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