"राज के दादा बूढ़े हैं।"
Translation:Raj's grandfather is old.
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When the subject of a sentence is an older person, it is usually treated as a plural noun. This is a way of showing respect. This is also why the sentence uses हैं instead of है.
राज का दादा बूढ़ा है। would be a grammatically correct sentence but it may be seen as disrespectful.
Why is paternal grandfather wrong? When I enter Paternal, my answer is wrong
1518
Unfortunately no. You have to encounter the same question again and remember to report it then.
I tried. Raj's paternal grandfather is old was marked wrong for me. I have reported it.
Not when used in its correct context. However, addressing someone just as 'बूढ़ा' or 'बुढ्ढा' is definitely offensive (similar to how addressing them as 'old man' might be). Also, the word बुज़ुर्ग is a more respectful way of referring to the elderly compared to बूढ़ा/बूढी.
I am not sure if it should. Anyway, बुज़ुर्ग is a much closer match to 'elderly' in terms of tone especially when it is used as a noun.
Since plurals are used to denote respect, how would one say "Raj's grandfathers are old."? Or is this contextual as I am struggling to see, even in context, how one would differentiate singular vs plural.
Thanks!
- 1699
You'd be using a different word for each grandfather in Hindi, so the issue wouldn't arise - you dada is your father's father, your nana is your mother's father, and you can only have one of each of them.
This.
If you do have two dadas though (if your father has a father and stepfather for instance), you can explicitly clarify that you're talking about multiple people if you want. Eg: मेरे दोनों दादा बूढ़े हैं - Both my paternal grandfathers are old.
If we show respect to dada by treating it as a plural why not ma?
You could.
'Raj's mother is old' would be 'राज की माँ बूढ़ी हैं'. But because the feminine plural form also uses की and बूढ़ी like the feminine singular, only the use of हैं instead of है tells you that it is pluralized.