Chapter 1: Using BE and HAVE / Boqonnaa 1: Gochima 'BE' fi 'HAVE' Fayyadamuu
This chapter covers the fundamental verbs 'be' and 'have'. / Boqonnaan kun gochimoota bu'uuraa 'be' fi 'have' ni hammata.
NOUN + IS + NOUN: SINGULAR / MAQAA + IS + MAQAA: KALLATTII
(a) Canada is a country. / Kaanaadaan biyya.
(b) Mexico is a country. / Meeksikoon biyya.
(c) A cat is an animal. / Adurreen bineensa.
"Singular" means "one, not two or more." In (a): Canada = a singular noun, is = a singular verb, country = a singular noun. / "Kallattii" jechuun "tokko, lamaa fi isaa ol miti." Fakkeenya (a) keessatti: Kaanaadaan = maqaa kallattii, is = gochima kallattii, biyya = maqaa kallattii.
A and an are articles. They have the same meaning. A is used before words that begin with consonants (b, c, d, f, etc.). An is used before words that begin with vowels (a, e, i, o, u). / A fi an jechoonni dursaa (articles) dha. Hiikni isaanii tokkuma. A sagalee dubbachiiftuu dhabdootaan (b, c, d, f, kkf) kan jalqabamaniif dura dhufa. An sagalee dubbachiiftuutti (a, e, i, o, u) dura dhufa.
Exercise / Gilgaala
Complete the sentences. Use an ARTICLE, a or an. / Hima guuti. Dursa maqaa, a ykn an fayyadami.
1. A horse is an animal.
2. English is ______ language.
3. Chicago is ______ city.
4. Korea is ______ country.
5. Europe is ______ continent.
6. A dictionary is ______ book.
7. A hotel is ______ building.
8. A bear is ______ animal.
9. A bee is ______ insect.
10. An ant is ______ insect.
NOUN + ARE + NOUN: PLURAL / MAQAA + ARE + MAQAA: DANUUMMEE
(a) Cats are animals. / Adurreen bineensota.
(b) SINGULAR: a cat, an animal. PLURAL: cats, animals / KALLATTAMA: adurree, bineensa. DANUUMMEE: adurreewwan, bineensota.
(d) Canada and China are countries. / Kaanaadaa fi Chaayinaan biyyoota.
"Plural" means "two, three, or more." Plural nouns usually end in -s. The articles 'a' and 'an' are used only with singular nouns. / "Danuummee" jechuun "lama, sadii, ykn isaa ol." Maqaaleen danuummee yeroo baay'ee -s irratti xumuramu. A fi an maqaalee kallattama qofa waliin fayyadamu.
Exercise / Gilgaala
Change the singular sentences to plural sentences. / Himoota kallattama gara danuummeetti jijjiiri.
1. An ant is an insect. → Ants are insects.
2. A computer is a machine. → ______
3. A dictionary is a book. → ______
4. A chicken is a bird. → ______
5. A rose is a flower. → ______
PRONOUN + BE + NOUN / MAQAA BAKKA BU'AA + BE + MAQAA
| SINGULAR / KALLATTAMA | PLURAL / DANUUMMEE |
|---|---|
| I am a student. | We are students. |
| You are a student. | You are students. |
| She is a student. | They are students. |
| He is a student. | |
| It is a country. |
Pronouns refer to nouns. She = feminine, He = masculine, They = plural. / Maqaa bakka bu'oonni maqaalee bakka bu'u. Isheen = dubartii, Inni = dhiira, Isaan = danuummee.
CONTRACTIONS WITH BE / GABAAJEFFAMOOTA GOCHIMA BE WALIIN
When people speak, they often push two words together. This is a contraction. The mark (') is an apostrophe. / Yeroo dubbatan, namoonni jechoota lama walitti maku. Kun gabaabfannaa dha. Mallattoon (') apostrophe jedhama.
| I + am → I'm | I'm a student. |
| she + is → she's | She's a student. |
| he + is → he's | He's a student. |
| it + is → it's | It's a city. |
| you + are → you're | You're a student. |
| we + are → we're | We're students. |
| they + are → they're | They're students. |
NEGATIVE WITH BE / HIMOO DIDAA GOCHIMA BE WALIIN
Not makes a sentence negative. Contractions: is + not = isn't; are + not = aren't. (Am and not are not contracted). / Not hima didaa taasisa. Gabaabfannaa: is + not = isn't; are + not = aren't. (Am fi not hin gabaabfamu).
(a) Tom isn't a teacher. He is a student. / Toomaan barsiisaa miti. Inni barataadha.
(b) Tom and Ann are not (aren't) teachers. / Toomaa fi Aanaan barsiisota miti.
BE + ADJECTIVE / BE + IBSITUU
Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns. They often follow a form of be (am, is, are). Examples: round, intelligent, hungry, young, happy. / Ibsitoonni (adjectives) maqaalee ykn maqaa bakka bu'oota ibsu. Yeroo baayyee gochima be (am, is, are) booda dhufu. Fakkeenya: geengoo, qaxalee, beela'aa, dargaggeessa, gammadaa.
(a) A ball is round. / Kubbaan geengoodha.
(b) I am hungry. / Ani beela'eera.
BE + A LOCATION / BE + IDDOO
Be is often followed by a location. A location can be one word (e.g., here, there, downtown) or a prepositional phrase (e.g., at the library, in the classroom). / Gochima 'be' booda yeroo baayyee iddoo dhufa. Iddoon jecha tokko (fkn, as, achi, giddugaleessa) ykn gaalee dursaa (fkn, mana kitaabaatti, daree keessatti) ta'uu danda'a.
(a) Maria is here. / Maariyaan as jirti.
(b) Bob was at the library. / Boob mana kitaabaa ture.
YES/NO QUESTIONS WITH BE / GAAFFII EYYEE/LAKKI GOCHIMA BE WALIIN
In a question, be comes before the subject. / Gaaffii keessatti, be matima dura dhufa.
| QUESTION / GAAFFII | STATEMENT / HIMOO |
|---|---|
| Is she a student? | She is a student. |
| Are they at home? | They are at home. |
Short Answers: Yes, she is. / No, she's not. / No, she isn't. / Deebii Gabaabaa: Eeyyee, isheen. / Lakki, isheen miti. / Lakki, isheen miti.
ASKING QUESTIONS WITH WHAT AND WHO + BE / GAAFFII WHAT FI WHO GOCHIMA BE WALIIN GAAFACHUU
What asks about things. Who asks about people. / What waa'ee wantootaa gaafata. Who waa'ee namootaa gaafata.
(a) What is this (thing)? → It's a pen. / Kun maali? → Qalama.
(b) Who is that (man)? → That's Mr. Lee. / Sun eenyu? → Obbo Lii.
(c) What are those (things)? → They're pens. / Sun maali? → Qalamoota.
(d) Who are they? → They're Mr. and Mrs. Lee. / Isaan eenyu? → Obbo fi Aadde Lii.
Contractions: what + is = what's; who + is = who's. / Gabaabfannaa: what + is = what's; who + is = who's.