Verb 'bûn' (to be) in present tense
Can conjugate 'bûn' as copula suffix and in basic sentences
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Ez xwendekarim.
I am a student.
Tu çawa yî?
How are you?
Ew mamosteyeke baş e.
She is a good teacher.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Lêkera bûn (to be) di dema niha de:
| Kes | Form | Mînak |
|---|---|---|
| ez | -im | Ez xwendekarim. |
| tu | -î | Tu başî. |
| ew | -e | Ew mezin e. |
| em | -in | Em ji Kurdistanin. |
| hûn | -in | Hûn wëllkommin. |
| ew (pir) | -in | Ew xwendekarin. |
Girîng: Dawiya "bûn" wek paşgir tê: Ez Kurdim, ne *Ez im Kurd.
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesWriting copula as separate word instead of suffix
The copula is a SUFFIX: Ez Kurdim (not *Ez im Kurd). It attaches to the predicate.
Ez xwendekarim.
I am a student.
Ez = I. Xwendekar = student. -im = am (suffix). The copula is a suffix, not a separate word.
Tu çawa yî?
How are you?
Tu = you. -î = are. Çawa = how. The most common Kurdish greeting.
Ew mamosteyeke baş e.
She is a good teacher.
Ew = she. Mamoste = teacher. -yeke = a (indefinite). Baş = good. E = is.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises