8.7 Compulsion and Obligation

There are three types of compulsions in Punjabi:

• Internal compulsion
• External compulsion
• Moral compulsion

Internal Compulsion

Internal compulsion is used when a speaker thinks something is necessary. It is expressed with the verb ਹੋਣਾ. The general sentence structure is:

Subj + Obj + Infinitive form of verb + ਹੋਣਾ (to be).

The Infinitive form of the verb and ਹੋਣਾ both agree with the object of the sentence. Also, the 3rd person subject takes ਨੇ.

Examples:

• ਮੈਂ ਬਜ਼ਾਰ ਜਾਣਾ ਹੈ। (I need to go to the market./I am to go to the market.)
• ਮੈਂ ਚਾਹ ਪੀਣੀ ਹੈ। (I need to take tea/I am to take tea.)
• ਅੰਜੂ ਨੇ ਕਿਤਾਬਾਂ ਖਰੀਦਣੀਆਂ ਹਨ। (Anju needs to buy books.)

External Compulsion

External compulsion is used when some other person thinks it is necessary for you. It is similar to the English expressions “to have to” or “must.” It is expressed with the verb ਪੈਣਾ. The general sentence structure is:

Subj + ਨੂੰ + Obj + Infinitive form of verb + ਪੈਣਾ + Aux if needed.

Examples:

• ਸਾਨੂੰ ਹਰ ਰੋਜ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੋਲਣੀ ਪੈਂਦੀ ਹੈ। (We have to speak Punjabi every day.)
• ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੋਲਣੀ ਪਵੇਗੀ। (We will have to speak Punjabi tomorrow.)
• ਸਾਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੋਲਣੀ ਪਈ ਸੀ। (We had to speak Punjabi.)

Moral Compulsion

This type of compulsion expresses suggestion and obligation. It can be expressed with ਚਾਹੀਦਾ. In the previous chapter, we have learned that ਚਾਹੀਦਾ is used for general needs and necessities, but when ਚਾਹੀਦਾ comes with an infinitive form of the verb, it gives the sense of “should/ought to” in English. The general sentence structure is:

Subj + ਨੂੰ + Infinitive form of verb + ਚਾਹੀਦਾ + Aux of present ਹੋਣਾ (to be).

Example:

• ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਹਰ ਰੋਜ਼ 8 ਗਿਲਾਸ ਪਾਣੀ ਪੀਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ। (You should drink 8 glasses of water every day.)

When ਚਾਹੀਦਾ comes with the auxiliary of past ਹੋਣਾ (to be) (ਸੀ, ਸਨ) it gives the sense of “should have” in English.

Example:

• ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੋਲਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਸੀ। (You should have spoken Punjabi.)

Example Sentences

Negation in Compulsion and Obligation

In order to change compulsion and obligation sentences to negative, the word ਨਹੀਂ can be used directly before the verb and the auxiliary verb “to be” in present only are dropped.

Example:

• ਖਾਣਾ ਖਾ ਕੇ ਇਕਦਮ ਲੇਟਣਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ। (One should not lie down after eating food.)

Reading Practice

Test Yourself

Activity 1: Writing (Internal Compulsion)

Please add 5 more examples using internal compulsion.

Activity 2: Writing (External Compulsion)

Please add 5 more examples using external compulsion.

Activity 3: Writing (Moral Compulsion)

Please add 5 more examples using moral compulsion.

Activity 4: Writing

Based on the above reading, make a list of five things that we should do and five things that we should not do.

Activity 5: Speaking

What are the seven things one should do to keep themself healthy? Record yourself by pressing the button below. Once you done with your recording, you can download your audio file and send it to your teacher for feedback.

Activity 6: Listening

Pre-Listening Activity

Learn/review the following vocabulary.

Listening

Watch the following video carefully.

Post-Listening Activity

Based on video, answer the following questions. Write your answers and share with your teacher for feedback.

1. ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਨ-1: Brother ਦੀ death ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਕੀ ਕਰਨਾ ਸੀ?
2. ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਨ-2: ਹਫ਼ਤੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਵਾਰ ਕੀ ਕਰਨਾ ਪੈਂਦਾ ਸੀ?
3. ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਨ-3: ਹਰ ਰੋਜ ਕੀ ਕਰਨਾ ਪੈਂਦਾ ਸੀ?

ਧੰਨਵਾਦ!