Language/Amharic/Grammar/Object-Pronouns

Amharic → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Intermediate Amharic → Object Pronouns

Introduction

In this lesson, we will delve into the topic of object pronouns in Amharic. Object pronouns are an essential part of the language as they allow us to refer to people or things that receive the action of a verb. Understanding and using object pronouns correctly will greatly enhance your ability to communicate in Amharic.

Throughout this lesson, we will explore the different types of object pronouns in Amharic, their usage, and their placement within a sentence. We will also provide numerous examples and practice exercises to reinforce your understanding of this concept.

Let's get started!

Object Pronouns in Amharic

Object pronouns in Amharic are used to replace or refer to a noun that is the recipient of an action. They are used when the object of a sentence is already known or can be easily inferred from the context. Object pronouns help to avoid repetition and make sentences more concise and fluid.

Amharic has different object pronouns for the first, second, and third person. Let's take a look at each of these pronouns and their usage.

First Person Object Pronouns

The first person object pronouns in Amharic refer to the person or people speaking. They are used when the speaker is the object of the action.

Here are the first person object pronouns in Amharic:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
እኔ	əne	me
እኛ	əngəna	us

Example: - የትም ምን እኔ ወደታች ነኝ? (Yätim män əne wädätach nəgä?) - What do you want me to do?

In this example, the first person object pronoun "እኔ" (əne) is used to refer to the speaker as the recipient of the action.

Second Person Object Pronouns

The second person object pronouns in Amharic refer to the person or people being spoken to. They are used when the listener is the object of the action.

Here are the second person object pronouns in Amharic:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
አንቺ	ənchi	you (singular, female)
አንሽ	ənshə	you (singular, male)
እናንተ	ənänta	you (plural)

Example: - እናንተን ምን እንደምናገኘው ስለምንድን ነው? (ənäntan män əndäminagänəw səlämändänəw?) - What do you want us to tell you?

In this example, the second person object pronoun "እናንተ" (ənänta) is used to refer to the listeners as the recipients of the action.

Third Person Object Pronouns

The third person object pronouns in Amharic refer to a person or thing that is not the speaker or the listener. They are used when someone or something else is the object of the action.

Here are the third person object pronouns in Amharic:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
እምነት	əmənat	him/her/it
እምነቴ	əmənatə	them

Example: - አይነትዎን ምን እንዳልተለየልን ለምንድን ነው? (aynatwon män əndalätäläyälən lämändänəw?) - What do you want to give them?

In this example, the third person object pronoun "እምነቴ" (əmənatə) is used to refer to a group of people or things as the recipients of the action.

Placement of Object Pronouns

In Amharic, object pronouns are typically placed before the verb they are associated with. This helps to clarify the subject and object of a sentence.

Here are a few examples to illustrate the placement of object pronouns:

Example 1: - በመንገድ ላይ ይታያል። (Bämänəgäd lāy yətayalä.) - I will meet you at the station. - In this example, the first person object pronoun "እኔ" (əne) and the second person object pronoun "አንቺ" (ənchi) are placed before the verb "ይታያል" (yətayalä).

Example 2: - የእምነትን ምን እንደምናገኘው ስለምንድን ነው? (Yämənatən män əndäminagänəw səlämändänəw?) - What do you want to tell him/her/it? - In this example, the third person object pronoun "እምነት" (əmənat) is placed before the verb "እንደምናገኘው" (əndäminagänəw).

Remember that the object pronouns must agree in gender and number with the noun they replace or refer to. This is an important aspect of Amharic grammar and helps to maintain clarity in communication.

Cultural Insights

Understanding object pronouns in Amharic can also provide insights into the cultural aspects of Ethiopian society. In Ethiopian culture, there is a strong emphasis on respect and politeness when addressing others. The use of object pronouns reflects this cultural value.

For example, when speaking to someone older or in a position of authority, it is common to use the second person object pronoun "አንቺ" (ənchi) for females or "አንሽ" (ənshə) for males. This shows respect and acknowledges the social hierarchy present in Ethiopian society.

On the other hand, when speaking to a group of people or using a gender-neutral pronoun, the third person object pronoun "እምነቴ" (əmənatə) is used. This reflects the collectivist nature of Ethiopian culture, where the group is often prioritized over individual preferences.

Exercises

Now that you have learned about object pronouns in Amharic, it's time to put your knowledge into practice. Here are a few exercises to help you reinforce what you've learned:

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct object pronoun for each blank.

1. ስምህ ትም እኔ ወደታች ነኝ. (Səməh tim əne wädätach nəgä.) - Your mother wants me to come. 2. እኛ ምን እንደምናገኘው ስለምንድን ነው? (əngəna män əndäminagänəw səlämändänəw?) - What do we want to tell you? 3. እምነቴን ምን እንደምናገኘው ስለምንድን ነው? (əmənatən män əndäminagänəw səlämändänəw?) - What do you want to tell them?

Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences Translate the following sentences from English to Amharic, using the appropriate object pronouns.

1. She wants to see me. 2. I love you (plural). 3. They are waiting for him.

Solutions

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank

1. ስምህ ትም እኔ ወደታች ነኝ. (Səməh tim əne wädätach nəgä.) - Your mother wants me to come. 2. እኛ ምን እንደምናገኘው ስለምንድን ነው? (əngəna män əndäminagänəw səlämändänəw?) - What do we want to tell you? 3. እምነቴን ምን እንደምናገኘው ስለምንድን ነው? (əmənatən män əndäminagänəw səlämändänəw?) - What do you want to tell them?

Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences

1. ታውቃለህ የእምነትን መልካም ይታያል. (Tawəqaläh yämənatən mäləkam yətayalä.) - She wants to see me. 2. እኔ ልዩነት ያለኝ. (əne lyuənat yälägägäna.) - I love you (plural). 3. ስለሆነ ለማስተማር ስምህ ተጠቀምነው. (Səlähäna lämasətämär səməh tätäkämənnäw.) - They are waiting for him.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have now learned about object pronouns in Amharic. By understanding their usage and placement, you can enhance your communication skills in Amharic and better express yourself in various situations.

Keep practicing and using object pronouns in your conversations to become more comfortable with their usage. The more you practice, the more natural it will become.

In the next lesson, we will explore the future tense of verbs in Amharic. Stay tuned and continue your journey to becoming proficient in the Amharic language!

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

• Amharic - Wikipedia
• Direct and Indirect Object Suffixes – Learning Amharic

Other Lessons

• 0 to A1 Course
• Simple Gerundive
• Stem verbs
• Give your Opinion
• Gender
• Time Clauses
• Definite Direct Objects in the Simple Past
• Simple Sentence
• Expressing “Let me” or “May I” “Shall I”
• Pronouns and Greetings