Language/Southern-sotho/Grammar/Past-Tense
Introduction
In this lesson, students will learn how to conjugate Southern Sotho verbs in the past tense, including regular and irregular verbs, and how to form negative sentences.
The past tense is used to describe actions that have already happened in the past, and it is formed by adding a suffix to the verb stem.
Conjugating Regular Verbs in the Past Tense
Regular verbs in Southern Sotho are verbs that follow a predictable pattern in their conjugation. To form the past tense of regular verbs, add the suffix "-ile" to the verb stem.
Here are some examples:
| Southern Sotho | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| re bina | ray bee-nah | we saw |
| o kopana | oh koh-pah-nah | he met |
| ba bona | bah boh-nah | they saw |
As you can see in the examples above, the verb stem remains unchanged, while the "-ile" suffix is added to indicate the past tense. Note that the subject pronoun is included before the verb, as in all other Southern Sotho verb conjugations.
Conjugating Irregular Verbs in the Past Tense
Irregular verbs in Southern Sotho are verbs that do not follow the regular conjugation pattern in the past tense. They have unique conjugation patterns that must be memorized.
Here are some examples:
| Southern Sotho | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| re bona | ray boh-nah | we saw |
| o phela | oh pay-lah | he lived |
| ba tla | bah tlhah | they will come |
As you can see in the examples above, the irregular verbs have unique forms in the past tense that do not follow the regular "-ile" pattern. It is important to memorize the conjugation patterns of irregular verbs in order to use them correctly.
Forming Negative Sentences in the Past Tense
To form a negative sentence in the past tense in Southern Sotho, add the negative prefix "ha-" before the verb stem, and then add the "-ile" suffix.
Here are some examples:
- Ha-o kopane - You did not meet.
- Ha-a dumela - She did not believe.
- Ha-re tlile - We did not arrive.
As you can see in the examples above, the negative prefix "ha-" is added before the verb stem, and then the "-ile" suffix is added to indicate the past tense.
Conclusion
In this lesson, students have learned how to conjugate Southern Sotho verbs in the past tense, including regular and irregular verbs, and how to form negative sentences. By mastering the past tense, students will be able to describe actions that have already happened in the past and communicate more effectively in Southern Sotho.