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

Slovak Grammar - How to Use "Have"

Hi Slovak learners! 😊

In this lesson, we will focus on how to use "have" in Slovak. "Have" is an important verb in any language as it is used to indicate possession, obligation, and many other situations. As we go through the lesson, we will also explore some interesting facts about Slovak culture.

Possession

Firstly, let's look at how we use "have" to indicate possession. In Slovak, the verb "have" is "mať". It can be used in the present, past, and future tense. The conjugation of "mať" is as follows:

Person	Present tense	Past tense	Future tense
Ja (I)	mám	mal som	budem mať
Ty (You)	máš	mal si	budeš mať
On/Ona/Ono (He/She/It)	má	mal/a/é	bude mať
My (We)	máme	mali sme	budeme mať
Vy (You all)	máte	mali ste	budete mať
Oni/Ony/Oni (They)	majú	mali	budú mať

Now, let's put "mať" into context with some examples:

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
Mám knihu.	maaam kni-hu	I have a book.
Máš auto.	maash auto	You have a car.
Ona má mačku.	ona ma mach-ku	She has a cat.
Máme psa.	maame psa	We have a dog.
Majú nový dom.	majuu no-vy dom	They have a new house.

As you can see from these examples, we use "mať" to indicate possession of various objects and animals.

Obligation

In addition to possession, "have" can also be used to indicate obligation. In Slovak, we use the verb "musieť". The conjugation of "musieť" is as follows:

Person	Present tense	Past tense	Future tense
Ja (I)	musím	musel som	budem musieť
Ty (You)	musíš	musel si	budeš musieť
On/Ona/Ono (He/She/It)	musí	musel/a/é	bude musieť
My (We)	musíme	museli sme	budeme musieť
Vy (You all)	musíte	museli ste	budete musieť
Oni/Ony/Oni (They)	musia	museli	budú musieť

Let's take a look at some examples of "musieť":

Slovak	Pronunciation	English
Musíme ísť do práce.	mu-seeme ist do praa-tse	We have to go to work.
Musíš robiť domáce úlohy.	mu-seesh ro-beet domaa-tse u-loy-he	You have to do your homework.
On musel ísť na schôdzku.	on mu-sel ist na scho-th-ku	He had to go on a date.

Interesting facts about Slovak culture

Now that we have covered the basics of how to use "have", let's explore some interesting cultural facts about Slovakia. Did you know that Slovakia has over 1,500 castles and ruins? With its rich history and strategic location in the heart of Europe, Slovakia has many well-preserved castles and fortresses worth exploring. One such example is Spiš Castle, the most extensive castle complex in Central Europe.

Slovakia is also known for its hearty cuisine, featuring dishes such as bryndzové halušky (dumplings with sheep cheese) and kapustnica (cabbage soup). These dishes are often enjoyed during holidays and special occasions.

If you want to learn more about Slovakia's culture and language, Polyglot Club is a great resource. You can find native speakers and ask them any questions you may have!

Dialogue

To help you see "have" in context, let's create a dialogue:

• Person 1: Máš nejaké zvieratá? (Do you have any pets?)
• Person 2: Áno, mám psa a mačku. (Yes, I have a dog and a cat.)
• Person 1: Musíš ich kŕmiť každý deň? (Do you have to feed them every day?)
• Person 2: Áno, musím sa o ne starať. (Yes, I have to take care of them.)

Conclusion

Congratulations, you now know how to use "have" in Slovak! Remember, "mať" is used to indicate possession, while "musieť" is used to indicate obligation. Don't forget to practice using these verbs in context to improve your Slovak skills.

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