Grammar Guide

Balti grammar does not have an equivalent for the English definite article "the". The noun is generally used alone.

There is, however, an indefinite article which signifies "a" or "an", or "one" or "a certain". It is placed after the substantive.

• Example: Mi chik translates to "A man" or "one man".
• Example: Nan chik-in-na hilin-i-skad kwed translates to "The sound of noise is heard from a certain house".

Another form signifies "fullness" (a full), derived from the verb ganma ("to be full"). This form is also placed after the noun.

• Example: Phanma gan means "As much as can be embraced".
• Example: Mi chik-i-si zan gan mār khyonns translates to "A man brought a saucepan-full of butter".