English/Hakha Sentences of Verbs: to be, come, go, do
These examples have been gleaned from Hindi Cawnnak Kutken* and other grammar books by Van Hmun Lian, B.A. English (Hons.), 2012 and used with permission. (*Published by www.ispck.org.in)
To Be – Present tense (time). Tu Caanfianh.
Singular:
I am (I’m)
You are (You’re)
He is (He’s)
She is (She’s)
It is (It’s)
Plural:
You are (You’re)
We are (We’re)
They are (They’re)
Pa Bawi ka si.
I am (I’m) Pa Bawi.
Siangngakchia ka/kan/an si.
I am (I’m) a student.
We are (we’re) students.
They are (they’re) students.
Cachimtu an si.
They are teachers.
Pa/Nu (puitling) ka si.
I am a man/woman.
Pa/Nu ngakchia ka si.
I am a boy/girl.
Um 18 ka si.
I am 18 years old.
Ka lung a tling lo.
I am not feeling happy.
Nupi/ca/pasal ka ngei cang.
I am married.
Ka min cu Pa Siang a si.
My name is Pa Siang.
Ka khua cu Kahha a si.
My town is Hakha.
Ka nu inn ah a um.
My mother is at home.
Ka keng a fak.
My back is painful.
Hihi kan inn a si.
This is my house.
Khuapi a si.
This is a big city.
Hihi ṭhutden/ui a si.
This is a chair.
This is a dog.
Khakha a ṭha. / ṭha lo.
That is good / not good.
Caan hi a man a sung.
Time is precious.
Pathian nawl a si ko.
It is God’s will.
Mifel a si.
He is a good man.
Ka fapa a si.
He is my son.
Chin kan/ka si.
We/You are Chin.
Hihi ka kedan a si.
These are my shoes.
Lo ngeitu na si.
You are the owner of the farm.
Na dam lo hi ta.
You are (you’re) sick.
Na mui aa dawh bak.
You are very pretty.
Khoika ah nan inn a um?
Where is your house?
Na chuahni zeitik dah a si?
What is your date of birth?
Na pu zeidah a lawh?
How is your grandfather?
Khikhi zeidah a si?
What is that?
Khipawl khi zei dah an si?
What are those?
To Be – Present Continuous tense. Diam Caanfianh
To Be + Verb+ing
Singular:
I am learning…
You are learning…
He is learning…
She is learning…
It is learning…
Plural:
You are learning…
We are learning…
They are learning…
Monywa ah thaizing ka kal lai.
I am going to Monywa tomorrow.
Lenholoi ka rel lio.
I am reading a novel.
Ngakchiapa cu innca a tuah lio.
The boy is doing his homework now.
Thla an cam lio/cuahmah.
They are praying now.
Minu nih eksasai a la lio.
She is taking exercises.
Hla a sa lio.
She is singing.
Ruah a sur.
It is raining now.
To BE – Past tense Liam Caanfianh
Singular:
I was
You were
He/she/it was
Plural:
You were
We were
They were
Siangngakchia a rak si.
I was a student.
Sithuhtu ka rak si.
I was a painter.
Siangngakchia kan rak si.
We were students.
Kan ngakchiat lio ah luak kan rak chuak ngai.
We were very playful when we were young.
Na rak um lo cu ta.
You were not here.
To Be – Present Perfect Tense. Diam Caanfianh.
Past Participle
have/has/had + verb =
Singular:
I have (I’ve) been.
You have (You’ve) been.
He has (He’s) been.
She has (She’s) been.
It has (It’s) been.
Plural:
You have (You’ve) been.
We have (We’ve) been.
They have (They’ve) been.
Biakinn chungah na lut cang maw?
Have you been inside the church?
Yes, I have (I’ve) been inside the church.
No, I have not (haven’t) been inside the church.
Thutdan cu a kiak i kha bantukin saupi a um cang.
The chair was broken and has been so for a long time.
To Be– Future tense. Lia Caanfainh
Singular:
I will be (I’ll be)
You will be (You’ll be)
He will be (He’ll be)
She will be (She’ll be)
Plural:
You will be (You’ll be)
We will be (We’ll be)
They will be (They’ll be)
British English:
I/we shall be.
Negative, A si lo:
I/you/we/they/he/she/it will not (won’t) be.
Siangngakchia ka/kan/an si te lai.
I will (I’ll) be a student.
Zanriah ei ah cun ka ra manh ko lai.
I will/shall be in time for dinner.
Tukum cu hika ah a um lai.
He will be here this year.
Zanlei cu inn ah a um ko lai.
He will be home all evening.
A dam zau te lai.
She will be fine soon.
Kan i rem ṭhan lai i hawikom kan si tthan lai.
We will make up and be friends again. (We will be friends).
Kuhchah ah an cam lai.
They will stay at Kuhchah.
To Be – Infinitive
That aa zuam miṭha si aa zuam.
She tries to be good.
Chizawh nih kholh a duh lo.
A cat does not care to be washed.
Lunglawm in a mithmai a lang.
He appears to be happy.
Imperative:
A caan bak ah hika hi na phan hrimhrim lai.
You must be here on time.
Ka cungah na thin hung hlah.
(You) Don’t be mad at me.
Fimkhur cang.
I ralring.
(You) be careful.
Dai.
(You) Be silent. (You) Be quiet.