Language/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. 😎
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