5.8 Uses of ਆਪਣਾ

ਆਪਣਾ (Own) Construction

ਆਪਣਾ is used in the place of the possessives ਮੇਰਾ, ਤੇਰਾ, ਤੁਹਾਡਾ, ਸਾਡਾ, ਇਹਨਾਂ ਦਾ, etc. when the possessor is the same as the agent of the action. Thus, when the agent is ਮੈਂ, ਆਪਣਾ has the meaning of ਮੇਰਾ.

ਆਪਣਾ functions like a marked adjective, so its form changes according to the number and gender of the noun that it qualities.

ਮੈਂ ਮੇਰੇ ਕਮਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਾਂ (I am in my room.)

means

ਮੈਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਕਮਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਾਂ (I am in my (own) room.)

Imperative

In imperative sentences, the subject “you” (ਤੂੰ or ਤੁਸੀਂ) is understood. So, ਆਪਣਾ is similar to “your.”

• (ਤੁਸੀਂ) ਆਪਣਾ ਨਾਂ ਦੱਸੋ। ((you) Tell your name.)
• (ਤੁਸੀਂ) ਆਪਣੇ ਕਮਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਾਓ। ((you) Please go to your room.)

Repetition of ਆਪਣਾ

The repetition of ਆਪਣਾ gives the meaning of respectiveness. Colloquially, ਆਪੋ-ਆਪਣਾ is also used to give the meaning of each individuals.

• (ਤੁਸੀਂ) ਆਪਣੇ –ਆਪਣੇ ਕਮਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਾਓ। ((you guys) Go to your respective rooms.)
• ਆਪੋ-ਆਪਣਾ ਕੰਮ ਕਰੋ। (Do your respective work.)

Adverbial Use

The adverbial use of ਆਪਣੇ- ਆਪ/ਆਪੇ/ਆਪੇ ਈ gives the meaning of on one’s own/by oneself/automatically.

• ਆਪਣੇ- ਆਪ ਜਾਓ। (Go by yourself.)
• ਆਪਣਾ ਕੰਮ ਆਪੇ ਕਰੋ। (Do your own thing./Do your own work.)

ਆਪਣਾ as a Subject

Generally, ਆਪਣਾ cannot be used as the subject of the sentence. You can only modify the object. ਆਪਣਾ can be used as a subject of the sentence only as an inclusive pronoun.

• ਆਪਣਾ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਚੰਗਾ ਹੈ। (Our Punjab is the best.)
• ਉੱਥੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਘਰ ਹੈ। (There is my/our home.)

Reading Practice

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