Verb 'to be' in present tense
Can conjugate 'sinn' in present tense
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Ech sinn de Marc.
I am Marc.
Du bass mäi beschte Frënd.
You are my best friend.
Si ass Doktesch.
She is a doctor.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
D'Verb sinn (sinn = to be) ass dat wichtegst Verb am Lëtzebuergeschen.
| Persoun | Form | Beispill |
|---|---|---|
| ech | sinn | Ech sinn do. |
| du | bass | Du bass midd. |
| hien/si/hatt | ass | Hien ass grouss. |
| mir | sinn | Mir sinn hei. |
| dir/Dir | sidd | Dir sidd wëllkomm. |
| si | sinn | Si sinn aus Däitschland. |
Tipp: Sinn gëtt och als Hëllefsverb fir d'Vergaangenheet benotzt: Ech si komm (I have come).
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesConfusing bass/ass forms
Wrong form of sinn (e.g., ech bass instead of ech sinn)
ech sinn, du bass, hien/si/hatt ass, mir sinn, dir sidd, si sinn
Omitting 'sinn' in present tense (L1 transfer from Russian/Ukrainian)
Luxembourgish always requires the copula: Ech sinn midd (not *Ech midd)
Ech sinn de Marc.
I am Marc.
Sinn with ech — same form as 1st and 3rd person plural.
Du bass mäi beschte Frënd.
You are my best friend.
Bass is the 2nd person singular — compare German bist.
Si ass Doktesch.
She is a doctor.
Ass is the 3rd person singular — no article before professions (like German).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises