Language/Assyrian-neo-aramaic/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be
Hi Assyrian Neo-Aramaic learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on the verb "be" and how it is used in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of how to use "be" in different contexts. Don't forget to use Find native speakers and ask them any questions you might have!
Introduction[edit | edit source]
The verb "be" is one of the most important verbs in any language, and the same applies to Assyrian Neo-Aramaic. In English, the verb "be" has three forms: - am (for the first person singular), - is (for the third person singular), - are (for the second person singular and all plural persons).
In Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, the verb "be" is also used in different forms depending on the subject of the sentence. In this lesson, we will focus on these different forms and how they are used in different contexts.
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: How to Use Have & Conditional Mood.
Present Tense[edit | edit source]
In the present tense, the forms of the verb "be" in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic are:
| Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| qāmen | /qaːmɛn/ | am |
| tā | /taː/ | is |
| hānon | /ħaːnon/ | are |
Examples[edit | edit source]
To illustrate how the present tense of the verb "be" is used, let's look at a few examples:
Example 1[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: ܩܐܡܢ ܗܘܐ? (qāmen hawwā?)
- Person 2: ܩܐܡܢܐ ܐܝܬܝܗ (qāmena ʔeiti)
- Person 1: ܐܢܐ ܩܐܡܢ (anā qāmen)
- Person 2: ܐܢܐ ܩܐܡܢܗ (anā qāmenh)
Translation:
- Person 1: Am I?
- Person 2: You're am
- Person 1: I am
- Person 2: You are
Example 2[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: ܬܐ ܐܝܬܝܗ? (tā ʔeiti?)
- Person 2: ܐܢܐ ܬܐ (anā tā)
- Person 1: ܩܐܡܢܐ ܗܘܐ? (qāmena hawwā?)
- Person 2: ܩܐܡܢܐ ܐܝܬܝܗ (qāmena ʔeiti)
Translation:
- Person 1: Are you?
- Person 2: Yes, I am
- Person 1: You're are?
- Person 2: You are
Past Tense[edit | edit source]
In the past tense, the forms of the verb "be" in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic are:
| Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| kōn | /koːn/ | was (1st, 3rd person singular) |
| kentēn | /kɛntɛːn/ | were (2nd and plural persons) |
Examples[edit | edit source]
Let's look at some examples of how the past tense of the verb "be" is used:
Example 1[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: ܐܢܐ ܩܐܡܢ (anā qāmen)
- Person 2: ܟܘܢ ܐܝܬܝܗ (kōn ʔeiti)
Translation:
- Person 1: I am
- Person 2: I was
Example 2[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: ܠܘܬ ܕܝܢ ܟܘܢ ܗܘܢ (luwot dīn kōn hawn)
- Person 2: ܠܘܬ ܬܫܒܘܚܬܗ (luwot tshəvuħtəh)
Translation:
- Person 1: We were there yesterday
- Person 2: It was beautiful
Future Tense[edit | edit source]
In the future tense, the verb "be" is expressed using the particle "hā".
Examples[edit | edit source]
Let's look at a few examples of how the future tense of the verb "be" is used:
Example 1[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: ܩܐܡܢܐ ܒܝܬ ܐܢܐ? (qāmena bīt anā?)
- Person 2: ܩܐܡܢܐ ܗܘܐ (qāmena hawwā)
Translation:
- Person 1: Will you be at home?
- Person 2: Yes, I will be.
Example 2[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: ܩܐܡܢܐ ܕܝܢܬܐ ܡܝܬܐ ܐܝܬܝܗ (qāmena dīnta mēta ʔeiti?)
- Person 2: ܩܐܡܢܐ hā ܬܢܝܢ (qāmena hā tənyēn)
Translation:
- Person 1: Will you be with me tomorrow?
- Person 2: Yes, I will be with you.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we have learned about how the verb "be" is used in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic in the present, past, and future tenses. We hope you have found this lesson informative and useful in improving your Assyrian Neo-Aramaic Grammar. If you want to improve your language skills further, don’t hesitate to use Polyglot Club and find native speakers to practice with. 😊
➡ 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. 😎
Now that you've completed this lesson, don't stop learning! Check out these related topics: Pronouns & Questions.