Sentence Types

🎭 Telugu Verb Mastery: Sentence Types

The Traffic Signal Analogy 🚦

Imagine sentences as traffic signals. Just like a traffic light tells drivers what to do, sentences tell listeners different things:

• 🟢 Green = Commands → “Go now!” (Imperative)
• 🔴 Red = No/Stop → “Don’t go” (Negative)
• 🟡 Yellow = Questions → “Should I go?” (Questions)

Let’s learn each one step by step!

🟢 Part 1: Imperative Mood (Commands)

What is Imperative Mood?

Think of imperative as your “boss voice” 👔

When your mom says “Eat your food!” or your teacher says “Open your books!” — that’s imperative!

In Telugu, commands change based on WHO you’re talking to:

1️⃣ Casual Commands (talking to friends, kids)

Formula: Verb Root + -u or -uu

🎯 Example in Action:

You see your little brother playing outside. You say: “రా, భోజనం తిను!” (Raa, bhojanam tinu!) Meaning: “Come, eat food!”

2️⃣ Polite Commands (talking to elders, strangers)

Formula: Verb Root + -ండి (-ṇḍi)

🎯 Example in Action:

A guest visits your home. You say: “రండి, కూర్చోండి!” (Raṇḍi, kūrchōṇḍi!) Meaning: “Please come, please sit!”

3️⃣ Very Respectful Commands (for grandparents, VIPs)

Formula: Verb Root + -ండయ్యా (-ṇḍayyā) for men | -ండమ్మా (-ṇḍammā) for women

🎯 Example:

Speaking to grandfather: “తాతయ్యా, భోజనం తినండయ్యా!” Meaning: “Grandfather, please eat food!”

🎪 Quick Imperative Summary

graph TD
    A["Command/Request"] --> B{Who are you talking to?}
    B --> C["Friend/Younger"]
    B --> D["Elder/Stranger"]
    B --> E["Very Respected"]
    C --> F["రా, తిను #40;raa, tinu#41;"]
    D --> G["రండి, తినండి #40;raṇḍi, tinaṇḍi#41;"]
    E --> H["రండయ్యా/అమ్మా"]

🔴 Part 2: Negative Sentences (Saying “No”)

The Magic Word: లేదు (lēdu) = No/Not

Just like “not” in English, Telugu uses special words to make things negative!

Method 1: Simple Negation with లేదు (lēdu)

Formula: Subject + Object + Verb Root + -లేదు (-lēdu)

🎯 Example Story:

Mom: “భోజనం తిన్నావా?” (Did you eat food?) You: “లేదు, తినలేదు” (No, I didn’t eat)

Method 2: Negation with కాదు (kādu) = “is not”

Use this for: “is not”, “am not”, “are not”

🧠 Remember:

• లేదు = for actions (didn’t do)
• కాదు = for identity (is not)

Method 3: Negative Commands with వద్దు (vaddu) = “Don’t!”

Formula: Verb Root + -వద్దు (-vaddu)

🎯 Real Life Example:

At a museum: “ఇక్కడ ఫోటోలు తీయవద్దు!” Meaning: “Don’t take photos here!”

🎨 Negative Words Summary

graph TD
    A["Want to say NO?"] --> B{What type?}
    B --> C["Didn't do action]
    B --> D[Is not something]
    B --> E[Don't do! Command"]
    C --> F["లేదు #40;lēdu#41;"]
    D --> G["కాదు #40;kādu#41;"]
    E --> H["వద్దు #40;vaddu#41;"]

🟡 Part 3: Forming Questions

Two Types of Questions in Telugu

Type 1: Yes/No Questions (Did you? Can you?)

Secret: Just add -ఆ? (-ā?) at the end!

🎯 Example Conversation:

You: “భోజనం తిన్నావా?” (Did you eat food?) Friend: “తిన్నాను” (I ate) OR “తినలేదు” (I didn’t eat)

Type 2: WH-Questions (What? Where? When?)

These are the “question words” — just like in English!

🎯 Question Building Examples

Simple Conversations:

At a shop:

You: “ఇది ఎంత?” (How much is this?) Shop: “వంద రూపాయలు” (Hundred rupees)

Meeting someone:

You: “మీ పేరు ఏమిటి?” (What is your name?) Person: “నా పేరు రాజు” (My name is Raju)

Asking for directions:

You: “స్టేషన్ ఎక్కడ ఉంది?” (Where is the station?) Person: “ఎడమ వైపు వెళ్ళండి” (Go to the left)

🎪 Question Formation Summary

graph TD
    A["Asking a Question?"] --> B{What type?}
    B --> C["Yes/No answer"]
    B --> D["Detailed answer"]
    C --> E["Add -ఆ? at end"]
    D --> F{Pick question word}
    F --> G["ఏమిటి #40;What#41;"]
    F --> H["ఎవరు #40;Who#41;"]
    F --> I["ఎక్కడ #40;Where#41;"]
    F --> J["ఎప్పుడు #40;When#41;"]
    F --> K["ఎందుకు #40;Why#41;"]

🌟 Grand Summary: The Traffic Signal Method

🎓 Your Journey So Far

You’ve learned:

1. ✅ Commands — How to give orders politely and casually
2. ✅ Negatives — Three ways to say “no”
3. ✅ Questions — Yes/No and WH-questions

You’re now ready to have real conversations in Telugu! 🎉

💡 Pro Tip: Practice Pattern

Every day, try this:

1. Give one command: “రండి!” (Come!)
2. Say one negative: “వద్దు” (Don’t!)
3. Ask one question: “ఎలా ఉన్నారు?” (How are you?)

That’s just 3 sentences a day, and you’ll master Telugu sentence types! 🚀