The Bengali I Didn't Learn in School/One

When writing in Bengali, one often falls into doubt about matters of spelling and usage. ['Spelling-related and usage-related' is written as 'spelling- & usage-related'—that is, by using a hyphen after the first word, one can avoid repetition of words.] I have long been thinking from a sense of responsibility that what I write must be correct or standard, and so when writing in Bengali, I want to write knowingly whether I am using correct or standard spelling and usage. Therefore, I must learn spelling and usage. The most effective way to learn something is to write down what one has learned through study. I am doing just that. It is in doing this that this piece came to be. I should mention that this writing contains much that I didn't know before, or hadn't thought about properly, and as a result my readers have encountered much incorrect or non-standard Bengali in my writings, and have graciously tolerated it. Such errors or non-standard Bengali have surely diminished the quality of my writing, which is in no way desirable. So it can be said that this piece is also a kind of warning to myself!

While creating this piece, several things came to mind. Let me share them with you:
One. I have indeed written Bengali with many incorrect spellings and usages all this time. I felt quite ashamed thinking about it. So it repeatedly occurred to me that this piece would serve as a manual for me to write correct, grammatical and standard Bengali—for myself, and for some others too.
Two. I felt great respect for the Avro Keyboard team, because preparing such a vast database of correct Bengali words is no small feat. When typing in Avro, the dropdown window that appears alongside shows suggestions for possible word spellings. Though correct spellings of some words aren't available in Avro, spellings of most words can be found in that window. Truly, one is amazed to see Avro's database of Bengali words! For those of us who write, Avro Keyboard is a tremendous blessing.
Three. In dictionaries you will find some words that are correct or current, but non-standard or grammatically incorrect. I have placed these in first brackets.
Four. In discussing rules of usage, I have tried to explain through several examples rather than going into explanations. However, in some cases there are explanations alongside examples.
Five. This piece could be called something of an unauthorized person's presumption or audacity. So if you notice any incompleteness, inconsistency, or error in this writing of mine, please point it out—I will be truly grateful with bowed head. If you have any advice, please give it. If any questions come to mind, please ask them.
Six. I don't know how far I'll go in writing this piece. I don't know how I'll proceed either. So it can be said that I won't follow any fixed format in this writing. Whatever comes to mind or whatever I encounter while writing, I'll just write it down. Beyond this, if you have any questions, please put them in the comment box—if I know, I'll tell you; if I don't know, I'll find out and tell you.
In this piece, using bracket-free portions, first brackets, and third brackets, I have written (inside them) respectively: correct or standard or appropriate forms, incorrect or non-standard or inappropriate forms, and in some cases, explanations or notes or memory techniques. That is,—I will write. (I will not write.) [Explanation, if needed/where applicable.]
So then, let's begin!
I knew that he would come. (I knew that he would come.)
Money has been spent on many things, such as/such as: coming and going, book-buying. (Money has been spent on many things, such as, coming and going, book-buying.) [Coming and going are opposite words or not similar words, so a hyphen goes between them. If they were similar words, no hyphen would be needed, like bargaining, stormy weather. I'll discuss this in more detail later.]
It's not that he will necessarily go there. (It's not that he will necessarily go there.)
No one had ever said this before; Shri Bikash Dutta was the first to say it. (No one had ever said this before; Shri Bikash Dutta was the first to say it.)
This doesn't always work. (This doesn't always work.) [After 'all,' without giving a gap, what follows: everywhere, (but all directions, not alldirections) everything, all kinds, everywhere, most, most, all kinds, finally, etc.]
Nowadays many people are not conscious about punctuation marks, quotation marks, all these things/these things/such things. (Nowadays many people are not conscious about punctuation marks, quotation marks, all these/such things.)
Is this goat meat, or sheep? (Is this goat meat or sheep?)
He helps me in various ways. (He helps me in various ways.) [Notable: various kinds, various types, various, various ways, all kinds, of all kinds, of all colors, various forms, etc.]
What difference does it make whether he stays or not? (What difference does it make whether he stays or not?)
The boy is crying calling papa papa/papapapa/papa-papa. (The boy is crying calling papa, papa.) [Similarly: Don't keep saying eat eat. When has he been saying I'll go I'll go! etc.]
I came, and you left? (I came and you left?)
He didn't come yesterday. And even if he had come, what would have happened? (He didn't come yesterday. And even if he had come, what would have happened?) [Such 'or' should not be written separately ('not written' is non-standard) but can be written with a hyphen before 'or'.]
I noticed that his coming here was specifically for the wedding. (I noticed that his coming here was specifically for the wedding.) ['Notice' means 'to see' or 'to pay attention,' like: He doesn't notice anyone. Look carefully and see if you can recognize the boy. 'Target' means 'purpose' or 'aim,' like: What is your life's goal? He threw a stone aiming at the mango. Both 'on the occasion of' spellings are correct, but the latter is more appropriate. Let's note some spellings: notable, target-hitting, target, off-target, etc.]
Come any convenient day. (Come any convenient day.) [After 'which,' a hyphen mark can be used to join another word. Like which person, which word, which day, etc. Similarly: that day, that word, those two days, that work, this direction, this word, etc.]
There is always some give and take in relationships. (There is always some give and take in relationships.) ['O' will be used.]
Besides, they too were not in favor of that marriage. (Besides, they too were not in favor of that marriage.) [Similarly: besides this, whatever happens, after which, etc. But after that, after this, then, etc.]
Not everyone knew, some people/some people knew. (Not everyone knew, some people knew.) [Similarly: sometimes, some, whatever, whichever, whomever, each one, somehow, whenever, whenever, here and there, however, whatever, whomever, etc. It can also be written as two separate words without hyphens, which is not wrong.]
I can go, but why should I go? (I can go but why should I go?)
Whatever happens, he is a good person though. (Whatever happens, he is a good person though.) [Whatever>whatever/what-ever]
He has car, house, property—everything. (He has car, house, property, everything.) [The final comma won't be used.]
Whether he will leave or stay, it's not clear./Whether he will leave or stay is not clear. (Whether he will leave or stay, it's not clear.) [For alternatives, it should be 'or', not 'or what'.]
I heard he supposedly has a lot of money? (I heard he supposedly has a lot of money?) [For expressing doubt, it should be 'supposedly', not 'or'.]
If he won't go, then what will he do? (If he won't go, then what will he do?) He didn't tell, so when will he come! (He didn't tell, so when will he come!)
I definitely need leave after noon, because today is my wedding. (I definitely need leave after noon, because, today is my wedding.) [Similarly: No one helped him. Rather, he himself is showing everyone the way. Note that respectively>just/just-that, whatever>whatever/what-ever, but he-himself and that (or this-itself and this) don't express the same meaning. For example: Only he knows the matter. ('That person knows the matter.'...this is incorrect.) I haven't seen him since that day. ('Since he-himself day...' this is incorrect.)]
He got a job; brightness came to his face; prosperity returned to the house. [He got a job. Brightness came to his face. Prosperity returned to the house.—can also be written this way, but using semicolons is more appropriate. 'Did it happen, or did it happen?' I'll discuss this later.]
On a moonlight-washed night I was thinking of him. (On a moonlight washed night I was thinking of him.)
Suddenly I remembered, how beautifully he is doing that work. (Suddenly I remembered, how beautifully he is doing that work!) [Keeping the principal clause in mind, the sentence should end with a period, not an exclamation mark. Similarly: You surely don't know when I'll go there. Even at the end of the sentence there should be no question mark, keeping the principal clause in mind.]
How they got there, and how they found the place, is quite a wonder! (How they got there and how they found the place, is quite a wonder!)
He who endures, survives. (He who endures, survives.) [In the sentence 'He who endures survives,' the comma is unnecessary, but in sentences formed with 'who...he,' 'those who...they,' 'where...there,' etc., if they're a bit long, using a comma doesn't hurt—rather, it increases the sentence's comprehensibility. Like: He who brought us here will arrange our food. Where there's fear of tigers, there evening falls.]
His address is 17 C R Dutta Lane, Dhaka. (His address is 17, C R Dutta Lane, Dhaka.) [When writing an address on multiple lines, no comma or period should be placed at the end of any line. Like when writing 17 C R Dutta Lane, Dhaka in two lines, neither 'Lane' nor 'Dhaka' should have commas or periods after them. Like when writing any salutation in an application or letter, and writing that person's title and address line by line below it, each line must end without commas. This is a very common mistake we make all the time.]
The work was done at lightning speed! (The work was done at lightning speed!)
Our demand is uninterrupted electricity-supply/supply of electricity. (Our demand is uninterrupted electricity supply.)
I thank him from the depths of my heart. (I thank him from the depths/inner depths of my heart.)
He is observing silence. (He is maintaining silence.) [There are no words like silence-ness, friendship-ness.]
Hereby everyone is being informed that... (Hereby everyone is being informed that...)
He works at a small/small department store. (He works at a small departmental store.) [Both 'small' spellings are correct. But when any word is joined with small/small, the 'small' spelling is more commonly used. Like small person, childhood, short story, etc. Another interesting thing to keep in mind. When English words are used directly in Bengali, if multiple words express a single meaning, it's logical to write them together or with hyphens between them. The same rule applies when two or more Bengali words express a compound term. This is why at the beginning of this writing, the word 'usage-related' doesn't have 'related' written separately. For the same reason I wrote 'electricity-supply,' not 'electricity supply.' I'll discuss this more later.]
Be patient, your work will be done. [Similarly: work, sun, etc. Note that there are no y-phalas in the spelling.]
At least don't speak like that. (At least don't speak like that.) [There should be no visarga at the end of words. Similarly: gradually, generally, hesitating (not with visarga/in between), etc. But visarga in the middle of words shouldn't be omitted. Like inner heart, inner quarters.
What a way he talks! [Similarly: needle (not needlē), fertile (not fertīle), dawn (not dawṇ), morning goddess (not morṇing goddess), warmth (not wārmth), Urvashi (not Ūrvashī), barren (not bārren), wave (not wāve), sky (not skȳ), Hindi (not Hindī), governmental (not governmentāl), collected works (not collected wōrks) etc. Exceptions: China, Kashmir.]
He posted on Facebook: This loneliness doesn't feel good anymore. (He posted on Facebook: This lonelīness doesn't feel good anymore.) [Similarly: excellence, competition, expertise etc. Foreign words should never be given the 'ṣ' sound anywhere, so it will be 'post', not 'poṣt'.]
What is the name of Britain's queen? (What is the name of Britaiṇ's queeṇ/queēn?) [Queen, priestess, tigress, lioness, maidservant are correct. But in the case of Sanskrit words, 'ṇ' after 'r': female deer. In other cases again: cowherd woman, gentleman's wife ('ṇ' not used). In short, wherever 'ṇ' should occur according to the rules of retroflex usage, in the case of non-Sanskrit words, there 'n' will be used. Like cold, lantern, disorder, chaos, rhinoceros etc. (Not 'ṇḍ'.) More discussion about this follows later.]
What magic there is in his words! (What māgic there is in his words!) [Similarly: museum, magician, arrangement, jasmine, quern, prayer, supplier etc. Writing with 'y' wouldn't be wrong, but the proper spelling is with 'j'. However, jasmine/jasmine flower should be written with 'y'.]
He says whatever whenever. (He says whatever whenever whatēver.)
Whatever you say, all of it will remain in my mind. (Whatever/whatēver you say, all of that/thāt will remain in my mind.)
Behave well with them. (Behave wēll with them.) When you return, read the book. (When you return, rēad the book.) [In present imperative mood: vowel-ending+vowel-ending. In future tense: vowel-ending+vowel-ending.]
Don't tell anyone. (Don't tēll/tell anyone.) [In negative imperative sentences: vowel-ending+vowel-ending.]
Why didn't you say/do/hear before? ('Why didn't you sāy/dō/heār before?'...won't work.) [For second person negative past tense: vowel-ending+vowel-ending+-ni]
Memory technique: vowel-ending+vowel-ending should only be used for informal address, not much need elsewhere. Like "When will you go, tell me." "You do this." etc. Except for the two cases mentioned above, in all other cases of second person imperative verbs: vowel-ending+vowel-ending. Keeping this in mind can save you from many, many mistakes.
Do you know them? (Do you knōw/know/knōw them?)
Do you ever buy anything from that shop? (Do you ever bυy/bυy/bυy anything from that shop?)
Run fast, there's little time. (Rυn/rυn fast, there's little time.) [Similarly: get up, fit/meet.]
Never eat rohu fish again. (Never eat rohu fish agaiṇ.) [Similarly: mango tree, grape fruit; going, giving, taking, singing, wanting etc.]
Write letters occasionally. (Write letters occasionallȳ.) [Similar imperative: learn. Notable: sometimes, occasionally, now and then.]
From the market bring an aerosol - bring it (=bring it here)/bring it (=bring it now)/get it (=get it later when you have time). (From the market bring an aerosol - briṇg/briṇg/geṭ.)
Ask yourself whether you love me or not. (Ask yourself whether you lovē me or not.)
You never loved me at all! (You never lovēd me at all!)
Let's discuss something. Though both "bring" and "get" are correct, we won't write "come" but "come here." Present imperative "come" and future imperative "will come" both through vowel harmony/epenthesis have created "come here." Rabindranath's song has "Come O Spring, come come," not "come." Come>(vowel harmony/assimilation) come here. "Come" is regional usage, standard form is "come here." "Bring" is present imperative. "Come" exists, that's general present tense for you. Example: When you come, when you leave, I can't keep track of anything. "Get" is future imperative, will bring>(epenthesis) will bring>(i-deletion) will bring>get (vowel harmony/assimilation).
They had sung, "We shall overcome." (They had sυng, "We shall overcōme.") ['_had' won't work. In first/second person future tense (except imperative), verb endings won't have long vowels. Not "will see" but "will see"; not "will inform" but "will inform"; not "will eat" but "will eat"; not "will say" but "will say"; not "will advance" but "will advance"; not "will tell" but "will tell"; not "are doing" but "are doing"; not "are telling" but "are telling" etc. But in cases of getting someone else to do...having brought, having done, having fed, having told, having shown etc., since there's no future tense usage, the long vowel remains at the end. Past habitual or general past tense third person verbs won't have long vowels at the end. Used to say, not "used to say"; used to do, not "used to do"; went, not "went"; sang, not "sang"; played, not "played"; advanced, not "advanced"; said, not "said"; ate, not "ate"; did, not "did"; advanced, not "advanced" etc. There's an easy technique to understand this: verbs whose formal versions don't have long vowels at the end, their colloquial versions also won't have long vowels. Bring each verb's formal version to mind and see - none of them has a long vowel at the end. Will do, will show, will inform, will eat, will say, will advance, will tell, is doing, is telling, used to say, used to do, used to go, used to sing, used to play, used to advance, said, ate, did, advanced etc.]
Going to the market, what vegetables will you bring - did he ask you that? (Going to the market, what vegetābles will you bring - did he ask you that?) [Cabbage, vegetables (not vegetābles, cabbāge). Note the spelling.]
An important technique: 'ki' or 'kī'? When to use 'ki' and when to use 'kī' is very easy to understand. If questioning ki/kī gives a yes/no answer, it will be 'ki'; in all other cases 'kī' will be used. Like what to say, what ends up being said. (Try questioning, you won't get a yes/no answer.) He had neither house nor car. (Try questioning, you'll get a yes/no answer. How? Let's see. Did he have a house? Did he have a car?) Nothing else, just try questioning to see if a yes/no answer comes. If it doesn't come, it will be 'kī', not 'ki'.
Ask whether he will go there or not./Ask whether he will go there or not. (Ask whether he will go there or not.)
A person like him dares to compete with me! (A person like him dāres to compete with me!)
Ask whether he will eat anything at night or not./Ask whether he will eat anything at night or not. (Ask whether he will eat anything at night or not.)
I heard that he also passed the exam? (I heard that he ālso passed the exam?)
Memory technique: When questioning will get a yes/no answer, it will be 'ki na'. If a yes/no answer can't be obtained and the sentence expresses disdain or doubt, it will be 'kina'. Same applies to 'na ki' and 'naki'.
He's a big shot, that's why he acts so proud! (He's a big shot, thāt's why he acts so proud!)
Some trouble or other has broken out at the office! (Some trouble or other has brokēn out at the office!) ['Trouble arising', not 'trouble binding'.]
He just composes songs off the cuff! (He just composēs songs off the cuff!)
So, how did you do the work? (So how did you do the work?) [Similarly: how, in what way, what kind, why, for what reason, in what manner, with what, whose etc.]
Say more, it sounds good to hear. (Say mōre, it sounds goōd to hear.) [Similarly: instead of writing 'any, still, black, now, even, ever, then, his' write 'any, still, black, now, even, ever, then, his'. But in words like 'ever, any, now, any at all, anyway, never, somehow, by no means' etc., the 'o' can be separated or kept as a vowel mark. Words like "any at all, anyway, never, somehow, by no means" look rather awkward when the '-o' is separated. Note that "someone's, someone's, someone's, someone's" are non-standard; write 'someone's'. Write 'someone', not "someone's, someone's, someone's". Write 'whenever, then', not 'whenever, then'.]
...half its shadow seemed to have withdrawn toward destruction. (...half its shadow seemed to have withdrawn towārd destruction.) ['Seemingly, why, so much, as much, this much, how much, that much, otherwise, perhaps' etc. - no such standard words exist. We will write 'as if, why, so much, as much, this much, how much, that much, otherwise, perhaps'. Good point. Among these, the word 'why' is used in second person imperative. Example: Decide to buy a watch today itself.]
This isn't anger! (This isn't anger!)
They don't know so much. (They don't know so much.) They couldn't find out for so long. (They couldn't find out for so long.) [Write 'na' separately, write 'ni' together. After 'so much' several words sit together. Like for so long, this much, so many times, so many things etc.]
Both problems are the same/of the same type. (Both problems are the sāme type/of the same type.)
That's why you can't even eat this much. (That's whȳ you can't even eat this mυch.)
Some discussion.

1. Words that sit together: at this moment, at this moment, for this reason, for this reason, this much, this time, this time, in this way, just now, in this manner, just now, winding, this time, in the same way, ['way' when meaning 'manner' will never sit separately, it will always sit together with the preceding word] a particle, at one time, single-mindedly, a hair's breadth, in one go, similar, a bunch, a strip, together, this much, like this, like this, in this form, in this form, these things, these things, a mouthful (of laughter, rice), one era, one-sided, a bit, together, at a glance, continuously, in one voice, once, a drop, a little, a little bit, ground floor, only, one way, a heap, one form, together, together, in unison, this way, knee-deep, one thousand, one hand, single-minded, one era, several times, one hundred, unanimous, in this case, one color, bellyful, one type, a slice, once (come visit once when you have time), one time (whatever I had to say, I said once, can't say again), at once, at one point, in one way, unanimously, single-mindedly, only, a handful, a handful, a moment, together, one way, one form, this side (not this side, not this-side), uneven (not uneven/uneven), so far (not so far, not so-far), a little here and there, completely, at once, a moment, at one glance, in one dash, in one breath, unanimously, at one glance, continuously, in one breath.
All these don't indicate number with 'one', they indicate association. The easy rule to understand is: if 'one' indicates number, there will be a gap after 'one', otherwise there won't be. Like 'come visit one day when you have time.' 'He came here for only one day.' Not just 'one', but when any numeral word doesn't indicate number, there's no gap after that word. Like 'This world of two days, what's the point of thinking so much?' 'This is easy work, I can do it in two seconds!' 'If I wanted, I could fool you in two minutes!' But 'The microwave is set for two minutes.' 'The previous competitor reached two seconds after the next person.' I'll teach you something interesting here. 'How much more time will the train take to arrive?' 'It will take me another hour to get there.' Object+arrive-, person+reach-. Good to remember: how long, how long, how many days, how far, how many ways, how many kinds, (no gap before 'ways', there is before 'kinds') how much time etc.
2. Words that don't sit together: this time, one bundle (of greens), one shower (of rain).
3. Words that sit together with hyphens in between: one-half, one-half day, one-by-one, one-each, one-third, one-by-one, now-then (situation), this side-that side, this side-that side, this side-that side, this way-that way, this talk-that talk, something-or-other, one-two, here-there, this country-that country, outside jurisdiction (not jurisdiction).
He is an M.B.B.S. doctor. (He is an M.B.B.S./MBBS doctor.) [In writing degrees, no dots needed after abbreviations. Similarly: PhD (not P H D ('Ph.D.', 'P.H.D.' not used)), M.Com, M.D. etc. But 'dots' are also acceptable. P.H. D., M. Com., M. D., M. B.
B.S. All of these are correct as well.]
Even so, even like this, some people manage to live! (Even so, just like this, some people manage to live!) [Easy way to understand: এমনি + incomplete verb, এমনই + noun/complete verb or এমনই (meaning 'so much'), and এমনি (meaning 'just like that'/'actually'/'for no reason')]
I didn't say that for nothing, you know. (I didn't say that just like that.)
I went there for no particular reason. (I went there just like that.) [এমনি means 'without any reason', এমনিতে means 'generally or usually']
Best wishes, friend! (Best wishes, friend.) Happy birthday, Sadhana! Or I wished Sadhana a happy birthday. (Happy birthday, Sadhana! Or I wished Sadhana a happy birthday.) [In cases like happy birthday, best wishes, good morning/afternoon/evening/night etc., there should be no space in between if they function as a noun or noun phrase. Let me give you another example—'Good morning! What's the news? How are you?' or 'I'm wishing you a good morning. What's the news? How are you?' Let me teach you an even simpler technique, shall I? In optative sentences, there will be a gap after 'শুভ', otherwise there won't be.]
(To be continued…)