Punjabi Grammar

Prepositions	Punjabi	Pronunciation
and	ਅਤੇ	[atē]
above	ਉੱਤੇ	[utē]
under	ਹੇਠ	[hēṭha]
before	ਪਹਲਾਂ	[pahalāṁ]
after	ਬਾਅਦ	[bā'ada]
in front of	ਦੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ	[dē sāhamaṇē]
behind	ਪੱਿਛੇ	[paichē]
far from	ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਪਰੇ	[isa tōṁ parē]
near	ਨੇਡ਼ੇ	[nēṛē]
in	ਅੰਦਰ	[adara]
inside	ਅੰਦਰ ਪਾਸੇ	[adara pāsē]
outside	ਬਾਹਰ ਪਾਸੇ	[bāhara pāsē]
with	ਨਾਲ	[nāla]
without	ਬਗੈਰ	[bagaira]
about	ਬਾਰੇ	[bārē]
between	ਦਰਮਆਿਨ	[daramaā̔ina]
but	ਪਰ	[para]
for	ਲਈ	[la'ī]
from	ਵੱਲੋਂ	[valōṁ]
to	ਨੂੰ	[nū]

Preposition Grammar Rules

The following examples use prepositions in different ways and places to demonstrate how they behave in a sentence.

Prepositions + Rules	Punjabi + Pronunciation
I eat without a knife [preposition + noun]	ਮੈਂ ਛੁਰੀ ਤੋਂ ਬਗ਼ੈਰ ਖਾਂਦਾ ਹਾਂ [maiṁ churī tōṁ baġaira khāndā hāṁ]
she lives near the church [verb + preposition]	ਓਹ ਚਰਚ ਦੇ ਨੇੜੇ ਰਹਿੰਦੀ ਹੈ [ōha caraca dē nēṛē rahidī hai]
he is taller than her [adjective + preposition]	ਓਹ ਮੁੰਡਾ ਕੁੜੀ ਤੋਂ ਲੰਮਾ ਹੈ [ōha muḍā kuṛī tōṁ lamā hai]
he came with his small dog [preposition + pronoun]	ਓਹ ਆਪਣੇ ਛੋਟੇ ਕੁੱਤੇ ਨਾਲ ਆਇਆ [ōha āpaṇē chōṭē kutē nāla ā'i'ā]
can you come with me? [preposition + pronoun]	ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮੇਰੇ ਨਾਲ ਆਉਗੇ? [kī tusīṁ mērē nāla ā'ugē?]

Negation in Punjabi

Now let's learn how to make a negative sentence (negation). For example: Saying no, I can't, I don't ... The following examples use negation in different ways and places to demonstrate how they behave in a sentence.

Negation + Rules	Punjabi + Pronunciation
I understand you [affirmative form]	ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਦਾ ਹਾਂ [maiṁ tuhānū samajhadā hāṁ]
I don't understand you [negation + verb]	ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਮਝਦਾ [maiṁ tuhānū nahīṁ samajhadā]
this is not the correct word [negation + adjective]	ਇਹ ਠੀਕ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ [iha ṭhīka śabada nahīṁ hai]
don't leave me [imperative negation]	ਮੈਂਨੂੰ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ਨਾਂ ਜਾਓ [mainnū chaḍa kē nāṁ jā'ō]
no problem [negation + noun]	ਕੋਈ ਗੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ [kō'ī gala nahīṁ]

Negative Sentences	Punjabi + Pronunciation
I don't speak French [negation + present tense]	ਮੈਂ ਫਰੈਂਚ ਨਹੀਂ ਬੋਲਦਾ [maiṁ pharain̄ca nahīṁ bōladā]
she didn't visit Germany [negation + past tense]	ਓਹ ਜਰਮਨੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਗਈ [ōha jaramanī nahīṁ ga'ī]
he cannot see us [negative modal verb]	ਓਹ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਵੇਖ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਕਦਾ [ōha sānū vēkha nahīṁ sakadā]
can't she play chess? [interrogative negation]	ਕੀ ਓਹ ਸ਼ਤਰੰਜ ਨਹੀਂ ਖੇਡ ਸਕਦੀ [kī ōha śataraja nahīṁ khēḍa sakadī]
we will not come late [negation + future tense]	ਅਸੀਂ ਦੇਰ ਨਾਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਵਾਂਗੇ [asīṁ dēra nāla nahīṁ āvāṅgē]

Questions in Punjabi

Now let's learn how to ask questions (interrogative). Such as: what, why, can you ...? Here are some common examples:

English	Punjabi	Pronunciation
how?	ਕਿਵੇਂ?	[kivēṁ?]
what?	ਕੀ?	[kī?]
who?	ਕੌਣ?	[kauṇa?]
why?	ਕਿਓਂ?	[ki'ōṁ?]
where?	ਕਿੱਥੇ	[kithē]

More of the interrogative form, now in a sentence:

Questions + Rules	Punjabi + Pronunciation
where do you live? [interrogative + verb]	ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹੋ? [tusīṁ kithē rahidē hō?]
does she speak Chinese? [interrogative verb]	ਕੀ ਓਹ ਚੀਨੀ ਬੋਲ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ? [kī ōha cīnī bōla sakadī hai?]
how much is this? [interrogative preposition]	ਇਹ ਕਿੰਨਾ ਹੈ? [iha kinā hai?]
can I help you? [interrogative modal verb]	ਕੀ ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਮਦਦ ਕਰ ਸਕਦਾ ਹਾਂ? [kī maiṁ tuhāḍī madada kara sakadā hāṁ?]
what is your name? [interrogative preposition]	ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਨਾਮ ਕੀ ਹੈ? [tuhāḍā nāma kī hai?]

Adverbs in Punjabi

It's time to learn the adverbs in Punjabi. But what is an adverb? In general, adverbs modify verbs and adjectives. For example: You speak fast. The adverb is [fast] because it describes the verb and answers the question how do you speak?. Here is a list of the most common ones:

Adverbs	Punjabi	Pronunciation
now	ਹੁਣ	[huṇa]
yesterday	ਕੱਲ੍ਹ	[kal'ha]
today	ਅੱਜ	[aja]
tonight	ਅੱਜ ਰਾਤ	[aja rāta]
tomorrow	ਕੱਲ੍ਹ	[kal'ha]
soon	ਜਲਦੀ ਹੀ	[jaladī hī]
quickly	ਛੇਤੀ	[chētī]
slowly	ਹੌਲੀ-ਹੌਲੀ	[haulī - haulī]
together	ਇਕੱਠੇ	[ikaṭhē]
very	ਬਹੁਤ	[bahuta]
almost	ਕਰੀਬ-ਕਰੀਬ	[karība - karība]
always	ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ	[hamēśā]
usually	ਆਮ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ	[āma taura tē]
sometimes	ਕਦੇ-ਕਦੇ	[kadē - kadē]
rarely	ਵਰਿਲੇ ਹੀ	[varilē hī]
never	ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ	[kadē vī nahīṁ]

The following examples use the adverbs in different ways and places to demonstrate how it behaves in a sentence.

Adverbs + Rules	Punjabi + Pronunciation
do you understand me now? [pronoun + adverb]	ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਹੁਣ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਸਮਝਦੇ ਹੋ? [kī tusīṁ huṇa mainū samajhadē hō?]
I need help immediately [noun + adverb]	ਮੈਨੂੰ ਹੁਣੇ ਮਦਦ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ [mainū huṇē madada cāhīdī hai]
she is very intelligent [adverb + adjective]	ਓਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਿਆਣੀ ਹੈ [ōha bahuta si'āṇī hai]
I will always love you [verb + adverb]	ਮੈਂ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਪਿਆਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਰਹਾਂਗਾ [maiṁ hamēśāṁ tainū pi'āra karadā rahāṅgā]
can we learn German together? [adverb in a question]	ਕੀ ਅਸੀਂ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਜਰਮਨ ਸਿੱਖ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਾਂ? [kī asīṁ ikaṭhē jaramana sikha sakadē hāṁ?]

Pronouns in Punjabi

We're almost done! This time we will learn the pronouns in Punjabi. In general, a pronoun can be used instead of a noun. For example instead of saying my teacher speaks 3 languages, you can use the pronoun he, and say he speaks 3 languages. Here is a list of the most common ones:

Personal Pronouns	Punjabi	Pronunciation
I	ਮੈਂ	[maiṁ]
you	ਤੁੰ, ਤੁਸੀਂ	[tu, tusīṁ]
he	ਉਹ ਉਸ (ਮਰਦ ਲਈ)	[uha usa (marada la'ī)]
she	ਉਹ ਉਸ (ਔਰਤ ਲਈ)	[uha usa (aurata la'ī)]
we	ਅਸੀਂ	[asīṁ]
they	ਉਹ, ਉਹਨਾਂ	[uha, uhanāṁ]

Object Pronouns	Punjabi	Pronunciation
me	ਮੈਂ	[maiṁ]
you	ਤੁੰ, ਤੁਸੀਂ	[tu, tusīṁ]
him	ਉਸ, ਉਸਨੂੰ (ਮਰਦ ਲਈ)	[usa, usanū (marada la'ī)]
her	ਉਸ, ਉਸਨੂੰ (ਔਰਤ ਲਈ)	[usa, usanū (aurata la'ī)]
us	ਅਸੀਂ	[asīṁ]
them	ਉਹਨਾਂ	[uhanāṁ]

Possessive Pronouns	Punjabi	Pronunciation
my	ਮੇਰਾ	[mērā]
your	ਤੁਹਾਡਾ	[tuhāḍā]
his	ਉਸਦਾ (ਮਰਦ ਲਈ)	[usadā (marada la'ī)]
her	ਉਸਦਾ (ਔਰਤ ਲਈ)	[usadā (aurata la'ī)]
our	ਸਾਡਾ	[sāḍā]
their	ਉਹਨਾਂ	[uhanāṁ]

I think it's better to put the above example in a sentence to better assist you. The following examples use pronouns in different ways and places to demonstrate how they behave in a sentence. We will start with the personal pronouns.

Personal Pronouns	Punjabi + Pronunciation
I am your friend [1st pronoun + verb]	ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਮਿੱਤਰ ਹਾਂ [maiṁ tuhāḍā mitara hāṁ]
you speak very fast [2nd pronoun + adverb]	ਤੁਸੀਂ ਬਹੁਤ ਤੇਜ਼ ਬੋਲਦੇ ਹੋ [tusīṁ bahuta tēza bōladē hō]
he has three dogs [3rd pronoun + verb]	ਓਸ ਕੋਲ ਤਿੰਨ ਕੁੱਤੇ ਹਨ [ōsa kōla tina kutē hana]
she can speak German [3rd pronoun + verb]	ਓਹ ਜਰਮਨ ਬੋਲ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ [ōha jaramana bōla sakadī hai]
we will not come late [1st plural pronoun]	ਅਸੀਂ ਦੇਰ ਨਾਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਵਾਂਗੇ [asīṁ dēra nāla nahīṁ āvāṅgē]
they bought milk and bread [3rd plural pronoun]	ਓਹ ਦੁੱਧ ਅਤੇ ਡਬਲਰੋਟੀ ਖਰੀਦ ਕੇ ਲਿਆਏ [ōha dudha atē ḍabalarōṭī kharīda kē li'ā'ē]

The object pronoun is used as a target by a verb, and usually come after that verb. For example: I gave him my book. The object pronoun here is him. Here are more examples:

Object Pronouns	Punjabi + Pronunciation
can you tell me your name? [1st object pronoun]	ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਆਪਣਾ ਨਾਮ ਦੱਸੋਗੇ? [kī tusīṁ āpaṇā nāma dasōgē?]
I will give you money [2nd object pronoun]	ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਪੈਸੇ ਦਿਆਂਗਾ [maiṁ tuhānū paisē di'āṅgā]
she wrote him a letter [3rd object pronoun]	ਓਸ ਨੇ ਓਸ ਨੂੰ ਚਿੱਠੀ ਲਿਖੀ [ōsa nē ōsa nū ciṭhī likhī]
they visited her yesterday [3rd object pronoun]	ਓਹ ਓਸ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲਣ ਗਏ [ōha ōsa nū milaṇa ga'ē]
can she help us? [1st pl. object pronoun]	ਕੀ ਓਹ ਸਾਡੀ ਮਦਦ ਕਰੇਗੀ? [kī ōha sāḍī madada karēgī?]
he gave them food [3rd pl. object pronoun]	ਓਸ ਨੇ ਓਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਖਾਣਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ [ōsa nē ōhanāṁ nū khāṇā ditā]

Possessive Pronouns	Punjabi + Pronunciation
my name is Maya [1st possessive pronoun]	ਮੇਰਾ ਨਾਮ ਮਾਇਆ ਹੈ [mērā nāma mā'i'ā hai]
your brother lives here [2nd possessive pronoun]	ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਭਰਾ ਇੱਥੇ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ [tuhāḍā bharā ithē rahidā hai]
her mother cooks for us [3rd possessive pronoun]	ਓਸ ਦੀ ਮਾਂ ਸਾਡੇ ਲਈ ਖਾਣਾ ਬਣਾਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ [ōsa dī māṁ sāḍē la'ī khāṇā baṇā'undī hai]
his hobby is reading books [3rd possessive pronoun]	ਓਸ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਤਾਬਾਂ ਪੜ੍ਹਣ ਦਾ ਸ਼ੌਂਕ ਹੈ [ōsa nū kitābāṁ paṛhaṇa dā śauṅka hai]
our dream is to visit Paris [1st pl. possessive pronoun]	ਪੈਰਿਸ ਜਾਣਾ ਸਾਡਾ ਸੁਪਨਾ ਹੈ [pairisa jāṇā sāḍā supanā hai]
their house is not far [3rd pl. possessive pronoun]	ਓਹਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਘਰ ਦੂਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ [ōhanāṁ dā ghara dūra nahīṁ hai]

One more thing you need to know is the demonstrative pronouns. They're very easy to learn.

Demonstrative Pronouns	Punjabi	Pronunciation
this is my house	ਇਹ ਮੇਰਾ ਘਰ ਹੈ	[iha mērā ghara hai]
that restaurant is far	ਓਹ ਰੇਸਤਰਾਂ ਦੂਰ ਹੈ	[ōha rēsatarāṁ dūra hai]
these apples are delicious	ਇਹ ਸੇਬ ਸੁਆਦੀ ਹਨ	[iha sēba su'ādī hana]
those stars are shiny	ਓਹ ਸਿਤਾਰੇ ਚਮਕੀਲੇ ਹਨ	[ōha sitārē camakīlē hana]