Language/Standard-moroccan-tamazight/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be

Standard Moroccan Tamazight Grammar - How to Use "Be"

Hi Standard Moroccan Tamazight learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "to be" in Standard Moroccan Tamazight, also known as Tamazight. This verb is essential to speak properly and to form sentences. Don't worry, after this lesson, you'll be able to use it fluently. Let's get started!

Introduction

In Standard Moroccan Tamazight, the verb "to be" can be translated into two verbs: "ik" and "yak". Ik is used with the subject pronoun "we" (negation + ik = yuk), and yak is used with all the other subject pronouns. For example:

Standard Moroccan Tamazight	Pronunciation	English
negation + ik	negation + ik	not to be (used with "we")
yak	yak	is/am/are (used with all other subject pronouns)

On to the next section to understand this concept better.

How to use "ik"

When we use "ik", we are referring to not being or not existing. It is only used with the subject pronoun "we". It can be used in questions, negations, and affirmative sentences. Here are some examples:

Affirmative Sentences

• Asenɣsad ik. (We are not here.)
• Aya asasiw iḍrisen imik? (Are our teachers not here?)

Negations

• Argaz notmuzɣa ik. (The man is not tired.)
• Tiwuri nuddusin nuktan amales? 3adas winna ynna-f umik. (Did the students study last night? No, we didn't study at all.)

Questions

• Amaziɣ tiknaw si ahwad iwddunen imik? (Do the Amazigh people not have their own cities?)

How to use "yak"

"Yak" means "to be" or "to exist", and is used with all subject pronouns except "we". It is important to remember that the verb should agree with the gender of the noun or pronoun (masculine or feminine) and whether it is singular or plural. Here are some examples:

Affirmative Sentences

• Imeknas yakkin ass? (Is the teacher here?)
• Ur yuf yawwadem ibariyen. (The student is not learning languages.)
• Win akkaṛ yakkin nniɣ? (Who is the eldest here?)

Negations

• Ulamma ur iwalaṭ nneqqar yak. (The students did not speak the truth.)
• Tazrawt ur yak ara tidet. (The Berber language does not exist anymore.)
• Ar isɛan yakka ssamu amaruz. (The months of the year are not all equal.)

Questions

• Ad akkd akal ifassen yak ad? (Is there a way to communicate with them?)

It's time to practice what you have learned so far.

Dialogue

Here's a dialogue between two people using the verb "to be" in different contexts.

• Person 1: Aya ssin yiwen n tmalit ik? (Is there a French speaker here?)
• Person 2: Ulac yakan. (No, there isn't.)

• Person 1: Asif ifassen imazawen imik? (Are there any Berber-speaking women here?)
• Person 2: Iyakkin amegnas. (Yes, the female teacher is here.)

• Person 1: Tusa-d dunes adinu n tezmert i soksokt tiritin/nizam? (What's the difference between "tiritin" and "nizam" languages?)
• Person 2: Tiritin d Tamazight tatrart n Yidir. Nizam i tisemmes ma Ntbel. (Tiritin is the Berber language of the eastern region of Yidir. Nizam is the name given to the language of Tbel people.)

Conclusion

You have now learned how to use the verb "to be" in Standard Moroccan Tamazight when referring to being or not being. You can improve your knowledge of Standard Moroccan Tamazight here by interacting with native speakers and asking any questions. Also, check out the Grammar section to enhance your skills in Tamazight!

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