GCSE Bengali₈₆₃₈

The grammar requirements for GCSE are set out in two tiers: Foundation Tier and Higher Tier. GCSE students will be expected to have acquired knowledge and understanding of Bengali grammar during the course. In the exam, they will be required to apply their knowledge and understanding, appropriate to the relevant tier of entry, drawing from the following lists. The examples in brackets are indicative, not inclusive. For structures marked (R), only receptive knowledge is required. Students will be expected to develop and use their knowledge and understanding of this grammar progressively throughout their course.

3.3.1 Foundation Tier

3.3.1.1 Nouns

Cases: nominative, accusative (কে) , genitive (র/এর) , locative-instrumental (এ/তে) ,

Plural forms for personal nouns (রা/এরা; দের)

3.3.1.2 Articles

Definite article: ordinary and diminutive; singular and plural (টা/টি; গুলো/গুলি)

Indefinite article (একটা/একটি)

Use of জন

3.3.1.3 Adjectives

Ordinary adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives: ordinary and diminutive; singular and plural; here, there and elsewhere ( এ...টা, সে...টি, ও...গুলো , etc)

Repetition of adjectives to express plurality

Use of চেয়ে/সবচেয়ে ; of থেকে/সবথেকে to express comparisons

Interrogative adjectives ( কী, কোন, কতো, কোথায় etc)

Indefinite adjectives ( কোনো কিছু etc)

3.3.1.4 Adverbs

Formation of adverbs from adjectives using করে, ভাবে etc.

Special adverbs ( তাড়াতাড়ি etc)

Interrogative adverbs ( কেন, কেমন, কোথায় etc)

Adverbs of time and place ( এখন, এখানে, ওখানে etc)

3.3.1.5 Quantifiers/intensifiers

( খুব, বেশি, একটু, অনেক etc)

3.3.1.6 Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns: ordinary and diminutive; singular and plural; here, there and elsewhere ( এটা, ওটি, সেগুলো etc)

Personal pronouns: singular and plural, familiar and polite; nominative, accusative and genitive case

Interrogative pronoun ( কী, কে, কার, কারা etc)

Use of কিছু

Reflexive pronoun ( নিজে, নিজের etc)

3.3.1.7 Verbs

Zero verb and negative of zero verb ( নই, নয় etc)

Use of আছো in present and past, for location, possession, well-being ( ভালো আছেন ), states ( বসে আছে etc)

Use of থাকা a future for আছো

Tenses: future, simple present, present continuous, simple past, perfect, past perfect, past habitual, past continuous; familiar and polite forms

Use of না and নি

Imperatives: present and future; use of affirmative and negative না

Infinitive and verbal noun

Use of পারা, পাওয়া, চাওয়া, চেষ্টা করা and other common verbs requiring an infinitive before them

Participles: past ( রেখে etc) and conditional ( দেখলে etc)

Common extended (non-causative) verbs ( ঘুমানো, পাঠানো etc)

Compound verbs ( ফিরে আসা, রাগ করা, বেড়াতে যাওয়া etc)

Common impersonal constructions expressing like/dislike ( লাগা ), need ( লাগা, দরকার ) convenience/inconvenience ( সুবিধা/অসুবিধা ), anger, illness etc

Obligation constructions: must/have to ( করতে হবে etc); ought/should ( উচিৎ )

Verbal noun + যাওয়া construction ( দেখা যায় etc)

3.3.1.8 Postpositions

Following genitive case ( কাছে, উপর etc)

Following nominative case ( পর্যন্ত, থেকে, দিয়ে etc)

Use of সময় to express appointments ( তিনটার সময় etc)

3.3.1.9 Conjunctions

আর, এবং, কিন্তু, যদি (but not express hypothetical conditions), তবে, তাহলে etc.

3.3.1.10 Particles

Idiomatic uses of ও (= ‘also’) and to

Number, quantity, time:

Numbers up to 20, plus 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 75, 80, 90 and 100

Use of numbers with and without articles

Use of কয়টা বাজে , with সোয়া, সাড়ে and পৌনে

3.3.2 Higher Tier

All grammar and structures listed for Foundation Tier plus:

3.3.2.1 Articles

Use of খানা / খানি

3.3.2.2 Adjectives

Adjectival postpositions ( তোমার সামনের টেবিলটা etc)

Adjective + definite article ( ছোটোটা etc)

Certain feminine adjective forms ( প্রিয়, সুন্দরী etc)

3.3.2.3 Pronouns

Use of very familiar pronoun তুই

Indefinite pronouns ( কেউ, কারো )

Relative pronouns and co-relatives such as এ…সে, ইনি…তিনি

3.3.2.4 Verbs

Repetition of infinitive to express a present participle ( করতে করতে )

Extended (causative) verbs in all tenses and forms

Contracted extended verb participle, especially when combined with দেওয়া ( জ্বেলে দেওয়া, পৌঁছে আসা etc)

Combining verbs with দেওয়া, নেওয়া, থাকা, ফেলা etc

Use of হওয়া to express the passive

Use of না before a participle or infinitive, or before the verb in যদি clauses

Use of past habitual tense to express hypothetical conditions

Use of কথা with a verbal noun to express ‘supposed to’

Use of verbal noun with সময় to express ‘while’ ( যাওয়ার সময় etc)

Genitive and locative of verbal noun ( করার/করবার, করাতে/করিয়ে etc)

3.3.2.5 Postpositions

Double postpositions ( ভিতর দিয়ে, কাছ থেকে etc)

3.3.2.6 Conjunctions

Pairs of conjunctions such as যখন...তখন, যতো...ততো, এখানে...সেখানে etc

Use of যদি...তবে/তাহলে to express hypothetical conditions

Use of যদিও...তবু to express ‘although’

3.3.2.7 Number, quantity, dates and time

Remaining numbers

Ordinal numbers up to ‘tenth’

Time in minutes using বেজে and বাজতে Dates (English and Bengali months, year)

3.3.2.8 Note on spelling

Students should be made aware of variations in Bengali spelling, particularly in the use of ো . In general, words employing difficult conjuncts will not be used at Foundation Tier. At Higher Tier, recognition (though not necessarily active use) of most conjuncts will be expected.