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

Lingala Grammar - How to Use "Be"

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

The verb "be" is used to describe a state or condition. It is used to describe a person, place, thing, or idea. In Lingala, the verb "be" is conjugated differently depending on the subject of the sentence.

The verb "be" has three forms: the present tense, the past tense, and the future tense.

The present tense of the verb "be" is used to describe something that is happening now or something that is true in the present. The present tense of the verb "be" is conjugated as follows:

Lingala	Pronunciation	English Translation
Nzambe	n-zahm-beh	I am
Ozali	oh-zah-lee	You are
Azali	ah-zah-lee	He/She/It is
Tzambe	t-zahm-beh	We are
Ezali	eh-zah-lee	You (plural) are
Azo	ah-zoh	They are

The past tense of the verb "be" is used to describe something that happened in the past. The past tense of the verb "be" is conjugated as follows:

Lingala	Pronunciation	English Translation
Nzambe	n-zahm-beh	I was
Ozali	oh-zah-lee	You were
Azali	ah-zah-lee	He/She/It was
Tzambe	t-zahm-beh	We were
Ezali	eh-zah-lee	You (plural) were
Azo	ah-zoh	They were

The future tense of the verb "be" is used to describe something that will happen in the future. The future tense of the verb "be" is conjugated as follows:

Lingala	Pronunciation	English Translation
Nzambe	n-zahm-beh	I will be
Ozali	oh-zah-lee	You will be
Azali	ah-zah-lee	He/She/It will be
Tzambe	t-zahm-beh	We will be
Ezali	eh-zah-lee	You (plural) will be
Azo	ah-zoh	They will be

Now let's look at some examples of sentences using the verb "be":

• Person 1: Nzambe moto. (I am a person.)
• Person 2: Ozali moto. (You are a person.)
• Person 1: Azali mokili. (He/She/It is an animal.)
• Person 2: Tzambe mokili. (We are animals.)
• Person 1: Ezali mokili. (You (plural) are animals.)
• Person 2: Azo moto. (They are people.)

To improve your Lingala 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

• Nouns
• Present Tense
• Give your Opinion
• Irregular verbs – kolia – to eat
• Past progressive tense
• The Past Tense To Be
• Conjugation To Have
• Questions
• The Imperative Mood