Verbs, Main Verbs, and Auxiliary Verbs with Examples and Uses (English & Nepali Side-by-Side)

Verbs, Main Verbs, and Auxiliary Verbs with Examples and Uses (English & Nepali Side-by-Side)

1. Verbs (क्रियाहरू)

English: A verb is a word that describes an action, an occurrence, or a state of being. Every complete sentence in English must have a verb. It tells us what the subject is doing or what is happening to the subject.

Nepali: क्रिया भनेको क्रियापद हो जसले कुनै काम, घटना, वा अवस्थालाई जनाउँछ। अङ्ग्रेजीको हरेक पूर्ण वाक्यमा क्रिया हुनैपर्छ। यसले कर्ताले के गरिरहेको छ वा कर्तालाई के भइरहेको छ भनी बताउँछ।

English Examples	Nepali Examples
She runs fast.	ऊ दौडिन्छे। (She runs.)
They eat rice.	उनीहरू खान्छन्। (They eat.)
He is a doctor.	उनी हुन्। (He is.)
I feel happy.	म खुशी छु। (I am happy.)

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2. Main Verbs (मुख्य क्रियाहरू)

English: A main verb (also called a lexical verb) is the most important verb in a sentence. It carries the primary meaning of the action or state. It can stand alone or be helped by auxiliary verbs.

Nepali: मुख्य क्रिया भनेको वाक्यको सबैभन्दा महत्त्वपूर्ण क्रिया हो। यसले क्रियाको मुख्य अर्थ बोकेको हुन्छ। यो एक्लै पनि आउन सक्छ वा सहायक क्रियाको सहारा लिन सक्छ।

Types:

Action Verbs (कर्म क्रिया): Show physical or mental action. (शारीरिक वा मानसिक काम जनाउँछ।)

Linking Verbs (सम्बन्ध सूचक क्रिया): Connect the subject to a description. (कर्तालाई विशेषणसँग जोड्छ।)

English Examples	Nepali Examples
Action: She writes a letter.	कर्म: उनले एउटा चिठी लेख्छिन्।
Action: I think about you.	कर्म: म तिम्रो बारेमा सोच्छु।
Linking: He is tall. (Main verb 'is')	सम्बन्ध: उनी अग्ला छन्। (मुख्य क्रिया 'छन्')
Linking: The food tastes good.	सम्बन्ध: खाना मिठो छ।

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3. Auxiliary Verbs (सहायक क्रियाहरू)

English: Auxiliary verbs (also called helping verbs) are "helping" verbs that are used together with a main verb to form verb phrases. They do not have their own meaning; instead, they help the main verb by showing tense, mood, voice, or asking questions.

Nepali: सहायक क्रिया भनेको "मद्दत गर्ने" क्रिया हो जुन मुख्य क्रियासँग मिलेर क्रिया वाक्यांश बनाउँछ। यसको आफ्नै अर्थ हुँदैन; बरु यसले मुख्य क्रियालाई काल, मनोभाव, वाच्य, वा प्रश्न देखाउन मद्दत गर्छ।

Types of Auxiliary Verbs:

A. Primary Auxiliaries (प्राथमिक सहायक क्रिया)

English: These are Be, Have, and Do. They can act as main verbs or as helping verbs.

Nepali: यी Be, Have, र Do हुन्। यी मुख्य क्रिया वा सहायक क्रिया दुवै रूपमा प्रयोग हुन सक्छन्।

Auxiliary	Use (English)	Example (English)	Example (Nepali)
Be (am/is/are/was/were)	Shows continuous tense or passive voice.	She is eating. (Continuous)	ऊ खाँदै छे।
		The food was eaten. (Passive)	खाना खाइयो।
Have (have/has/had)	Shows perfect tenses.	I have finished my work.	मैले मेरो काम सकेको छु।
Do (do/does/did)	Used for questions, negatives, and emphasis.	Do you like coffee? (Question)	के तिमीलाई कफी मन पर्छ?
		I do not know. (Negative)	म जान्दिन।

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B. Modal Auxiliaries (मोडल सहायक क्रिया / अर्थपूर्ण सहायक क्रिया)

English: These are can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, etc. They are used to express necessity, possibility, permission, ability, or obligation. They never change form (no -s, -ed, -ing).

Nepali: यी can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must आदि हुन्। यी आवश्यकता, सम्भावना, अनुमति, क्षमता, वा कर्तव्य जनाउन प्रयोग हुन्छन्। यी कहिल्यै रूप परिवर्तन गर्दैनन् (-s, -ed, -ing लाग्दैन)।

Modal	Use (English)	Example (English)	Example (Nepali)
Can	Ability / Permission	I can speak English. (Ability)	म अङ्ग्रेजी बोल्न सक्छु।
Could	Past ability / Polite request	Could you help me? (Request)	के तपाईं मलाई मद्दत गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ?
Will	Future tense / Promise	She will come tomorrow.	ऊ भोलि आउनेछिन्।
Must	Strong obligation	You must wear a helmet.	तपाईंले हेलमेट लगाउनै पर्छ।
May	Possibility / Permission	It may rain today. (Possibility)	आज पानी पर्न सक्छ।
Should	Advice / Suggestion	You should exercise daily.	तपाईं दैनिक व्यायाम गर्नुपर्छ।

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Structure (संरचना): Main Verb + Auxiliary Verb

In a sentence, the Auxiliary Verb always comes before the Main Verb (except in questions where it comes before the subject).

Formula: Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb

English Sentence	Nepali Translation
He is [Aux] running [Main].	ऊ दौडिरहेको [Main] छ [Aux]।
They have [Aux] eaten [Main].	उनीहरूले खाइसकेका [Main] छन् [Aux]।
I will [Aux] go [Main].	म जाने [Main] छु [Aux]।
Do [Aux] you like [Main] pizza?	के तिमीलाई पिज्जा मन पर्छ [Main]?

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Summary Table (सारांश तालिका)

Type (प्रकार)	Definition (परिभाषा)	Examples (उदाहरण)
Verb (क्रिया)	Word showing action or state. (काम वा अवस्था देखाउने शब्द)	run, eat, is, think (दौडनु, खानु, हुनु, सोच्नु)
Main Verb (मुख्य क्रिया)	The primary verb that carries the main meaning. (मुख्य अर्थ बोक्ने क्रिया)	She sings well. (उनी राम्रो गाउँछिन्।)
Auxiliary Verb (सहायक क्रिया)	A helping verb that adds grammatical meaning (tense, mood). (व्याकरणीय अर्थ थप्ने मद्दत गर्ने क्रिया)	She is singing. (उनी गाइरहेकी छिन्।)

 

Auxiliary Verbs (सहायक क्रियाहरू)

Auxiliary verbs are divided into three main categories:

• Primary Auxiliaries: Be, Have, Do
• Modal Auxiliaries: Can, Could, May, Might, Will, Would, Shall, Should, Must, etc.

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PART 1: PRIMARY AUXILIARIES (प्राथमिक सहायक क्रियाहरू)

These are Be, Have, and Do. They can act as Main Verbs (with their own meaning) or Auxiliary Verbs (helping other verbs).

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A. The "BE" Verb (हुनु / रहनु)

English: "Be" is the most complex auxiliary. It shows state of being, forms continuous tenses (V4), and creates the passive voice.

Nepali: "Be" सबैभन्दा जटिल सहायक क्रिया हो। यसले अवस्था, निरन्तर काल (V4), र कर्मवाच्य (passive voice) बनाउँछ।

Forms (रूपहरू):

Am, Is, Are, Was, Were, Being, Been

Form	Use (English)	Example (English)	Example (Nepali)	Meaning in Nepali
Am	With 'I' in present	I am a teacher.	म शिक्षक हुँ।	म शिक्षक हुँ।
Is	With He/She/It (Singular)	She is reading.	ऊ पढिरहेकी छे।	निरन्तर काल (Continuous)
Are	With You/We/They (Plural)	They are playing.	उनीहरू खेलिरहेका छन्।	निरन्तर काल (Continuous)
Was	Past with I/He/She/It	He was sleeping.	ऊ सुतिरहेको थियो।	विगतको निरन्तर काल
Were	Past with You/We/They	We were eating.	हामी खाँदै थियौं।	विगतको निरन्तर काल
Been	Perfect tenses / Passive	They have been invited.	उनीहरूलाई निम्तो दिइएको छ।	पूर्ण काल / कर्मवाच्य
Being	Continuous passive	The house is being built.	घर बन्दै छ।	निरन्तर कर्मवाच्य

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Detailed Uses of "BE" with Examples:

Use (English)	Explanation (Nepali)	Example (English)	Example (Nepali)
1. As a Main Verb (State of being)	मुख्य क्रियाको रूपमा (अवस्था)	She is happy.	ऊ खुशी छ।
2. Continuous Tense (V4)	निरन्तर काल (V4) बनाउन	I am working now.	म अहिले काम गरिरहेको छु।
3. Passive Voice (V3)	कर्मवाच्य (V3) बनाउन	The letter was written.	चिठी लेखियो।
4. 'Going to' future	भविष्यको योजना	We are going to travel.	हामी यात्रा गर्न लागेका छौं।
5. To show location	स्थान देखाउन	They are at home.	उनीहरू घरमा छन्।

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B. The "HAVE" Verb (भएको छ / गरेको छ)

English: "Have" is used to form perfect tenses (completed actions) and shows possession when used as a main verb.

Nepali: "Have" ले पूर्ण काल (सम्पन्न क्रिया) बनाउँछ र मुख्य क्रियाको रूपमा स्वामित्व (ownership) देखाउँछ।

Forms (रूपहरू):

Have, Has, Had, Having

Form	Use (English)	Example (English)	Example (Nepali)	Meaning in Nepali
Have	With I/You/We/They (Present)	I have a car. (Main)	मसँग एउटा गाडी छ।	स्वामित्व (Possession)
Has	With He/She/It (Present)	She has eaten. (Aux)	उनले खाइसकेकी छिन्।	पूर्ण काल (Perfect)
Had	Past for all subjects	They had left.	उनीहरू गइसकेका थिए।	पूर्ण भूतकाल
Having	Continuous / Gerund	He is having dinner.	उनी रातको खाना खाँदै छन्।	निरन्तर / कृदन्त

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Detailed Uses of "HAVE" with Examples:

Use (English)	Explanation (Nepali)	Example (English)	Example (Nepali)
1. As a Main Verb (Possession)	मुख्य क्रिया (स्वामित्व)	I have a book.	मसँग एउटा किताब छ।
2. Present Perfect (have/has + V3)	हालै सम्पन्न क्रिया	She has finished homework.	उनले गृहकार्य सकेकी छिन्।
3. Past Perfect (had + V3)	विगतको विगत	He had gone before I came.	म आउनु अघि ऊ गइसकेको थियो।
4. Future Perfect (will have + V3)	भविष्यमा सम्पन्न	I will have reached by 5 PM.	म बेलुका ५ बजेसम्म पुगिसकेको हुनेछु।
5. Have to (Obligation)	आवश्यकता / कर्तव्य	I have to go now.	म अहिले जानुपर्छ।

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C. The "DO" Verb (गर्नु)

English: "Do" is used to form questions, negatives, and emphatic sentences in the present and past simple tenses.

Nepali: "Do" ले वर्तमान र साधारण भूतकालमा प्रश्न, नकारात्मक, र जोड दिने वाक्य बनाउँछ।

Forms (रूपहरू):

Do, Does, Did, Doing, Done

Form	Use (English)	Example (English)	Example (Nepali)	Meaning in Nepali
Do	With I/You/We/They (Present)	Do you like tea? (Question)	के तिमीलाई चिया मन पर्छ?	प्रश्न (Question)
Does	With He/She/It (Present)	He does not smoke. (Negative)	उनी धुम्रपान गर्दैनन्।	नकारात्मक (Negative)
Did	Past for all subjects	I did call you. (Emphasis)	मैले पक्कै तिमीलाई फोन गरेँ।	जोड (Emphasis)
Doing	Continuous (Main verb)	She is doing homework.	उनी गृहकार्य गरिरहेकी छिन्।	मुख्य क्रिया
Done	Perfect (Main verb)	I have done my work.	मैले मेरो काम सकेको छु।	मुख्य क्रिया

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Detailed Uses of "DO" with Examples:

Use (English)	Explanation (Nepali)	Example (English)	Example (Nepali)
1. As a Main Verb (Action)	मुख्य क्रिया (काम गर्नु)	I do my laundry.	म मेरो लुगा धुन्छु।
2. Form Questions	प्रश्न बनाउन	Do they speak English?	के उनीहरू अङ्ग्रेजी बोल्छन्?
3. Form Negatives	नकारात्मक बनाउन	She does not know me.	उनी मलाई चिन्दिनन्।
4. For Emphasis	जोड दिन / पक्का गर्न	I do want to help you!	म पक्कै तिमीलाई मद्दत गर्न चाहन्छु!
5. Replace a verb	क्रिया दोहोर्याउन बचाउन	She sings better than I do.	उनी मभन्दा राम्रो गाउँछिन्।

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PART 2: MODAL AUXILIARIES (मोडल सहायक क्रियाहरू / अर्थपूर्ण सहायक)

English: Modals are helping verbs that express mood—possibility, ability, permission, obligation, advice, etc. They never change form (no -s, -ed, -ing) and are always followed by the base form (V1) of the main verb.

Nepali: मोडलहरूले मनोभाव जनाउँछन्—सम्भावना, क्षमता, अनुमति, आवश्यकता, सल्लाह, आदि। यी कहिल्यै रूप परिवर्तन गर्दैनन् (-s, -ed, -ing लाग्दैन) र सधैं मुख्य क्रियाको मूल रूप (V1) पछि आउँछन्।

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Detailed Modal Verbs Table:

Modal	Use (English)	Explanation (Nepali)	Example (English)	Example (Nepali)
Can	1. Ability (क्षमता)	सक्नु / जान्नु	I can swim.	म पौडी सक्छु।
	2. Permission (अनुमति)	अनुमति माग्नु	Can I come in?	के म भित्र आउन सक्छु?
	3. Informal Request	अनौपचारिक अनुरोध	Can you pass the salt?	के तपाईं नुन पास गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ?
Could	1. Past Ability (विगतको क्षमता)	पहिले सक्थे	When I was young, I could run fast.	म सानो छँदा छिटो दौडन सक्थे।
	2. Polite Request (विनम्र अनुरोध)	धेरै विनम्रता	Could you please help me?	के तपाईं कृपया मलाई सहयोग गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ?
	3. Possibility (सम्भावना)	हुन सक्छ	It could rain today.	आज पानी पर्न सक्छ।
May	1. Formal Permission (औपचारिक अनुमति)	अनुमति (मर्यादित)	May I leave early?	के म चाँडो जान सक्छु?
	2. Possibility (सम्भावना)	हुन सक्छ (५०%)	She may be at home.	ऊ घरमा हुन सक्छ।
Might	1. Weak Possibility (कम सम्भावना)	हुन सक्छ (३०%)	He might come late.	ऊ ढिलो आउन सक्छ (संभव छैन)।
	2. Past of 'May'	'May' को भूतकाल	She said she might go.	उनले जान सक्छे भनिन्।
Will	1. Future Tense (भविष्य)	हुनेछ / गर्नेछ	I will call you.	म तिमीलाई फोन गर्नेछु।
	2. Promise/Offer (वाचा)	कसम / प्रस्ताव	I will help you.	म तिमीलाई मद्दत गर्नेछु (पक्का)
Would	1. Polite Request (विनम्र)	चाहनु (शिष्ट)	Would you like tea?	के तपाईं चिया चाहनुहुन्छ?
	2. Past of 'Will'	'Will' को भूतकाल	He said he would come.	उनले आउनेछु भने।
	3. Habitual Past	विगतको बानी	We would play daily.	हामी दैनिक खेल्थ्यौं।
Shall	1. Future with I/We (औपचारिक)	म/हामी गर्नेछौं	I shall return.	म फर्कनेछु।
	2. Suggestion (सुझाव)	सुझाव दिन	Shall we go?	के हामी जाऔं?
Should	1. Advice (सल्लाह)	गर्नुपर्छ / राम्रो	You should exercise.	तपाईं व्यायाम गर्नुपर्छ।
	2. Expectation (अपेक्षा)	हुनु पर्ने	He should be here by now.	ऊ अहिलेसम्म आइसक्नुपर्ने हो।
Must	1. Strong Obligation (बाध्यता)	अनिवार्य / पर्छ	You must wear a seatbelt.	तपाईंले सिटबेल्ट लगाउनै पर्छ।
	2. Strong Certainty (पक्का)	पक्कै हुनुपर्छ	He must be tired.	ऊ थाकेको हुनुपर्छ (पक्का)
Ought to	1. Moral Duty (नैतिक कर्तव्य)	गर्नु उचित	We ought to respect elders.	हामीले ठूलालाई सम्मान गर्नु पर्छ।
	2. Advice (सल्लाह)	राम्रो हुन्छ	You ought to apologize.	तपाईं माफी माग्नु उचित छ।

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Difference Between Similar Modals (समान मोडलहरूको फरक):

Comparison	English	Nepali
Can vs. May	Can = informal permission/ability. May = formal permission.	Can = अनौपचारिक अनुमति/क्षमता। May = औपचारिक अनुमति।
Must vs. Should	Must = 100% obligation (no choice). Should = strong advice (choice exists).	Must = पूर्ण बाध्यता (विकल्प छैन)। Should = बलियो सल्लाह (विकल्प छ)।
Will vs. Would	Will = certain future. Would = polite or imaginary future.	Will = निश्चित भविष्य। Would = शिष्ट वा काल्पनिक भविष्य।
May vs. Might	May = 50% possibility. Might = 30% possibility (more unsure).	May = ५०% सम्भावना। Might = ३०% सम्भावना (कम निश्चित)।

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Complete Sentence Examples (Using Auxiliaries + Main Verbs):

English Sentence	Nepali Translation	Auxiliary Type
She is eating an apple.	ऊ एउटा स्याउ खाँदै छे।	Be (Continuous)
I have finished my project.	मैले मेरो प्रोजेक्ट सकेको छु।	Have (Perfect)
Do you know the answer?	के तिमीलाई उत्तर थाहा छ?	Do (Question)
He does not like coffee.	उनलाई कफी मन पर्दैन।	Do (Negative)
I can speak three languages.	म तीन वटा भाषा बोल्न सक्छु।	Modal (Can)
You must wear a helmet.	तपाईंले हेलमेट लगाउनै पर्छ।	Modal (Must)
They will arrive tomorrow.	उनीहरू भोलि आइपुग्नेछन्।	Modal (Will)
We should help the poor.	हामीले गरिबलाई मद्दत गर्नुपर्छ।	Modal (Should)

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Quick Summary Chart (द्रुत सारांश चार्ट)

Auxiliary Type	Forms	Primary Use (English)	Primary Use (Nepali)
BE	am, is, are, was, were, being, been	Continuous & Passive	निरन्तर काल & कर्मवाच्य
HAVE	have, has, had, having	Perfect Tenses	पूर्ण काल (सम्पन्न)
DO	do, does, did, doing, done	Questions & Negatives	प्रश्न & नकारात्मक
MODALS	can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must	Mood (Ability, Permission, Obligation, etc.)	मनोभाव (क्षमता, अनुमति, बाध्यता, आदि)