Language/Tswana/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have

Tswana Grammar - How to Use "Have"

Hi Tswana learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "have" in Tswana. We will look at the different forms of the verb and how it is used in different contexts.

Introduction

The verb "have" is an important verb in Tswana. It is used to express possession, ownership, and relationships. It is also used to express actions that have been completed or are ongoing. In this lesson, we will look at the different forms of the verb and how it is used in different contexts.

Forms of the Verb "Have"

The verb "have" has two forms in Tswana: the present tense form and the past tense form.

Present Tense

The present tense form of the verb "have" is o tla. This form is used to express actions that are ongoing or have been recently completed.

Examples:

Tswana	Pronunciation	English Translation
Ke o tla go nna	keh oh tlah goh nah	I have a house
Ke o tla go nna	keh oh tlah goh nah	I have been to the store
Ke o tla go nna	keh oh tlah goh nah	I have been working

Past Tense

The past tense form of the verb "have" is o tshwanetse. This form is used to express actions that have been completed in the past.

Examples:

Tswana	Pronunciation	English Translation
Ke o tshwanetse go nna	keh oh tshwah-neh-tseh goh nah	I had a house
Ke o tshwanetse go nna	keh oh tshwah-neh-tseh goh nah	I had been to the store
Ke o tshwanetse go nna	keh oh tshwah-neh-tseh goh nah	I had been working

Usage

The verb "have" is used in many different contexts in Tswana. Here are some examples of how it is used:

Possession

The verb "have" is used to express possession or ownership.

Examples:

Tswana	Pronunciation	English Translation
Ke o tla go nna	keh oh tlah goh nah	I have a house
Ke o tla go nna	keh oh tlah goh nah	I have a car
Ke o tla go nna	keh oh tlah goh nah	I have a dog

Relationships

The verb "have" is also used to express relationships.

Examples:

Tswana	Pronunciation	English Translation
Ke o tla go nna	keh oh tlah goh nah	I have a brother
Ke o tla go nna	keh oh tlah goh nah	I have a sister
Ke o tla go nna	keh oh tlah goh nah	I have a friend

Actions

The verb "have" is also used to express actions that have been completed or are ongoing.

Examples:

Tswana	Pronunciation	English Translation
Ke o tla go nna	keh oh tlah goh nah	I have been to the store
Ke o tla go nna	keh oh tlah goh nah	I have been working
Ke o tla go nna	keh oh tlah goh nah	I have been studying

Dialogue

Let's look at a dialogue between two people using the verb "have".

• Person 1: Ke o tla go nna? (Do you have a house?)
• Person 2: Ee, ke o tla go nna. (Yes, I have a house.)

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have learned how to use the verb "have" in Tswana. We have looked at the different forms of the verb and how it is used in different contexts. To improve your Tswana Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

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