Language/Zulu/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be

Zulu Grammar - How to Use "Be"

Hi Zulu learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on one of the most important verbs in Zulu: the verb "be". This verb is very useful because it helps us to join nouns and adjectives together to make meaningful sentences. Let's dive into the lesson!

What is the Verb "Be"?

The verb "be" is a special verb that helps us to make sentences by joining nouns and adjectives together. We use it to say what something is like, how someone feels, and where something is. In Zulu, we use the verb "be" to express the same ideas, but the form of the verb changes depending on the tense and the subject of the sentence.

To understand the verb "be" in Zulu, we need to know a little bit about the Zulu language itself. Zulu is a Bantu language that is spoken by about 10 million people in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and other nearby countries. It is a tonal language, which means that the meaning of a word can change depending on the tone in which it is spoken. Zulu is also known for its rich and vibrant culture, which has been influenced by a long history of warfare, trade, and immigration.

To improve your Zulu Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Present Tense

In the present tense, we use the verb "be" to say what something is like or where something is. In Zulu, the present tense form of the verb "be" is "ngi-", which we use to talk about the first person singular.

Here are some examples of the present tense form of the verb "be" in Zulu:

Zulu	Pronunciation	English
ngiya hamba	in-GEE-ya HAM-ba	I am going
ngiya siza	in-GEE-ya SEE-za	I am helping
ngiya khona	in-GEE-ya KOH-na	I am there
ngiya nun' nje	in-GEE-ya noo-NYEH	I am just myself

As you can see from the examples, we use "ngi-" to join the subject pronoun (in this case, "I") with the noun, adjective, or adverb that follows. The word order in Zulu is very flexible, so we can also say "Hamba ngiya" (going I am) or "Siza ngiya" (helping I am) instead of "Ngiya hamba" and "Ngiya siza".

Now, let's see some examples in context:

• Person 1: Uma ngiyahamba ezulwini, ngizobuya nini? (If I go to heaven, when will I come back?)
• Person 2: Uzobuya lapha emhlabeni lapho ngiya khona. (You will come back here to earth where I am.)

• Person 1: Uyazi ukuthi uLindiwe uyakwamukela kanjani? (Do you know how Lindiwe welcomes you?)
• Person 2: Ngibonge kakhulu, yilezi zithandani zakhe. (I am very grateful, those are her favourite flowers.)

Future Tense

In the future tense, we use the verb "be" to talk about things that will happen in the future. In Zulu, the future tense form of the verb "be" is "ngi-" followed by the future marker "-zo".

Here are some examples of the future tense form of the verb "be" in Zulu:

Zulu	Pronunciation	English
ngizo hamba	in-GEE-zoh HAM-ba	I will go
ngizo siza	in-GEE-zoh SEE-za	I will help
ngizo khona	in-GEE-zoh KOH-na	I will be there
ngizo khona *+	in-GEE-zoh KOH-na	I will be there

As you can see, the future tense form of "be" is very similar to the present tense form, but with the addition of the future marker "-zo".

Here are some examples in context:

• Person 1: Shumi ungowami ufuna ukhethiwe ngesonto olandelayo, ngizokucela ukuthi ?uvotele ngitshela kangakanani ngawe. (My younger sibling wants to be elected next week, I will ask you how to vote for you.)
• Person 2: Ungakhohlwa ukuthi uzokhona ukuzalwa apho kuleli ngaphandle lokho? (Do not forget that you will be born there outside?)

Past Tense

In the past tense, we use the verb "be" to talk about things that have already happened. In Zulu, the past tense form of the verb "be" is "ngu-" followed by the past marker "-se".

Here are some examples of the past tense form of the verb "be" in Zulu:

Zulu	Pronunciation	English
nguse hamba	in-GOO-se HAM-ba	I went
nguse siza	in-GOO-se SEE-za	I helped
nguse khona	in-GOO-se KOH-na	I was there
nguse ngcono	in-GOO-se NG-choh-noh	I was better

As you can see, the past tense form of "be" is very similar to the present and future tense forms, but with the addition of the past marker "-se".

Here are some examples in context:

• Person 1: Ngisekhaya uma ngifika ngiyakwamukela ulwandle lweli. (I was at home when I arrived I enjoyed this beach.)
• Person 2: Nguye owenza inkululeko ngaphambi kwethu, nguSipho. (He was the one who made freedom for us, his name is Sipho.)

Negative Form

In the negative form of the verb "be", we use the word "a" or "cha" before the subject prefix to express negation. "A" is used in the present and past tenses, while "cha" is used in the future tense.

Here are some examples of the negative form of the verb "be" in Zulu:

Zulu	Pronunciation	English
angiyi hambi	ang-EE-yi HAM-bi	I am not going
cha ngizo hamba	cha in-GEE-zoh HAM-ba	I will not go
a nguse khona	ah in-GOO-se KOH-na	I was not there

Here are some examples in context:

• Person 1: Uzobusa amaphoyisa uma uthwele amalawu? (Will you arrest the police if they break the law?)
• Person 2: Cha, angilumi, ngifulathela emoyeni. (No, I won't do that, I put it in the wind. )

Conclusion

The verb "be" is a very important part of Zulu grammar, and it is used to express a wide range of ideas related to identity, location, and description. By learning the different forms of the verb "be", you will be able to form more complex and interesting sentences in Zulu. So keep practicing, and don't forget to have fun!

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