Language/Faroese/Grammar/Present-Tense
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Welcome to our lesson on the Present Tense in Faroese! This lesson is an essential stepping stone in your journey to mastering the Faroese language. Understanding how to use the present tense allows you to express actions that are currently happening or habitual actions, making your communication much more dynamic and relatable. In Faroese, as in many languages, mastering the present tense opens the door to everyday conversations, allowing you to connect with native speakers and express yourself more naturally.
In this lesson, we will cover:
- The structure of the present tense in Faroese
- Regular verb conjugation
- Irregular verbs and their peculiarities
- Practical examples to illustrate usage
- Exercises to practice what you’ve learned
After this lesson, you’ll feel more confident using the present tense in Faroese, whether you’re talking about your daily routine, your hobbies, or your feelings.
Understanding Present Tense in Faroese[edit | edit source]
The present tense in Faroese is used to describe actions that happen regularly or are happening now. For instance, when you say "I eat," "she sings," or "we are learning," you are using the present tense. The structure of the present tense can vary depending on whether the verb is regular or irregular, which we will discuss in detail.
Regular Verbs[edit | edit source]
Regular verbs in Faroese follow a predictable pattern when conjugated in the present tense. The general rule is to take the verb stem and add the appropriate endings based on the subject pronoun.
Here’s how it works for regular verbs:
- Verb endings:
I (eg) - -i*
You (thou) (tú) - -ir*
He/She/It (hann/hon/ tað) - -ir*
We (vit) - -a*
You (plural) (tit) - -i*
They (teir) - -a*
Let’s look at some examples of regular verbs in the present tense:
| Faroese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| at lesa | [æt 'leːsa] | to read |
| eg lesi | [æj 'leːsi] | I read |
| tú lesir | [tu 'leːsir] | you read |
| hann lesir | [han 'leːsir] | he reads |
| hon lesir | [hon 'leːsir] | she reads |
| vit lesa | [vit 'leːsa] | we read |
| tit lesi | [tit 'leːsi] | you (plural) read |
| teir lesa | [tɛiʁ 'leːsa] | they read |
Here’s another regular verb to illustrate the pattern:
| Faroese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| at skriva | [æt 'skriːva] | to write |
| eg skrivi | [æj 'skriːvi] | I write |
| tú skrivar | [tu 'skriːvar] | you write |
| hann skrivar | [han 'skriːvar] | he writes |
| hon skrivar | [hon 'skriːvar] | she writes |
| vit skriva | [vit 'skriːva] | we write |
| tit skrivi | [tit 'skriːvi] | you (plural) write |
| teir skriva | [tɛiʁ 'skriːva] | they write |
Irregular Verbs[edit | edit source]
Irregular verbs do not follow the same predictable patterns as regular verbs. They require some memorization. Here are a few commonly used irregular verbs in Faroese present tense:
| Faroese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| at vera | [æt 'veːra] | to be |
| eg eri | [æj 'ɛri] | I am |
| tú ert | [tu 'ɛrt] | you are |
| hann/hon/ tað er | [han 'ɛr] / [hon 'ɛr] / [θat 'ɛr] | he/she/it is |
| vit eru | [vit 'ɛru] | we are |
| tit eru | [tit 'ɛru] | you (plural) are |
| teir eru | [tɛiʁ 'ɛru] | they are |
Another important irregular verb is “at hava” (to have):
| Faroese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| at hava | [æt 'hɑːva] | to have |
| eg havi | [æj 'hɑːvi] | I have |
| tú hevur | [tu 'hɛvur] | you have |
| hann/hon/ tað hevur | [han 'hɛvur] / [hon 'hɛvur] / [θat 'hɛvur] | he/she/it has |
| vit hava | [vit 'hɑːva] | we have |
| tit hava | [tit 'hɑːva] | you (plural) have |
| teir hava | [tɛiʁ 'hɑːva] | they have |
Practical Examples[edit | edit source]
Now that you are familiar with both regular and irregular verbs, let’s look at some sentences that put these verbs into context. This will help you see how they are used in everyday conversation.
1. Eg lesi bókina. (I read the book.)
2. Tú skrivar ein teldupost. (You write an email.)
3. Hann er í skúla. (He is in school.)
4. Vit skriva ein skaldsøg. (We write a poem.)
5. Tit hava hund. (You (plural) have a dog.)
6. Teir lesa tíðindini. (They read the news.)
7. Eg havi eitt gott hugskot. (I have a good idea.)
8. Hon lesir blaðið. (She reads the newspaper.)
9. Tú ert ein góður vinur. (You are a good friend.)
10. Vit eru á ferð. (We are on a trip.)
11. Eg skrivi dagbók. (I write a diary.)
12. Hann hevur nógv arbeiði. (He has a lot of work.)
13. Tú lesir nógv bøkur. (You read a lot of books.)
14. Vit hava ein góðan middag. (We have a nice dinner.)
15. Teir eru í parkinum. (They are in the park.)
16. Hon skrivar ein skaldsøg. (She writes a story.)
17. Eg eri fegin. (I am happy.)
18. Tú ert í góðum humøri. (You are in a good mood.)
19. Vit lesa saman. (We read together.)
20. Teir lesa fyri børnini. (They read to the children.)
Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now it’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are some exercises that will help reinforce what you have learned about the present tense in Faroese.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in present tense[edit | edit source]
1. Eg ___ (at lesa) bókina.
2. Tú ___ (at skriva) ein teldupost.
3. Hann ___ (at vera) í skúla.
4. Vit ___ (at hava) ein hund.
Solutions:
1. lesi
2. skrivar
3. er
4. hava
Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences into Faroese[edit | edit source]
1. We write a letter.
2. They are happy.
3. You (plural) have a car.
4. She reads a magazine.
Solutions:
1. Vit skriva eina bræv.
2. Teir eru fegnir.
3. Tit hava ein bil.
4. Hon lesir eina tíðindabók.
Exercise 3: Identify the irregular verbs in the following sentences[edit | edit source]
1. Eg havi ein hund.
2. Tú ert í skúla.
3. Vit lesa nógv bøkur.
4. Teir hava nógv arbeiði.
Solutions:
1. havi (at hava)
2. ert (at vera)
3. None (all regular)
4. hava (at hava)
Exercise 4: Conjugate the following regular verbs in the present tense[edit | edit source]
1. at dansa (to dance)
2. at spjaðra (to share)
Solutions:
1. eg dugi, tú dansar, hann dansar, vit dansa, tit dansi, teir dansa
2. eg spjaði, tú spjaðar, hann spjaðar, vit spjaða, tit spjaði, teir spjaða
Exercise 5: Create sentences using the following verbs in the present tense[edit | edit source]
1. at gera (to do)
2. at syngja (to sing)
Solutions:
1. Eg geri arbeiði. (I do work.)
2. Hon syngur ein sang. (She sings a song.)
Exercise 6: Match the subject pronouns with the correct verb endings[edit | edit source]
1. Eg
2. Tú
3. Hann
4. Vit
5. Tit
6. Teir
Solutions:
1. -i
2. -ir
3. -ir
4. -a
5. -i
6. -a
Exercise 7: Rewrite the following sentences in the present tense[edit | edit source]
1. (I read yesterday) Eg las í gjár.
2. (They sang beautifully) Teir sungu vakurt.
Solutions:
1. Eg lesi nú. (I read now.)
2. Teir syngja vakurt. (They sing beautifully.)
Exercise 8: Describe your daily routine using at least five present tense verbs[edit | edit source]
Solution Example:
Eg vakni kl. 7, eg lesi bókina, eg etti morgunmat, eg fari til arbeiði, eg koma heim.
Exercise 9: Create five sentences using irregular verbs in present tense[edit | edit source]
Solution Example:
1. Eg eri fegin.
2. Tú hevur ein góðan hugskot.
3. Hann er í góðum humøri.
4. Vit hava nógv at gera.
5. Teir eru góðir vinir.
Exercise 10: Translate the following sentences into English[edit | edit source]
1. Eg eri í góðum humøri.
2. Hon lesir ein skaldsøg.
3. Vit hava ein bil.
4. Teir lesa tíðindini.
Solutions:
1. I am in a good mood.
2. She reads a poem.
3. We have a car.
4. They read the news.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations on completing this lesson on the present tense in Faroese! You now have a solid foundation for using both regular and irregular verbs in your conversations. Remember that practice makes perfect, so continue to use these verbs in your daily life, whether you are writing, speaking, or simply thinking in Faroese. Keep your curiosity alive, and don't hesitate to revisit this lesson as you progress further in your studies. Takk fyri, og vit síggjast aftur! (Thank you, and see you again!)
Sources[edit | edit source]
- present tense in Faroese - English-Faroese Dictionary | Glosbe
- Simple Faroese Grammar and Speech - by elisabeth.hurley56 ...
- Faroese Grammar - How to Use "Have"
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Verb To Be
- Conditional Mood
- Give your Opinion
- Questions
- Plurals
- Pronouns
- How to Use Be
- Question Words
- Simple Past Tense
| ◀️ Telling Time — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Regular Verbs ▶️ |