Common verbs & "to be"

In this lesson you will learn the very important verb 是 (shì), which means "to be", and a few everyday verbs: 吃 (to eat), 喝 (to drink), 去 (to go) and 喜欢 (to like). With these you can make many simple sentences.

我是学生

wǒ shì xuésheng

እኔ ተማሪ ነኝ

我喝咖啡

wǒ hē kāfēi

እኔ ቡና እጠጣለሁ

我吃英吉拉

wǒ chī yīngjílā

እኔ እንጀራ እበላለሁ

我去市场

wǒ qù shìchǎng

እኔ ወደ ገበያ እሄዳለሁ

slow

我喜欢咖啡

wǒ xǐhuan kāfēi

እኔ ቡና እወዳለሁ

slow

阿贝贝是学生。他在阿迪斯阿贝巴。早上他喝咖啡，吃英吉拉。今天他去市场。萨拉说：“你喜欢咖啡吗？” 阿贝贝说：“我很喜欢咖啡！” 他们一起喝咖啡。咖啡很好。

Remember: use 是 (shì) only with a noun ("I am a student"). With a feeling or quality use 很 (hěn) ("I am tired"). To say "do not", add 不 (bù) before the verb.

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我喝咖啡