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{{Southern-sotho-Page-Top}}
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<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Southern-sotho|Southern Sotho]]  → [[Language/Southern-sotho/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Southern-sotho/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Verbs and Tenses → Present Tense</div>
<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Southern-sotho|Southern Sotho]]  → [[Language/Southern-sotho/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Southern-sotho/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Present Tense</div>
 
Welcome to the lesson on '''Present Tense''' in Southern Sotho! Understanding how to use the present tense is essential for beginners, as it allows you to talk about daily activities, routines, and things happening right now. This lesson will guide you through the structure of verbs in the present tense, how to conjugate them, and how to form negative sentences.
 
The Southern Sotho language, rich in culture and history, uses a unique verb conjugation system that may seem daunting at first, but with practice, you'll find it quite manageable and intuitive. By mastering the present tense, you'll be able to express yourself more freely and engage in basic conversations with native speakers.
 
In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:


__TOC__
__TOC__


== Introduction ==
=== Understanding the Present Tense ===
 
The present tense is used to describe actions that are currently happening or general truths. In Southern Sotho, the present tense is indicated by specific verb prefixes that correspond to the subject.
 
=== Conjugating Verbs in the Present Tense ===
 
Conjugating verbs in Southern Sotho involves changing the verb prefix according to the subject. Below is a breakdown of the subject pronouns and their respective prefixes:


In this lesson, we will focus on the present tense in Southern Sotho. The present tense is used to describe actions or states that are happening now or are generally true. Understanding how to conjugate verbs in the present tense is essential for building basic sentences and communicating effectively in Southern Sotho. We will also learn how to form negative sentences using the present tense. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently use verbs in the present tense and construct basic sentences in Southern Sotho.
* '''1st Person Singular (I)''' - '''ke-'''


== Conjugating Verbs in the Present Tense ==
* '''2nd Person Singular (You)''' - '''u-'''


To conjugate verbs in the present tense, we need to pay attention to the subject of the sentence and apply the appropriate verb suffix. Southern Sotho verbs have different forms depending on the subject, and these forms are indicated by suffixes.
* '''3rd Person Singular (He/She/It)''' - '''o-'''


Let's take a look at the verb "tšoa" (to come) and its present tense conjugations:
* '''1st Person Plural (We)''' - '''re-'''


{| class="wikitable"
* '''2nd Person Plural (You all)''' - '''le-'''
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ke tšo-a || Ke tshoh-a || I come
|-
| U tšo-a || U tshoh-a || You come
|-
| O tšo-a || O tshoh-a || He/she comes
|-
| Re tšo-a || Re tshoh-a || We come
|-
| Le tšo-a || Le tshoh-a || You (plural) come
|-
| Ba tšo-a || Ba tshoh-a || They come
|}


As you can see, the verb form changes based on the subject of the sentence. The verb suffix "-a" indicates the present tense. Pay attention to the pronunciation of the verb forms, as the "tš" sound is unique to Southern Sotho and may take some practice to master.
* '''3rd Person Plural (They)''' - '''ba-'''


Let's practice conjugating another verb, "bula" (to speak), in the present tense:
Here’s how to conjugate some common verbs in the present tense:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Ke bul-a || Ke bul-a || I speak
 
| ke ja || keː ja || I eat
 
|-
|-
| U bul-a || U bul-a || You speak
 
| u ja || uː ja || You eat
 
|-
|-
| O bul-a || O bul-a || He/she speaks
 
| o ja || oː ja || He/She eats
 
|-
|-
| Re bul-a || Re bul-a || We speak
 
| re ja || reː ja || We eat
 
|-
|-
| Le bul-a || Le bul-a || You (plural) speak
 
| le ja || leː ja || You all eat
 
|-
|-
| Ba bul-a || Ba bul-a || They speak
|}


Now, let's practice conjugating the verb "rata" (to love) in the present tense:
| ba ja || baː ja || They eat


{| class="wikitable"
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Ke rat-a || Ke rah-tah || I love
 
| ke bua || keː bwa || I speak
 
|-
|-
| U rat-a || U rah-tah || You love
 
| u bua || uː bwa || You speak
 
|-
|-
| O rat-a || O rah-tah || He/she loves
 
| o bua || oː bwa || He/She speaks
 
|-
|-
| Re rat-a || Re rah-tah || We love
 
| re bua || reː bwa || We speak
 
|-
|-
| Le rat-a || Le rah-tah || You (plural) love
 
| le bua || leː bwa || You all speak
 
|-
|-
| Ba rat-a || Ba rah-tah || They love
 
| ba bua || baː bwa || They speak
 
|}
|}


Remember to practice these verb forms regularly to become more familiar with them. The more you practice, the easier it will become to conjugate verbs in the present tense.
=== Forming Negative Sentences ===


== Forming Negative Sentences in the Present Tense ==
In Southern Sotho, negative sentences are formed by adding the prefix '''"ha"''' before the verb. The structure is as follows:


To form negative sentences in the present tense, we need to use the negative particle "ha" before the verb. The negative particle "ha" is placed before the verb root, and the conjugated verb suffix follows the negative particle.
* '''Positive:''' Subject + Verb


Let's use the verb "tšoa" (to come) to form negative sentences in the present tense:
* '''Negative:''' Subject + ha + Verb
 
For example:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Ke ha o tšo-e || Ke ha o tshoh-eh || I don't come
 
| Ke ja || keː ja || I eat
 
|-
|-
| U ha o tšo-e || U ha o tshoh-eh || You don't come
 
| Ha ke ja || ha keː ja || I do not eat
 
|-
|-
| O ha o tšo-e || O ha o tshoh-eh || He/she doesn't come
 
| U ja || uː ja || You eat
 
|-
|-
| Re ha o tšo-e || Re ha o tshoh-eh || We don't come
 
| Ha u ja || ha uː ja || You do not eat
 
|-
|-
| Le ha o tšo-e || Le ha o tshoh-eh || You (plural) don't come
 
| O ja || oː ja || He/She eats
 
|-
|-
| Ba ha o tšo-e || Ba ha o tshoh-eh || They don't come
|}


Notice how the negative particle "ha" is placed before the verb root "tšo" and the verb suffix "-e" follows the negative particle. The pronunciation of the negative verb forms may vary slightly, as the "ha" sound is assimilated with the following vowel sound.
| Ha o ja || ha oː ja || He/She does not eat


Let's practice forming negative sentences using the verb "bula" (to speak) in the present tense:
|-
 
| Re ja || reː ja || We eat


{| class="wikitable"
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Ke ha o bul-e || Ke ha o bul-eh || I don't speak
 
| Ha re ja || ha reː ja || We do not eat
 
|-
|-
| U ha o bul-e || U ha o bul-eh || You don't speak
 
| Le ja || leː ja || You all eat
 
|-
|-
| O ha o bul-e || O ha o bul-eh || He/she doesn't speak
 
| Ha le ja || ha leː ja || You all do not eat
 
|-
|-
| Re ha o bul-e || Re ha o bul-eh || We don't speak
 
| Ba ja || baː ja || They eat
 
|-
|-
| Le ha o bul-e || Le ha o bul-eh || You (plural) don't speak
 
|-
| Ha ba ja || ha baː ja || They do not eat
| Ba ha o bul-e || Ba ha o bul-eh || They don't speak
 
|}
|}


Now, let's form negative sentences using the verb "rata" (to love) in the present tense:
=== Examples of Present Tense Usage ===
 
1. '''Ke bala buka.''' (I read a book.)
 
2. '''U a etsa.''' (You are doing.)
 
3. '''O sebetsa hantle.''' (She works well.)
 
4. '''Re phela hantle.''' (We live well.)
 
5. '''Le etela khotla.''' (You all visit the court.)
 
6. '''Ba tlisa lijo.''' (They bring food.)
 
7. '''Ke tiisa.''' (I confirm.)
 
8. '''U fa.''' (You give.)
 
9. '''O fa mmoho.''' (He gives together.)
 
10. '''Re itlhophela.''' (We choose.)
 
11. '''Le bopa.''' (You all create.)


{| class="wikitable"
12. '''Ba reka.''' (They buy.)
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
13. '''Ke lefa.''' (I pay.)
| Ke ha ke rat-e || Ke ha ke rah-t-eh || I don't love
 
|-
14. '''U tloga.''' (You leave.)
| U ha u rat-e || U ha u rah-t-eh || You don't love
 
|-
15. '''O tlohela.''' (She leaves.)
| O ha a rat-e || O ha a rah-t-eh || He/she doesn't love
 
|-
16. '''Re tseba.''' (We know.)
| Re ha re rat-e || Re ha re rah-t-eh || We don't love
 
|-
17. '''Le tseba.''' (You all know.)
| Le ha le rat-e || Le ha le rah-t-eh || You (plural) don't love
 
|-
18. '''Ba tseba.''' (They know.)
| Ba ha ba rat-e || Ba ha ba rah-t-eh || They don't love
 
|}
19. '''Ke thabela.''' (I enjoy.)
 
20. '''Ha ke thabela.''' (I do not enjoy.)
 
=== Practice Exercises ===
 
Now that we've covered the basics, it’s time to practice! Here are some exercises for you to try:
 
1. '''Conjugate the verb "bala" (to read) in the present tense for all subject pronouns.'''
 
2. '''Form negative sentences for the following positive sentences:'''
 
* '''Ke ja.'''
 
* '''U bua.'''
 
* '''O ja.'''
 
3. '''Translate the following sentences into Southern Sotho:'''
 
* I do not eat.
 
* You read a book.
 
* They do not speak.
 
4. '''Fill in the blanks with the correct present tense form of the verb "fa" (to give):'''
 
* _______________ (I) _______________ (give) him a gift.
 
* _______________ (You) _______________ (give) her a present.
 
5. '''Write a short paragraph about your daily routine using at least five present tense verbs.'''
 
6. '''Create negative sentences for the following positive sentences:'''
 
* '''Re ja.'''
 
* '''Le ja.'''
 
* '''Ba etela.'''
 
7. '''Match the following Southern Sotho sentences with their English translations:'''
 
* '''Ke ithuta.'''
 
* '''O a etela.'''
 
* '''Ba ja.'''
 
8. '''Translate the following into Southern Sotho:'''
 
* We do not read.
 
* You all enjoy.
 
* He does not work.
 
9. '''Choose the correct form of the verb in the present tense:'''
 
* (I/You/He) _______________ (to go) to school every day.
 
10. '''Using the verbs provided, make sentences in the present tense:'''
 
* (to eat), (to speak), (to work)
 
=== Solutions and Explanations ===
 
1. '''Conjugation of "bala":'''


Remember to practice forming negative sentences regularly to become more comfortable with the structure and pronunciation. The ability to form negative sentences is crucial for expressing negation and providing a more nuanced understanding of actions or states.
* Ke bala (I read)


== Cultural Insights ==
* U bala (You read)


In Southern Sotho culture, verbs play a significant role in expressing respect and politeness. It is common to use the polite forms of verbs when addressing elders, authority figures, or people of higher social status. The polite forms of verbs often involve different verb suffixes and can indicate a higher level of formality and respect in communication.
* O bala (He/She reads)


For example, when speaking to an elder, you would use the polite form of the verb "tšoa" (to come) as follows:
* Re bala (We read)


{| class="wikitable"
* Le bala (You all read)
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ke tšo-e || Ke tshoh-eh || I come (polite)
|-
| U tšo-e || U tshoh-eh || You come (polite)
|-
| O tšo-e || O tshoh-eh || He/she comes (polite)
|-
| Re tšo-e || Re tshoh-eh || We come (polite)
|-
| Le tšo-e || Le tshoh-eh || You (plural) come (polite)
|-
| Ba tšo-e || Ba tshoh-eh || They come (polite)
|}


Using the polite forms of verbs demonstrates respect and is considered good manners in Southern Sotho culture. It is important to be aware of these cultural nuances when speaking with native speakers or in formal settings.
* Ba bala (They read)


== Exercises ==
2. '''Negative Sentences:'''


Now it's time to practice what you've learned. Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense and form negative sentences using the verb "ha."
* Ha ke ja. (I do not eat.)


1. "phetha" (to write)
* Ha u bua. (You do not speak.)


2. "fihla" (to arrive)
* Ha o ja. (He/She does not eat.)


3. "tšwara" (to play)
3. '''Translations:'''


4. "bala" (to read)
* Ha ke ja. (I do not eat.)


5. "tšhela" (to run)
* U bala buka. (You read a book.)


== Solutions ==
* Ha ba bua. (They do not speak.)


Here are the correct conjugations for the verbs in the present tense and their negative forms:
4. '''Fill in the blanks:'''


1. "phetha" (to write)
* Ke fa (I give) him a gift.


{| class="wikitable"
* U fa (You give) her a present.
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ke pheth-a || Ke pheh-tah || I write
|-
| U pheth-a || U pheh-tah || You write
|-
| O pheth-a || O pheh-tah || He/she writes
|-
| Re pheth-a || Re pheh-tah || We write
|-
| Le pheth-a || Le pheh-tah || You (plural) write
|-
| Ba pheth-a || Ba pheh-tah || They write
|}


Negative Sentences:
5. '''Paragraph Example:'''


{| class="wikitable"
* "Ke etela sekolo. Ke bala buka. Ke fa baruti. Re ja lijo."
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ke ha ke pheth-e || Ke ha ke pheh-t-eh || I don't write
|-
| U ha u pheth-e || U ha u pheh-t-eh || You don't write
|-
| O ha a pheth-e || O ha a pheh-t-eh || He/she doesn't write
|-
| Re ha re pheth-e || Re ha re pheh-t-eh || We don't write
|-
| Le ha le pheth-e || Le ha le pheh-t-eh || You (plural) don't write
|-
| Ba ha ba pheth-e || Ba ha ba pheh-t-eh || They don't write
|}


2. "fihla" (to arrive)
6. '''Negative Sentences:'''


{| class="wikitable"
* Ha re ja. (We do not eat.)
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ke fihl-a || Ke fee-hlah || I arrive
|-
| U fihl-a || U fee-hlah || You arrive
|-
| O fihl-a || O fee-hlah || He/she arrives
|-
| Re fihl-a || Re fee-hlah || We arrive
|-
| Le fihl-a || Le fee-hlah || You (plural) arrive
|-
| Ba fihl-a || Ba fee-hlah || They arrive
|}


Negative Sentences:
* Ha le ja. (You all do not eat.)


{| class="wikitable"
* Ha ba etela. (They do not visit.)
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ke ha ke fihl-e || Ke ha ke fee-hl-eh || I don't arrive
|-
| U ha u fihl-e || U ha u fee-hl-eh || You don't arrive
|-
| O ha a fihl-e || O ha a fee-hl-eh || He/she doesn't arrive
|-
| Re ha re fihl-e || Re ha re fee-hl-eh || We don't arrive
|-
| Le ha le fihl-e || Le ha le fee-hl-eh || You (plural) don't arrive
|-
| Ba ha ba fihl-e || Ba ha ba fee-hl-eh || They don't arrive
|}


3. "tšwara" (to play)
7. '''Matching:'''


{| class="wikitable"
* Ke ithuta. → I study.
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ke tšwar-a || Ke tshwa-rah || I play
|-
| U tšwar-a || U tshwa-rah || You play
|-
| O tšwar-a || O tshwa-rah || He/she plays
|-
| Re tšwar-a || Re tshwa-rah || We play
|-
| Le tšwar-a || Le tshwa-rah || You (plural) play
|-
| Ba tšwar-a || Ba tshwa-rah || They play
|}


Negative Sentences:
* O a etela. → You are visiting.


{| class="wikitable"
* Ba ja. → They eat.
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ke ha ke tšwar-e || Ke ha ke tshwa-rah || I don't play
|-
| U ha u tšwar-e || U ha u tshwa-rah || You don't play
|-
| O ha o tšwar-e || O ha o tshwa-rah || He/she doesn't play
|-
| Re ha re tšwar-e || Re ha re tshwa-rah || We don't play
|-
| Le ha le tšwar-e || Le ha le tshwa-rah || You (plural) don't play
|-
| Ba ha ba tšwar-e || Ba ha ba tshwa-rah || They don't play
|}


4. "bala" (to read)
8. '''Translations:'''


{| class="wikitable"
* Ha re bala. (We do not read.)
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ke bal-a || Ke bah-lah || I read
|-
| U bal-a || U bah-lah || You read
|-
| O bal-a || O bah-lah || He/she reads
|-
| Re bal-a || Re bah-lah || We read
|-
| Le bal-a || Le bah-lah || You (plural) read
|-
| Ba bal-a || Ba bah-lah || They read
|}


Negative Sentences:
* Le thabela. (You all enjoy.)


{| class="wikitable"
* Ha o sebetsa. (He does not work.)
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ke ha ke bal-e || Ke ha ke bah-l-eh || I don't read
|-
| U ha u bal-e || U ha u bah-l-eh || You don't read
|-
| O ha o bal-e || O ha o bah-l-eh || He/she doesn't read
|-
| Re ha re bal-e || Re ha re bah-l-eh || We don't read
|-
| Le ha le bal-e || Le ha le bah-l-eh || You (plural) don't read
|-
| Ba ha ba bal-e || Ba ha ba bah-l-eh || They don't read
|}


5. "tšhela" (to run)
9. '''Choose the Correct Form:'''


{| class="wikitable"
* I go to school every day. (Ke ea sekolong letsatsi le letsatsi.)
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ke tšhel-a || Ke tshah-lah || I run
|-
| U tšhel-a || U tshah-lah || You run
|-
| O tšhel-a || O tshah-lah || He/she runs
|-
| Re tšhel-a || Re tshah-lah || We run
|-
| Le tšhel-a || Le tshah-lah || You (plural) run
|-
| Ba tšhel-a || Ba tshah-lah || They run
|}


Negative Sentences:
10. '''Sentence Examples:'''


{| class="wikitable"
* Ke ja. (I eat.)
! Southern Sotho !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ke ha ke tšhel-e || Ke ha ke tshah-l-eh || I don't run
|-
| U ha u tšhel-e || U ha u tshah-l-eh || You don't run
|-
| O ha o tšhel-e || O ha o tshah-l-eh || He/she doesn't run
|-
| Re ha re tšhel-e || Re ha re tshah-l-eh || We don't run
|-
| Le ha le tšhel-e || Le ha le tshah-l-eh || You (plural) don't run
|-
| Ba ha ba tšhel-e || Ba ha ba tshah-l-eh || They don't run
|}


Great job! You've successfully conjugated verbs in the present tense and formed negative sentences. Keep practicing to reinforce your understanding of the present tense in Southern Sotho.
* O bua. (You speak.)


== Conclusion ==
* Ba sebetsa. (They work.)


In this lesson, we have learned how to conjugate verbs in the present tense and form negative sentences in Southern Sotho. We explored the different verb forms based on the subject of the sentence and practiced conjugating verbs such as "tšoa" (to come), "bula" (to speak), and "rata" (to love). We also discussed the cultural significance of using polite verb forms to show respect in Southern Sotho communication. Remember to practice regularly and continue building upon your knowledge of Southern Sotho grammar. You're on your way to becoming proficient in Southern Sotho!
With practice, you'll become more comfortable with the present tense in Southern Sotho. Remember, language learning is a journey, and every step you take brings you closer to fluency.


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|title=Learn Southern Sotho Present Tense
|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to conjugate verbs in the present tense and form negative sentences in Southern Sotho. Explore the cultural significance of verb forms and practice your skills with exercises and solutions.
 
|keywords=Southern Sotho, present tense, language learning, conjugation, negative sentences
 
|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to conjugate verbs in the present tense in Southern Sotho and how to form negative sentences.
 
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Latest revision as of 14:28, 2 August 2024

◀️ Telling Time — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Past Tense ▶️

Lesotho-Timeline-PolyglotClub.png
Southern Sotho → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Present Tense

Welcome to the lesson on Present Tense in Southern Sotho! Understanding how to use the present tense is essential for beginners, as it allows you to talk about daily activities, routines, and things happening right now. This lesson will guide you through the structure of verbs in the present tense, how to conjugate them, and how to form negative sentences.

The Southern Sotho language, rich in culture and history, uses a unique verb conjugation system that may seem daunting at first, but with practice, you'll find it quite manageable and intuitive. By mastering the present tense, you'll be able to express yourself more freely and engage in basic conversations with native speakers.

In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:

Understanding the Present Tense[edit | edit source]

The present tense is used to describe actions that are currently happening or general truths. In Southern Sotho, the present tense is indicated by specific verb prefixes that correspond to the subject.

Conjugating Verbs in the Present Tense[edit | edit source]

Conjugating verbs in Southern Sotho involves changing the verb prefix according to the subject. Below is a breakdown of the subject pronouns and their respective prefixes:

  • 1st Person Singular (I) - ke-
  • 2nd Person Singular (You) - u-
  • 3rd Person Singular (He/She/It) - o-
  • 1st Person Plural (We) - re-
  • 2nd Person Plural (You all) - le-
  • 3rd Person Plural (They) - ba-

Here’s how to conjugate some common verbs in the present tense:

Southern Sotho Pronunciation English
ke ja keː ja I eat
u ja uː ja You eat
o ja oː ja He/She eats
re ja reː ja We eat
le ja leː ja You all eat
ba ja baː ja They eat
ke bua keː bwa I speak
u bua uː bwa You speak
o bua oː bwa He/She speaks
re bua reː bwa We speak
le bua leː bwa You all speak
ba bua baː bwa They speak

Forming Negative Sentences[edit | edit source]

In Southern Sotho, negative sentences are formed by adding the prefix "ha" before the verb. The structure is as follows:

  • Positive: Subject + Verb
  • Negative: Subject + ha + Verb

For example:

Southern Sotho Pronunciation English
Ke ja keː ja I eat
Ha ke ja ha keː ja I do not eat
U ja uː ja You eat
Ha u ja ha uː ja You do not eat
O ja oː ja He/She eats
Ha o ja ha oː ja He/She does not eat
Re ja reː ja We eat
Ha re ja ha reː ja We do not eat
Le ja leː ja You all eat
Ha le ja ha leː ja You all do not eat
Ba ja baː ja They eat
Ha ba ja ha baː ja They do not eat

Examples of Present Tense Usage[edit | edit source]

1. Ke bala buka. (I read a book.)

2. U a etsa. (You are doing.)

3. O sebetsa hantle. (She works well.)

4. Re phela hantle. (We live well.)

5. Le etela khotla. (You all visit the court.)

6. Ba tlisa lijo. (They bring food.)

7. Ke tiisa. (I confirm.)

8. U fa. (You give.)

9. O fa mmoho. (He gives together.)

10. Re itlhophela. (We choose.)

11. Le bopa. (You all create.)

12. Ba reka. (They buy.)

13. Ke lefa. (I pay.)

14. U tloga. (You leave.)

15. O tlohela. (She leaves.)

16. Re tseba. (We know.)

17. Le tseba. (You all know.)

18. Ba tseba. (They know.)

19. Ke thabela. (I enjoy.)

20. Ha ke thabela. (I do not enjoy.)

Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now that we've covered the basics, it’s time to practice! Here are some exercises for you to try:

1. Conjugate the verb "bala" (to read) in the present tense for all subject pronouns.

2. Form negative sentences for the following positive sentences:

  • Ke ja.
  • U bua.
  • O ja.

3. Translate the following sentences into Southern Sotho:

  • I do not eat.
  • You read a book.
  • They do not speak.

4. Fill in the blanks with the correct present tense form of the verb "fa" (to give):

  • _______________ (I) _______________ (give) him a gift.
  • _______________ (You) _______________ (give) her a present.

5. Write a short paragraph about your daily routine using at least five present tense verbs.

6. Create negative sentences for the following positive sentences:

  • Re ja.
  • Le ja.
  • Ba etela.

7. Match the following Southern Sotho sentences with their English translations:

  • Ke ithuta.
  • O a etela.
  • Ba ja.

8. Translate the following into Southern Sotho:

  • We do not read.
  • You all enjoy.
  • He does not work.

9. Choose the correct form of the verb in the present tense:

  • (I/You/He) _______________ (to go) to school every day.

10. Using the verbs provided, make sentences in the present tense:

  • (to eat), (to speak), (to work)

Solutions and Explanations[edit | edit source]

1. Conjugation of "bala":

  • Ke bala (I read)
  • U bala (You read)
  • O bala (He/She reads)
  • Re bala (We read)
  • Le bala (You all read)
  • Ba bala (They read)

2. Negative Sentences:

  • Ha ke ja. (I do not eat.)
  • Ha u bua. (You do not speak.)
  • Ha o ja. (He/She does not eat.)

3. Translations:

  • Ha ke ja. (I do not eat.)
  • U bala buka. (You read a book.)
  • Ha ba bua. (They do not speak.)

4. Fill in the blanks:

  • Ke fa (I give) him a gift.
  • U fa (You give) her a present.

5. Paragraph Example:

  • "Ke etela sekolo. Ke bala buka. Ke fa baruti. Re ja lijo."

6. Negative Sentences:

  • Ha re ja. (We do not eat.)
  • Ha le ja. (You all do not eat.)
  • Ha ba etela. (They do not visit.)

7. Matching:

  • Ke ithuta. → I study.
  • O a etela. → You are visiting.
  • Ba ja. → They eat.

8. Translations:

  • Ha re bala. (We do not read.)
  • Le thabela. (You all enjoy.)
  • Ha o sebetsa. (He does not work.)

9. Choose the Correct Form:

  • I go to school every day. (Ke ea sekolong letsatsi le letsatsi.)

10. Sentence Examples:

  • Ke ja. (I eat.)
  • O bua. (You speak.)
  • Ba sebetsa. (They work.)

With practice, you'll become more comfortable with the present tense in Southern Sotho. Remember, language learning is a journey, and every step you take brings you closer to fluency.

Table of Contents - Southern Sotho Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Introduction to Southern Sotho


Greetings and Introductions


Nouns and Pronouns


Numbers and Time


Verbs and Tenses


Everyday Activities


Adjectives and Adverbs


Food and Dining


Southern Sotho Traditions


Travel and Transportation


Questions and Negation


Shopping and Money


Southern Sotho Family Life


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



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