Language/Kinyarwanda/Grammar/How-to-Use-Be
Hi Kinyarwanda learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "be" in Kinyarwanda. We will look at the different forms of the verb and how to use them in sentences.
The verb "be" is used to describe a state or condition. In Kinyarwanda, the verb "be" is conjugated differently depending on the subject of the sentence. The verb "be" can be conjugated in the present, past, and future tenses.
The present tense of the verb "be" is conjugated as follows:
| Subject | Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Ni | /ni/ | I am |
| You (singular) | U | /u/ | You are |
| He/She/It | Yari | /jaɾi/ | He/She/It is |
| We | Twari | /twaɾi/ | We are |
| You (plural) | Mu | /mu/ | You are |
| They | Bazi | /bazi/ | They are |
The past tense of the verb "be" is conjugated as follows:
| Subject | Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Ndari | /ndaɾi/ | I was |
| You (singular) | Uruari | /uɾuari/ | You were |
| He/She/It | Yarari | /jaɾaɾi/ | He/She/It was |
| We | Twarari | /twaɾaɾi/ | We were |
| You (plural) | Murari | /muɾaɾi/ | You were |
| They | Bazari | /bazaɾi/ | They were |
The future tense of the verb "be" is conjugated as follows:
| Subject | Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Nzabona | /nzabona/ | I will be |
| You (singular) | Uzabona | /uzabona/ | You will be |
| He/She/It | Yabona | /jabona/ | He/She/It will be |
| We | Twabona | /twabona/ | We will be |
| You (plural) | Mubona | /mubona/ | You will be |
| They | Bazabona | /bazabona/ | They will be |
Now let's look at some examples of how to use the verb "be" in sentences.
- Person 1: Ni ndari mukuru. (/ni ndaɾi mukuɾu/) (I was the elder.)
- Person 2: Uruari mukuru. (/uɾuari mukuɾu/) (You were the elder.)
- Person 1: Yari mukuru. (/jaɾi mukuɾu/) (He/She/It was the elder.)
- Person 2: Twarari mukuru. (/twaɾaɾi mukuɾu/) (We were the elder.)
- Person 1: Murari mukuru. (/muɾaɾi mukuɾu/) (You were the elder.)
- Person 2: Bazari mukuru. (/bazaɾi mukuɾu/) (They were the elder.)
Now let's look at some examples of how to use the verb "be" in the future tense.
- Person 1: Nzabona mukuru. (/nzabona mukuɾu/) (I will be the elder.)
- Person 2: Uzabona mukuru. (/uzabona mukuɾu/) (You will be the elder.)
- Person 1: Yabona mukuru. (/jabona mukuɾu/) (He/She/It will be the elder.)
- Person 2: Twabona mukuru. (/twabona mukuɾu/) (We will be the elder.)
- Person 1: Mubona mukuru. (/mubona mukuɾu/) (You will be the elder.)
- Person 2: Bazabona mukuru. (/bazabona mukuɾu/) (They will be the elder.)
To improve your Kinyarwanda Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
That's it for this lesson! Now you know how to use the verb "be" in Kinyarwanda.
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➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎