work here – in this university.

Paul: What work do you do in this university?

Raman: I am a teacher. I teach math. This is my classroom.

Paul: This is my classroom! Meaning – you are my teacher!!

66
g`l-bwq 2

suirMdr: kI hwl Aw BvnIq?

BvnIq: vDIAw[ Aj sohxw idn hY[ bwhr Dup hY[

suirMdr: pr myry leI mwVw idn hY[

BvnIq: ikauN?

suirMdr: mYN vIrvwr nhIN psMd krdI hW[

BvnIq: ikauN?

suirMdr: ikauNik ieh bhuq lMmw idn hY[ mYN pMj vjy auTdI hW Aqy rwq dy bwrHW
vjy sONdI hW[

BvnIq: quM pMj vjy ikauN auTdI hYN?

suirMdr: ikauNik mYN swFy pMj qoN swFy Cy vjy qk ijm jWdI hW[ iPr mYN swFy A`T
qoN cwr vjy qk XUnIvristI nUM jWdI hW[ iPr mYN pMj qoN igAwrW vjy qk
kMm qy jWdI hW[

BvnIq: hwey! hwey! qyrw idn scI bhuq lMmw hY!

VOCABULARY
A`j today Adv; noun, m myry leI For me
sohxw Beautiful adj lMmw Long adj
idn Day Noun, m auTxw To get up Verb
bwhr Outside Adv; noun, m sOxw To sleep verb
Dup sunshine Noun, f qoN … qk From … until
Dup vwlw sunny adj hwey, hwey! Oh my goodness! expression

mINh pYNdw hY It’s raining Expression s`cI Really; truly Adv

mINh vwlw rainy Adj nUM To Postposition

pr But conjunction

kMm ‘qy To work; at work

67
Dialogue 2

Surinder: How are you Bhavneet?

Bhavneet: Good. It’s a beautiful day today. It’s sunny out.

Surinder: But it’s a bad day for me.

Bhavneet: Why?

Surinder: I don’t like Thursdays.

Bhavneet: Why?

Surinder: Because it’s a very long day. I get up at 5:00 and go to sleep at 12:00

at night.

Bhavneet: Why do you get up at 5:00?

Surinder: Because I go to the gym from 5:30 to 6:30. Then I go to the university

from 8:30 to 4:00. Then I go to work from 5:00 to 11:00.

Bhavneet: Oh my goodness! Your day really is very long!

68
VOCABULARY
ikMny vjy hn? What time is it?
igAwrW eleven Adj (no change)
bwrHW Twelve Adj (no change)
vjy O’clock adv
swFy Half past (-:30) prefix

hPqw Week M
AYqvwr Sunday M
somvwr Monday M
mMglvwr Tuesday M
bu`Dvwr Wednesday M
vIrvwr Thursday M
Sukrvwr Friday M
Sincrvwr Saturday M

idn Day M
svyr Morning F
rwq Night F

A`j Today Adv & noun, M
k`lH Yesterday Adv & noun, M
k`lH nUM Tomorrow
prsoN Day before yesterday Adv & noun, M
prsoN nUM Day after tomorrow

jnm idn Birthday M
jnm qrIk Birth date F
qrIk date f

69
vKq

Fill in the Blank Translation

1 A`j kI idn hY? day

2 A`j somvwr hY[ Monday .

3 k`lH kI idn sI? yesterday

4 prsoN kI idn hY? Day after

tomorrow

5 A`j bu`Dvwr hY[ k`lH nUM vIrvwr hY? Thursday

6 A`j bu`Dvwr hY[ k`lH _________ sI[ Tuesday

7 hux ikMny vjy hn? What time

8 hux AT vjy hn[ 8:00

9 k`lH (nUM) cMgw idn hY[ tomorrow

10 Sukrvwr bhuq vDIAw idn hY[ Friday

11 qyrI jnm qrIk kI hY? Birthdate

12 qyrw jnm idn kd hY? Birthday

70
ADJECTIVES.
The two types of adjectives in the Punjabi language are : (1) Variable or (2) Invariable.

Type 1: Variable [Changing] [Also termed “kwlw” or “Black”]

• These adjectives change their form in order to agree with the form of the noun that they
describe
• The “base” form (masculine/singular) ends in a kanna
• agreement is necessary in Punjabi and corresponds with the gender and number of the
noun which is being described

Ending for the Adjective Example

Mas/Sing w kwlw

Mas/Plural y kwly

Fem/Singular I kwlI

Fem/Plural IAW kwlIAW

Example:

Noun Translation Form of the Translation

Adjective

Mas/Sing icVw sparrow (m) kwlw black

Mas/Plural icVy sparrows kwly black

Fem/Sing icVI sparrow (f) kwlI black

Fem/Plural icVIAW sparrows kwlIAW black

71
Type 2: Invariable [Unchanging] [Also termed “lwl” or “Red”]

• These adjectives do not change their form for gender or plural

• If the base form of an adjective does not end in a kanna, then it is unchanging.
• No matter what the gender or the plural form of the noun they are modifying, these stay
the same

Ex/ lwl red

Noun Translation Form of the Translation

Adjective

Mas/Sing icVw sparrow (m) lwl red

Mas/Plural icVy sparrows red

lwl

Fem/Sing icVI sparrow (f) red

lwl

Fem/Plural icVIAW sparrows red

lwl

NOTE: Position of the Adjective

The adjective can come before or after the noun, just like in English.
Ex/ ieh muMfw v`fw hY[ This boy is big.
Ex/ v`fw muMfw ik`Qy hY? Where is the big boy?

If you have more than one adjective, then the order does not matter, unless it’s a
number, then that should go first.
Ex/ ieh iqMn bhuq v`fy, lMmy Aqy sohxy muMfy hn[ These are 3 very big, tall and
handsome boys.

72
ADJECTIVES LIST

M/S M/P F/S F/P

1 Big v`fw v`fy v`fI v`fIAW

2 Small Cotw
3 Short Cotw
4 Long lMmw
5 Red lwl
6 Black kwlw
7 White ic`tw
8 Good cMgw
9 Bad mwVw
10 Beautiful sohxw
11 Difficult AOKw
12 Easy sOKw

73
Adj Worksheet

1 ieh vfw muMfw hY[ big This is a tall boy.

ieh muMfw vfw hY[ This boy is tall.

2 __________ muMfy ikQy hn? big

3 ikhVI kuVI __________ hY? big

4 ieh kuVIAW __________ hn[ big

5 __________ AwdmI ikhVw hY? small

6 AwdmI ________ ikauN hn? small

7 __________ AOrq ikQy hY? small

8 ieh __________ AOrqW hn[ small

9 ividAwrQI __________ hY[ good

10 _______ ividAwrQI pVHdy hn[ good

74
 Fill in the blanks Translate

1 __________ Gr ikQy hY? White

2 __________ Gr ieQy hn[ white

3 __________ skUl auQy hn[ red

4 auh skUl __________ hY[ red

5 ieh kmrw __________ hY[ small

6 myrw kmrw __________ hY[ small

7 qyrI ikqwb __________ hY[ small

8 ikhVw skUl __________ hY? good

9 iksdw ividAwrQI _______ hY[ good

10 ieh klmW _________ hY[ good

75
POSTPOSITIONS
A postposition indicates the relation of one noun to another noun.

Examples: on the table; under the table; beside the table

It performs the same function as the preposition in English grammar.
The only difference:
- in English it is placed before the noun [hence the name preposition]
- in Punjabi it is placed after the noun [hence the name postposition].

iv`c nUM ‘qy nwl

In To To/at with
Examples: in the table Preposition is before the noun.
myz ivc Postposition is after the noun.

Direct and Indirect Case
Whenever a noun/pronoun is followed by a postposition it is known as the indirect case.
Otherwise it is known as the direct case. When you refer to a noun directly it is the direct case,
when you talk about the noun, it is the indirect case.

Ex/ ieh kmrw hY[ ieh ikqwb hY[ Direct

This is a room. This is a book.

*kmry ivc ikqwb hY[ or ikqwb kmry ivc hY[ Indirect
The book is in the room.

In the oblique case the noun/pronoun in front of the postposition CHANGES!
These changes depend on what kind of noun it is [which declension it belongs to].

These changes are explained in detail in the next pages.

76


A. Declension I [Masculine Nouns ending in kanna “w”]

Singular = take off the w and add the y sound.
Plural = take off the y and add the i __AW sound.

Direct Oblique
Singular 1 kmrw 1 kmry iv`c *
Plural 2 kmry kmirAW iv`c *


B. Declension II [Masculine Nouns NOT ending in kanna “w”]
Singular = No change.
Plural = add the W sound.

Direct Oblique
Singular 1 Gr 1 Gr iv`c
Plural 2 Gr 2 GrW iv`c *


C. Declension III [All Feminine Nouns]
NO CHANGE!!

Direct Oblique
Singular ikqwb ikqwb iv`c
Plural ikqwbW ikqwbW iv`c

Remember to change the adjectives and possessives in the sentence accordingly
as well. (Only for masculine singular words).

77
Translate the following:

1 The book is in the room.

2 The books are in the room.

3 The books are in the rooms.

4 The dog is in the house

5 The dogs are in the house.

6 The dogs are in the houses.

7 The pen is in the table.

8 The pens are in the table.

9 The pens are in the tables.

10. I (m) am in the house.

11. She studies in the school.

12. We (f) read in our room.

13. Do you study in that school?

14. “Write in the book”.

15. *“Don’t speak in here.”

78
Worksheet 2
In the indirect form make agreements to possessives/adjectives (Only in mas/sing forms).

1 The book is in the big white room.

2 The books are in the big white room.

3 The books are in the big white rooms.

4 The cat is in the small red house.

5 The cats are in the small red house.

6 The cats are in the small red houses.

7 What is in the large room?

8 Are you in your room?

9 Are you in your small room?

10 Is he in the big house?

11 Who is in your house?

12 Why are you in my house?

13 Is my teacher in the school?

14. Is my student (m) in your room?

15. Are my students (m) in your room?

79
 MORE VERBS
Four verbs are especially useful when talking about school.

pVHnw To read suxnw To listen

ilKxw To write bolxw To speak

Remember that when we want to tell somebody to do something, we use the root (take off the na
ending)

pVH Read! sux Listen!

ilK Write! bol Speak!

And when we want to ask someone to do something, politely (or give an order to a group), we add the
“o” sound.

pVHo Read (please) suxo Listen

ilKo Write bolo Speak

jwE Go rho Stay

Translate:

1 mYN kmry ivc pVHdw hW[

2 We study in the big room.

3 He writes in the small notebook.

4 They (m) speak Punjabi.

5 Do you listen to Punjabi songs? (gIq)

80
New verbs

Infinitive Translation Root Infinitive Translation Root

jw to go qur to walk

Awauxw to come dOV to run

rihxw to stay (live) kMm krnw To work

sux to hear vyKxw To watch

bol to speak Kwxw to eat

ilKxw to write pIxw to drink

pVHnw to read/study sOxw to sleep

auTxw To get up

Here are some verbs which are used daily. Think of others useful to you:

1 To Brush (teeth) burS krnw*

2 To clean swP krnw*

3 To Wear pwauxw

4 To Bathe nHwauxw

6
7

81
 The Imperative
- used when issuing a command, or making a request
- used with second person pronoun (qUM or qusIN)


Form 2nd P Sing (qUM) 2nd P Pl (qusIN)
Honourific
Instruction Root Root + E

Root ending
in consonant
bol bolo

Root ending
in vowel
jw jwE

Root ending
in i / Y
rih rho

Root ending
in E or AO
sON sOvo

Note1: The 2nd person plural form, can also be used when issuing a
command, politely, to a single person.
Note 2: If the root ends in an i / Y then the i / Y is dropped before adding
the honourific ending.

Note 3: Honourific: The suffix becomes vo with roots ending in E or A

82
 4.3 Worksheet 1
Verb 2nd P Sing 2nd P Pl (qusIN)
1 jw jwE
jwxw

2
Awauxw

3
rihxw*

4
suxnw

5
bolxw

6
krnw

7
vyKxw

8
dOVnw

9
pVHnw

10
ilKxw

11
sOxw

12
auTxw

13
nHwauxw

14
kMm krnw

83
Worksheet 2
1 pwxI pI[

2 ikqwb pVoH[

3 klm nwl ilK[

4 pMjwbI isKo[

5 iqMn vjy jwE[

6 Stay here (h).

7 Write this.

8 Do work.

9 Eat at 12 o’clock.

10 Sleep at 11 o’clock (h)

• nwl = with
• It is a postposition, therefore it is placed after
the noun.

84
Present Tense: continued

We use this tense when:
- Speaking about something we are doing right now
- Speaking about a habit/daily routine
- A universal truth

Mas/Sing Mas/Plural Fem/Sing Fem/Plural

dw dy dI dIAW

Root end = Root + dw Root + dy Root + dI Root + dIAW

consonant
Root end = Root+ M/ N + Root+ M/ N+ dy Root+ M/ N +dI Root+ M/ N +dIAW
vowel dw
Verb had au Root+ auN + dw Root+ auN + dy Root+ auN + Root+ auN + dIAW
dI
The present tense: Present participle + Present auxiliary
It agrees with the subject in its gender and number
Mas/Singular Mas/Plural Fem/Singular Fem/Plural

mYN KWdw hW[ AsIN KWdy hW[ mYN KWdI hW[ AsIN KWdIAW hW[
I eat. We eat. I eat. We eat.

qUM KWdw hYN[ qusIN KWdy ho[ qUM KWdI hYN[ qusIN KWdIAW ho[
You eat. You eat. You eat. You eat.

ieh KWdw hY[ ieh KWdy hn[ ieh KWdI hY [ ieh KWdIAW hn [
auh KWdw hY [ auh KWdy hn[ auh KWdI hY [ auh KWdIAW hn [
He eats. They eat. She eats. They eat.

85
Present Tense Worksheet 1
Translate the verbs , find their root and form sentences. Watch for agreement!
1. pVHnw = pVH = read
Mas/Singular Mas/ Plural Fem/ Singular Fem/ Singular
dw dy dI dIAW
mYN au~Tdw hW[ AsIN mYN AsIN

qUM qusIN qUM qusIN

ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh

2. ilKxw = ______= ______

Mas/Singular Mas/Plural Fem/Singular Fem/Plural
mYN AsIN mYN AsIN

qUM qusIN qUM qusIN

ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh

86
 3. bolxw = ______ = ______

Mas/Singular Mas/Plural Fem/Singular Fem/Plural

mYN AsIN mYN AsIN

qUM qusIN qUM qusIN

ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh

4. is`Kxw = ______ = ______

Mas/Singular Mas/Plural Fem/Singular Fem/Plural
mYN AsIN mYN AsIN

qUM qusIN qUM qusIN

ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh

87
 5. jwxw = _______ = ______

Mas/Singular Mas/Plural Fem/Singular Fem/Plural

mYN AsIN mYN AsIN

qUM qusIN qUM qusIN

ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh

6. sOxw 3
______= ______

Mas/Singular Mas/Plural Fem/Singular Fem/Plural

mYN AsIN mYN AsIN

qUM qusIN qUM qusIN

ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh

3
Note: This is the only verb which has the nasal sound added to the root.

88
 7. rihxw = ______ = ______

Mas/Singular Mas/Plural Fem/Singular Fem/Plural

mYN AsIN mYN AsIN

qUM qusIN qUM qusIN

ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh

8. Awauxw = ______ = ______

Mas/Singular Mas/Plural Fem/Singular Fem/Plural

mYN AsIN mYN AsIN

qUM qusIN qUM qusIN

ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh ieh/auh

89

monw

AYqvwr somvwr mMglvwr bu`Dvwr vIrvwr Sukrvwr Sincrvwr

svyr kMm skUl ijMm skUl ijMm skUl Gr

idn kMm skUl skUl skUl skUl skUl lweIbRyrI

rwq Gr kMm kMm kMm Gr dosq dosq

AlI

AYqvwr somvwr mMglvwr bu`Dvwr vIrvwr Sukrvwr Sincrvwr

svyr ijMm Gr ijMm Gr ijMm skUl ijMm

idn lweIbRyrI skUl kMm skUl kMm skUl lweIbRyrI

rwq Gr skUl kMm skUl kMm dosq dosq

Answer the following:

1 AYqvwr nUM kOx kMm krdw hY?

2 AlI ijMm nUM kd jWdw hY?

3 monw ikMny idn skUl nUM jWdI hY?

4 monw vIrvwr rwq nUM ikQy huMdI hY?

5 monw Aqy AlI dosqW nwl kd jWdy hn?

90
Answer the remaining questions in English:

1 How many days does Mona go to school?

2 What does Mona do on Monday mornings?

3 What does Mona do on Monday evenings?

4 Where is Mona on Thursday mornings?

5 Where is Mona on Saturday during the day?

6 How many days a week does Mona work?

7 How often does Mona go out with her friends?

8 How many days does Ali go to school?

9 What does Ali do on Tuesday & Thursday

mornings?

10 What does Ali do on Tuesday evenings?

11 Where is Ali on Wednesday evenings?

12 Where is Ali on Fridays during the day?

13 How many days a week does Ali work?

14 How often does Ali go out with his friends?

15 Who goes to the library most often?

AlI dw mnpsMd idn ikhVw hY? ikauN? monw dw ikhVw hY? ikauN?

91
Present Tense: Worksheet 3
Fill in Mona and Ali’s schedules as you listen to your instructor provide information about them.

Mona

AYqvwr somvwr mMglvwr bu`Dvwr vIrvwr Sukrvwr Sincrvwr

6:00

8:00

10:00

12:00

2:00

4:00

6:00

8:00

10:00

12:00

Ali

AYqvwr Somvwr mMglvwr bu`Dvwr vIrvwr Sukrvwr Sincrvwr

5:00
7:00
9:00
11:00
1:00
3:00
5:00
7:00
9:00
11:00

92
Now make your own schedule

AYqvwr somvwr mMglvwr bu`Dvwr vIrvwr Sukrvwr Sincrvwr

6:00

8:00

10:00

12:00

1:00

2:00

3:00

5:00

7:00

9:00

11:00

1 qusIN AYqvwr nUM svyry Cy vjy kI krdy ho?

2 qusIN AYqvwr nUM rwq dy s`q vjy kI krdy ho?

3 qusIN somvwr ds vjy kI krdy ho?

4 qusIN mMglvwr nUM bwrHW vjy kI krdy ho?

5 qusIN bu`Dvwr nUM ikMny vjy auTdy ho?

6 qusIN vIrvwr nUM ikMny vjy sONdy ho?

7 qusIN Sukrvwr nUM lMc ikMny vjy KWdy ho?

8 qusIN ikhVy idnW nUM kMm krdy ho?

9 qusIN Sukrvwr nUM skUl jWdy ho?

10 qusIN Sincrvwr nUM kI krdy ho?

93
Extra
sonIAw: kuljIq, qUM lyt hYN!

kuljIq: mYnUM pqw[

sonIAw: qUM roz lyt AwauNdw hYN[ ikauN?

kuljIq: mYN lyt auTdw hW[

sonIAw: qUM ikMny vjy auTdw hYN?

kuljIq: mYN nON vjy auTdw hW[

sonIAw: pr swfI jmwq nON vjy SurU huMdI hY!

kuljIq: mYnUM pqw[

sonIAw: qUM ikMny vjy sONdw hYN?

kuljIq: mYN cwr vjy svyry sONdw hW[

sonIAw: ikauN?

kuljIq: mYN bwrHW vjy qk kMm krdw hW[ iPr mYN swFy bwrHW vjy Gr AwauNdw hW[
iPr mYN nHwauNdw hW Aqy ie`k vjy kuJ KWdw hW[ iPr tI vI dyKdw hW[

sonIAw: qUM cwr vjy qk tI vI dyKdw hYN?

kuljIq: hW[

sonIAw: qUM pwgl hYN[

94
Sonia: Kuljit, you’re late!

Kuljit: I know.

Sonia: You always come late! (You come late everyday) Why?

Kuljit: I get up (wake up) late.

Sonia: What time do you get up?

Kuljit: I get up at nine o’clock.

Sonia: But our class starts at nine o’clock!

Kuljit: I know.

Sonia: What time do you sleep?

Kuljit: I go to sleep at four o’clock in the morning.

Sonia: Why?

Kuljit: I work until twelve o’clock. Then I come home at twelve-thirty. Then
I bathe and eat something at one o’clock. Then I watch tv.

Sonia: You watch tv until four o’clock?

Kuljit: Yes

Sonia: You’re crazy.

95
PRESENT TENSE and TIME (Help for the Assignment)
TIME VERBS
1:00 iek vjy jw Go
2:00 do vjy Aw* Come
3:00 iqMn vjy rih Stay/live
4:00 cwr vjy sux Listen
5:00 pMj vjy bol Speak
6:00 Cy vjy kr Do
7:00 sq vjy vyK Watch
8:00 AT vjy pV Read/study
9:00 nON vjy ilK Write
10:00 ds vjy isK Learn
11:00 Kw Eat
igAwrW vjy
12:00 pI Drink
bwrHW vjy
“thirty” past swFy ____ sON Sleep

auT Get up

skUl nUM kMn nUM / kMm ‘qy ijMm nUM

To school To work To the gym

96


Mas/Sing Mas/Plural Fem/Sing Fem/Plural

dw dy dI dIAW

Root end = Root + Root + Root + Root +

consonant dw dy dI dIAW
Example boldw boldy boldI boldIAW

Root end = Root+ M/ N + Root+ M/ N+ Root+ M/ N + Root+ M/ N +

vowel dw dy dI dIAW
Example 1 jWdw jWdy jWdI jWdIAW
rihMdw rihMdy rihMdI rihMdIAW
Example 2

Verb had a Root+ auN + Root+ auN + Root+ auN + Root+ auN +
(Aw) dw dy dI dIAW

Example AwauNdw AwauNdy AwauNdI AwauNdIAW

I get up at 5:00. mYN pMj vjy auTdI hW[

I eat at 6:00. mYN Cy vjy hW[

I go to school at 7:00. mYN sq hW[

I learn Punjabi at 8:00. mYN hW[

I listen to Ranbir at 9:00.

I read a book at 10:00.

I write at 11:00.

97
UNIT 3 VOCABULARY

SukrIAW myry leI
hW jI lMmw
kMm krnw auTxw
ieQy sOxw
auQy qoN … qk
XUnIvristI hwey, hwey!
ihswb s`cI
pVHwauxw nUM
jmwq dw kmrw kMm ‘qy
mqlb
v`fw
A`j Cotw
sohxw lMmw
idn lwl
bwhr kwlw
Dup ic`tw
Dup vwlw nIlw
mINh pYNdw hY cMgw
mINh vwlw mwVw

pr AOKw

sOKw

98
 ikMny vjy hn? jw
igAwrW Aw
bwrHW rih
vjy sux
swFy bol
hPqw puC
AYqvwr kr
somvwr vyK
mMglvwr jw
bu`Dvwr qur
vIrvwr dOV
Sukrvwr pV
Sincrvwr ilK
idn isK
svyr Kw
rwq pI
A`j sON
k`lH auT
k`lH nUM
prsoN skUl
prsoN nUM ijMm
jnm idn kMm

jnm qrIk
dosq

99
UNIT 4: FAMILY AND HOME
iek qsvIr

nvIn: nmsqy[

blvIr: nmsqy[

nvIn: ieh kI hY?

blvIr: ieh ie`k qsvIr hY[

nvIn: ieh iksdI qsvIr hY?

blvIr: ieh myrI qsvIr hY[

nvIn: ieh kOx hn?

blvIr: ieh myrw pirvwr hY[

nvIn: qyry ikMny Brw hn?

blvIr: myry do Brw hn[ ie`k v`fw hY Aqy ie`k Cotw hY[

nvIn: qyrIAW ikMnIAW BYxW hn?

blvIr: myrIAW koeI BYxW nhIN hn[ mYN Awpxy mwqw ipqw dI iek`lI DI hW[
ACw hux, hor qsvIr dyKo[

nvIn: cMgw[
qsvIr picture Noun, f
iksdw Whose Interrogative
prvwr/ pirvwr Family Noun, m
ikMnw How many Interrogative
myrw koeI _____ nhIN hY[ I don’t have any____. Phrase
Awpxw My (*changes) Reflexive pronoun
iek`lw Only Adj, m
DI daughter Noun, f
hux Now adverb
hor more Adj and adverb

100
Naveen: Namaste

Balvir: Namaste

Naveen: What is this?

Balvir: It is a picture.

Naveen: Whose picture is this?

Balvir: This is my picture.

Naveen: Who are they?

Balvir: This is my family.

Naveen: How many brothers (do you have?)

Balvir: I have two brothers. One is elder and one is younger.

Naveen: How many sisters do you have?

Balvir: I do not have any sisters. I am my mother and father’s only

daughter. Okay, now look at another picture.

Naveen: Okay.

101
myry b`cy

Amn: siq sRI Akwl[

mnjIq: siq sRI Akwl[

Amn: quhwfw kI nW hY?

mnjIq: myrw nW mnjIq hY[ quhwfw kI nW hY?

Amn: myrw nW Amn hY[ quhwnUM iml ky KuSI hoeI[ quhwfw kI hwl hY?

mnjIq: TIk[ quhwfw kI hwl hY?

Amn: mYN vI TIk hW[

mnjIq: kI ieh quhwfI bytI hY?

Amn: hW jI[ ieh myrI bytI hY[

mnjIq: Aqy auh kOx hn?

Amn: auh myry byty hn[ kI ieh quhwfIAW bytIAW hn?

mnjIq: nhIN, nhIN[ ieh myrIAW bytIAW nhIN hn[

ieh myrI BYx dI bytI hY Aqy ieh iesdI shylI hY[

Amn: quhwfy b`cy ik`Qy hn?

mnjIq: myry koeI b`cy nhIN hn[

102
Aman: Sat sri akal.

Manjit: Sat sri akal.

Aman: What is your name?

Manjit: My name is Manjit. What is your name?

Aman: My name is Aman. I am pleased to meet you. How are you?

Manjit: Fine. How are you?

Aman: I am also fine.

Manjit: Is this your daughter?

Aman: Yes. This is my daughter.

Manjit: And who are they?

Aman: Those are my sons. Are these your daughters?

Manjit. No, no. These are not my daughters. This is my sister’s

daughter (daughter of my sister) and this is her friend.

Aman: Where are your children?

Manjit: I don’t have any children.

103
 FAMILY VOCABULARY prvwr

Immediate Family t`br

*Masculine Feminine
Punjabi English Punjabi English
ipqw Father mwqw, mW Mother
bytw (pu`qr) Son bytI (pu`qrI) Daughter
Brw Brother BYx sister
dwdw paternal dwdI paternal grandmother
grandfather
nwnw maternal nwnI maternal grandmother
grandfather

UNCLES AUNTS
Punjabi English Punjabi English
cwcw father’s younger cwcI father’s younger
brother brother’s wife
qwieAw father’s elder qweI father’s elder brother’s
brother wife
PuPV father’s sister’s BUAw father’s sister
husband
mwsV mother’s sister’s mwsI mother’s sister
husband
mwmw mother’s brother mwmI mother’s brother’s wife

104
POSSESSIVES: (We’ve learned two possessives (myrw, quhwfw) already, here are the rest.
1st PERSON
Singular [My] Plural [Our]
Mas/Sing myrw swfw
Mas/Plural myry swfy
Fem/Sing myrI swfI
Fem/Plural myrIAW swfIAW

2nd PERSON
Singular [Your] Plural [Your]
Mas/Sing qyrw quhwfw
Mas/Plural qyry quhwfy
Fem/Sing qyrI quhwfI
Fem/Plural qyrIAW quhwfIAW

3rd PERSON [Remote]

Singular [His/Her] Plural [Their]
Mas/Sing auhdw auhnW dw
Mas/Plural auhdy auhnW dy
Fem/Sing auhdI auhnW dI
Fem/Plural auhdIAW auhnW dIAW

3rd PERSON [Proximate]

Singular [His/Her] Plural [Their]
Mas/Sing iehdw iehnW dw
Mas/Plural iehdy iehnW dy
Fem/Sing iehdI iehnW dI
Fem/Plural iehdIAW iehnW dIAW

Note 1: iehnW and auhnW can be replaced by ienHW and aunHW.

Note 2: There is no Punjabi word that is equivalent to “have” in English –
Instead, we use possessives. Also remember that the possessive must agree with
the object!
105
Number Question Person/Number

1 ieh myrw Gr hY[ my

2 ieh ______________ Gr hY[ your

3 ieh ______________ Gr hY[ his/her

4 ieh ______________ Gr hY[ our

5 ieh ______________ klm hn [ your

6 ieh ______________ klm hn [ Your (h)

7 ieh ______________ klmW hn [ our

8 ieh ______________ klmW hn [ your

9 ieh ______________ ikqwb hY[ theirs

10 ieh ______________ ikqwbW hn[ his/her

106
11 ieh ______________ cwcIAW hn[ your

12 ieh ______________ byty hn? Your (h)

13 auh ______________ qwieAw hY[ his/her

14 auh ______________ qweI hY[ my

auh ______________ PuPV hY[

15 your

16 auh ______________ swfI hY[ our

17 ______________ skUl v`fw hY[ my

18 ______________ skUl v`fw hY[ their

19 ______________ skUl v`fw hY[ your

20 ______________ skUl v`fw hY[ his/her

21 auh ______________ AiDAwpkwvW hn [ my

107
22 auh ______________ AiDAwpkwvW hn [ your

23 auh ______________ AiDAwpkwvW hn [ our

24 auh ______________ AiDAwpkwvW hn [ their

25 ieh ______________ ividAwrQI hY[ my

26 ieh ______________ ividAwrQI hn[ my

27 ieh ______________ b`cy hn[ our

28 auh ______________ ipqw jI hn[ your

29 auh ______________ nwnI hn[ our

30 auh ______________ mwmy hn[ his/her

108
Worksheet 2: Translate the following:

1 My books

2 Your mother (honourific)

3 His father (honourific)

4 Her school

5 Our room

6 His pens (f)

7 Your table (m)

8 My chair

9 Your room

10 His teacher (f)

109
pwrtI iv`c

nvI: ik`dw pRIq?

pRIq: nvI! kI hwl AY?
nvI: TIk AY[ vDIAw pwrtI hY, nw?
pRIq: hW pr bhuq izAwdw lok hn[
nvI: qUM iek`lI hYN?
pRIq: nhIN, myrI BYx myry nwl hY[
nvI: auh ik`Dr hY?
pRIq: auh au~Dr hY[
nvI: au~Dr bhuq kuVIAW hn[ qyrI BYx ikhVI hY?
pRIq: auh sohxI kuVI myrI BYx hY[
nvI: ijsdy vwl lMmy hn?
pRIq: nhIN, aus dy vwl Coty hn[
nvI: ACw ijsdy vwl kwly hn?
pRIq: nhIN, ausdy vwl BUry hn[
nvI: ACw, ijsdw k`d lMmw hY?
pRIq: nhIN, ausdw k`d bhuq Cotw hY[
nvI: ACw ijsdI kmIz nIlI hY?
pRIq: hW jI, auh hI myrI BYx hY[

110
SbdwvlI (Vocabulary)*You only need to know the starred ones.
(srIr) Body
*eye A`K F arm bWh F
*Hair vwl M/*plural hand h`Q M
*Moustache mu`C F leg l`q F
*beard dwVHI F foot pYr M
*Bald gMjw Adjective ear kMn M
head isr M lips bu`lH M
Face mUMh M nose n`k M

Navi: How’s it going Preet?

Preet: Navi! How are you?
Navi: Fine. It’s a great party, isn’t it?
Preet: Yes, but there’s too many people.
Navi: Are you alone?
Preet: No, my sister is with me.
Navi: Where is she?
Preet: She is there.
Navi: There are many girls over there. Which one is your sister?
Preet: That pretty girl is my sister.
Navi: (The one) whose hair is long?
Preet: No, her hair is short.
Navi: Okay, the one whose hair is black?
Preet: No, her hair is brown.
Navi: Okay, the one who is tall (whose height is tall)?
Preet: No, she is very short.
Navi: Okay, the one whose shirt is blue?
Preet: Yes, that is my sister.

111
Changing Words according to gender and number.
You have learned that words can be changed according to number and
gender. The gender and number of the noun can affect the entire sentence
according to what type of auxiliary, interrogative or adjective to use.
Let us look first at interrogatives, since we are already familiar with them.
The interrogatives we have learned thus far are unchanging – but you will
occasionally come across some interrogatives that change according to
gender and number. Here are some examples:
Whose?
M/S M/P F/S F/P
iksdw iksdy iksdI iksdIAW

Which?
M/S M/P F/S F/P
ikhVw ikhVy ikhVI ikhVIAW

*How much? How many?

M/S M/P F/S F/P
ikMnw ikMny ikMnI ikMnIAW

One may use the singular forms in order to ask questions about price
o kmrw ikMny dw hY? How much is the room?
o ikqwb ikMny dI hY? How much is the book?

But use the plural form to ask questions about amount

o ikMny kmry hn? How many rooms are there?
o ikqwb ikMny dI hY? How many books are there?

112
Gender & Interrogatives Worksheet
Which form of ikhVw, iksdw, ikMnw would be used with the following nouns?
1 m/s muMfw ikhVw ikhVw muMfw ?
Which boy?
2 m/p muMfy

3 f/s kuVI

4 f/p kuVIAW

5 m/s AwdmI

6 m/p AwdmI

7 f/s AOrq

8 f/p AOrqW

9 m/s Gr

10 m/p Gr

11 f/s klm

12 f/p klmW

13 f/s AiDAwpkw

14 f/p AiDAwpkwvW

15 f/s ividAwrQx

16 f/p ividAwrQxW

113
17 m/s ipqw iksdw

18 m/p ipqw

19 f/s mW

20 f/p mWvW

21 m/s Brw

22 m/p Brw

23 f/s BYx

24 f/p BYxW

25 m/s myz ikMnw? ikMnw myz hY?

myz ikMnw v`fw hY[
26 m/p myz

27 f/s bwrI

28 f/p bwrIAW

29 m/s skUl

30 m/p skUl

31 f/s ikqwb

32 f/p ikqwbW

114
ADJECTIVES
Big v`fw Small Cotw
Tall/long lMmw short Cotw
good cMgw bad mwVw
Fat motw thin pqlw

Colours
Black kwlw
Red Lwl
White ic`tw
Blue nIlw
Yellow pIlw

Green hrw

Extra
Wise/intelligent isAwxw Foolish kmlw
Hardworking imhnqI Lazy AwlsI
Beautiful sohxw
suMdr

115
 Adjective M/S M/Pl F/S F/Pl

1 v`fw

2 Coty

3 lwl

4 nIlIAW

5 white

6 cMgw

7 isAwxy

8 kwlI

9 lMmIAW

10 foolish

11 suMdr

12 AwlsI

13 imhnqI

14 pIlIAW

15 green

16 motw

17 pqly

18 sohxI

116
Fill the blanks with the appropriate form of the listed adjectives & translate.

lok PEOPLE

1 ieh lMmw muMfw hY[ tall This is a tall boy.

2 ieh __________ muMfy hn[ tall

3 ieh kuVI __________ hY[ thin

4 ieh kuVIAW __________ hn[ thin

5 ieh __________ AwdmI hY[ fat

6 ieh __________ AwdmI hn[ short

7 ieh __________ AOrq hY[ wise

8 ieh __________ AOrqW hn[ hard

working

9 ividAwrQI __________ hY[ good

10 ividAwrQI isAwxy hn[ intellige

nt

117
auh kI krdy hn?

1 somvwr nUM quhwfy mwqw jI kI krdy hn? somvwr nUM myry mwqw jI kMm ‘qy jWdy
hn[

2 rwqy dy ds vjy nUM quhwfy mwqw jI kI

krdy hn?

3 somvwr nUM quhwfy ipqw jI kI krdy hn?

4 rwqy dy ds vjy nUM quhwfy ipqw jI kI

krdy hn?

5 svyr dy Cy vjy quhwfI BYx kI krdI hY?

6 Sincrvwr nUM quhwfw Brw kI krdw hY?

7 buDvwr nUM qusI Aqy quhwfI BYx kI krdy

ho?

8 vIrvwr nUM qyry Brw ikQy jWdy hn?

9 Sukrvwr nUM skUl nUM kOx AwauNdw hY?

10 quhwfy dwdI jI rwq dy igAwrHW vjy kI

krdy hn?

118
 lok: Describing People

dw = ‘s (of) *Remember to change dw for gender and number

His/ Their iehdw/auh dw Ranbir’s rxbIr dw
Her iehdw/auhdw Meena’s mInw dw
Its iehdw/auhdw Baljit’s bljIq dw

Hair (m/p) vwl Eyes (f/p) A`KW
Black kwly Brown BUrIAW
Blonde k`ky Blue nIlIAW
White icty Grey slytI

1 His (prox) eyes are black.

2 Her eyes are blue.

3 Ranbir’s eyes are brown.

4 Aslam’s eyes are brown.

5 My sister’s eyes are brown.

6 Your mother’s eyes are blue.

7 His hair is short.

8 Her hair is long.

9 My father’s beard is grey.

10 Her brother’s eyes are brown.
Write 3-4 sentences about a family member.

119
g`l-bwq 1: AnU dw Gr

rwj: qyrw Gr ik`Qy hY?

AnU: ieh myrw Gr hY[

rwj: kI qyrw Gr skuL dy nyVy hY?

AnU: nhIN skUl qW dUr hY[ AMdr Aw jw[

rwj: qyry mwqw ipqw ik`Qy hn?

AnU: myry ipqw jI ayyu~pr hn Aqy myry mwqw jI bwhr hn[

rwj: qyrw kmrw ik`Dr hY?

AnU: myrw kmrw ieDr hY[

rwj: qyrIAW BYxW dw kmrw ik`Dr hY?

rwj: auhnW dw kmrw au`Dr hY[

rwj: iks pwsy hY? K`by jW s`jy?

AnU: s`jy pwsy hY[ Aqy myry dwdI jI dw kmrw ies pwsy hY[

rwj: hux d`so rsoeI ikQy hY? mYnUM bhuq Bu`K lgI hY[

Raj: Where is your house?

Anu: This is my house.

120
Raj: Is your house near the school?
Anu: No, the school is far. Come in.
Raj: Where are you mother and father?
Anu: My father is upstairs and my mother is outside.
Raj: Where is your room?
Anu: My room is this way.
Raj: Where is your sisters’ room?
Anu: Their room is that way.
Raj: Which side is it? Left or right?
Anu: It’s on the right side. And my grandmother’s room is on this side.
Raj: Now tell me where your kitchen is. I am very hungry.

121
 Place QW

Up (Upper) au`pr (vwlw) Front Agy

Down (Lower) Q`ly (vwlw) Back ipCy

Right side s`jy pwsy Where? ik`Qy

Left side K`by pwsy Which side? iks pwsy?

Middle ivckwr ikhVy pwsy?

Inside AMdr How many? ikMny?

Outside bwhr Here ie`Qy

Near nyVy There au`Qy

dUr Floor/Story (f) mMzl

Far

Home/House Gr

Living room bYTk Dining room Kwx vwlw kmrw

Kitchen rsoeI Bedroom sOx vwlw kmrw

Bathroom guslKwnw Garden bgIcw

Clean sw& Dirty gMdw

122
QW

Fill in the Blank Translation

1 qyrI rsoeI __________ hY? where

2 myrw guslKwnw __________ hY[ here .

3 qyrw kmrw __________ hY[ there

4 quhwfw Gr __________ hY[ near

5 myrw Gr __________ hY[ far

6 iehdw kmrw __________ hY[ Right

side
7 swfw Kwx vwlw kmrw ______ hY[ Down
stairs
8 auhdy Brw __________ hn[ outside

9 iehnW dy k`pVy ________ hn[ That

side
10 bYTk __________ hY[ middle

11 qyry Gr iv`c _______ kmry hn? How

many?
12 pVHn vwlw kmrw _________ hY? Which
side?

123
myrw Gr

1 myry Gr ivc bYTk ikQy hY?
2 myry Gr rsoeI ikQy hY?
3 myry Gr ikMny sOx vwly kmry hn?
4 myry Gr ivc ikhVy kmry aupr hn?
5 myry Gr ivc Cotw b`cw ikQy hY?
6 myry Gr ivc ikMny kmry hn?
7 myry Gr ivc Cotw b`cw kI krdw hY?
8 myry Gr ivc mYN ikQy KWdI hW?
9 myry Gr ivc AsIN ikQy sONdy hW?
10 Q`ly vwly guslKwny ivc kI hY?

124
g`l-bwq 2: Gr iv`c (Dialogue 2: In a House)

prmjIq: siq sRI Akwl jI[

jspwl: siq sRI Akwl[ qusIN kOx ho? qusIN rIAltr ho? (realtor)

prmjIq hW jI, mYN rIAltr hW[ AwE[ Gr dyKo[

jspwl: bYTk ikQy hY?

prmjIq: ieh bYTk hY[ ieh v`fw (big) kmrw hY[

jspwl: auh kI hY?

prmjIq: auh ie`k sOx vwlw kmrw (bedroom) hY[

jspwl: Aqy ieh kI hY?

prmjIq: ieh bUhw hY[

jspwl: ieh bUhw vDIAw nhIN hY[

prmjIq: ikauN?

jspwl: mYnUM ieh rMg (colour) psMd nhIN hY[

prmjIq: ACw[ auh dyKo[

jspwl: kI?

prmjIq: auh bwrI dyKo[ auh bhuq vDIAw bwrI hY[auh bhuq v`fI (big) hY[

jspwl: hW jI[ auh bhuq vDIAw bwrI hY[ pr rsoeI ik`Qy hY?

prmjIq: rsoeI auQy hY[ AwE[ dyKo[

jspwl: rsoeI CotI (small) hY[

prmjIq: nhIN, rsoeI CotI nhIN hY[ rsoeI v`fI hY[

jspwl: nhIN[ ieh bhuq CotI hY[ mYnUM rsoeI psMd nhIN hY[ pr ieh myz vDIAw
hY[

125
prmjIq: quhwnUM myz psMd hY?

jspwl: hW jI[ mYnUM ieh myz bhuq psMd hY[ guslKwnw ik`Qy hY?

prmjIq: guslKwnw?

jspwl: hW jI, guslKwnw[

prmjIq: guslKwnw … bwhr (outside) hY[

jspwl: hW jI??!! guslKwnw bwhr hY?

prmjIq: hW jI[

jspwl: mYnUM ieh Gr psMd nhIN hY[ cMgw iPr[ siq sRI Akwl[

prmjIq: ruko! ruko! bwhr bgIcw bhuq sohxw hY! ruko!

126
Family and Home Translations

1 My sister’s hair is black.

2 My brother’s eyes are brown.

3 How many sons do you have?

4 She has 3 sisters and two

brothers.

5 My father (h) is in the bathroom.

6 This house has two kitchens and

three living rooms.

127
UNIT 6: SHOPPING: (Clothes)

g`l-bwq 1: k`pVy
gurjIq: siq sRI Akwl kuldIp[
kuldIp: siq sRI Akwl gurjIq[
gurjIq: mYnUM nvyN (new) k`pVy cwhIdy (need) hn[
kuldIp: qyry k`pVy vDIAw hn[
gurjIq: hW, pr auh sB purwxy (old) hn[
kuldIp: ieh ic`tI kmIz bhuq sohxI hY[
gurjIq: pr bhuq mihMgI hY[
kuldIp: hwey hwey! pcwsI (eighty-five) fwlr[ s`cI (truly) bhuq
mihMgI hY[
gurjIq: koeI hor k`pVy dyK[
kuldIp: ieh jwmxI PrOk sohxI hY Aqy ieh ssqI vI hY[ isrP (only)
cwlI fwlr[
gurjIq: pr mYnUM ieh PrOk psMd nhIN hY[
kuldIp: ikauN nhIN?
gurjIq: mYnUM jwmxI rMg psMd nhIN hY[
kuldIp: qYnUM ikhVw rMg psMd hY?
gurjIq: mYnUM lwl rMg psMd hY[
kuldIp: ieh PrOk dyK[ ieh pIlI hY[ kI ieh qYnUM psMd hY?
gurjIq: nhIN, ieh bhuq gUVI hY[
kuldIp: hwey! hwey! qUM myrw isr Kw ilAw! iPr qYnUM kI psMd hY?
gurjIq: mYnUM qyrI kmIz bhuq psMd hY[ lwl myrw mnpsMd (favourite)
rMg hY[
kuldIp: ACw iPr[ qUM ieh lY[
gurjIq: SukrIAw!

128
SbdwvlI (Vocabulary)

nvW New Adj

purwxw old Adj

*cwhIdw need Verb (agree with object)

mYnUM ______ cwhIdw hY[ I need _______. *Verbs agree with object

sB all adj

mihMgw Expensive Adj

hwey hwey Oh my goodness! expression

s`cI Really/truly adverb

koeI Some, any Adj

(Anybody, somebody)
pronoun

hor More, additional Adj & adv

(Other, another)
pronoun

ssqw Cheap Adj

isr& Only Adverb

gUVw Intense/bright Adj

qUM myrw isr Kw ilAw! You’re bugging me! expression

mnpsMd Favourite Adjective & noun

ACw iPr Okay then expression

ieh lY Take this expression

129
SbdwvlI (Vocabulary)
k`pVy (k`pVw) Clothes *You only need to know the starred ones.

*shirt kmIz m/f dress frYs, PrOk f

*pants pYNt f Shorts in`kr, k`Cw f/m
*shoes ju`qI, bUt f, m scarf cuMnI m
*coat kot m sari swVHI f
*hat topI f kurta kurqw/I m/f
*sweater kotI F pajama pjwmw m
*suit sUt m turban p`g (p`gVI) F

ADJECTIVES
nvW new purwxw old
Ssqw cheap mihMgw expensive

purwxy

Kwlw black lwl red

ic`tw white
nIlw blue
pIlw Yellow
hrw green

nvyN

gulwbI pink BUrw brown

jwmnI purple
sMqrI orange
slytI grey

130
k`pVy

1 kmIz ic`tw/I hY[ white

2 kmIzW __________ hn[ black

3 topI __________ hY[ red

4 topIAW __________ hn[ yellow

5 auh __________ p`g hY[ blue

6 ieh __________ pYNtW hn[ green

7 auh sUt __________ hY[ pink

8 ieh sUt __________ hn[ purple

9 auh juqI __________ hY[ orange

10 ieh bUt __________ hn[ brown

131
g`l-bwq 2: kpiVAw dI dukwn ivc

dukwndwr: siq sRI Akwl jI[

rjnIq: siq sRI Akwl[

dukwndwr: mYN quhwfI mdd kr skdw hW?

rjnIq: hW jI[ mYnUM kmIz cwhIdw hY[

dukwndwr: ACw[ iks rMg dw?

rjnIq: ictw[

dukwndwr: ieh bhuq vDIAw kmIz hY[ ieh dyKo[

rjnIq: iehdI kImq kI hY?

dukwndwr: pMjwh (50) fwlr[

rjnIq: TIk hY[mYnUM kwlI pYNt vI cwhIdI hY[ aus pYNt dI kI kImq hY?

dukwndwr: auh sO fwlr dI hY[

rjnIq: TIk hY[ mYN ieh vI KrIddI hW[

dukwndwr: ilE[

rjnIq: DMnvwd[

dukwndwr: pr … pYsy?

rjnIq: pYsy myry mwqw jI dyNdy hn[

dukwndwr: auh ikQy hn?

rjnIq: quhwfy ipCy[

dukwndwr ipCy dyKdw hY[

dukwndwr: ikQy?

rjnIq dukwn qoN bwhr jWdI hY[

132
SbdwvlI (Vocabulary)

dukwn Shop/store Noun, f

dukwndwr Shopkeeper Noun

mYN quhwfI mdd kr skdw hW? Can I help you? Exp

rMg Colour Noun, m

kImq Price Noun, f

KrIdxw To buy Verb

ilE Here you go. (Literally, take) Verb

(imperative)

pr But Conjunction

dyxw To give verb

dyNdw Give(s) Present tense

idMdw Give(s) Present tense

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