Language/Hausa/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be
Hi Hausa learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on one of the most important verbs in any language - "be." The verb "be" is used to describe or identify something or someone, to indicate existence, and to make connections between different elements. Mastering the "be" verb will massively improve your communication skills in Hausa.
Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Future Tense, Conditional Mood, Give your Opinion & How to Use Have.
Basic Forms of "Be"[edit | edit source]
In Hausa, the verb "be" has several forms to indicate tense, person, and number. The basic forms are:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| nake | /na-ké/ | I am |
| kauna | /ka-u-na/ | you are (singular) |
| je | /je/ | he/she/it is |
| mu | /mu/ | we are |
| ku | /ku/ | you are (plural) |
| su | /su/ | they are |
To form a simple sentence using "be" in Hausa, follow this order: Subject - "be" form - complement or adjective.
Example:
- Domin nuna da wani abu. (We see something.)
- Domin nuna da wani abu da zafi. (We see something big.)
Present Continuous Form of "Be"[edit | edit source]
The present continuous form of "be" is used to indicate an action that is happening or a situation that is developing at the moment of speaking.
In Hausa, the present continuous form of "be" is formed by adding the suffix -ce to the basic form of the verb.
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| na ce | /na-tchè/ | I am being |
| ka ce | /ka-tchè/ | you are being |
| ya ce | /ya-tchè/ | he/she/it is being |
| mu ce | /mu-tchè/ | we are being |
| ku ce | /ku-tchè/ | you are being |
| su ce | /su-tchè/ | they are being |
Example:
- Ina ce na ne gida. (I am being at home.)
Negation of "Be"[edit | edit source]
To form a negative sentence using "be" in Hausa, the word ba is used before the verb.
Example:
- Ba na kauna. (I am not you.)
- Ba zafi ya ce. (It is not big.)
Questions with "Be"[edit | edit source]
To form a question using "be" in Hausa, just switch the positions of the subject and the verb.
Example:
- Kauna ka? (Are you?)
- Je nan da kyakyawa? (Is it cold today?)
Common Idiomatic Expressions with "Be"[edit | edit source]
Here are some common idiomatic expressions using the verb "be" and their meanings:
| Hausa | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Kada za ka biya. | /ka-da-za-ka-bi-ya/ | Don't be afraid. |
| Dole ne ka biya. | /dò-le-nè-ka-bi-ya/ | You should be afraid. |
| Shikenan wani abu ne. | /shi-ke-nàn-wa-ni-a-bu-nè/ | The truth is something. |
| Saboda haka, na gode. | /sa-bo-da-ha-ka-na-go-de/ | Because of this, I am grateful. |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Here is a short dialogue that uses the verb "be" in different forms:
- Amina: Manufa ya ce fina-finan wata kafar gida?
- Yusuf: He ujra; sve ni ye ni da ce ce a kafar ta.
- Amina: Canji na je su biya a kafar ta.
- Yusuf: Kadan ce su je. Dole ne su kauna.
English translation:
- Amina: Have you seen the movies at the cinema?
- Yusuf: Yes, yesterday I was there.
- Amina: Let's go and watch them at the cinema.
- Yusuf: They have already gone. You should be them.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Now you know how to use the verb "be" in Hausa to make simple sentences, ask questions, and express common idiomatic expressions. Keep practicing and listening to native Hausa speakers. To improve your Hausa speaking, ask more Hausa native speakers for feedback and corrections. You can also check out the [https://polyglotclub.com/language/hausa/grammar Grammar] section for more tips and exercises.
➡ 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. 😎
Excellent job on conquering this lesson! Consider delving into these related pages: Present Tense, Past Tense, Prepositions & Imperative Tense.