Language/Amharic/Grammar/The-Past-and-Present-Continuous-Tenses

The Past and Present Continuous Tenses in Amharic

Observe the following sentences.

Present continuous:

a. ጸጉሬን እየታጠብኩ ነው S’guren ïyätat’äbku näw. I am washing my hair.

b. ቁርሴን እየበላሁ ነው k’ursen ïyäbälahu näw. I am eating my breakfast.

Past continuous:

i. እኔ ወደ ቤቴ ስሄድ ልጆች እየተጫወቱ ነበር ïne wädä bete sïhed lïjoč ïyätäč’awätu näbär. When I went home, kids were playing.

ii. አባቴ ሲመጣ እኔ የቤት ስራዬን እየሰራሁ ነበር abbate simät’a ïne yäbet sïrayen ïyäsärahu näbär. When my father came, I was finishing my work.

The generalized formula for these forms is:

Present continuous (affirmative) = እየ - ïyä + simple past tense verb + ነው näw Past continuous (affirmative) = እየ - ïyä + simple past tense verb + ነበር näbär

Source

https://www.livelingua.com/peace-corps/Amharic/Amharic%20Peace%20Corps%20Language%20Manual-2015.pdf