V- n:ð p:r and V- n:ð s:ð can be regarded as mutually opposed
complementizers (ways of attaching one verb to another).
V- n:ð p:r is governed
by verbs and phrases like ut:a-
haðn:a and t:Øl:a
hØAa haðn:a which express an inclination toward doing
something:
1. t:Øm: Vy:aðø l:_aI
krn:ð p:r ut:a- hað rhð hað, j:i ? Ap:n:i rah Vy:aðø n:hiø j:at:ð ?
(from Chapter Twelve of
)ðm:c:nd's
g:aðdan:. See context.)
2. y:h s:b: AB:i t:k K:ðt:
m:ðø Vy:aðø hòø ? Vy:a kam: kñ p:iCð s:b: j:an:
dðn:ð p:r t:Øl:ð hØO hòø ?
(from Chapter Three of
g:aðdan:. See context.)
V-n:ð s:ð
comes with verbs like kt:ran:a and
m:n:a krn:a expressing disinclination
or refusal:
3. unhðø fÙs:üt: km:
t:að n:hiø hò. ePr B:i hm:s:ð em:l:n:ð s:ð
kt:rat:ð hòø.
4. m:hri ekt:n:i s:Øst: hað g:I
hò. Aaj: b:rt:n: m:aúj:n:ð s:ð B:i m:n:a kr edy:a.
A similar opposition is found between verbs like
raz:i haðn:a / raz:i kran:a, uks:an:a, and m:j:b:Ür krn:a expressing persuasion,
instigation and compulsion on the one hand:
5. eks:an: Aakr YakØr kñ
c:rNa p:k_kr raðn:ð l:g:t:a hò.
(from Chapter Twenty-one of g:aðdan:. See context.)
versus on the other hand verbs such as
raðkn:a and c:Ükn:a
expressing prevention (7) or restraint (8):
7. D:en:y:a n:ð s:b:kað
s:Øn:a-s:Øn:akr kh
edy:a -- eks:i n:ð us:ð
p:an:i B:rn:ð s:ð raðka, t:að us:ka Aaòr Ap:n:a Q:Ün: Ok kr
dðg:i.
(from Chapter Eleven of g:aðdan:. See context.)
8. hm:n:ð s:aðc: el:y:a T:a ek
j:haú t:k b:n:ðg:a v:h Aag: l:g:an:ð s:ð n:
c:Ükñg:a, Aaòr AeQ:r
y:hi hØAa.
(from section 1.21 of c:ndrkant:a.
9. B:ÜK: unhðø z:b:rdst:i edn:
B:r kam: krn:ð p:r m:j:b:Ür krt:i hò.
10. Ezz:t: ki raðXi K:an:ð s:ð
dØen:y:a m:j:b:Ür kr dðt:i hò . (Delhi street
vendor)
With some verbs that take V- n:ð p:r, it is possible to use V- n:ð kað or V- n:ð kñ el:y:ð instead:
V- n:ð s:ð sometimes [as in
(12a)] alternates with V- n:a and
ka of subject: [as in (12b)]:
In similar fashion V- n:ð p:r sometimes alternates with V- n:ð kað or with V- n:ð kñ el:O:
[(13a) from Chapter Five of g:aðdan:. See
context.]
Back to index of Mellon Project.
These notes are an adapted and augmented version of section 23A of
Hindi Structures: Intermediate Level, published in 1979 by the
Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Michigan, and
distributed by the University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, MI.
Posted on 12 Jan 2001. Corrected by KJ on 15 Jan 2001. Augmented on 16 Jan
2001.
'Why are you so intent on picking a fight, Mister? Why
don't you just keep on walking?'
'Why was everyone still in the field? Were they
determined to kill themselves working?'
'They have all the time in the world, yet they still
avoid seeing us.'
'How lazy the maid has gotten. Today she even refused to
scrub the pots.'
b:_i
m:ØeSkl: s:ð YakØr ,p:O dðn:ð p:r raz:i
haðt:ð hòø.
'A peasant bows down and, clutching the Thakur's feet,
begins to weep.
Only with great
difficulty is the Thakur persuaded to lend him money.'
6. us:ð B:aúg: K:an:ð p:r
us:kñ y:ar-daðst: uks:a
dðt:ð haðøg:ð.
'It's probably his buddies who put him up to taking
bhang.'
'Dhaniya told every one of them in no uncertain terms:
If anyone tried to stop her from getting water (from a certain high-caste
well) she'd cut them to pieces.'
'I thought he'd stir up as much trouble (there) as he
possibly could and that's exactly what happened.'
Occasionally the meaning of the governing verb is
determined by the complementizer choice:
'Hunger forces them to work all day whether they want to
or not.'
'The world prevents us from earning a respectable
living.'
11. v:h s:aT: dðn:ð / p:r / /
kað / / kñ el:O /
raz:i hað g:I.
'She agreed to come along.'
12a. m:Ües:b:t:ðø us:ð
Es: j:nm: m:ðø s:ÜK: )apt: krn:ð s:ð
raðkt:i j:aOúg:i.
12b. m:Ües:b:t:ðø us:ka Es:
j:nm: m:ðø s:ÜK: )apt: krn:a raðkt:i
j:aOúg:i.
'Misfortune will continue to prevent / him from finding
/ / his finding / happiness in this life.'
13a. . . . m:ØJ:s:ð
)ðm: krt:i hò. m:ðri haðn:ð kað
raz:i hò.
13b.
. . .
m:ðri haðn:ð / p:r / / kñ
el:y:ð / raz:i hò.
' . . . she loves me. She is ready and willing to be
mine.'
Exercise on V- n:ð p:r and V-
n:ð s:ð.
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