Language/Bashkir/Grammar/Definite-and-Indefinite-Articles
Introduction
In Bashkir, like in many languages, articles are an important part of speech, and mastering them can greatly improve the fluency of a speaker. In this lesson, we will learn about the definite and indefinite articles in Bashkir and provide examples of how to use them.
Definite Articles
The definite article is used to indicate that we are talking about a specific noun that the listener or reader should already be familiar with. In Bashkir, the definite article has one form, which is "ә" (Ә in upper case).
Here are some examples of how to use the definite article in Bashkir:
Examples
| Bashkir | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| әйел | äyel | the woman |
| әһәммәт | ähämmät | the Mohammed |
| әлмәт | älmet | the life |
Notes
- We can easily say that ә is the equivalent to "the" in English. - It is worth noting that "ә" is not used with proper nouns such as names.
Indefinite Articles
The indefinite article is used to indicate that we are talking about a noun in a general sense, rather than a specific one. In Bashkir, the indefinite article has two forms depending on the gender of the noun: һин (hin) for masculine or neutral nouns, and һеҙ (heź) for feminine nouns.
Here are some examples of how to use the indefinite article in Bashkir:
Examples
| Bashkir | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| һин һәрбер рәүәт | hin härber räwät | a certain rule |
| һеҙ кадәр калғаныңыз? | heź kädär kalğanınïz? | how much did you pay? |
| һин урын | hin urın | a place |
Notes
- We can say that "hin" and "heź" are equivalent to "a" or "an" in English. - Just like in English, we don't use indefinite articles with plural nouns.
Definite and Indefinite Articles in Context
In order to fully comprehend the difference between definite and indefinite articles, let's see them in Venn diagrams:
| Definite Articles | Indefinite Articles | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ә | һин, һеҙ |
As seen above, the Bashkir definite article is only used for specific nouns that the listener/reader is already familiar with, while the indefinite article is used for a noun that is more general or undefined.
Here is an example sentence in Bashkir, with and without the use of articles:
- Мин ҡатнашуым әйел "Min qatnaşwım äyel" (The woman with whom I work) - Мин ҡатнашуым һеҙ әйел "Min qatnaşwım heź äyel" (A woman with whom I work)
In the first sentence, "әйел" refers to a specific woman, while in the second sentence, "һеҙ әйел" refers to any woman.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You now can use definite and indefinite articles in Bashkir, an important step toward fluency in the language. Remember to practice as much as you can, and review the grammar rules until they become second nature. In the following lessons, we will go deeper into the intricacies of Bashkir grammar, but for now, enjoy your newfound knowledge and start practicing!