Language/Southern-betsimisaraka-malagasy/Grammar/Future-Tense
Hi Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be exploring the future tense in Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy grammar. The future tense is used to describe something that will happen in the future. It is an essential part of the language to master when wanting to express future actions and events.
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Pronouns & Adjectives.
Formation of the Future Tense[edit | edit source]
To form the future tense in Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy, we add the prefix "ho" before the verb. Here are some examples:
| Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hohanina ny havanao | [hoˈhanɪna nʲ haˈvanʌw] | You will meet your siblings |
| Hofafana ady mivantana | [hoˌfafanə ədʲ miˌvantanʌ] | They will have a friendly fight |
| Horovana ny ota iray | [hoˈɾovanʌ nʲ ˈotʌ ɪraɪ] | He will taste one dish |
| Hoisan'ny vehivavy fa miara-manonja | [hoɪˌsanʲ nʲ veˈʋavʲ fʌ mʲaˌramanuˈdza] | The women will dress identically |
As you can see from the examples above, the prefix "ho" is added before the verb to form the future tense. The verb remains in its present tense form.
Examples[edit | edit source]
To better understand the usage of the future tense, let's have a dialogue:
- Person 1: Hohiran'? (<translation in English> Would you like to have a drink?)
- Person 2: Hohavoky indray, mazotoa (<translation in English> I will drink again later, thanks)
Note: "Hohiran'?" is the future tense form for the verb "hiran'". "Hohavoky" is the future tense form for the verb "havokatra". "Mazotoa" is a common response to politely decline an offer.
Irregular Verbs[edit | edit source]
There are some verbs that have irregular future tense forms. The most common are:
| Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hitondra | [ˌhitɔnˈdɾan] | To bring |
| Hiarovana | [hjˌaɾɔvʌˈnʌ] | To taste |
Here are some examples:
| Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hitondrako ny vato | [ˌhitɔnˈdɾakʊ nʲ ˈvatʊ] | I will bring the stones |
| Hiarovan'ny zavatra kely | [hjaɾɔˌvãnʲ nʲ zaˈvatɾa ˈkelʲ] | They will taste the small things |
Future Continuous Tense[edit | edit source]
The future continuous tense is used to describe an activity that will be happening in the future and is expected to continue for a period into the future. In Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy grammar, it is formed by adding the prefix "ho" before the verb and the word "miala" after the verb. The prefix "ho" is the marker for the future tense and the word "miala" means 'to continue'.
| Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hohalalàna ianao miala andro vitsy | [ho haˌlaˌlanʌ majanao miˌalʌ ˈandro ˈbitsʲ] | You will be praying for a few days |
| Hoavin'ireo aho miala alina | [ho avɪnɪˌre wa ho miˈalʌ aːlinə] | I will be meeting with them all night |
Using Time Markers to Indicate the Future[edit | edit source]
In Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy, it is common to use time markers to indicate future actions. Common time markers include:
- Androany (today)
- Amanahana (tomorrow)
- Asabotsy (Saturday)
- Androany maraina (tomorrow morning)
Here are some examples of how time markers can be used to indicate future events:
- Mahita anao manomboka androany aho. (<translation in English> I will see you starting from today.)
- Hohavokatra ny vary manomboka amin'ny alina. (<translation in English> We will cook rice starting from tonight.)
Practice Exercise[edit | edit source]
Here is an exercise to practice the future tense:
Translate the following sentences into Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy using the future tense:
1. They will come tomorrow 2. I will study for the exam this week 3. We will visit our grandparents next month 4. You will have a beautiful garden
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we have learned about the future tense in Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy grammar. Remember, to form the future tense, we add the prefix "ho" before the verb. It is important to note that some verbs have irregular future tense forms. Using time markers is also a common way to indicate future actions in Southern Betsimisaraka Malagasy. Practice using the future tense and continue to improve your language skills!
➡ 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. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
Impressive work on finishing this lesson! Explore these additional pages to enhance your understanding: Conditional Mood & Prepositions of Place.