Learning a new language can be an exciting yet challenging journey. Among the various elements that make up a language, adverbs play a crucial role in providing additional information about actions, events, or situations. In Urdu, adverbs are used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and they often answer questions such as “how?”, “when?”, “where?”, and “to what extent?”. This article focuses on adverbs of time in Urdu grammar, providing you with an in-depth understanding of their usage, formation, and significance.
What are Adverbs of Time?
Adverbs of time are words that provide information about the timing of an action or event. They answer questions like “when?”, “how long?”, “how often?”, and “in what order?”. For example, in the sentence “She will come tomorrow,” the word “tomorrow” is an adverb of time that tells us when the action will take place.
In Urdu, adverbs of time are known as “Zarfe Zamani” (ظرفِ زمانی). They help in specifying the time-related aspects of an action, adding clarity to sentences. Just like in English, adverbs of time in Urdu can appear at various positions within a sentence, depending on the emphasis and flow of the conversation.
Common Adverbs of Time in Urdu
Let’s explore some common adverbs of time in Urdu and their English equivalents:
1. **آج** (Aaj) – Today
2. **کل** (Kal) – Tomorrow or Yesterday (context-dependent)
3. **پرسوں** (Parson) – Day after tomorrow or Day before yesterday (context-dependent)
4. **ابھی** (Abhi) – Now
5. **فوراً** (Foran) – Immediately
6. **کبھی** (Kabhi) – Sometimes
7. **ہمیشہ** (Hamesha) – Always
8. **کبھی کبھی** (Kabhi Kabhi) – Occasionally
9. **ہر روز** (Har Roz) – Every day
10. **پہلے** (Pehlay) – Before
11. **بعد میں** (Baad Mein) – Later
12. **روزانہ** (Rozana) – Daily
13. **گزرے ہوئے کل** (Guzray Huay Kal) – Yesterday
14. **اگلے ہفتے** (Agley Hafte) – Next week
15. **گزشتہ ماہ** (Guzishta Maah) – Last month
Usage and Placement
Understanding where to place adverbs of time in a sentence is essential for constructing coherent and meaningful sentences. In Urdu, the placement of adverbs of time can vary, but there are some general guidelines to follow:
Beginning of the Sentence
Placing the adverb of time at the beginning of the sentence can add emphasis to the timing of the action. For example:
– آج میں بازار جاؤں گا۔ (Aaj main bazaar jaoon ga) – Today, I will go to the market.
– کل وہ آئے گا۔ (Kal woh aaye ga) – Tomorrow, he will come.
End of the Sentence
Placing the adverb of time at the end of the sentence is quite common and often sounds natural in Urdu conversation. For example:
– میں بازار جاؤں گا آج۔ (Main bazaar jaoon ga aaj) – I will go to the market today.
– وہ آئے گا کل۔ (Woh aaye ga kal) – He will come tomorrow.
Middle of the Sentence
Sometimes, adverbs of time can be placed in the middle of the sentence, usually after the subject and before the verb. For example:
– میں آج بازار جاؤں گا۔ (Main aaj bazaar jaoon ga) – I will go to the market today.
– وہ کل آئے گا۔ (Woh kal aaye ga) – He will come tomorrow.
Context-Dependent Adverbs
Some adverbs of time in Urdu, such as **کل** (Kal) and **پرسوں** (Parson), can have different meanings based on the context. Understanding the context is crucial to interpreting these adverbs correctly.
کل (Kal)
The word **کل** (Kal) can mean either “tomorrow” or “yesterday,” depending on the context in which it is used. For example:
– کل میں نے فلم دیکھی۔ (Kal main ne film dekhi) – Yesterday, I watched a movie.
– کل میں فلم دیکھوں گا۔ (Kal main film dekhon ga) – Tomorrow, I will watch a movie.
In the first sentence, **کل** (Kal) refers to “yesterday,” while in the second sentence, it refers to “tomorrow.”
پرسوں (Parson)
Similarly, the word **پرسوں** (Parson) can mean either “the day after tomorrow” or “the day before yesterday,” based on the context. For example:
– پرسوں میں نے کتاب خریدی۔ (Parson main ne kitaab khareedi) – The day before yesterday, I bought a book.
– پرسوں میں کتاب خریدوں گا۔ (Parson main kitaab khareedon ga) – The day after tomorrow, I will buy a book.
In the first sentence, **پرسوں** (Parson) refers to “the day before yesterday,” while in the second sentence, it refers to “the day after tomorrow.”
Adverbs of Frequency
Adverbs of frequency are a subset of adverbs of time that describe how often an action occurs. In Urdu, these adverbs provide information about the regularity or repetition of an action. Some common adverbs of frequency in Urdu include:
1. **ہمیشہ** (Hamesha) – Always
2. **اکثر** (Aksar) – Often
3. **کبھی کبھی** (Kabhi Kabhi) – Occasionally
4. **شاذ و نادر** (Shaz-o-Nadir) – Rarely
5. **کبھی نہیں** (Kabhi Nahi) – Never
6. **ہر وقت** (Har Waqt) – All the time
7. **بار بار** (Bar Bar) – Repeatedly
Examples of Adverbs of Frequency in Sentences
– وہ ہمیشہ وقت پر آتا ہے۔ (Woh hamesha waqt par aata hai) – He always arrives on time.
– میں اکثر پارک جاتا ہوں۔ (Main aksar park jata hoon) – I often go to the park.
– وہ کبھی کبھی سنیما جاتی ہے۔ (Woh kabhi kabhi cinema jati hai) – She occasionally goes to the cinema.
– میں شاذ و نادر ہی چائے پیتا ہوں۔ (Main shaz-o-nadir hi chai peeta hoon) – I rarely drink tea.
– وہ کبھی نہیں جھوٹ بولتا۔ (Woh kabhi nahi jhoot bolta) – He never lies.
Expressing Duration
Adverbs of time can also be used to express the duration of an action. In Urdu, these adverbs indicate how long an action lasts. Some common adverbs of duration in Urdu include:
1. **کچھ دیر** (Kuch Der) – For a while
2. **کافی دیر** (Kaafi Der) – For a long time
3. **چند منٹ** (Chand Mint) – For a few minutes
4. **دو گھنٹے** (Do Ghantay) – For two hours
5. **سارا دن** (Sara Din) – All day
6. **پوری رات** (Poori Raat) – All night
7. **کچھ وقت** (Kuch Waqt) – For some time
Examples of Adverbs of Duration in Sentences
– میں کچھ دیر کے لئے سو رہا تھا۔ (Main kuch der ke liye so raha tha) – I was sleeping for a while.
– وہ کافی دیر تک کام کرتا رہا۔ (Woh kaafi der tak kaam karta raha) – He worked for a long time.
– ہم چند منٹ کے لئے رکے۔ (Hum chand mint ke liye ruke) – We stopped for a few minutes.
– میں نے دو گھنٹے تک مطالعہ کیا۔ (Main ne do ghantay tak mutaala kia) – I studied for two hours.
Temporal Sequence
Adverbs of time can also be used to indicate the sequence of events. These adverbs help in describing the order in which actions or events occur. Some common adverbs of temporal sequence in Urdu include:
1. **پہلے** (Pehlay) – Before
2. **پھر** (Phir) – Then
3. **بعد میں** (Baad Mein) – Later
4. **اس کے بعد** (Is Ke Baad) – After that
5. **آخر میں** (Aakhir Mein) – Finally
Examples of Adverbs of Temporal Sequence in Sentences
– پہلے ہم نے ناشتہ کیا، پھر ہم پارک گئے۔ (Pehlay hum ne nashta kia, phir hum park gaye) – First, we had breakfast, then we went to the park.
– وہ پہلے آیا، پھر وہ چلا گیا۔ (Woh pehlay aaya, phir woh chala gaya) – He came first, then he left.
– بعد میں ہم فلم دیکھیں گے۔ (Baad mein hum film dekhenge) – Later, we will watch a movie.
– اس کے بعد ہم نے خریداری کی۔ (Is ke baad hum ne khareedari ki) – After that, we did some shopping.
– آخر میں ہم نے رات کا کھانا کھایا۔ (Aakhir mein hum ne raat ka khana khaya) – Finally, we had dinner.
Combining Adverbs of Time
In Urdu, it is possible to combine multiple adverbs of time in a single sentence to provide more detailed information about the timing and sequence of actions. For example:
– میں نے کل رات فلم دیکھی۔ (Main ne kal raat film dekhi) – I watched a movie last night.
– وہ پرسوں صبح آئے گا۔ (Woh parson subah aaye ga) – He will come the day after tomorrow morning.
– ہم اگلے ہفتے شام کو ملیں گے۔ (Hum aglay hafte shaam ko milenge) – We will meet next week in the evening.
When combining adverbs of time, it is essential to maintain the natural flow of the sentence and ensure that the adverbs are placed in a logical order.
Practice Exercises
To reinforce your understanding of adverbs of time in Urdu, here are some practice exercises:
1. Translate the following sentences into Urdu:
– I will call you tomorrow.
– She always arrives on time.
– We will visit the museum next week.
– He rarely eats breakfast.
– They watched a movie last night.
2. Identify the adverbs of time in the following Urdu sentences and translate them into English:
– میں روزانہ ورزش کرتا ہوں۔ (Main rozana warzish karta hoon)
– وہ کبھی کبھی پارک جاتی ہے۔ (Woh kabhi kabhi park jati hai)
– ہم اگلے ماہ چھٹی پر جائیں گے۔ (Hum aglay maah chutti par jayenge)
– وہ آج دوپہر آئے گا۔ (Woh aaj dopehar aaye ga)
– میں نے پرسوں کتاب خریدی۔ (Main ne parson kitaab khareedi)
3. Create sentences in Urdu using the following adverbs of time:
– آج (Aaj)
– کل (Kal)
– فوراً (Foran)
– کبھی نہیں (Kabhi Nahi)
– بعد میں (Baad Mein)
Conclusion
Adverbs of time are an essential component of Urdu grammar, providing valuable information about the timing, frequency, duration, and sequence of actions. By understanding and using these adverbs correctly, you can add clarity and precision to your Urdu sentences. Practice using adverbs of time in different contexts to enhance your language skills and become more proficient in Urdu communication. Happy learning!
