Chapter 2.4: Personal Pronouns–Nominative Case
In this chapter we will learn personal pronouns with singular and plural forms.
Before we learn the forms of the pronouns, kindly note Bangla pronouns do not distinguish between he and she; in other words, there is no gender distinction between Bangla pronouns.
Another point to note here is there are three forms for second-person personal pronouns. These are familiar or middle grade honorific, formal or honorific, and non-honorific forms.
Non-honorific pronouns could be difficult to use for new learners. It requires a good cultural understanding. Incorrect use of these pronouns may upset a listener. At this level, a learner is advised to use only the familiar and formal forms of pronouns.
Third-person personal pronouns differentiate between formal and informal forms too.
In English grammar, nominative personal pronouns are the following. “Nominative” means that the noun or pronoun is used as the subject of a sentence:
- First Person: I and we
- Second Person: You
- Third Person: He, she, Julia, etc.
Now, learn the equivalent forms of those nominative personal pronouns in Bangla.
| English Pronouns | Equivalent in Bangla
Singular, Nominative Case |
Equivalent in Bangla
Plural, Nominative Case |
|---|---|---|
| I & We | আমি | আমরা |
| You (formal & honorific) | আপনি | আপনারা |
| You (familiar, informal and middle grade honorific) | তুমি | তোমরা |
| You (non-honorific) | তুই | তোরা |
| He, she, they (formal & honorific) | ইনি, উনি, তিনি | এঁরা / এনারা, ওঁরা / ওনারা, তাঁরা |
| He, she, they (familiar, informal and middle grade honorific) | এ, ও, সে | এরা, ওরা, তারা |
- ইনি and এ refer to a person who is sitting or standing close to you.
- উনি and ও refer to a person who is sitting or standing away from you.
- তিনি and সে refer to a person who is not present there.
The plural equivalents of those forms follow the same rule.
However, this difference of ইনি, উনি, তিনি, or এ, ও, সে and its plurals in respect to their location is not strictly followed. A native speaker is found to use one or the other often.
