Verb быць (to be)
Verb быць (to be): ёсць/есці + zero copula in present tense
I can use быць and the zero copula.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Я студэнт. Я з Мінска.
I am a student. I am from Minsk.
У мяне ёсць вялікая сям'я.
I have a big family.
Ён быў у Мінску ўчора.
He was in Minsk yesterday.
Дранікі былі вельмі смачныя!
The draniki (potato pancakes) were very tasty!
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Verb быць — To Be
Like Russian, Belarusian drops 'to be' in present tense:
- Я студэнт. = I am a student. (no verb!)
- Яна настаўніца. = She is a teacher. (no verb!)
The form ёсць (is/there is) is used for emphasis or existence:
- У мяне ёсць кніга. = I have a book. (lit. 'at me there-is a book')
Past Tense of быць
| Gender | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masc. | быў | Ён быў тут. (He was here.) |
| Fem. | была | Яна была там. (She was there.) |
| Neut. | было | Яно было добра. (It was good.) |
| Plural | былі | Яны былі ў Мінску. (They were in Minsk.) |
Adding ёсць where it should be dropped. RU speakers: using Russian pronunciation of быть forms. EN/DE speakers: expecting 'to be' in every sentence.
Common Error Patterns
Adding ёсць in present tense
Drop быць in present: Я студэнт (not Я ёсць студэнт). Only use ёсць for 'have' or emphasis.
Wrong past tense gender agreement
быў (masc.), была (fem.), было (neut.), былі (pl.) — must match the subject!
Я студэнт. Я з Мінска.
I am a student. I am from Minsk.
No 'to be' in present! Я студэнт, NOT Я ёсць студэнт. Like Russian: Я студент.
У мяне ёсць вялікая сям'я.
I have a big family.
У мяне ёсць = I have (lit. 'at me there-is'). Same structure as Russian у меня есть!
Ён быў у Мінску ўчора.
He was in Minsk yesterday.
Past: быў (masc.), была (fem.), было (neut.), былі (pl.). Like Russian был/была/было/были.
Дранікі былі вельмі смачныя!
The draniki (potato pancakes) were very tasty!
былі (past plural). дранікі = potato pancakes — Belarus's national dish!
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises