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

Kinyarwanda Grammar - How to Use "Be"

Hi Kinyarwanda learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "be" in Kinyarwanda. This verb is very important and commonly used in all languages. Its forms and usages are different from English, so we will explain them in detail.

Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Negation & Conditional Mood.

"Be" in Kinyarwanda

In Kinyarwanda, "be" is translated as "ni". This verb is irregular and has different forms depending on the subject. Here is a list of the different forms:

Subject	Form	Example
I	ndi	ndi umunyarwanda (I am Rwandan)
You (singular)	uri	uri mu Rwanda (You are in Rwanda)
He/She	yu	yu mu muryango (He/She is in the family)
We	twa	twa mu ishuri (We are at school)
You (plural)	mwe	mwe mu ishuri (You are at school)
They	bay	bayifite imyenda (They have bikes)

As you can see, each subject has its own form of "be". These forms are conjugated with different verbs to express different tenses and moods. Let's see some examples.

Present Tense

To express present tense, we use the form "ni". Here is an example:

• Person 1: Umuturage ni nde? (Who is the resident?)
• Person 2: Umuturage ni ngombwa. (The resident is Ngombwa.)

Here "ni" is used to say that the resident "is" Ngombwa. Another example:

• Person 1: Ndi businessmani. (I am a businessman.)
• Person 2: Twese turimo muri iki gikorwa. (We all work in this business.)

Here "ndi" is used to say that the person is a businessman. In the second sentence, "twe" (we) is used with "ni" to say that "we all are" working in the business.

Negative Form

To express negative form, we use the particle "nta" before the form. Here is an example:

• Person 1: Nta muturage wanyu wihariye mu ishyamba. (There is no resident from your family in the village.)
• Person 2: Oya, ntawe n'amuturage wacu mu ishyamba. (Yes, there is no resident from our family in the village.)

Here "nta" and "ntawe" are used before "ni" to say that "there is no" resident from their family in the village.

Future Tense

To express future tense, we use the form "ziko". Here is an example:

• Person 1: Ufite inka ngombwa nkomeza ku bikorwa biri muri iki gikorwa. (You have a cow Ngombwa, will you continue to work in this business?)
• Person 2: Ziko ndihamya. (I will tell you later.)

Here "ziko" is used with "ndihamya" to say that "I will tell you later". Another example:

• Person 1: Uzi ko ibintu bitari byiza gute? (Do you know that things are not going well?)
• Person 2: Ziko by'ingoyi. (I will fix that later.)

Here "ziko" is used with "by'ingoyi" to say that "I will fix that later".

Imperative Form

To give orders or commands, we use the form "niwe". Here is an example:

• Person 1: Dawe, ntemeza inkuba. (David, catch the goat.)
• Person 2: Oya se? (Yes, sir?)
• Person 1: Niwe wemeye wemeye. (Be quick, be quick!)

Here "niwe" is used to say that "be quick, be quick!".

Interrogative Form

To ask questions, we use the form "ni?" at the end of the sentence. Here is an example:

• Person 1: Ndagukunda cyane, uri udi? (I love you so much, do you love me?)
• Person 2: Oya, ni nde wahamagara. (Yes, who told you that?)

Here "ni" is used to ask "who told you that?"

Summary

In this lesson, we have seen how to use the verb "be" in Kinyarwanda. We have learned that it has different forms depending on the subject, and its forms are used with different verbs to express different tenses and moods. We have also seen its imperative and interrogative forms. To improve your Kinyarwanda Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

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{{#seo: |title=Kinyarwanda Grammar - How to Use "Be" |keywords=Kinyarwanda, be, ni, verb, present tense, negative form, future tense, imperative form, interrogative form |description=Learn how to use "be" in Kinyarwanda, a verb that has different forms depending on the subject and is used with different verbs to express different tenses and moods.

Other Lessons

• How to Use Have
• Gender
• Plurals
• Conditional Mood
• Pronouns
• Adjectives
• Negation
• Questions

Sources

• Kinyarwanda - Wikipedia
• Kinyarwanda Grammar - How to Use Be
• Trainee Kinyarwanda Book Table of Contents

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