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<div class="pg_page_title">Tswana Grammar - Pronouns</div>
<div class="pg_page_title">Tswana Grammar - Pronouns</div>
Hi Tswana learners! 😊<br>In today's lesson, we will be discussing Tswana pronouns. Pronouns are an important part of the Tswana language and understanding them is essential for speaking and writing correctly. We will look at the different types of pronouns, how they are used, and how to form them.  
 
Hi [https://polyglotclub.com/language/tswana Tswana] learners! 😊<br>In this lesson, we will learn about pronouns in Tswana grammar. Pronouns are words that replace nouns or noun phrases in a sentence. They are essential to make our speech more concise and cohesive.  
 
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== Types of Pronouns ==
Pronouns can be divided into two main categories: personal pronouns and possessive pronouns.


=== Personal Pronouns ===
== Pronouns ==
Personal pronouns are used to refer to people or things. In Tswana, there are three types of personal pronouns: subject pronouns, object pronouns, and reflexive pronouns.  
 
Tswana has nine personal pronouns, which, unlike English, are gender-neutral. Below is a table with the personal pronouns in Tswana, their pronunciation, and English translations.
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Tswana !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ke || /ke/ || I
|-
| O  || /o/ || You (singular)
|-
| E  || /ɛ/ || He/She/It
|-
| Re || /rɛ/ || We
|-
| Le || /lɛ/ || You (plural)
|-
| Ba || /ba/ || They (animate)
|-
| Bo || /bɔ/  || They (inanimate)
|-
| Mo || /mo/ || Him/Her/It (animate)
|-
| Lo || /lɔ/ || It (inanimate)
|}


Subject pronouns are used when the pronoun is the subject of the sentence. For example:
=== Subject Pronouns ===
* Ke a leboga. (I thank you.)


Object pronouns are used when the pronoun is the object of the sentence. For example:  
Subject pronouns are used before the verb and indicate who is performing the action. Let's see some examples:  
* O a leboga ke. (You thank me.)


Reflexive pronouns are used when the pronoun is referring back to the subject of the sentence. For example:
* Ke tla go bona. (/ke t͡ɬa go bo.na/) - I will see you.
* Ke a leboga ke. (I thank myself.)  
* O tla bona. (/o t͡ɬa bo.na/) - You will see.
* E tla bona. (/ɛ t͡ɬa bo.na/) - He/She/It will see.
* Re tla bona. (/rɛ t͡ɬa bo.na/) - We will see.
* Le tla bona. (/lɛ t͡ɬa bo.na/) - You (plural) will see.
* Ba tla bona. (/ba t͡ɬa bo.na/) - They (animate) will see.
* Bo tla bona. (/bɔ t͡ɬa bo.na/) - They (inanimate) will see.
* Mo tla bona. (/mo t͡ɬa bo.na/) - Him/Her/It (animate) will see.
* Lo tla bona. (/lo t͡ɬa bo.na/) - It (inanimate) will see.
 
It is important to note that Tswana has both singular and plural "you". "O" is used for singular "you", while "Le" is used for multiple people.
 
=== Object Pronouns ===
 
Object pronouns are used after the verb and indicate who is receiving the action. Let's see some examples:
 
* Ke tla go bona. (/ke t͡ɬa go bo.na/) - I will see you.
* Ke tla bona yena. (/ke t͡ɬa bo.na jɛna/) - I will see him/her/it.
* Ke tla bona bone. (/ke t͡ɬa bo.na bɔnɛ/) - I will see them.
 
In Tswana, object pronouns are usually placed after the verb, but can also be placed at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis.  
 
* Yena ke a mo bona. (/jɛna ke a mo bo.na/) - It is him that I will see.
* Bone re ba bona. (/bɔnɛ rɛ ba bo.na/) - It is them that we will see.


=== Possessive Pronouns ===
=== Possessive Pronouns ===
Possessive pronouns are used to indicate possession or ownership. In Tswana, there are two types of possessive pronouns: independent possessive pronouns and dependent possessive pronouns.


Independent possessive pronouns are used when the pronoun is not followed by a noun. For example:  
Possessive pronouns indicate that something belongs to someone. Let's see some examples:
* Ke a ntse a leboga. (I thank mine.)


Dependent possessive pronouns are used when the pronoun is followed by a noun. For example:
* Ke tla go bona. (/ke t͡ɬa go bo.na/) - I will see you.
* Ke a ntse a leboga ka mme. (I thank my mother's.)  
* Ke go bona. (/ke go bo.na/) - I will see yours.  
* Ke ya go bona. (/ke ja go bo.na/) - I am seeing yours.


== Formation of Pronouns ==
In the above example, "go" means "yours". We can also use "me" and "we" to express mine and ours, respectively. Let's see some examples:
The formation of pronouns in Tswana is relatively simple. To form a pronoun, you simply add the appropriate prefix to the verb.  


For example, the verb "leboga" (to thank) has the following pronouns:
* Ke ya me bonang. (/ke ja mɛ bo.naŋ/) - I see mine.
* Ke - I  
* Re ya rona bonang. (/rɛ ja rɔ.na bo.naŋ/)- We see ours.
* O - You
* A - He/She/It
* Re - We  
* Ba - They


So, the sentence "Ke a leboga" (I thank you) would be formed by adding the pronoun "ke" (I) to the verb "leboga" (to thank).  
=== Reflexive Pronouns ===
 
Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the sentence. In Tswana, reflexive pronouns are formed by adding "mo" to the beginning of the pronoun. Let's see some examples:
 
* Ke mo bona. (/ke mo bo.na/) - I see myself.
* O mo bona. (/o mo bo.na/) - You see yourself.
* E mo bona. (/ɛ mo bo.na/) - He/She/It sees itself.
* Re mo bona. (/rɛ mo bo.na/) - We see ourselves.
* Le mo bona. (/lɛ mo bo.na/) - You (plural) see yourselves.
* Ba mo bona. (/ba mo bo.na/) - They (animate) see themselves.
* Bo mo bona. (/bɔ mo bo.na/) - They (inanimate) see themselves.
 
=== Demonstrative Pronouns ===
 
Demonstrative pronouns are used to point out specific people or things. Tswana has two demonstrative pronouns: "yo" and "eo", which mean "this" and "that", respectively. Let's see some examples:
 
* Yo ke go bona. (/jo ke go bo.na/) - This is what I see.
* Eo o bile a re file. (/ɛɔ ɔ bile a rɛ fi.lɛ/) - That is what he/she said.
 
=== Interrogative Pronouns ===
 
Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions. In Tswana, the interrogative pronoun is "ke mang", which means "who".
 
* Ke mang o tla bona? (/ke maŋ o t͡ɬa bo.na/) - Who will you see?
 
== Dialogue ==
Here is a dialogue to see the pronouns in context:
 
* Person 1: Ke tla go bona. (/ke t͡ɬa go bo.na/) (I will see you)
* Person 2: Ke tla bona yena. (/ke t͡ɬa bo.na jɛna/) (I will see him/her/it)
* Person 1: Yena ke a mo bona (/jɛna ke a mo bo.na/) (It is him that I will see)
* Person 2: Ke ya go bona. (/ke ja go bo.na/) (I am seeing yours)


== Conclusion ==
== Conclusion ==
In this lesson, we have looked at the different types of pronouns in Tswana and how to form them. We hope that this lesson has helped you to gain a better understanding of Tswana pronouns.
<br><hr>If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.<br>Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎


Congratulations, you have reached the end of this lesson on pronouns in Tswana grammar. Keep up with your studies, and remember that practice makes perfect. To improve your Tswana Grammar, you can also use the [https://polyglotclub.com Polyglot Club] website. [https://polyglotclub.com/find-friends.php?search=send&d=0&f=36&offre1=110 Find native speakers] and ask them any [https://polyglotclub.com/language/tswana/question questions]!
== Sources ==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tswana_language Tswana Language]
* [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Setswana-language Setswana language]
* [https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Tswana/Contents Tswana - Wikibooks]
* [https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/tswana-people Tswana People - South African History Online]


==Related Lessons==
{{#seo:
* [[Language/Tswana/Grammar/Conditional-Mood|Conditional Mood]]
|title=Tswana Grammar - Pronouns
* [[Language/Tswana/Grammar/Gender|Gender]]
|keywords=Tswana Grammar, pronouns, personal pronouns, subject pronouns, object pronouns, possessive pronouns, reflexive pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, interrogative pronouns, Tswana Language
* [[Language/Tswana/Grammar/Plurals|Plurals]]
|description=Learn all about Tswana Grammar Pronouns in this comprehensive lesson. Understand the rules and examples of personal, possessive and reflexive pronouns. Practice Tswana Grammar using interactive examples and Get Correct Pronunciation.
* [[Language/Tswana/Grammar/Questions|Questions]]
}}
* [[Language/Tswana/Grammar/Negation|Negation]]
* [[Language/Tswana/Grammar/Adjectives|Adjectives]]


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{{Tswana-Page-Bottom}}

Revision as of 02:27, 5 March 2023

Botswana-Timeline-PolyglotClub.png
Tswana Grammar - Pronouns

Hi Tswana learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about pronouns in Tswana grammar. Pronouns are words that replace nouns or noun phrases in a sentence. They are essential to make our speech more concise and cohesive.

Pronouns

Tswana has nine personal pronouns, which, unlike English, are gender-neutral. Below is a table with the personal pronouns in Tswana, their pronunciation, and English translations.

Tswana Pronunciation English
Ke /ke/ I
O /o/ You (singular)
E /ɛ/ He/She/It
Re /rɛ/ We
Le /lɛ/ You (plural)
Ba /ba/ They (animate)
Bo /bɔ/ They (inanimate)
Mo /mo/ Him/Her/It (animate)
Lo /lɔ/ It (inanimate)

Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns are used before the verb and indicate who is performing the action. Let's see some examples:

  • Ke tla go bona. (/ke t͡ɬa go bo.na/) - I will see you.
  • O tla bona. (/o t͡ɬa bo.na/) - You will see.
  • E tla bona. (/ɛ t͡ɬa bo.na/) - He/She/It will see.
  • Re tla bona. (/rɛ t͡ɬa bo.na/) - We will see.
  • Le tla bona. (/lɛ t͡ɬa bo.na/) - You (plural) will see.
  • Ba tla bona. (/ba t͡ɬa bo.na/) - They (animate) will see.
  • Bo tla bona. (/bɔ t͡ɬa bo.na/) - They (inanimate) will see.
  • Mo tla bona. (/mo t͡ɬa bo.na/) - Him/Her/It (animate) will see.
  • Lo tla bona. (/lo t͡ɬa bo.na/) - It (inanimate) will see.

It is important to note that Tswana has both singular and plural "you". "O" is used for singular "you", while "Le" is used for multiple people.

Object Pronouns

Object pronouns are used after the verb and indicate who is receiving the action. Let's see some examples:

  • Ke tla go bona. (/ke t͡ɬa go bo.na/) - I will see you.
  • Ke tla bona yena. (/ke t͡ɬa bo.na jɛna/) - I will see him/her/it.
  • Ke tla bona bone. (/ke t͡ɬa bo.na bɔnɛ/) - I will see them.

In Tswana, object pronouns are usually placed after the verb, but can also be placed at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis.

  • Yena ke a mo bona. (/jɛna ke a mo bo.na/) - It is him that I will see.
  • Bone re ba bona. (/bɔnɛ rɛ ba bo.na/) - It is them that we will see.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns indicate that something belongs to someone. Let's see some examples:

  • Ke tla go bona. (/ke t͡ɬa go bo.na/) - I will see you.
  • Ke go bona. (/ke go bo.na/) - I will see yours.
  • Ke ya go bona. (/ke ja go bo.na/) - I am seeing yours.

In the above example, "go" means "yours". We can also use "me" and "we" to express mine and ours, respectively. Let's see some examples:

  • Ke ya me bonang. (/ke ja mɛ bo.naŋ/) - I see mine.
  • Re ya rona bonang. (/rɛ ja rɔ.na bo.naŋ/)- We see ours.

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the sentence. In Tswana, reflexive pronouns are formed by adding "mo" to the beginning of the pronoun. Let's see some examples:

  • Ke mo bona. (/ke mo bo.na/) - I see myself.
  • O mo bona. (/o mo bo.na/) - You see yourself.
  • E mo bona. (/ɛ mo bo.na/) - He/She/It sees itself.
  • Re mo bona. (/rɛ mo bo.na/) - We see ourselves.
  • Le mo bona. (/lɛ mo bo.na/) - You (plural) see yourselves.
  • Ba mo bona. (/ba mo bo.na/) - They (animate) see themselves.
  • Bo mo bona. (/bɔ mo bo.na/) - They (inanimate) see themselves.

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns are used to point out specific people or things. Tswana has two demonstrative pronouns: "yo" and "eo", which mean "this" and "that", respectively. Let's see some examples:

  • Yo ke go bona. (/jo ke go bo.na/) - This is what I see.
  • Eo o bile a re file. (/ɛɔ ɔ bile a rɛ fi.lɛ/) - That is what he/she said.

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions. In Tswana, the interrogative pronoun is "ke mang", which means "who".

  • Ke mang o tla bona? (/ke maŋ o t͡ɬa bo.na/) - Who will you see?

Dialogue

Here is a dialogue to see the pronouns in context:

  • Person 1: Ke tla go bona. (/ke t͡ɬa go bo.na/) (I will see you)
  • Person 2: Ke tla bona yena. (/ke t͡ɬa bo.na jɛna/) (I will see him/her/it)
  • Person 1: Yena ke a mo bona (/jɛna ke a mo bo.na/) (It is him that I will see)
  • Person 2: Ke ya go bona. (/ke ja go bo.na/) (I am seeing yours)

Conclusion

Congratulations, you have reached the end of this lesson on pronouns in Tswana grammar. Keep up with your studies, and remember that practice makes perfect. To improve your Tswana Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources


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