"Is" and "is not"
Sentences without a verb, కాదు, ఉంది and లేదు.
Telugu has no word for "is" in a sentence that says what something is. The two parts simply stand side by side.
- idi pustakaṁ.This is a book.
- adi nā illu.That is my house.
- nā pēru rāmu.My name is Ramu.
I am, you are
With "I", "you" and "we", the noun takes a personal ending:
| Subject | Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| నేను nēnu I | -ని -ni | నేను డాక్టర్ని nēnu ḍākṭarni I am a doctor |
| నువ్వు nuvvu you | -వి -vi | నువ్వు డాక్టర్వి nuvvu ḍākṭarvi you are a doctor |
| అతను atanu he | none | అతను డాక్టర్ atanu ḍākṭar he is a doctor |
| మేము mēmu we | -ం -ṁ | మేము డాక్టర్లం mēmu ḍākṭarlaṁ we are doctors |
| వాళ్ళు vāḷḷu they | none | వాళ్ళు డాక్టర్లు vāḷḷu ḍākṭarlu they are doctors |
To describe with an adjective, the adjective takes a noun ending: ఈ ఇల్లు పెద్దది ī illu peddadi "this house is big" (Adjectives and adverbs).
Is not: కాదు
To say what something is not, put కాదు kādu after it. కాదు takes personal endings of its own:
| Subject | Is not |
|---|---|
| నేను nēnu | కాను kānu |
| నువ్వు nuvvu | కావు kāvu |
| అతను atanu | కాడు kāḍu |
| ఆమె āme, అది adi | కాదు kādu |
| మేము mēmu, మనం manaṁ | కాము kāmu |
| మీరు mīru, వాళ్ళు vāḷḷu | కారు kāru |
| అవి avi | కావు kāvu |
- idi nā pustakaṁ kādu.This is not my book.
- nēnu ḍākṭarni kānu.I am not a doctor.
Is there: ఉండు
To say where something is, or that it exists, use the verb ఉండు "be": ఉంది uṁdi for she, it and one thing, ఉన్నాడు unnāḍu for he, ఉన్నారు unnāru for several people and for respect, and ఉన్నాయి unnāyi for several things. The negative is లేదు lēdu, with లేడు lēḍu for he, లేరు lēru for several people and లేవు lēvu for several things. All the forms are in Verb tense basics.
- pustakaṁ balla mīda uṁdi.The book is on the table.
- atanu iṁṭlō lēḍu.He isn't at home.
- daggaralō byāṁku uṁdā?Is there a bank nearby?
- mīru elā unnāru?How are you?
- nēnu bāgunnānu.I'm fine.
Cards from this guide
9 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Sentences cards.
How do you say 'this is a book' in Telugu (ఇది idi = this, పుస్తకం pustakaṁ = book)?
ఇది పుస్తకం. (idi pustakaṁ)
What ending does a noun take after నేను (nēnu, I) to say 'I am a ...'?
-ని (-ni), as in నేను డాక్టర్ని (I am a doctor).
What ending does a noun take after నువ్వు (nuvvu, you, informal singular) to say 'you are a ...'?
-వి (-vi), as in నువ్వు డాక్టర్వి (you are a doctor).
How do you say 'we are students' with మేము (mēmu, we) and విద్యార్థులు (vidyārthulu, students)?
మేము విద్యార్థులం (mēmu vidyārthulaṁ)
What word goes after a noun to say something is not that, as in 'this is not my book'?
కాదు (kādu)
Which form of కాదు (is not) goes with నేను (I)?
కాను (kānu)
When does 'is' need the verb ఉంది (uṁdi), unlike in ఇది పుస్తకం (this is a book)?
When it says where something is, or that it exists.
Which form of ఉండు (be) goes with several people, or with one person you speak of with respect?
ఉన్నారు (unnāru)
What's the negative of ఉంది (uṁdi, is there), for one thing or a woman?
లేదు (lēdu)