The bhū class

The bhū class is the largest of the ten verb classes. It contains more than a thousand different verb roots. This class contains many common verb roots.

Creating the stem

For most roots in this class, we create a stem by adding -a to the end of the root. We then strengthen the root vowel:

• भू → भव
  bhū → bhava
  become

• नी → नय
  nī → naya
  lead

• शुच् → शोच
  śuc → śoca
  grieve

However, there are some roots that don't use a strengthened vowel. For example, roots whose vowel is a don't change:

• हस् → हस
  has → hasa
  laugh

But there are other kinds of roots that don't strengthen, either:

• निन्द् → निन्द
  nind → ninda
  blame

• जीव् → जीव
  jīv → jīva
  live

Which roots can we strengthen? If a root's last sound is a vowel, or if its second-to-last sound is a short vowel other than a, then we can strengthen the root's vowel. Otherwise, we don't perform any changes.

Irregular stems

There are also several roots that form their stems in an unpredictable way. Here are some common examples:

• स्था → तिष्ठ
  sthā → tiṣṭha
  stand

• पा → पिब
  pā → piba
  drink

• दृश् → पश्य
  dṛś → paśya
  see

• गम् → गच्छ
  gam → gaccha
  go

The roots that use irregular stems are all common, and you will see and hear them many times as you engage with real Sanskrit content. So although you might These stems are difficult to predict, and there is no clear rule that describes how they are created.

be tempted to memorize these forms, you will likely acquire them naturally as you continue to read and listen to Sanskrit.

Adding parasmaipada endings

We start with the forms used in the present tense:

The table above has three rows and three columns. Each row corresponds to a different person, and you can see these persons labeled on the left-hand side. Each column corresponds to a different number, and you can see these numbers labeled on the top. For example, we can use this table to learn that the “3rd person singular” form is bhavati.

Why do we put these words in a table? Mainly, a table lets us see certain patterns clearly. For example, notice that all of the first-person forms have a long ā sound.

The present tense is similar to the imperative:

But there are also some major differences. In particular, notice these five endings:

The ordinary past uses all five of these endings:

Apart from the 3rd-person plural ending -n, all of these endings are used by the potential:

Adding ātmanepada endings

Again, we start with the forms used in the present tense:

Imperative:

Ordinary past:

Potential: