Pashto Grammar

Pashto grammar is somewhat involved. That is why a discussion of some grammar rules may be appropriate here. Naturally, we need to be selective, focusing on areas that are normally a source of confusion. Besides, it is not feasible to provide interactive practice and drilling. Some quizzes will be added on the separate page designated for testing.

I will create links to some lectures on gender, verb tenses, etc. On this page itself, I will explain what I believe is an unusual rule on verbs. This rule applies only to past tense verbs. Here is the rule:

If the verb is transitive (a verbs that takes an object), the subject goes oblique and the verb agrees with the object.

If the verb is intransitive (a verb that does not have an object), the subject stays regular (not oblique) and the verb agrees with the subject.

By oblique we mean the changed form of the noun. Not every noun in Pashto has oblique, but all plural nouns and most feminine nouns have them. Here are some examples of the oblique form:

خلک – خلکو khalek, khalko

ښځې – ښڅو khedzay, khedzo

زرغونه – زرغونې Zarghoona, Zarghoonay

سړی – سړي (sarai, saree)

زه – ما zeh, maa

By agreement, we mean the way the verb changes between masculine and feminine and between singular and plural. Here are some examples of transitive verbs and how they change in the past:

Maa khpela webpaana wulikela ما خپله ویب پاڼه ولیکله

Khedzo khpel huqooq weghukhtel ښځو خپل حقوق وغوښتل

Zarghoonay yaw newai notar waakhest زرغونې یو نوی موټر واخیست

Day sari raa ta yawa khabera wukra دې سړي را ته یوه خبره وکړه

As you see, all subjects are in oblique form. Verbs follow the object in that they are feminine if the object is feminine, plural if the object is plural etc. Thus the object of the second sentence is huqooq حقوق which is plural and masculine. Therefore the verb is وغوښتل wughukhtel, not وغوښت ، وغوښته or وغوښتې wughokht, wughukhta, or wughukhtay.

Feminine Endings in Pashto

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The subjunctive in Pashto

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Pashto Grammer Inflection (Audio)