Language/Paraguayan-guarani/Grammar/Future-Tense
Hi Paraguayan Guaraní learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about the future tense in Paraguayan Guaraní. We will go over the different forms of the future tense, and how to use each one correctly. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently form sentences in the future tense. Don't forget to practice with native speakers on Polyglot Club, and ask them any questions you might have!
The Future Tense in Paraguayan Guaraní[edit | edit source]
In Paraguayan Guaraní, there are two ways to express the future tense: the immediate future and the distant future.
The Immediate Future[edit | edit source]
The immediate future is formed using the verb "a" followed by the present tense of the main verb. For example:
| Paraguayan Guaraní | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Añemo oîmboty. | ane-mo oĩmbo-ty | I am going to eat. |
| Ahendu ko'ãga. | a-hendu ko'ã-ga | You are going to work. |
| Ajeporupi rembiapó. | a-jeporupi rembia-pó | They are going to travel. |
Notice how the verb "a" doesn't change form - it always appears as "a". The present tense of the main verb, however, is conjugated accordingly. Here are the present tense conjugations of the verbs used in the examples above, for reference:
- Oîmboty: I eat, you eat, he/she/it eats, we eat, you (all) eat, they eat.
- Hendu: I work, you work, he/she/it works, we work, you (all) work, they work.
- Rembiapó: I travel, you travel, he/she/it travels, we travel, you (all) travel, they travel.
The Distant Future[edit | edit source]
To express the distant future - events or actions that will take place months or years into the future - Paraguayan Guaraní uses the suffix "-ka'avo" added to the present tense of the main verb. For example:
| Paraguayan Guaraní | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Avave oñembo'emo ka'avo. | ava-ve oñemo-bo'emo ka'avo | We will eat there next year. |
| Arandu rupi rekovénte ka'avo. | a-randu rupi rekove-nte ka'avo | They will start university in two years. |
| Ahecháta ha upéicha ha'ekuéra ka'avo. | a-hecháta ha upe-icha ha'ekue-ra ka'avo | We will have a meeting with them in three years. |
Notice how the suffix "-ka'avo" is added to the end of the main verb. Here are the present tense forms of the same verbs for comparison:
- Oñembo'emo: We eat, you eat, he/she/it eats, we eat, you (all) eat, they eat.
- Arandu: I start, you start, he/she/it starts, we start, you (all) start, they start.
- Hecháta: I have a meeting, you have a meeting, he/she/it has a meeting, we have a meeting, you (all) have a meeting, they have a meeting.
It's important to note that not all verbs can be used in the distant future tense. Some verbs are more suited to the immediate future tense, and may sound clumsy or awkward if used with "-ka'avo". As with any language, the best way to learn which verbs are commonly used in the distant future tense is to practice and observe how native speakers use the language.
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Here's an example dialogue to illustrate the use of the immediate future tense:
- Person 1: Peteî oîmboty ñe'ẽ ko'ãga. (Let's eat and then work.)
- Person 2: Hetaite rógape ahechaukávo remimbi? (Are we having a meeting tomorrow?)
- Person 1: Ahendu avei, che rembiapóka'avo. (Yes, we are. They're traveling tomorrow.)
And here's an example dialogue to illustrate the distant future tense:
- Person 1: Mba'asy oîmboty 2022 pe ñemombyaty? (Where should we eat for our reunion in 2022?)
- Person 2: Ko'ãgui rekovénte, Ha'u ka'avo upévare. (Let's go to the university - I'm starting there in two years!)
Summary[edit | edit source]
In Paraguayan Guaraní, the future tense can be expressed in two different ways: the immediate future and the distant future. The immediate future is formed using the verb "a" followed by the present tense of the main verb, while the distant future uses the suffix "-ka'avo" added to the present tense of the main verb. With practice and observation, you'll be able to form sentences in the future tense with ease.
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Questions
- How to Use Have
- Pronouns
- Give your Opinion
- Plurals
- How to Use Be
- Negation
- Adjectives
- Conditional Mood