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

Tigrinya Grammar - How to Use "Be"

Hi Tigrinya learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "be" in Tigrinya. We will look at the different forms of the verb and how to use them in sentences.

Introduction

The verb "be" is one of the most important verbs in any language. In Tigrinya, it is used to express existence, identity, location, and other states. It is also used to form the passive voice. In this lesson, we will look at the different forms of the verb "be" and how to use them in sentences.

Present Tense

The present tense of the verb "be" is used to express a state or condition that exists in the present moment. The present tense of the verb "be" is conjugated as follows:

Person	Tigrinya	Pronunciation	English Translation
I	ኣይተሓልኩም	aytehalkem	I am
You (singular)	ኣይተሓልኩ	aytehalke	You are
He/She/It	ኣይተሓልን	aytehalken	He/She/It is
We	ኣይተሓልኩና	aytehalkena	We are
You (plural)	ኣይተሓልኩብዛ	aytehalkebz	You are
They	ኣይተሓልኩናብዛ	aytehalkenabz	They are

Examples

• Person 1: ኣይተሓልኩም (aytehalkem) - I am
• Person 2: ኣይተሓልኩ (aytehalke) - You are
• Person 1: ኣይተሓልኩና (aytehalkena) - We are
• Person 2: ኣይተሓልኩብዛ (aytehalkebz) - You are

Past Tense

The past tense of the verb "be" is used to express a state or condition that existed in the past. The past tense of the verb "be" is conjugated as follows:

Person	Tigrinya	Pronunciation	English Translation
I	ኣይተሓልኩሞን	aytehalkemn	I was
You (singular)	ኣይተሓልኩሞ	aytehalkem	You were
He/She/It	ኣይተሓልኩሞን	aytehalkemn	He/She/It was
We	ኣይተሓልኩናሞን	aytehalkenamn	We were
You (plural)	ኣይተሓልኩብዛሞን	aytehalkebzmn	You were
They	ኣይተሓልኩናብዛሞን	aytehalkenabzmn	They were

Examples

• Person 1: ኣይተሓልኩሞን (aytehalkemn) - I was
• Person 2: ኣይተሓልኩሞ (aytehalkem) - You were
• Person 1: ኣይተሓልኩናሞን (aytehalkenamn) - We were
• Person 2: ኣይተሓልኩብዛሞን (aytehalkebzmn) - You were

Future Tense

The future tense of the verb "be" is used to express a state or condition that will exist in the future. The future tense of the verb "be" is conjugated as follows:

Person	Tigrinya	Pronunciation	English Translation
I	ኣይተሓልኩምን	aytehalkemn	I will be
You (singular)	ኣይተሓልኩን	aytehalken	You will be
He/She/It	ኣይተሓልኩን	aytehalken	He/She/It will be
We	ኣይተሓልኩናን	aytehalkenan	We will be
You (plural)	ኣይተሓልኩብዛን	aytehalkebzn	You will be
They	ኣይተሓልኩናብዛን	aytehalkenabzn	They will be

Examples

• Person 1: ኣይተሓልኩምን (aytehalkemn) - I will be
• Person 2: ኣይተሓልኩን (aytehalken) - You will be
• Person 1: ኣይተሓልኩናን (aytehalkenan) - We will be
• Person 2: ኣይተሓልኩብዛን (aytehalkebzn) - You will be

Passive Voice

The passive voice of the verb "be" is used to express a state or condition that is being done to someone or something. The passive voice of the verb "be" is conjugated as follows:

Person	Tigrinya	Pronunciation	English Translation
I	ኣይተሓልኩሞን	aytehalkemn	I am being
You (singular)	ኣይተሓልኩሞ	aytehalkem	You are being
He/She/It	ኣይተሓልኩሞን	aytehalkemn	He/She/It is being
We	ኣይተሓልኩናሞን	aytehalkenamn	We are being
You (plural)	ኣይተሓልኩብዛሞን	aytehalkebzmn	You are being
They	ኣይተሓልኩናብዛሞን	aytehalkenabzmn	They are being

Examples

• Person 1: ኣይተሓልኩሞን (aytehalkemn) - I am being
• Person 2: ኣይተሓልኩሞ (aytehalkem) - You are being
• Person 1: ኣይተሓልኩናሞን (aytehalkenamn) - We are being
• Person 2: ኣይተሓልኩብዛሞን (aytehalkebzmn) - You are being

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have looked at the different forms of the verb "be" in Tigrinya and how to use them in sentences. To improve your Tigrinya Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

---

➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Related Lessons

• Conditional Mood
• Questions
• Adjectives
• Negation
• Plurals
• Future Tense
• Pronouns