Verb 'bûn' (to be) in present tense
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.
Common Error Patterns
Writing 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