Language/Tswana/Grammar/Prepositions-of-Time

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Tswana → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Prepositions of Time

In this lesson, we will dive into the fascinating world of prepositions of time in the Tswana language. Understanding prepositions is crucial because they help us describe when things happen—something that is essential for effective communication. Whether you want to express when you’ll meet a friend or when an event will occur, mastering these prepositions will empower you to form more complex and meaningful sentences.

Prepositions of time in Tswana include words like "before," "after," and "during." These terms allow us to situate actions and events within a timeframe, making our conversations richer and clearer. By the end of this lesson, you’ll not only recognize these prepositions but also know how to use them in sentences correctly.

Let’s outline what we’ll cover in today’s lesson:

1. Introduction to Prepositions of Time: What they are and why they matter.

2. Common Prepositions of Time in Tswana: A list and explanations.

3. Examples of Usage: Illustrative sentences showcasing each preposition.

4. Exercises: Practical scenarios to apply what you’ve learned.

5. Solutions and Explanations: Detailed breakdown of the exercises.

Introduction to Prepositions of Time

Prepositions of time tell us when something happens, making them vital for everyday conversations. In Tswana, these prepositions can indicate specific times, durations, or sequences of events. For instance, “before” can suggest a time prior to an event, while “after” indicates a time following an event.

Understanding these prepositions will greatly enhance your ability to express timelines in Tswana, leading to more nuanced and engaging conversations.

Common Prepositions of Time in Tswana

Let’s explore some of the most common prepositions of time in Tswana:

Tswana	Pronunciation	English
pele	/ˈpɛlɛ/	before
morago	/moˈraɡo/	after
nakong	/naˈkoŋ/	during
mo nakong	/mo naˈkoŋ/	at the time of
go simolola	/ɡo siˈmoˈlola/	to start (referring to the start of time)
go tloga	/ɡo ˈtloɡa/	from (referring to the starting point in time)
go fitlha	/ɡo fiˈtla/	until
ka letsatsi	/ka leˈtsa/	on the day of
ka ngwaga	/ka ˈŋwaɡa/	in the year
ka borai	/ka boˈrai/	in the month

Examples of Usage

Now that we know some common prepositions of time, let’s see how they work in sentences. Here are some examples:

Tswana	Pronunciation	English
Ke tla etela ngwana pele.	/ke tla eˈtɛla ˈŋwana ˈpɛlɛ/	I will visit the child before.
Re tla kopana morago.	/re tla koˈpana moˈraɡo/	We will meet after.
O ntse a bala nakong ya borai.	/o nˈtsɛ a ˈbala naˈkoŋ ja boˈrai/	He is reading during the month of August.
Ke a etela mo nakong ya ngwaga.	/ke a eˈtɛla mo naˈkoŋ ja ˈŋwaɡa/	I am visiting at the time of the year.
Go simolola ka letsatsi la borai, re tla etela.	/ɡo siˈmoˈlola ka leˈtsa la boˈrai, re tla eˈtɛla/	Starting on the day of the festival, we will visit.
Ke a ja go tloga ka ngwaga e e fetileng.	/ke a ja ɡo ˈtloɡa ka ˈŋwaɡa e e feˈtileng/	I have been eating since last year.
O tshwanetse go fitlha ka morago ga borai.	/o tswanaˈte ɡo fiˈtla ka moˈraɡo ɡa boˈrai/	You must arrive until after the festival.
Re tla dira mo nakong ya borai.	/re tla ˈdira mo naˈkoŋ ja boˈrai/	We will work at the time of the festival.
Ke tla etela ngwaga ya borai.	/ke tla eˈtɛla ˈŋwaɡa ja boˈrai/	I will visit in the year of the festival.
Ke a ya ka letsatsi la borai.	/ke a ja ka leˈtsa la boˈrai/	I am going on the day of the festival.

Exercises

Now it’s your turn to practice! Below are some exercises that will help you apply what you’ve learned about prepositions of time.

Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition of time:

1. Ke tla etela ______. (before/after)

2. O tshwanetse go fitlha ______. (until/during)

3. Re tla sebetsa ______ ngwaga. (in/on)

4. Go simolola ______, re tla etela. (after/before)

5. O a bala ______ ngwaga e e fetileng. (during/before)

Translate the following sentences into Tswana:

6. I will come before the evening.

7. We will leave after the meeting.

8. They are reading during the holiday.

9. I will wait until the end.

10. We will celebrate on the day of the wedding.

Solutions and Explanations

Let’s go through the exercises together and see how you did!

1. Ke tla etela pele. (before)

2. O tshwanetseng go fitlha ka ngwaga. (until)

3. Re tla sebetsa ka ngwaga. (in)

4. Go simolola morago, re tla etela. (after)

5. O a bala nakong ngwaga e e fetileng. (during)

For the translation exercises:

6. Ke tla etela pele ka borai. (I will come before the evening.)

7. Re tla tloga morago ga kopano. (We will leave after the meeting.)

8. Ba a bala nakong ya borai. (They are reading during the holiday.)

9. Ke tla emela go fitlha borai. (I will wait until the end.)

10. Re tla keteka ka letsatsi la lenyalo. (We will celebrate on the day of the wedding.)

Congratulations on completing this lesson! Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep using these prepositions in your daily conversations to enhance your fluency in Tswana.

Table of Contents - Tswana Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Greetings

• Greetings and Introductions
• Polite Expressions

  ---

Sentence Structure

• Subject Pronouns
• Verb Conjugation

  ---

Numbers

• Counting 1-10
• Ordinal Numbers

  ---

Days of the Week and Months

• Days of the Week
• Months of the Year

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Plural Nouns

  ---

Common Objects and Places

• Household Items
• Places in Town

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
• Adverbs

  ---

Food and Drink

• Fruits and Vegetables
• Meals and Dining

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions of Place
• Prepositions of Time
• Conjunctions

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing Relationships

  ---

Possessives and Demonstratives

• Possessive Pronouns and Adjectives
• Demonstrative Pronouns and Adjectives

  ---

Tswana Traditions and Customs

• Traditional Clothing
• Tswana Cuisine

  ---

Tswana Holidays and Celebrations

• National Holidays
• Traditional Celebrations

Other Lessons

• Plurals
• Negation
• Demonstrative Pronouns and Adjectives
• Descriptive Adjectives
• Subject Pronouns
• Gender
• How to Use Be
• Questions
• Conditional Mood
• Prepositions of Place

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