Language/Lingala/Grammar/Verb-To-Have-and-To-Be
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Rate this lesson:
The simple present tense of the verb TO HAVE (kozala na)
TO BE
Let's review the last lesson about the verb TO BE (https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Language/Lingala/Grammar/Verb-to-be)
- I am > Nazali/naza
- You are > Ozali/oza
- He/she is > Azali/aza
- It is > Ezali/eza
- We are > Tozali/toza
- You are > Bozali/boza
- They are > Bazali/baza
TO HAVE
The verb TO HAVE (TO POSSESS) derive from the verb TO BE. In fact, we litteraly say TO BE WITH (kozala na)
- I have (got) > Naza(li) na: I have a phone> Naza na telefoni
- You have (got) > Oza(li) na: You have a house> Oza na ndaku
- He/she has (got) > Aza(li) na: He/she has a book> Aza na buku
- It has (got) > Eza(li) na: It has a door> Eza na porti (ekuke)
- We have (got) > Toza(li) na: We have a dog> Toza na mbwa
- You have (got) > Boza(li) na: You have siblings> Boza na bandeko
- They have (got) > Baza(li) na: They have children> Baza na bana.
Note: The spoken language always use the short form of the verb. We say 'naza' instead of 'nazali' though the complete form is used in formal writings.