A changing masculine pattern

Singular and plural distinguish one from more than one, but Punjabi does not express that difference by adding one uniform equivalent of English s. The Lodiana grammar’s boy paradigm prints ਮੁੰਡਾ for the direct singular and ਮੁੰਡੇ for the direct plural. The change belongs to a particular masculine noun pattern. Its other rows show that number also interacts with case; a plural list is only part of the noun’s complete set of forms.[1]

Other nouns behave differently

Wilson’s account gives masculine horse and dog examples whose final a changes to e in the absolute plural. It also lists masculine nouns, including house, whose absolute singular and plural are alike. Their number is not recoverable from a changed noun ending alone. A further Shahpur pattern changes an internal vowel: his village example contrasts the singular and plural within the word. These are different recorded routes to a plural, not interchangeable instructions for every noun.[2]

For feminine nouns, the Lodiana tables show several patterns rather than one masculine ending applied again. The daughter paradigm prints ਧੀ beside ਧੀਆਂ. The mother paradigm is different again. A separate note explains how a final nasal mark moves when another syllable is added. Reading the actual whole form matters here: an English gloss such as daughters identifies the meaning, while the printed Punjabi letters show the inflection being described.[1]

Check the form in a phrase

Wilson separates absolute plural from oblique plural and records exceptions to both. A form used on its own in a noun table need not be the form required before a following postposition. When learning a noun, compare its singular, direct plural and an attested phrase using the plural, rather than extending one memorised ending to every word. These historical examples identify documented patterns; the district, date and author’s local alternatives remain relevant when comparing them with another speaker’s usage.[2]

Sources & notes

Source records include access dates and, where known, limits on what was examined. Checks used AI assistance; independent human or specialist review has not been completed.

  1. Lodiana American Presbyterian Mission Press; J. Newton attribution in the archive catalogue; Rev. J. Porter, press superintendent. A Grammar of the Panjabi Language; with Appendices ↗Historical descriptive and teaching grammar · Source date: 1851 · Locator: Printed pp 8–12 / PDF 21–25, noun paradigms and section 35; boy PDF 21 and daughter PDF 25 visually checked; original title PDF 6, preface PDF 8–9 and errata PDF 13. Accessed 2026-11-02.The specified pages of the actual 1851 Bodleian/Google scan were read. Displayed script examples were checked against rendered pages. The original title names the press and superintendent; the archive catalogue attributes J. Newton. The preface addresses readers familiar with Urdu and acknowledges regional variation. Its terminology and examples are historical descriptions, with no recording or complete account of present-day usage. Purist judgements and social hierarchies are not adopted. Later revised editions and editorial additions were not used.Return to Script form 1 ↑Return to Script form 2 ↑Return to Script form 3 ↑Return to Script form 4 ↑Return to A changing masculine pattern, paragraph 1 ↑Return to Other nouns behave differently, paragraph 2 ↑
  2. J. Wilson; acknowledged assistance of Munshi Mahbub Alam; Punjab Government Press. Grammar and Dictionary of Western Panjabi, as Spoken in the Shahpur District, with Proverbs, Sayings and Verses ↗Historical district grammar and dictionary · Source date: 1899 imprint; preface September 1898 · Locator: Printed pp 6–9 / PDF 24–27, Number and Oblique Plural; examples and exceptions; original title PDF 7 and preface PDF 11. Accessed 2026-11-02.The specified pages of the actual BSB original-edition scan were read. The title date 1898 and printing imprint 1899 are distinguished. Wilson credits Munshi Mahbub Alam and limits collection to historical Shahpur. Salt Range alternatives retain their local scope. Colonial purity rankings, caste characterisations and unseen earlier works are not adopted. Roman forms were not converted into newly asserted script spellings or certified pronunciation.Return to Other nouns behave differently, paragraph 1 ↑Return to Check the form in a phrase, paragraph 1 ↑
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Record PH-LAN-0073 · English edition · human review not performed