Kannada Grammar

Welcome to the 8th lesson about Kannada grammar. We will first learn about prepositions, negation, questions, adverbs, and pronouns including: personal, object and possessive pronouns. To hear the pronunciation, just click on the sound icon.

We will start with prepositions. In general, they are used to link words to other words. For example: I speak Kannada and English the preposition is [and] because it connects both words Kannada and English. The following is a list of the most used prepositions in Kannada.

Prepositions - Kannada - Pronunciation
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]

Preposition Grammar Rules

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

Prepositions + Rules - Kannada + Pronunciation
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

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 - Kannada + Pronunciation
I understand you [affirmative form] ನನಗೆ ಅರ್ಥವಾಗುತ್ತೆ [Nanage arthavāgutte]
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]

Negative Sentences - Kannada + Pronunciation
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]

Questions in Kannada

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

English - Kannada - Pronunciation
how? ಹೇಗೆ? [Hēge?]
what? ಏನು? [Ēnu?]
who? ಯಾರು? [Yāru?]
why? ಏಕೆ? [Ēke?]
where? ಅಲ್ಲಿ? [Alli?]

More of the interrogative form, now in a sentence:

Questions + Rules - Kannada + Pronunciation
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

It's time to learn the adverbs in Kannada. 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 - Kannada - Pronunciation
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]

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

Adverbs + Rules - Kannada + Pronunciation
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

We're almost done! This time we will learn the pronouns in Kannada. 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 - Kannada - Pronunciation
I ನಾನು [Nānu]
you ನೀನು [Nīnu]
he ಅವನು [Avanu]
she ಅವಳು [Avaḷu]
we ನೀವು [Nīvu]
they ಅವರು [Avaru]

Object Pronouns - Kannada - Pronunciation
me ನನ್ನ, ನನಗೆ [Nanna, nanage]
you ನಿನ್ನ , ನಿನಗೆ [Ninna, ninage]
him ಅವನಿಗೆ [Avanige]
her ಅವಳಿಗೆ [Avaḷige]
us ನಮಗೆ [Namage]
them ಅವರಿಗೆ [Avarige]

Possessive Pronouns - Kannada - Pronunciation
my ನನ್ನ [Nanna]
your ನಿನ್ನ [Ninna]
his ಅವನ [Avana]
her ಅವಳ [Avaḷa]
our ನಮ್ಮ [Nam'ma]
their ಅವರ [Avara]

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 - Kannada + Pronunciation
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]

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 - Kannada + Pronunciation
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 - Kannada + Pronunciation
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]

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

Demonstrative Pronouns - Kannada - Pronunciation
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]

I hope you learned a lot about the Kannada grammar in this lesson. Please check out our main menu here for more lessons: homepage. The next lesson is below, have fun!