Language/Occitan-post-1500/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be

Occitan (post 1500) Grammar - How to Use "Be"

Hi Occitan (post 1500) learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "be" in Occitan (post 1500) grammar. If you're new to the language, make sure to check out the Grammar section on our website Polyglot Club first!

What is the Verb "Be"?

The verb "be" is an essential verb in English and many other languages. It's used to link the subject of a sentence to information about the subject, such as its identity, location, state, or other qualities. For example, "I am a teacher.", "The book is on the table.", "She was happy.", "They will be here soon."

In Occitan (post 1500), the verb "be" has some similarities to the English verb, but also some differences in usage and conjugation. Let's explore this further.

Present Tense of "Be"

In Occitan (post 1500), the present tense of the verb "be" can be expressed in two ways: with the verbs "èsser" or "estar".

The verb "èsser" is used to indicate identity, profession, nationality, possession, or essential qualities of the subject. For example:

Occitan (post 1500)	Pronunciation	English
Sèi	sey	I am
Es	es	You (singular) are
Es	es	He/She/It is
Sèm	sem	We are
Sètz	setz	You (plural) are
Son	son	They are

The verb "estar" is used to indicate location, temporary qualities, changing states, emotions, or actions in progress. For example:

Occitan (post 1500)	Pronunciation	English
Sei (/Estoi) a l'ostal.	sey (/estoy) a l’oustal	I am at home.
Es (/Estois) aquí.	es (/estoy) aqui	You (singular) are here.
Es (/Estois) fòra.	es (/estoy) fòra	He/She/It is outside.
Sèm (/Som) en còrsa.	sem (/som) en corsa	We are in class.
Sètz (/Sosatz) plan cansats.	setz (/sosatz) plan cansats	You (plural) are very tired.
Son (/Son) contents.	son (/son) contents	They are happy.

Note that the pronunciation of "èsser" and "estar" varies by region and dialect.

Past Tense of "Be"

In Occitan (post 1500), the past tense of "be" is formed using the auxiliary verb "èsser" or "aver" and the participle of the main verb.

To form the past tense of "èsser", use the appropriate form of "èsser" for the subject, followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example:

• Sèi anat al mercat. (I have gone to the market.)
• Eres vengut amb nòstre grop. (You came with our group.)
• Es estat malauta. (He/She was sick.)
• Som estats a la mar. (We were at the sea.)
• Sètz tornats tard. (You (plural) came back late.)
• Son partits dempuèi quauques jorns. (They left a few days ago.)

To form the past tense of "avar", use the appropriate form of "aver" for the subject, followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example:

• Ai estat al cinèma. (I have been to the cinema.)
• As anat au trabalh. (You went to work.)
• A patit una malautia. (He/She had an illness.)
• Avèm manjat al restaurant. (We ate at the restaurant.)
• Avètz vist aquela pelicula? (Have you (plural) seen that movie?)
• An passat una bona serada. (They had a good evening.)

Dialogue

Here's a dialogue to help you practice using the verb "be":

• Armand: Sei contents d'estar aquí. (I'm happy to be here.)
• Léa: Es estat una bòna idèa de venir. (It was a good idea to come.)
• Armand: Es / es estada al ristorant hier? (Did you (singular) go to the restaurant yesterday?)
• Léa: Non, eri malauta. (No, I was sick.)
• Armand: Eres (/Estois) perfèctament ara? (Are you (singular) okay now?)
• Léa: Oc, va plan mielhs. (Yes, much better.)

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've learned how to use the verb "be" in Occitan (post 1500) grammar. It's an important verb to master, as it appears frequently in most types of sentences. To improve your skills, try practicing with a native speaker on Polyglot Club and ask them any questions. And don't forget to check out our Grammar section for more lessons on Occitan (post 1500) grammar.

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