What to notice when translating
May I…? apni permission mangne ke liye hai. Could you…? kisi doosre se madad mangta hai. “May I explain?” ka matlab kya main samjha sakta/sakti hoon hai; “Could you explain?” mein aap doosre shakhs se samjhane ko keh rahe hain. English mein subject badalne se kaam karne wala badal jata hai.
Compare these two meanings
May I explain this answer?
کیا میں یہ جواب سمجھا سکتا ہوں؟
Could you explain this answer?
کیا آپ یہ جواب سمجھا سکتے ہیں؟
10 classroom sentences: Urdu to English
Try the English version first, then open the answer. Roman Urdu is a pronunciation aid; spellings can vary.
کیا میں اندر آ سکتا ہوں؟
Kya main andar aa sakta hoon?
English translation & context
May I come in?
A female speaker can use aa sakti hoon / آ سکتی ہوں.
کیا آپ ذرا آہستہ بول سکتے ہیں؟
Kya aap zara aahista bol sakte hain?
English translation & context
Could you speak more slowly?
More slowly changes the speed, not the volume.
اس جملے کا کیا مطلب ہے؟
Is jumlay ka kya matlab hai?
English translation & context
What does this sentence mean?
Does is followed by mean, not means.
ہم کس صفحے پر ہیں؟
Hum kis safhay par hain?
English translation & context
Which page are we on?
On is the natural preposition for a page here.
براہ کرم اوپر تاریخ لکھیں۔
Barah-e-karam oopar tareekh likhein.
English translation & context
Please write the date at the top.
The instruction starts with the base verb write.
مجھے تھوڑا اور وقت چاہیے۔
Mujhe thora aur waqt chahiye.
English translation & context
I need a little more time.
A little modifies uncountable time.
کیا ہم دو دو مل کر کام کر سکتے ہیں؟
Kya hum do do mil kar kaam kar sakte hain?
English translation & context
Can we work in pairs?
In pairs means in groups of two.
براہ کرم مرکزی خیال کے نیچے لکیر لگائیں۔
Barah-e-karam markazi khayal ke neechay lakeer lagayein.
English translation & context
Please underline the main idea.
Underline describes marking text, not rewriting it.
ہوم ورک کب تک جمع کرانا ہے؟
Homework kab tak jama karana hai?
English translation & context
When is the homework due?
Due asks about the deadline.
میں اپنی کاپی گھر پر بھول آیا ہوں۔
Main apni copy ghar par bhool aaya hoon.
English translation & context
I left my notebook at home.
A female speaker can say bhool aayi hoon / بھول آئی ہوں.
A short English conversation with Urdu translation
A: Which question should we answer first?
ہمیں پہلے کس سوال کا جواب دینا چاہیے؟
B: Start with question two and give one example.
دوسرے سوال سے شروع کریں اور ایک مثال دیں۔
Make it your own
Choose one instruction and change it into a polite request. For example, change Read this line into Could you read this line, please? Then write a different request of your own.
For Urdu examples with a gendered speaker, change sakta to sakti, raha to rahi, or ga to gi as appropriate. The English sentence often stays the same.
Use these examples in class
Open the printable worksheet, write your answers and check the separate key. Use the worksheet for personal or classroom practice. Share this source page so learners can read the context notes too. For republication or adaptation, contact the project.
Prepared 26 October 2026 · Original AI-assisted examples; independent bilingual review pending. Editorial policy · Suggest a correction.