Language/Assamese/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be
Hi Assamese learners! đ
In this lesson, we will be focusing on the usage of "be" in the Assamese language.

Introduction[edit | edit source]
In Assamese, the verb "be" is usually translated as "āĻš'āĻŦ" or "āĻšā§" and is used to indicate the existence or the state of being of something. It is a crucial verb that is used in various tenses, such as the present, past, and future tenses, and also the progressive and perfect tenses. Additionally, it can also be used in negative and interrogative forms. In this lesson, we will explore the different ways of using "be" in Assamese.
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Plurals & How to Use Have.
Present Tense[edit | edit source]
The present tense of "be" in Assamese is usually translated as "āĻš'āĻŦ" or "āĻšā§". Its structure is quite simple, and it follows the subject-object-verb word order, which is commonly used in Assamese language.
Letâs take a look at some examples in the present tense:
Assamese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
āĻŽāĻ āĻš'āĻŦ | moi hob | I am |
āϤā§āĻŽāĻžā§° āύāĻžāĻŽ āĻĒā§°āĻž āĻšāϝāĻŧ? | tumar nam para hoy? | What is your name? |
āϤāĻŋāύāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻāĻā§ āĻš'āĻāĻŋāϞ | tini dukhi hoxil | He/She was sad |
Past Tense[edit | edit source]
The past tense of "be" in Assamese is usually translated as "āĻš'āĻŦ" or "āĻšā§". This tense is used to indicate actions or states of being that have already occurred in the past. Its structure is also similar to the present tense, following the subject-object-verb word order.
Letâs take a look at some examples in the past tense:
Assamese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
āĻŽāĻ āĻš'āĻŦ āĻāĻāĻŋāϞā§āĻ | moi hob achilu | I was |
āϤā§āϞāϤ āĻĒāĻāĻāĻā§ āĻšā§āĻāĻŋāϞ | tult panchti hoisil | The table was broken |
āϤā§āĻŽāĻŋ āĻā§āύā§āĻā§ āĻšā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĻž? | tmi kenekei hoisila? | Why were you late? |
Future Tense[edit | edit source]
The future tense of "be" in Assamese is usually translated as "āĻš'āĻŦ" or "āĻšā§". This tense is used to indicate actions or states of being that will happen in the future. In this tense, the word order is subject-verb-object.
Letâs take a look at some examples in the future tense:
Assamese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
āĻŽāĻ āĻš'āĻŦ āĻāĻāĻŋāĻŦ | moi hob ahsib | I will be |
āϤā§āĻŽāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻā§ āĻšā§āĻāĻŋāϞ āĻĒāĻžāĻŦ? | tmi eto hoisil pabo? | Will you get this? |
āϤāĻŋāύāĻŋ āϏā§āĻā§āϞāϤ āĻš'āĻŦ | tini skulot hob | He/She will be at school |
Negative Forms of "Be"[edit | edit source]
In negative forms of "be", we use "āύāĻšāϝāĻŧ" (nahoi) or "āύā§āĻ" (nei) along with the helper verb "āĻš'āĻŦ" (hob). The structure of negative forms of "be" is the same as affirmative forms.
Letâs take a look at some examples in negative forms:
Assamese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
āĻŽāĻ āύāĻšāϝāĻŧ | moi nahoi | I am not |
āϤā§āĻŽāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻž āύā§āĻ | tmi eta nei | You are not |
āϤāĻŋāύāĻŋ āϏā§āĻāĻšāĻž āύāĻžāĻ | tini soha nai | He/She is not beautiful |
Interrogative Forms of "Be"[edit | edit source]
In interrogative forms of "be", we usually use the auxiliary verb "āĻāĻŋ"(ki) along with the verb "āĻš'āĻŦ"(hob). For example:
Assamese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
āϤā§āĻŽāĻŋ āĻāĻŋ āĻāĻ? | tmi ki ach? | Are you there? |
āϤā§āĻŽāĻžā§° āĻā§āĻŦāĻŋāϞ āĻāĻŋ āĻāĻžāĻāĻž āĻšā§āĻāĻŋāϞ? | tumar table ki bhanga hoisil? | Was your table broken? |
āϤāĻŋāύāĻŋ āĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻāĻšāĻž ? | tini ki soha? | Is he/she beautiful? |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Person 1: āϤā§āĻŽāĻžā§° āĻŦāĻāĻā§ āĻāĻŋ? (tumar boituo ki?) (What is your book?) Person 2: āĻŽā§ā§° āĻŦāĻāĻā§ āĻāĻŋ āĻāĻā§āĨ¤ (mor boituo ki ase.) (My book is here.)
Person 1: āϤā§āĻŽāĻŋ āĻāĻŋ āĻ āϏāĻŽāϤ āĻāĻāĻž āĻšā§āĻāĻŋāϞā§? (tumi ki Asomot axa hoisile?) (Were you in Assam?) Person 2: āĻšā§ āĻāĻāĻŋāϞā§āĻāĨ¤(hou achilu.) (Yes.)
Person 1: āϤā§āĻŽāĻŋ āĻāύāĻžāĻ āĻĒāĻžāϞ āĻāĻŋ āĻā§°āĻž āĻšā§āĻā§? (tumi onakpal ki kora hoise?) (Have you milked the cow?) Person 2: āĻšā§ āĻā§°āĻŋāĻā§āĻāĨ¤(hou korisou.) (Yes.)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we have discussed the usage of "be" in Assamese. It is important to remember that this verb is not only used to indicate the existence or the state of being of something, but it has more complex usages. To improve your Assamese Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
⥠Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. đ
Great work on completing this lesson! Take a moment to investigate these connected pages: Conditional Mood & Possession.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Assamese language - Wikipedia
- Assamese Grammar - How to Use "Be"
- Assamese grammar - Wikibooks, open books for an open world