Pashto Grammar Made Easy: Learning Strategies for Beginners
Pashto is a fun language to learn. It comes under the Indo-European Language Family, which is why it is unlike the other languages spoken in the Asian region. It is widely spoken in Pakistan and Afghanistan since a great majority of Pashtoons belong to the bordering areas of the countries but spread across the globe. They carry the same culture and history regardless of the country they migrate to. One can learn it as a whole or start to learn Pashto grammar first to know the basics and then transcend to advanced linguistic approaches.
There are many ways of learning a language; however, learning Pashto grammar first can help you understand its rules. This will build a stronger foundation for your learning experience, which will then allow you to proceed to advanced lessons. The following are some of the effective strategies you can try as a beginner.
Start Learning the Basics
The first step is to familiarize yourself with Pashto grammar basics. It includes understanding the sentence structure and parts of speech. It is the same as learning nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, etc. Find the sentence formation of the Pashto language. In English, sentences are formed with a formula of subject, verb, and object (SVO). In Pashto, the verb is placed at the end of the sentence. So, a sentence is formed with subject and object first, i.e. SOV.
Build a Strong Vocabulary
Keep on exploring the treasure of Pashto vocabulary with different strategies. Start learning the common words and phrases. Understanding the grammatical rules allows you to form more words out of your memorized vocabulary. For example, learning a verb is enough to create more words that are used for the same action in different tenses and conditions. If we understand “study” in English, we can use it in different contexts and scenarios. It will enhance our vocabulary with variations such as studying, studies, and studies. You can learn Pashto vocabulary the same way. Reading the literature may also help you find and memorize fancy words.
Practice Regularly
Learn Pashto grammar and put what you have learned to the test by practicing it regularly. You can only master a skill if you practice it. Remove your hesitation. Try using the vocabulary you know and make sentences from it. Stick to the grammar rules, and you can develop better phrases and sentences. Using the sentence-learning strategy, you can focus on each sentence and find which grammar rules are used. A complete course in Learning Pashto online will also help you practice grammar with a series of lessons.
As a beginner, you can start quickly and keep learning Pashto grammar. Initially, you may find it difficult, but with the help of a native instructor or friend, you can easily cover up the basics. Try the strategies we have shared in this post, and you will master the language quickly.
Pashto Grammar Basics
The Pashto grammar allows you to manipulate the vocabulary to obtain multiple forms of a word. The grammatical rules below are the most important in Pashto and help connect words or shape the structure. We start with the prepositions:
| And: او | Under: لاندی |
| Before: مخکی | After: وروسته |
| Inside: دننه | Outside: د باندې |
| With: سره | But: خو |
| For: لپاره | From: له |
| To: ته | In: په |
Questions and Adverbs
| What?: څه؟ | Who?: څوک؟ |
| How?: څنګه؟ | Why?: ولې؟ |
| Where?: چېرته؟ |
Some of the most important time adverbs:
| Never: هيڅکله نه | Rarely: ډېر لږ |
| Sometimes: کله ناکله | Usually: معمولآ |
| Always: تل | Very: ډېر |
Most commonly used pronouns in Pashto:
| I: زه | You: ته/تاسی |
| He: هغه سړی | She: هغه ښځه |
| We: موږ | They: هغوی |
To express the possession of something [possessive form]:
| My: زما | Your: ستا/ستاسو |
| His: دهغه سړی | Her: دهغی ښځی |
| Our: زموږ | Their: د هغوی |
Grammar in a sentence
Some random verbs to show how it’s being used:
| I speak English: زه په انګلیسي ژبه خبرې کوم |
| You speak French: ته په فرانسوي ژبه خبرې کوې |
| He speaks German: هغه په الماني ژبه خبرې کوي |
| She speaks Italian: هغه په ایتالوي ژبه خبرې کوي |
| I visited France: زه فرانسې ته تللی وم |
| I will drink milk: زه به شیدې وڅښم |
Some extra grammatical structures:
| I understand you: زه تا پېژنم |
| I don’t understand you: زه تا نه پېژنم |
| I don’t speak French: زه په فرانسوي ژبه خبرې نه کوم |
| This is my house: دا زما کور دی |
| That restaurant is far: هغه رستورانت لرې دی |
| No problem: کومه ستونزه نشته |