Language/Central-pashto/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be
Hi Central Pashto learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about the usage of "be" in Central Pashto. We will cover its different forms, its grammatical functions, and also how to use it in a dialogue. But before we dive in, it is essential to have a solid understanding of the Central Pashto verb system. If you don't, we encourage you to visit the Grammar section of our website.
Introduction to the Verb "Be"[edit | edit source]
In Central Pashto, like in many other languages, the verb "be" is an essential and frequently used word. It is used to describe the existence, identity, and attributes of people or things in the past, present, or future. There are three forms of "be" in Central Pashto: "ستا", "دی", and "یی".
Form 1 - ستا[edit | edit source]
The form "ستا" is used to describe the existence of people or things in the present tense. Here are some examples:
| Central Pashto | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| کتاب ستا | /kutáb sta/ | The book is there |
| دا پیغام ستا | /dá páyghám sta/ | This message is here |
| عمر ستا | /omar sta/ | Omar is around |
| بابا ستا | /bábá sta/ | Dad is here |
Form 2 - دی[edit | edit source]
The form "دی" is used to describe the existence of people or things in the past tense. Here are some examples:
| Central Pashto | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| دا کتاب دی | /dá kutáb dí/ | This book was there |
| داس دی؟ | /dás dí?/ | Was that there? |
| په بلا کله د هغه پته دی | /pá bálá kala da haghá patá di/ | He was there since yesterday |
| بابا په پارې دی | /bábá pa pári dye/ | Dad was in Peshawar |
Form 3 - یی[edit | edit source]
The form "یی" is used to describe the existence of people or things in the future tense. Here are some examples:
| Central Pashto | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| د دې وخت کې خوښيدلی دی | /da de wakht ke khwáshídli dí/ | We will be happy by this time |
| تاسې راځې یی بیا | /tásé rázhe yai byá/ | You will be here tomorrow |
| هغه هغه په نرګس کې وه یی دې | /haghá haghá pa nargus ke wah yai de/ | She will be in Narjus by then |
| مې دې لنګز یی داغا دی | /me de langázi yi dágá dí/ | I will be ready by then |
The Grammatical Functions of "Be"[edit | edit source]
Apart from indicating existence, "be" also serves several grammatical functions that are essential to mastering Central Pashto. Below are four of the most important:
Auxiliary Verbs[edit | edit source]
The "be" verb is commonly used as an auxiliary verb in Central Pashto. It is used to form the progressive tense, which describes an action that is ongoing at the time of speaking. Here are some examples:
| Central Pashto | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| زه څوک ستا پېښلوي | /za tsok sta peghlewi/ | I am eating food |
| هغه په مدرسه کې پوهېږي دی | /haghá pa madrese ke powézyi dí/ | He was studying in school |
| ما دا دې به زړه نه لرو هېله کوي دي | /ma dá de bah zarra na lro helá kóy dí/ | We won't be going out in the rain |
| خلک یو ورځ ستا زندو ته لاړ شوی | /khalk yo warzha sta zandó ta lár shwi/ | The people had been trapped for a day |
Copula Verbs[edit | edit source]
Another important function of the verb "be" in Central Pashto is as a copula verb. In such situations, it links the subject to its complement, i.e., a word or phrase that describes, renames, or identifies the subject. Here are some examples:
| Central Pashto | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| په ځمکه خوښه يي | /pa zamaka khwásha yi/ | The food is tasty |
| دا هغه پېښه دي | /dá haghá pegha dí/ | That is his food |
| فيصل د يو پړاو اصلي په دفتر کې کار وکړي یوازېد | /faisal da yo praaw asli pa daftar ke kár wakri ywázed/ | Faisal works as a principal at a school |
| زه به ستاسو ملګرو پيژندل شم | /za bah stásó malkáro pizhándal shum/ | I am interested in your book |
Modals Verbs[edit | edit source]
"Be" is also used to form modals in Central Pashto. Modals are auxiliary verbs that are used to express various meanings such as certainty, obligation, permission, and ability. Here are some examples:
| Central Pashto | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| زه به تاسې ملګري شئ دي | /za bah tásé malkari shaí dí/ | I must read your book |
| تاسو داسته بچيدې شئ دي | /tásó dástá bachyde shaí dí/ | You should have run faster |
| زه ته ډيره وينئ | /za ta díra wínaí/ | I can see clearly |
| په هغه استازه کې زه خوندي وي | /pa hághá estázá ke za khwndi wí/ | I might have read in that office |
Verbs of Requiring[edit | edit source]
Finally, the verb "be" can be used to form verbs of requiring in Central Pashto. These verbs are used to express action that is necessary or desirable. Here are some examples:
| Central Pashto | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| تاسو کالکي وياړې کړې ستاهېږئي | /tásó kálki wayárre karye stáhegyí/ | You need to come tomorrow |
| داسې برخه هم شتون شي ده | /dásé brakha ham shuton shi dá/ | We also need to buy that part |
| په دې وخت کې زه وياړۀ لیدلې | /pa de wakht ke za wayárre ledalyi/ | I need to clean this by then |
| داسې د هسپتال به اړيايو نه فلورانس نېگيس ده | /dásé da hospital bah aryaaw na flúrans négis de/ | We don't need Florence Nightingale in this hospital |
Using "Be" in a Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Here is a dialogue that illustrates how to use the verb "be" in Central Pashto. The dialogue includes the pronunciation and the translation in English:
- Person 1: په کلي ما څوک ستا خوراګيدلوي چې داسته ته نه وينم
/pa kaley ma tsok sta khoragidelawi che dástá ta na wínam/ (Yesterday, we were eating food, and we didn't see you there) - Person 2: زه په کالج کې دي
/za pa college ke dí/ (I was at college) - Person 1: هلته بېرته راوړندلې دې؟
/haltá bertha rawríndalya de?/ (Are you attending classes these days?) - Person 2: نه، په دې مزار کې دي
/na,pá de mazár ke dí/ (No, I am at the shrine these days)
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Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Conditional Mood
- Nouns
- Pronouns
- Give your Opinion
- Gender
- Personal pronouns
- Questions
- Plurals
- Negation