Language/Tswana/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be
Hi Tswana learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "be" in Tswana. We will look at the different forms of the verb and how to use them in sentences. We will also look at some examples of sentences using the verb "be".
Introduction
The verb "be" is one of the most important verbs in any language. It is used to express existence, identity, location, and other states of being. In Tswana, the verb "be" is conjugated differently depending on the subject of the sentence. In this lesson, we will look at the different forms of the verb "be" and how to use them in sentences.
Forms of the Verb "Be"
The verb "be" has three forms in Tswana: the present tense, the past tense, and the future tense.
Present Tense
The present tense of the verb "be" is used to express a state of being that is currently happening. The present tense of the verb "be" is conjugated as follows:
| Tswana | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| nna | n-nah | I am |
| o na | oh-nah | you are |
| o na | oh-nah | he/she/it is |
| tsa | t-sah | we are |
| re na | reh-nah | they are |
For example:
- Person 1: Nna ke go tlhaloganya. (I am going to the store.)
- Person 2: O na le go tlhaloganya? (Are you going to the store?)
Past Tense
The past tense of the verb "be" is used to express a state of being that happened in the past. The past tense of the verb "be" is conjugated as follows:
| Tswana | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| nna ke | n-nah keh | I was |
| o ne | oh-neh | you were |
| o ne | oh-neh | he/she/it was |
| tsa ke | t-sah keh | we were |
| re ne | reh-neh | they were |
For example:
- Person 1: Nna ke go tlhaloganya. (I was going to the store.)
- Person 2: O ne le go tlhaloganya? (Were you going to the store?)
Future Tense
The future tense of the verb "be" is used to express a state of being that will happen in the future. The future tense of the verb "be" is conjugated as follows:
| Tswana | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| nna ka | n-nah kah | I will be |
| o na ka | oh-nah kah | you will be |
| o na ka | oh-nah kah | he/she/it will be |
| tsa ka | t-sah kah | we will be |
| re na ka | reh-nah kah | they will be |
For example:
- Person 1: Nna ka go tlhaloganya. (I will be going to the store.)
- Person 2: O na ka le go tlhaloganya? (Will you be going to the store?)
Examples
Here are some examples of sentences using the verb "be":
| Tswana | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Nna ke go tlhaloganya. | n-nah keh goh t-lah-log-ahn-yah | I was going to the store. |
| O na le go tlhaloganya? | oh-nah leh goh t-lah-log-ahn-yah | Are you going to the store? |
| Re na ka go tlhaloganya. | reh-nah kah goh t-lah-log-ahn-yah | They will be going to the store. |
| Tsa ke go tlhaloganya. | t-sah keh goh t-lah-log-ahn-yah | We were going to the store. |
| O na ka le go tlhaloganya? | oh-nah kah leh goh t-lah-log-ahn-yah | Will you be going to the store? |
Conclusion
In this lesson, we have looked at the different forms of the verb "be" in Tswana and how to use them in sentences. We have also seen some examples of sentences using the verb "be". To improve your Tswana Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
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