Language/Xhosa/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have
Hi Xhosa learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "have" in Xhosa. We will look at the different forms of the verb and how to use them in sentences.
Introduction
The verb "have" is an important verb in Xhosa. It is used to express possession, ownership, and relationships. It is also used to express actions that have been completed or are ongoing. In this lesson, we will look at the different forms of the verb "have" and how to use them in sentences.
Forms of the Verb "Have"
The verb "have" has three forms in Xhosa:
- nga (present tense)
- ngi (past tense)
- ngu (future tense)
Present Tense
The present tense form of the verb "have" is nga. It is used to express possession, ownership, and relationships. It is also used to express actions that are ongoing.
Here are some examples of the present tense form of the verb "have":
| Xhosa | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Ndiyakwazi ukungena nga-10. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.kʊŋ.ɛ.nɑ ŋɑ.10/ | I can come at 10. |
| Ndiyakwazi ukufunda nga-9. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.ku.fʊn.dɑ ŋɑ.9/ | I can read at 9. |
| Ndiyakwazi ukubhala nga-8. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.ku.bʰɑ.lɑ ŋɑ.8/ | I can write at 8. |
Past Tense
The past tense form of the verb "have" is ngi. It is used to express actions that have been completed.
Here are some examples of the past tense form of the verb "have":
| Xhosa | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Ndiyakwazi ukungena ngi-10. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.kʊŋ.ɛ.nɪ ŋi.10/ | I could come at 10. |
| Ndiyakwazi ukufunda ngi-9. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.ku.fʊn.dɪ ŋi.9/ | I could read at 9. |
| Ndiyakwazi ukubhala ngi-8. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.ku.bʰɑ.lɪ ŋi.8/ | I could write at 8. |
Future Tense
The future tense form of the verb "have" is ngu. It is used to express actions that will be completed in the future.
Here are some examples of the future tense form of the verb "have":
| Xhosa | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Ndiyakwazi ukungena ngu-10. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.kʊŋ.ɛ.nʊ ŋu.10/ | I will be able to come at 10. |
| Ndiyakwazi ukufunda ngu-9. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.ku.fʊn.dʊ ŋu.9/ | I will be able to read at 9. |
| Ndiyakwazi ukubhala ngu-8. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.ku.bʰɑ.lʊ ŋu.8/ | I will be able to write at 8. |
Examples
Now let's look at some examples of how to use the verb "have" in sentences.
| Xhosa | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Ndiyakwazi ukungena nga-10. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.kʊŋ.ɛ.nɑ ŋɑ.10/ | I can come at 10. |
| Ndiyakwazi ukufunda ngi-9. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.ku.fʊn.dɪ ŋi.9/ | I could read at 9. |
| Ndiyakwazi ukubhala ngu-8. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.ku.bʰɑ.lʊ ŋu.8/ | I will be able to write at 8. |
| Ndiyakwazi ukufunda nga-7. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.ku.fʊn.dɑ ŋɑ.7/ | I can read at 7. |
| Ndiyakwazi ukubhala ngi-6. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.ku.bʰɑ.lɪ ŋi.6/ | I could write at 6. |
| Ndiyakwazi ukungena ngu-5. | /ndi.ya.kwɑ.zi ʊ.kʊŋ.ɛ.nʊ ŋu.5/ | I will be able to come at 5. |
Dialogue
Let's look at a dialogue to see how the verb "have" is used in context.
- Person 1: Unjani? (How are you?)
- Person 2: Ndiphilile. Ndiyakwazi ukufunda nga-9. (I'm fine. I can read at 9.)
- Person 1: Ndiyakwazi ukubhala ngi-6? (Can I write at 6?)
- Person 2: Yebo, ndiyakwazi. (Yes, you can.)
Conclusion
In this lesson, we learned how to use the verb "have" in Xhosa. We looked at the different forms of the verb and how to use them in sentences. To improve your Xhosa Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
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