Language/Southern-sotho/Grammar/Present-Tense
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Present Tense in Southern Sotho
The present tense is used to describe actions or events that are currently happening or are generally true. In Southern Sotho, the present tense is formed by adding a prefix to the verb stem, depending on the subject of the sentence. Southern Sotho verbs have different sets of prefixes according to the noun class of the subject.
Subject Prefixes
Prefixes in Southern Sotho verbs are classified into different groups. These groups or noun classes have different prefixes. Each class is defined by its prefixes, which follow a pattern in accordance with either singular or plural, and are unique to that class.
Subject prefixes are used to indicate the subject of the sentence. Here are the subject prefixes:
Singular Subject Prefixes:
| Noun Class | Prefix | Example Verb |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Proper Nouns) | o- | o ne a lahleha - He is sleeping |
| 1a (Other Nouns) | u- | u ke ke kotula - You are not listening |
| 2 | ba- | ba kae? - Where are they? |
| 2a | ba- | ba tswaletsoa - They are dismissed |
| 3 | mo- | mo lebelletse - She is teaching |
| 4 | ho- | ho tla fumana - He will get it |
| 5 | re- | re o ntshepile - We are happy |
| 6 | ntho- | ntho ke bua - Something talks |
Plural Subject Prefixes:
| Noun Class | Prefix | Example Verb |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Proper Nouns) | ba- | ba ne ba lahleha - They are sleeping |
| 1a (Other Nouns) | ba- | ba ke ke kotule - They are not listening |
| 2 | ba- | ba lelapa - They are families |
| 2a | ba- | ba fumana - They get it |
| 3 | ba- | ba lebelletse - They are teaching |
| 4 | li- | li tla ba letho - They will have everything |
| 5 | di- | di sareletseng - They are cooking |
| 6 | ma- | ma hlapa - They are working |
Conjugation in Present Tense
Below is the conjugation of the verb "tla" which means "will" in Southern Sotho, in the present tense. The examples show how to use the verb with different subjects.
Singular Conjugation:
| Noun Class | Prefix | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Proper Nouns) | o- | O tla ba lefatshe – He is going to come to the earth |
| 1a (Other Nouns) | u- | U tla be ba se fe – You will eat when you are hungry |
| 2 | ba- | Ba tla ba bonahala – They will be visible |
| 2a | ba- | Ba tla ba kopana - They will meet each other |
| 3 | mo- | Mo tla lebella - She will sing |
| 4 | ho- | Ho tla fumana – He will get it |
| 5 | re- | Re tla bona ditshila – We will see the stars |
| 6 | ntho- | Ntho tla dula - Something will enter |
Plural Conjugation:
| Noun Class | Prefix | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Proper Nouns) | ba- | Ba tla ba lefatshe – They are going to come to the earth |
| 1a (Other Nouns) | ba- | Ba tla ba nyala – They will shine |
| 2 | ba- | Ba tla ba kopang – They will meet |
| 2a | ba- | Ba tla ba fumana – They will get it |
| 3 | ba- | Ba tla ba lebella – They will sing |
| 4 | li- | Li tla ba letho – They will have everything |
| 5 | di- | Di tla di tshwanela – They will be necessary |
| 6 | ma- | Ma tla ba nepahetseng – They will be experienced |
Forming Negative Sentences in Present Tense
To form negative sentences in the present tense, one can add the negative particles, "ha" or "che" before the verb.
Here is the formula:
"Ha" or "Che" + subject prefix + verb stem
Examples:
- Ha ke fitlhile - I am not yet done
- Che o fele - You are not finished
- Ha ba fumane - They did not get it
Irregular verbs
There are several Southern Sotho verbs that follow different patterns in their present tense conjugation, such as "roba" (to steal), "khaba" (to be angry) and "tshwara" (to hold). Below are some examples:
Verb "roba" (to steal)
Here is the conjugation of this irregular verb in the present tense:
| Noun Class | Prefix | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Proper Nouns) | o- | O roba – He is stealing |
| 1a (Other Nouns) | u- | U robile – You have stolen |
| 2 | ba- | Ba roba – They are stealing |
| 2a | ba- | Ba robetse - They have stolen |
| 3 | mo- | Mo robile – She has stolen |
| 4 | ho- | Ho robile – He has stolen it |
| 5 | re- | Re robe – We are stealing |
| 6 | ntho- | Ntho e robe – Something is stolen |
Verb "khaba" (to be angry)
Here is the conjugation of this irregular verb in the present tense:
| Noun Class | Prefix | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Proper Nouns) | o- | O khabe – He is angry |
| 1a (Other Nouns) | u- | U khabile – You are angry |
| 2 | ba- | Ba khaba – They are angry |
| 2a | ba- | Ba khabetse – They have been angry |
| 3 | mo- | Mo khabile – She is angry |
| 4 | ho- | Ho khaba – He is angry |
| 5 | re- | Re khaba – We are angry |
| 6 | ntho- | Ntho e khabe – Something is angry |
Verb "tshwara" (to hold)
Here is the conjugation of this irregular verb in the present tense:
| Noun Class | Prefix | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Proper Nouns) | o- | O tshwara – He is holding |
| 1a (Other Nouns) | u- | U tshware – You are holding |
| 2 | ba- | Ba tshwara – They are holding |
| 2a | ba- | Ba tshwara ka 'mele – They are holding each other |
| 3 | mo- | Mo tshwara – She is holding |
| 4 | ho- | Ho tshwarile – He has held it |
| 5 | re- | Re tshwara – We are holding |
| 6 | ntho- | Ntho e tshware – Something is held |
Conclusion
Learning the present tense in Southern Sotho is essential as it enables one to express current actions and situations. The present tense is also the foundation on which other tenses are built. With the knowledge of subject prefixes and the conjugation of regular and irregular verbs, you can comfortably communicate in Southern Sotho present tense.
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|title=Southern Sotho Grammar - Verbs and Tenses - Present Tense
|keywords=Southern Sotho Language, Southern Sotho Present Tense, Southern Sotho Grammar, Southern Sotho Verbs, Southern Sotho Negative Sentences
|description=This lesson will teach students how to conjugate Southern
Other Lessons
- Past Tense
- Asking Questions
- Questions
- 0 to A1 Course
- Noun Classes
- How to Use Have
- Negating Sentences
- Pronouns
- Future Tense
- Personal Pronouns
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