The locative case indicates a location. In the standard Marathi sentence mi mumbəit rahte (I Mumbai-in live) the suffix [-t] indicates the locative (inessive) case relation. Other suffixes [-la] and [-wər] are used in standard Marathi to indicate the adessive and supersessive local relations respectively. The geographical and social variation observed in the survey data in marking the inessive case relations is illustrated below.
1.0 Dialectal variation in marking the {Locative-Inessive}Ten variant forms were observed in the various regional dialects of Marathi for indicating the locative-inessive case: (1) [-t], (2) [-la/l], (3) [-le/l], (4) [-lə/l], (5) [-nə/n/na/ni], (6) [-ma/m], (7) [-ši], (8) [-tni/tnə], (9) [-k/kə/ka], (10) [-šin]. The geographical/social distribution and examples of the variant forms are given below.
1.1 Variant 1: [-t]The variant [-t] is used for indicating the locative-inessive case relation in all the sampled districts in the state of Maharashtra.
1.1.1 Example (District Chandrapur, taluka Brahmapuri, village Pachgaon, F51, Dhiwar, Illiterate) विकायला आता आमी दुकानात नेतून wikayla ata ami dukanat netun wik-ayla ata ami dukan-a-t ne-t-un sell-NON.FIN now we.EXCL shop-OBL-LOC carry-IPFV-1PL We take it in the store to sell. 1.2. Variant 2: [-la/l]The variant [-la/l] is observed for indicating the locative-inessive case relation in all the sampled districts in the state of Maharashtra.
1.2.1 Example (District Beed, taluka Ambajogai, village Satephal, F55, Mahar, Illiterate) नातेवाईक पुन्याला रातेत भाउ natewaik punyala ratet bʰau natewaik punya-la ra-t-et bʰau relatives Pune.OBL-LOC stay-IPFV-3PL brother (My) Relatives live in Pune. 1.3 Variant 3: [-le/l]The variant [-le/l] is used as a marker of the locative-inessive in nineteen of the sampled 34 districts in the state of Maharashtra. The geographical and social spread of this variant and example are given below:
| District | Taluka and Village |
|---|---|
| Chandrapur | Chandrapur - Chaknimbala,Rajura - Kadholi (Budruk) and Koshtala, Brahmapuri - Panchgaon |
| Gadchiroli | Gadchiroli - Khursa, Korchi - Mohgaon |
| Gondia | Gondia - Temni and Tedhwa |
| Bhandara | Bhandara - Dhargaon and Mujbi, Tumsar - Lobhi |
| Nagpur | Nagpur - Yerla, Bhiwapur - Sawargaon and Botezari, Ramtek - Bhojapur and Karwahi,Narkhed - Umari and Pandhari |
| Wardha | Wardha - Karanji (Bhoge),Hinganghat - Poti, Selu - Zadshi |
| Yavatmal | Ner - Kolura and Dagad Dhanora |
| Amravati | Amravati - Sawardi and Malkapur, Warud - Satnur and Gadegaon, Daryapur - Bhambora, Jitapur and Bhamod,Dharni - Kawdaziri |
| Akola | Akola - Gopalkhed and Yeota |
| Washim | Washim - Shirputi, Karanja - Girda and Donad (Budruk) |
| Buldhana | Buldhan - Palaskhed Bhat,Jalgaon-Jamod - Wadgaon Patan and Nimkarad,Shegaon - Shirajgaon (Nile) and Padsul |
| Hingoli | Kalamnuri - Morwad |
| Aurangabad | Vaijapur - Sawkhedganga, Paithan - Pachod (Budruk), Soegaon - Ghosla and Palaskheda |
| Jalgaon | Jalgaon - Dhamangaon and Wadli,Jamner - Wakod and Waghari, Raver - Nirul and Mangalwadi, Chalisgaon - Hatle and Dahiwad, Chopda- Tandalwadi |
| Dhule | Dhule - Laling, Songir, Khede and Khordad,Shirpur - Ambe, Shingave and Boradi, Sakri - Dighave and Dhadne |
| Nandurbar | Nandurbar - Ghotane and Dhanora,Navapur - Khandbara and Chinchpada,Shahada - Prakasha and Shahada |
| Nashik | Malegaon - Kalwadi and Kaulane (GA),Satana - Daregaon, Surgana - Kathipada, Triambakeshwar - Goldari |
| Palghar | Talasari - Udhwa and Girgaon,Jawhar - Hateri, Mokhada - Dandwal |
| Thane | Murbad - Madh |
The variant [-lə/l] is noted as a marker of the locative-inessive in eleven of the sampled 34 districts in the state of Maharashtra. The geographical spread of this variant and example are given below:
| District | Taluka and Village |
|---|---|
| Gondia | Sadak-Arjuni - Chikhali |
| Gadchiroli | Gadchiroli - Khursa and Shioni |
| Bhandara | Bhandara - Mujbi |
| Chandarapur | Brahmapuri - Torgaon (Budruk) |
| Hingoli | Kalamnuri - Morwad |
| Osmanabad | Osmanabad - Kond |
| Nashik | Triambakeshwar - Goldari |
| Palghar | Vasai - Wagholi, Dahanu - Murbad and Pimpalshet, Talasari - Udhawa, Jawhar - Hateri, Mokhada - Dandwal and Karegaon |
| Thane | Shahapur - Chaundhe (Budruk) and Borsheti |
| Ratnagiri | Ratnagiri - Someshwar |
| Sindhudurg | Kudal - Kudal |
The variant [-nə/n/na/ni] is observed as a marker of the locative-inessive in fourteen of the sampled 34 districts in the state of Maharashtra. The geographical and social spread of this variant and examples are given below:
| District | Taluka and Village |
|---|---|
| Gadchiroli | Korchi - Bori and Mohgaon |
| Chandrapur | Rajura - Kadholi (Budruk) and Koshtala |
| Nagpur | Narkhed - Pandhri (Kirad community) |
| Amravati | Dharni - Kawdaziri |
| Yavatmal | Ghatanji - Kurli |
| Hingoli | Kalamnuri - Morwad |
| Aurangabad | Aurangabad - Pimpalkhunta |
| Nandurbar | Shahada - Prakasha |
| Nashik | Triambakeshwar - Goldari |
| Palghar | Vasai - Wagholi, Kalamb and Nirmal, Dahanu - Murbad and Pimpalshet, Jawhar - Hateri |
| Thane | Bhiwandi - Bhiwali |
| Raigad | Karjat - Salokh, Alibag - Mandwa |
| Ratnagiri | Ratnagiri - Malgund |
| Sindhudurg | Dodamarg - Ayee |
