If you want to learn Kannada easily in short time then this brief summary of important Kannada grammar rules will help you. The grammar of Kannada differs greatly from that of English, French and other Indo-European languages. However rules are more similar to Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and other Dravidian languages.
If you are keen to read more on Kannada grammar, then refer to Keshiraja’s Shabdamanidarpana (c. 1260 CE). This gives systematic exposition of Kannada language and current grammar rules refer back to this.
Alternatively, you can also refer to quick summary on Kannada grammar in wiki page.
Feminine gender (ಸ್ತ್ರೀಲಿಂಗ) Examples: Parvati, Lakshmi, Saraswati, amma (‘mother’)
Neuter gender (ನಪುಂಸಕಲಿಂಗ) Nouns that do not belong to either of the above two classes are considered to have neuter gender. Examples: love (ಪ್ರೀತಿ), world (ಲೋಕ), tree (ಮರ), bear (ಕರಡಿ), river (ನದಿ)
The following examples use gender in different ways and places to demonstrate their behavior.
My son is a student [masculine + noun] ನನ್ನ ಮಗ ಒಬ್ಬ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿ [Nanna maga obba vidyārthi]
Her daughter is a student [feminine + noun] ಅವರ ಮಗಳು ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿನಿ [Avara magaḷu vidyārthini]
He has a tall brother [adjective + masculine] ಅವನಿಗೆ ಒಬ್ಬ ಉದ್ದನೆಯ ಅಣ್ಣ ಇದ್ದಾನೆ [Avanige obba uddaneya aṇṇa iddāne]
She has a tall sister [adjective + feminine] ಅವಳಿಗೆ ಒಬ್ಬ ಉದ್ದನೆಯ ತಂಗಿ ಇದ್ದಾಳೆ [Avaḷige obba uddaneya taṅgi iddāḷe]
His brothers are young [plural masculine + adjective] ಅವನ ತಮ್ಮಂದಿರು ಚಿಕ್ಕವರು [Avana tam’mandiru cikkavaru]
His sisters are young [plural feminine + adjective] ಅವಳ ತಂಗಿಯಂದಿರು ಚಿಕ್ಕವರು [Avaḷa taṅgiyandiru cikkavaru]
Grammatical number (ವಚನ):
Similar to English, there are two grammatical numbers in Kannada: the singular number (ಏಕವಚನ) and the plural number (ಬಹುವಚನ)
Verbs in Kannada
Verbs are used to express an action (I swim) or a state of being (I am). We will first learn about the present tense, followed by the past tense, and future tense.
The present tense in Kannada conveys a situation or event in the present time. Here are some examples:
I speak English ನಾನು ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷ್ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತೇನೆ [Nānu iṅglīṣ mātanāḍuttēne]
you speak French ನೀನು ಫ್ರೆಂಚ್ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಿಯ [Nīnu phren̄c mātanāḍuttiya]
he speaks German ಅವನು ಜರ್ಮನ್ನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಾನೆ [Avanu jarmannnalli mātanāḍuttāne]
she speaks Italian ಆಕೆ ಇಟಾಲಿಯನ್ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಾಳೆ [Āke iṭāliyan mātanāḍuttāḷe]
we speak Arabic ನಾವು ಅರೆಬಿಕನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತೇವೆ [Nāvu arebikanalli mātanāḍuttēve]
they speak Chinese ಅವರು ಚೈನಿಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ [Avaru cainisinalli mātanāḍuttāre]
The past tense in Kannada conveys a situation or event in the past time. Here are some examples:
I visited France ನಾನು ಫ್ರಾನ್ಸ್ ಭೇಟಿ ಮಾಡಿದೆ [Nānu phrāns bhēṭi māḍide]
you visited Italy ನೀನು ಇಟಲಿಯನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿ ಮಾಡಿದೆ [Nīnu iṭaliyannu bhēṭi māḍide]
he visited Morocco ಅವನು ಮೊರಾಕೊ ಭೇಟಿ ಮಾಡಿದನು [Avanu morāko bhēṭi māḍidanu]
she visited China ಅವಳು ಚೀನಾ ಭೇಟಿ ಮಾಡಿದಳು [Avaḷu cīnā bhēṭi māḍidaḷu]
we visited Mexico ನಾವು ಮೆಕ್ಸಿಕೋ ಭೇಟಿ ಮಾಡಿದೆವು [Nāvu meksikō bhēṭi māḍidevu]
they visited Kenya ಅವರು ಕೀನ್ಯಾ ಭೇಟಿ ಮಾಡಿದರು [Avaru kīn’yā bhēṭi māḍidaru]
The future tense in Kannada conveys a situation or event which is anticipated to happen in the future. Here are some examples:
I will drink milk ನಾನು ಹಾಲು ಕುಡಿಯುತ್ತೇನೆ [Nānu hālu kuḍiyuttēne]
you will drink coffee ನೀವು ಕಾಫಿಯನ್ನು ಕುಡಿಯುವಿರಿ [Nīvu kāphiyannu kuḍiyuviri]
he will drink tea ಅವನು ಟೀ ಕುಡಿಯುವನು [Avanu ṭī kuḍiyuvanu]
she will drink water ಅವಳು ನೀರನ್ನು ಕುಡಿಯುವಳು [Avaḷu nīrannu kuḍiyuvaḷu]
we will drink apple juice ನಾವು ಸೇಬು ರಸವನ್ನು ಕುಡಿಯುವೆವು [Nāvu sēbu rasavannu kuḍiyuvevu]
they will drink tea ಅವರು ಚಹಾವನ್ನು ಕುಡಿಯುವರು [Avaru cahāvannu kuḍiyuvaru]
Prepositions in Kannada
What is prepositions? Prepositions are used to link words to other words. Check this example.
I like eating apples and mangoes.
In this sentence, preposition is [and] because it connects both words apples and mangoes.
In Kannada, below is a list of the commonly used prepositions.
and ಮತ್ತು [Mattu] above ಮೇಲೆ [Mēle] under ಕೆಳಗೆ [Keḷage] before ಹಿಂದೆ [Hinde] after ಆಮೇಲೆ [Āmēle] in front of ಮುಂದೆ [Munde] behind ಹಿಂದುಗಡೆ [Hindugaḍe] far from ದೂರ [Dūra] near ಹತ್ತಿರ [Hattira] in ಅಲ್ಲಿ [Alli] inside ಒಳಗೆ [Oḷage] outside ಹೊರಗೆ [Horage] with ಜೊತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ [Joteyalli] without ಇಲ್ಲದೆ [Illade] about ಬಗ್ಗೆ [Bagge] between ಮಧ್ಯೆ [Madhye] but ಆದರೆ [Ādare] for ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ [Adakkāgi] from ಅದರಿಂದ [Adarinda] to ಅದಕ್ಕೆ [Adakke]
Here are more examples of how prepositions can be used in different ways and places to demonstrate how they behave in a sentence.
I eat without a knife [preposition + noun] ನಾನು ಚಾಕು ಇಲ್ಲದೆ ತಿನ್ನುವೆ [Nānu cāku illade tinnuve]
she lives near the church [verb + preposition] ಅವಳು ಚರ್ಚಿನ ಬಳಿ ವಾಸಿಸುತ್ತಾಳೆ [Avaḷu carcina baḷi vāsisuttāḷe]
he is taller than her [adjective + preposition] ಅವನು ಅವಳಿಗಿಂತ ಎತ್ತರವಾಗಿದ್ದಾನೆ [Avanu avaḷiginta ettaravāgiddāne]
he came with his small dog [preposition + pronoun] ತನ್ನ ಸಣ್ಣ ನಾಯಿ ಬಂದಿತು [Tanna saṇṇa nāyi banditu]
can you come with me? [preposition + pronoun] ನೀವು ನನ್ನೊಂದಿಗೆ ಬರಬಹುದೇ [Nīvu nannondige barabahudē]
Negation in Kannada
For Saying no, I can’t, I don’t etc we use negation. Following examples use negation in different ways and places to demonstrate how they behave in a sentence.
I don’t understand you [negation + verb] ನೀವು ನನಗೆ ಅರ್ಥವಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ [Nīvu nanage arthavāguvudilla]
this is not the correct word [negation + adjective] ಇದು ಸರಿಯಾದ ಪದ ಅಲ್ಲ [Idu sariyāda pada alla]
don’t leave me [imperative negation] ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಬಿಡಬೇಡಿ [Nannannu biḍabēḍi]
no problem [negation + noun] ಏನು ತೊಂದರೆ ಇಲ್ಲ [Ēnu tondare illa]
Example of negative sentences in Kannada:
I don’t speak French [negation + present tense] ನಾನು ಫ್ರೆಂಚ್ ಮಾತನಾಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ [Nānu phren̄c mātanāḍuvudilla]
She didn’t visit Germany [negation + past tense] ಅವಳು ಜರ್ಮನಿ ಭೇಟಿ ನೀಡಲಿಲ್ಲ [Avaḷu jarmani bhēṭi nīḍalilla]
He cannot see us [negative modal verb] ಅವನಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ನೋಡಲಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ [Avaninda nam’mannu nōḍalāguvudilla]
Can’t she play chess? [interrogative negation] ಅವಳಿಗೆ ಚದುರಂಗದ ಆಟದ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲವೆ [Avaḷige caduraṅgada āṭada sādhyavillave]
We will not come late [negation + future tense] ನಾವು ಕೊನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ [Nāvu koneyalli baruvudilla]
Interrogatives (Questions) in Kannada
Questions or interrogative are very essential in daily conversations.
how? ಹೇಗೆ? [Hēge?]
what? ಏನು? [Ēnu?]
who? ಯಾರು? [Yāru?]
why? ಏಕೆ? [Ēke?]
where? ಅಲ್ಲಿ? [Alli?]
Examples of different forms to make interrogative sentences in Kannada.
Where do you live? [interrogative + verb] ನೀವು ಎಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸಿಸುತ್ತಿರ [Nīvu elli vāsisuttira]
Does she speak Chinese? [interrogative verb] ಅವಳು ಚೈನೀಸ್ ಮಾತನಾಡುವಳೇ ? [Avaḷu cainīs mātanāḍuvaḷē?]
How much is this? [interrogative preposition] ಇದು ಎಷ್ಟು [Idu eṣṭu]
Can I help you? [interrogative modal verb] ನಾನು ನಿಮಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಬಹುದೇ [Nānu nimage sahāya māḍabahudē]
What is your name? [interrogative preposition] ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರೇನು [Nim’ma hesarēnu]
Adverbs in Kannada
What is an adverb? Adverbs are used to modify verbs and adjectives in a sentence. For example:
You talk loud.
The adverb is [loud] because it describes the verb and answers the question how do you talk?
So let us know most common adverbs used in Kannada language.
now ಈಗ [Īga]
yesterday ನಿನ್ನೆ [Ninne]
today ಇಲ್ಲಿ [Illi]
tonight ಈ ರಾತ್ರಿ [Ī rātri]
tomorrow ನಾಳೆ [Nāḷe]
soon ಶೀಘ್ರ [Śīghra]
quickly ತಕ್ಷಣ [Takṣaṇa]
slowly ಮೆಲ್ಲಗೆ [Mellage]
together ಜೊತೆಯಾಗಿ [Joteyāgi]
very ತುಂಬಾ [Tumbā]
almost ಪೂರ [Pūra]
always ಯಾವಾಗಲು [Yāvāgalu]
usually ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ [Sāmān’yavāgi]
sometimes ಯಾವಾಗಲಾದರು [Yāvāgalādaru]
rarely ತಾತ್ಕಾಲಿಕ [Tātkālika]
never ಸಾದ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ [Sādyavilla]
Adverbs are used in different ways and below are some of the common ways to use adverbs in sentences.
Do you understand me now? [pronoun + adverb] ನಿಮಗೆ ಈಗಲಾದರು ಅರ್ಥವಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆಯೇ ? [Nimage īgalādaru arthavāguttideyē?]
I need help immediately [noun + adverb] ನನಗೆ ತಕ್ಷಣ ಸಹಾಯ ಅಗತ್ಯವಿದೆ [Nanage takṣaṇa sahāya agatyavide]
She is very intelligent [adverb + adjective] ಅವಳು ಬಹಳ ಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತೆ [Avaḷu bahaḷa bud’dhivante]
I will always love you [verb + adverb] ನಾನು ಯಾವಾಗಲೂ ನಿಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಪ್ರೀತಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ [Nānu yāvāgalū nim’mannu prītisuttēne]
Can we learn German together? [adverb in a question] ನಾವು ಜರ್ಮನ್ ಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನು ಕಲಿಯೋನವೇ [Nāvu jarman bhāṣeyannu kaliyōnavē]
Pronouns in Kannada
What is pronoun? Pronoun are often used in place of nouns. For example:
Instead of saying “My teacher speaks 3 languages“, you can use the pronoun he, and say “He speaks 3 languages”
There are four types of pronouns: personal, objective, possessive and demonstrative. Let us take a look at each type.
Personal pronouns:
I ನಾನು [Nānu] you ನೀನು [Nīnu] he ಅವನು [Avanu] she ಅವಳು [Avaḷu] we ನೀವು [Nīvu] they ಅವರು [Avaru]
The following examples use personal pronouns in different ways and places to demonstrate how they behave in a sentence.
I am your friend [1st pronoun + verb] ನಾನು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತ [Nānu nim’ma snēhita]
You speak very fast [2nd pronoun + adverb] ನೀವು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ವೇಗವಾಗಿ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ [Nīvu atyanta vēgavāgi mātanāḍuttāre]
He has three dogs [3rd pronoun + verb] ಅವನ ಬಳಿ ಮೂರು ನಾಯಿಗಳಿವೆ [Avana baḷi mūru nāyigaḷive]
She can speak German [3rd pronoun + verb] ಅವಳು ಜರ್ಮನ್ನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಬಲ್ಲಳು , [Avaḷu jarmannnalli mātanāḍaballaḷu,]
We will not come late [1st plural pronoun] ನಾವು ಕೊನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ [Nāvu koneyalli baruvudilla]
They bought milk and bread [3rd plural pronoun] ಅವರು ಹಾಲು ಮತ್ತು ಬ್ರೆಡ್ ಖರೀದಿಸಿದರು [Avaru hālu mattu breḍ kharīdisidaru]
Object pronouns:
me ನನ್ನ, ನನಗೆ [Nanna, nanage] you ನಿನ್ನ , ನಿನಗೆ [Ninna, ninage] him ಅವನಿಗೆ [Avanige] her ಅವಳಿಗೆ [Avaḷige] us ನಮಗೆ [Namage] them ಅವರಿಗೆ [Avarige]
The object pronouns are 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.
Can you tell me your name? [1st object pronoun] ನೀವು ನನಗೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರು ಹೇಳುವಿರಾ? [Nīvu nanage nim’ma hesaru hēḷuvirā?]
I will give you money [2nd object pronoun] ನಾನು ನಿಮಗೆ ಹಣ ನೀಡುತ್ತೇನೆ [Nānu nimage haṇa nīḍuttēne]
She wrote him a letter [3rd object pronoun] ಅವಳು ಅವನಿಗೆ ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆದಳು [Avaḷu avanige patra baredaḷu]
They visited her yesterday [3rd object pronoun] ಅವರು ನಿನ್ನೆ ಅವಳನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿ ಮಾಡಿದರು [Avaru ninne avaḷannu bhēṭi māḍidaru]
Can she help us? [1st pl. object pronoun] ಅವಳು ನಮಗೆ ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಬಹುದೇ ? [Avaḷu namage sahāya māḍabahudē?]
He gave them food [3rd pl. object pronoun] ಅವನು ಅವರಿಗೆ ಆಹಾರ ಕೊಟ್ಟನು [Avanu avarige āhāra koṭṭanu]
Possessive pronouns:
my ನನ್ನ [Nanna] your ನಿನ್ನ [Ninna] his ಅವನ [Avana] her ಅವಳ [Avaḷa] our ನಮ್ಮ [Nam’ma] their ಅವರ [Avara]
The following examples use possessive pronouns in different ways and places to demonstrate how they behave in a sentence.
my name is Maya [1st possessive pronoun] ನನ್ನ ಹೆಸರು ಮಾಯಾ [Nanna hesaru māyā]
your brother lives here [2nd possessive pronoun] ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸಹೋದರ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸಿಸುವನು [Nim’ma sahōdara illi vāsisuvanu]
her mother cooks for us [3rd possessive pronoun] ಅವಳ ತಾಯಿ ನಮಗಾಗಿ ಅಡಿಗೆ ಮಾಡಿದಳು [Avaḷa tāyi namagāgi aḍige māḍidaḷu]
his hobby is reading books [3rd possessive pronoun] ಅವನ ಹವ್ಯಾಸ ಓದುವುದು [Avana havyāsa ōduvudu]
our dream is to visit Paris [1st pl. possessive pronoun] ನಮ್ಮ ಕನಸು ಪ್ಯಾರಿಸ್ ಭೇಟಿ ಮಾಡುವುದು [Nam’ma kanasu pyāris bhēṭi māḍuvudu]
their house is not far [3rd pl. possessive pronoun] ಅವರ ಮನೆ ದೂರವಿಲ್ಲ [Avara mane dūravilla]
Demonstrative pronouns:
One more thing you need to know is the demonstrative pronouns – this, that, these those.
This is my house ಇದು ನನ್ನ ಮನೆ [Idu nanna mane]
That restaurant is far ಆ ರೆಸ್ಟೋರೆಂಟ್ ತುಂಬಾ ದೂರ [Ā resṭōreṇṭ tumbā dūra]
These apples are delicious ಈ ಸೇಬುಗಳು ರುಚಿಯಾಗಿವೆ [Ī sēbugaḷu ruciyāgive]
Those stars are shiny ಆ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರಗಳು ಹೊಳೆಯುತ್ತಿವೆ [Ā nakṣatragaḷu hoḷeyuttive]
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I want meanings pls