Urdu, like many other South Asian languages, uses postpositions rather than prepositions. While in English we place prepositions before the noun (e.g., “in the room”), in Urdu, these relational words come after the noun, hence the term “postposition.” Understanding these postpositions is crucial for mastering Urdu syntax and for effective communication. This article will delve into some of the most common postpositions in Urdu, offering examples and explanations to help English speakers grasp their usage.
Kaa / Kee / Ke (کا / کی / کے)
One of the most frequently used postpositions in Urdu is “kaa” (کا), “kee” (کی), and “ke” (کے). These are possessive markers and function similarly to the English “of” or the possessive “’s.”
Kaa (کا) is used with masculine singular nouns. For example:
– آدمی کا کتا (Aadmi kaa kutta) – The man’s dog
Ke (کے) is used with masculine plural or masculine honorific singular nouns. For example:
– آدمیوں کے کتے (Aadmiyon ke kutte) – The men’s dogs
Kee (کی) is used with feminine singular and plural nouns. For example:
– عورت کی بلی (Aurat kee billi) – The woman’s cat
Mei.n (میں)
“Mei.n” (میں) is equivalent to the English preposition “in.” It is used to indicate location or time within a certain boundary.
Examples:
– کمرے میں (Kamre mei.n) – In the room
– سال میں (Saal mei.n) – In the year
Se (سے)
“Se” (سے) is a versatile postposition that can be translated as “from,” “with,” “by,” or “than,” depending on the context.
Examples:
– دوست سے (Dost se) – From a friend
– قلم سے (Qalam se) – With a pen
– پانچ بجے سے (Paanch baje se) – From 5 o’clock
– تم سے زیادہ (Tum se zyada) – More than you
Ko (کو)
“Ko” (کو) is used to indicate the indirect object of a verb, similar to the English “to” or “for.”
Examples:
– اس کو کتاب دی (Us ko kitaab di) – Gave the book to him/her
– بچہ کو (Bacchaa ko) – For the child
Par (پر)
“Par” (پر) is the equivalent of the English preposition “on.”
Examples:
– میز پر (Mez par) – On the table
– دیوار پر (Deewaar par) – On the wall
Tak (تک)
“Tak” (تک) is used to indicate “up to” a certain point in time or space.
Examples:
– گھر تک (Ghar tak) – Up to the house
– شام تک (Shaam tak) – Until the evening
Ke Saath (کے ساتھ)
“Ke saath” (کے ساتھ) means “with.”
Examples:
– دوست کے ساتھ (Dost ke saath) – With a friend
– کتاب کے ساتھ (Kitaab ke saath) – With the book
Ke Liye (کے لیے)
“Ke liye” (کے لیے) translates to “for.”
Examples:
– بچوں کے لیے (Bachon ke liye) – For the children
– پڑھنے کے لیے (Parhne ke liye) – For reading
Ke Neeche (کے نیچے)
“Ke neeche” (کے نیچے) means “under” or “below.”
Examples:
– میز کے نیچے (Mez ke neeche) – Under the table
– درخت کے نیچے (Darakht ke neeche) – Below the tree
Ke Peeche (کے پیچھے)
“Ke peeche” (کے پیچھے) translates to “behind.”
Examples:
– گھر کے پیچھے (Ghar ke peeche) – Behind the house
– کرسی کے پیچھے (Kursi ke peeche) – Behind the chair
Ke Upar (کے اوپر)
“Ke upar” (کے اوپر) means “above” or “over.”
Examples:
– میز کے اوپر (Mez ke upar) – Above the table
– چھت کے اوپر (Chhat ke upar) – Over the roof
Ke Baad (کے بعد)
“Ke baad” (کے بعد) translates to “after.”
Examples:
– کھانے کے بعد (Khaane ke baad) – After eating
– کام کے بعد (Kaam ke baad) – After work
Ke Samne (کے سامنے)
“Ke samne” (کے سامنے) means “in front of.”
Examples:
– دکان کے سامنے (Dukaan ke samne) – In front of the shop
– اسکول کے سامنے (School ke samne) – In front of the school
Ke Paas (کے پاس)
“Ke paas” (کے پاس) translates to “near” or “beside.”
Examples:
– گھر کے پاس (Ghar ke paas) – Near the house
– دریا کے پاس (Dariya ke paas) – Beside the river
Ke Andar (کے اندر)
“Ke andar” (کے اندر) means “inside.”
Examples:
– کمرے کے اندر (Kamre ke andar) – Inside the room
– صندوق کے اندر (Sandooq ke andar) – Inside the box
Ke Bahar (کے باہر)
“Ke bahar” (کے باہر) translates to “outside.”
Examples:
– گھر کے باہر (Ghar ke bahar) – Outside the house
– دفتر کے باہر (Daftar ke bahar) – Outside the office
Special Cases and Nuances
There are some nuances and special cases in the usage of these postpositions that merit attention.
For instance, the use of “ko” (کو) can sometimes indicate emphasis or specificity, particularly in spoken Urdu. For example:
– مجھے پانی دو (Mujhe paani do) – Give me water.
– مجھے کو پانی دو (Mujhe ko paani do) – Give me the water. (more emphatic)
The postposition “se” (سے) can also indicate cause or reason. For example:
– بارش سے بھیگ گیا (Baarish se bheeg gaya) – Got wet because of the rain.
Compound Postpositions
Urdu also has compound postpositions, which are formed by combining a noun with a simple postposition. Some of these have already been discussed, such as “ke neeche” (under) and “ke baad” (after). Here are a few more examples:
– “Ke aas-paas” (کے آس پاس) – Around
– Examples: پارک کے آس پاس (Park ke aas-paas) – Around the park
– “Ke dauran” (کے دوران) – During
– Examples: تعطیلات کے دوران (Tateelaat ke dauran) – During the holidays
– “Ke bajay” (کے بجائے) – Instead of
– Examples: چائے کے بجائے کافی (Chai ke bajay coffee) – Coffee instead of tea
Conclusion
Mastering postpositions is fundamental for anyone aiming to achieve fluency in Urdu. Unlike English prepositions, which come before the noun, Urdu postpositions follow the noun they modify. This can be initially confusing for English speakers, but with practice, the structure becomes second nature.
By understanding and practicing these common postpositions, language learners can greatly improve their comprehension and communication skills in Urdu. Whether it’s understanding the possessive nuances of “kaa,” “kee,” and “ke,” or the spatial relations indicated by “par,” “ke neeche,” and “ke upar,” each postposition serves as a building block for more complex sentences.
Remember, language learning is a gradual process, and the key is consistent practice and exposure. As you become more familiar with these postpositions, you’ll find yourself more comfortable and confident in your Urdu communication. Happy learning!
