Language/Amharic/Grammar/Basic-Prepositions-and-Adverbs

Amharic → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Intermediate Amharic → Basic Prepositions and Adverbs

Introduction

In this lesson, we will delve into the fascinating world of basic prepositions and adverbs in the Amharic language. As an intermediate Amharic learner, understanding how to use prepositions and adverbs correctly will allow you to form more complex sentences and express yourself more fluently. We will explore the different types of prepositions and adverbs, provide numerous examples, and offer exercises for practice. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid foundation in using basic prepositions and adverbs in Amharic.

The Importance of Prepositions and Adverbs

Prepositions and adverbs play a vital role in Amharic grammar. They provide crucial information about the relationship between nouns, pronouns, and other elements in a sentence. Prepositions show the location, direction, time, or manner of an action, while adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to provide more information about how, when, or where something happened. Mastering these elements will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Amharic.

Basic Prepositions

Locative Prepositions

Locative prepositions are used to indicate location or position. They answer the question "where?". Let's take a look at some common locative prepositions in Amharic:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English Translation
በስተጀርባ	be-setejäräba	in the room
በገንዘብ	be-genzebi	at the market
በቤት	be-bet	at home
በመቃብር	be-maqäbär	on the table
በመስመር	be-mesmer	under the chair
በማዕከላት	be-ma'ekälät	beside the tree
በቀስት	be-qest	behind the wall
በብርቱዎች	be-bertuwotch	among the children

Temporal Prepositions

Temporal prepositions are used to indicate time or duration. They answer the question "when?". Here are some common temporal prepositions in Amharic:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English Translation
በጊዜ	be-gize	at the moment
በሌሊት	be-lelit	in the afternoon
በሌሊት	be-se'at	at the hour
በሰአት	be-sä'at	at night
በቀን	be-qen	in the morning
በአምስት	be-amist	in five minutes
በወር	be-wer	in the year
በታችኛው	be-tachanayew	in the past

Directional Prepositions

Directional prepositions are used to indicate direction or movement. They answer the question "where to?". Let's explore some common directional prepositions in Amharic:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English Translation
በታች	be-tach	to the front
በሌላ	be-lela	to another place
በመሃከል	be-mahakel	to the left
በመስማት	be-mesmat	to the right
በለቀቀ	be-leqeqe	to the inside
በጣለቀ	be-taleqe	to the outside
በታችኛው	be-tachanayew	to the past
በሌላው	be-lelaw	to the other

Basic Adverbs

Manner Adverbs

Manner adverbs provide information about how an action is performed. They answer the question "how?". Let's explore some common manner adverbs in Amharic:

• በልቡ || be-ləbu || slowly
• በልቡ || be-ləbu || quickly
• በልቡ || be-ləbu || carefully
• በልቡ || be-ləbu || happily
• በልቡ || be-ləbu || sadly
• በልቡ || be-ləbu || easily
• በልቡ || be-ləbu || loudly
• በልቡ || be-ləbu || quietly

Time Adverbs

Time adverbs provide information about when an action occurs. They answer the question "when?". Here are some common time adverbs in Amharic:

• አሁን || ahun || now
• በማለት || be-malet || today
• በነገር || be-nəgär || tomorrow
• በነገር || be-nəgär || yesterday
• በወር || be-wer || yearly
• በወር || be-wer || monthly
• በወር || be-wer || weekly
• በወር || be-wer || hourly

Cultural Insights

In Ethiopian culture, the use of prepositions and adverbs is influenced by regional variations and historical factors. For example, in the Amhara region, the word "በቤት" (be-bet) is commonly used to mean "at home," while in the Oromia region, the word "በራስ" (be-ras) is often used instead. These variations reflect the diverse linguistic and cultural landscape of Ethiopia.

One interesting cultural fact is that the Ethiopian calendar, which is used alongside the Gregorian calendar, has its own unique way of expressing time. In Amharic, the word "ቀን" (qen) is used to mean both "day" and "morning," highlighting the importance of mornings in Ethiopian culture. Additionally, Ethiopia is known for its rich history and ancient traditions, which are often celebrated through colorful festivals and ceremonies. Understanding the cultural context of prepositions and adverbs will deepen your appreciation for the Amharic language and its connection to Ethiopian culture.

Practice Exercises

Now that you have learned about basic prepositions and adverbs in Amharic, it's time to put your knowledge into practice. Here are some exercises for you to complete:

1. Translate the following sentences into Amharic:

• She is in the garden.
• They arrived yesterday.
• We are going to the market.
• He speaks slowly.
• I will come tomorrow.

2. Fill in the blanks with the correct prepositions or adverbs:

• በሌሊት እስከ ሌሊት ይሄዳል. (be-lelit eskä lelit yihedadel)
• በሰአት ጥሩ ቀን ነበር. (be-sä'at teru qen näber)
• በቀስት ላይ ይደርሳል. (be-qest lay yidiräsal)

3. Create your own sentences using prepositions and adverbs. Be creative and try to incorporate elements of Ethiopian culture or your own personal experiences.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully completed the lesson on basic prepositions and adverbs in Amharic. By understanding and practicing the use of prepositions and adverbs, you have taken a significant step towards becoming a more proficient Amharic speaker. Remember to continue practicing and exploring the rich cultural context of the Amharic language. In the next lesson, we will focus on object pronouns in Amharic. Keep up the great work!

Table of Contents - Amharic Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Amharic Alphabet

• Fidel and Syllables
• Pronunciation and Phonetics

  ---

Basic Vocabulary

• Greetings and Introductions
• Numbers and Counting
• Days of the Week and Months
• Colors and Shapes
• Family and Relationships

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Nouns and Pronouns
• Verbs and Tenses
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Prepositions and Conjunctions

  ---

Everyday Vocabulary

• Food and Drinks
• Clothing and Accessories
• Weather and Seasons
• Travel and Transportation
• Hobbies and Leisure

  ---

Intermediate Sentence Structure

• Negation and Questions
• Imperatives and Requests
• Expressing Possession
• Comparatives and Superlatives

  ---

Advanced Vocabulary

• Professions and Work
• Health and Body
• Education and Learning
• Nature and Environment
• Technology and Communication

  ---

Ethiopian Culture and Traditions

• Ethiopian Holidays and Festivals
• Ethiopian Cuisine
• Ethiopian Music and Dance
• Ethiopian History and Heritage

Sources

• Issues of Time and Place Adverbs in Amharic
• Amharic Grammar | LEARN101.ORG
• Amharic Grammar - Quick Online Learning

Other Lessons

• How to Use Have
• Expressions Using the Relative Past
• 2 sequential actions in the present
• The Present Future Tense
• Time Adverbs
• Definite direct objects in the present and future tense
• Using the Conditional
• The Possessive Adjectives
• Direct and Indirect Object Affixes